In a world that never stops demanding more—more work, more approval, more performance—our souls grow weary. But Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 is radical: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This message explores what it means to truly follow Him, not just as believers in our heads, but as true disciples whose hearts, minds, and lives are being shaped into Christlikeness. We’ll discover that rest isn’t passive; it’s found in surrender, in walking with Jesus, and in embracing the rhythms of life He invites us into. The world exhausts, but Christ restores—and ALL are invited to lay their burdens down and find life that refreshes from the inside out.
“How shall we now live?” This is one of life’s biggest questions. In light of the finished work of Jesus, we must ask this question of ourselves. Following Jesus means that we allow Him to lead and direct our lives. We want to be about His Father’s business, just as He was. We desire to glorify God as He did. Jesus did not leave us in the dark about how we should live. He explained it to us simply in His “Great Commission.”
For most people who grew up outside of the church, their first exposure to the Bible was seeing someone hold up a sign with John 3:16 written on it. Almost anytime there is a large group of people together, someone brings a sign with the most famous Bible verse. But why is this verse so well-known? Because within this verse, Jesus explained something so beautiful, profound, and insightful that it has changed the course of human history. Let’s dig into possibly Jesus’ most famous teaching.
Is prayer optional or essential? In Matthew 6, Jesus answers an honest question from His disciples about a discipline practiced by every deeply-rooted believer: prayer. But He begins with an expectation, not a suggestion: “When you pray.” From where and how we pray, to the heart posture behind it, Jesus shows us that prayer is not just a ritual but a lifeline. As we walk through the Lord’s Prayer together, we’ll see how prayer can move from duty to d
Happy birthday Crossroads. We celebrate 50 years of ministry today. What the Lord has done! And what the Lord is doing! We cannot be more excited to celebrate all that Jesus is up to through the Crossroads family of faith. To both commemorate the Crossroads legacy and to continue our “Teachings of Jesus” series, it seemed proper to focus on what Jesus said was the greatest commandment.
Life comes with many challenges. Because we live in a fallen world, we recognize that pain and suffering are inevitable. People hurt us, things go wrong, and sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by it all. In today’s passage, Jesus says it’s not a matter of if offense comes, but when. He also reveals what it means to be someone who forgives often, stays grounded in humility, and keeps showing up—even when it’s not easy or glamorous. Join us in today’s Teaching of Jesus which unpacks how to walk by faith, let go of offense, and trust God with the weight we were never meant to carry.
Jesus is a master teacher. There has never been a teacher in history who has had a greater impact than Jesus. One of His favorite ways to communicate was by using stories and metaphors. He would take the common, everyday situations of people’s lives and weave them into His teachings to help people understand the kingdom of God. This is on display in one Jesus’ most cherished metaphors: the invitation to be salt and light.
We often believe that an outward change of circumstances will propel us into happiness, so we chase after those external changes. While we may like the new reality once we arrive at our desired destination, we’re often left unfulfilled, and as a result, we continue on the treadmill of happiness-seeking. Yet, Jesus taught us that there is a place where true satisfaction is found, and once our deepest hungers are satisfied there, we naturally experience God’s abundant life.
In the beginning of the famous teaching that we call “The Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus speaks of the blessed person. Some Bible translations have rendered the word “blessed” as “happy,” as in, “Oh, how happy is the person who…” Wanting happiness is a very normal human desire. Almost no one seeks out unhappiness. But Jesus’ discussion of the happy person sounds crazy to our contemporary ideas and plans. Actually, it sounds downright insane. Yet, upon further reflection, we realize that Jesus, as always, is onto something that we know little about.
The apostle Paul writes his friends back in Philippi to encourage them in his present state which includes chains, prison cells, and guards! Not the greatest of days for Paul, he underscores that NOTHING can stop the Gospel and God’s plan in our lives. Even when things are dark and not exactly what we want, we have a choice to believe that God is still working and active. All He wants from us is to do the next right thing and to trust the process! He is always working. Even when we can’t see it, He's working. Let’s GOOOO!
Some friendships blossom under challenging circumstances. In instances where it might seem that issues would keep people apart, God is not limited by our usual distinctions. Jesus’ unique friendship with a religious leader named Nicodemus is a shining example of this. Jesus’ critics within the religious hierarchy of His day could have thwarted this friendship. But Jesus makes room for this religious leader’s questions and a friendship is born.
Are you living like a friend of Jesus—or merely a follower at a distance? Draw close. Receive His love. Reflect His friendship in a world that consistently promotes isolation and hyper-independence from God and others.
When Jesus sees people, He doesn’t see problems. Instead, He sees potential. Often, we may be astonished by the people Jesus calls. But as we see Him transform their lives, the reason they were chosen begins to make sense. This is true of a woman we know as Mary Magdalene. While her initial encounter with Jesus was a miraculous deliverance, Mary blossomed into one of Jesus’ most cherished friends.
In Luke 19:1-10, we meet Zacchaeus, a man seen as a manipulator and traitor by his community, but seen differently by Jesus. Where others saw someone worth rejecting, Jesus saw a heart worth saving. This story reminds us that a friendship with Jesus isn't based on reputation or performance, but on grace and transformation. Our Savior doesn’t just tolerate people, He pursues them with a boundary-breaking love. Join us as we discover a Friend who draws near when others walk away and sees your heart when others see your past.
One of the most astounding things about Jesus is His choice of those He associated with. In a world where there is so much “ladder-climbing” and so many people seeking to increase their status by associating with the right people, Jesus flips the script. The people He chose to be His friends often were people that others wished didn’t exist. In this weekend’s message, you will see Jesus’ friendship with a tax collector named Matthew.
What a friend we have in Jesus! That’s the title of a famous hymn from the history of the church. As good as the song is, those words are an even better reality–that we can actually be friends of God. This weekend we will begin looking at the unique friendships of Jesus. First, we will see Jesus’ unique friendship with two sisters who couldn’t be more different. But both are friends of Jesus.
Feeling burned out or spiritually dry? Jesus doesn’t ask us to strive, He invites us to abide. In this message, discover what it means to stay connected to Christ and bear fruit that lasts. You weren’t made to do life on your own... you were made to abide in the Vine. Let’s talk about connection, pruning, and living a truly fruitful life.
In a world obsessed with climbing higher, Jesus points us downward. When His disciples asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus responded by placing a child in front of them—and in doing so, He turned the whole idea of greatness upside down. In this message, we explore the radical call of Jesus to humble ourselves, trust Him like children, and remember that even as mature believers, we never stop needing a Savior. True greatness in God’s kingdom is not about power or platform, but about humility, surrender, and generational faithfulness. It’s time to stop striving and start trusting—and to live in such a way that the next generation sees Jesus clearly in us.
In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind, which provokes the question of sin and suffering. This story illustrates the power of Jesus, not only to restore physical sight, but also to offer each of us a new perspective on life and divine purpose. As we embrace His perspective on life, Jesus then can transform our struggles into testimonies of His power and love.
In a world driven by deadlines and urgency, Jesus invites us to slow down and walk at His pace. As we continue in the A Life With Jesus series, we see that even He faced pressure from those closest to Him. Yet today’s passage reminds us that God’s perfect timing doesn’t bend to human demands. It may not match our ideal schedule, but it’s always right on time. Join us as we explore how Christ embodied obedience, patience, and purpose—and how these qualities can help shape our faith when the world says, “Go now,” but God says, “Not yet.”
