Through Life's Crossroads

Dr. Richard Thompson, a scholar of Luke-Acts, joins the Podcast to help you understand what is happening behind the story of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2. What is the Feast of Pentecost? Why were people in Jerusalem? Why did Peter think of the Book of Joel as a sermon text? Who thinks of Joel for a sermon text? 

You may be familiar with the coming of the Spirit upon the people of God, but time and distance may rob you of some of the underlying facts that are not stated in Acts. This podcast tries to bring context, culture, history of Jewish religion, and some assumptions to the surface to help you engage closer to the miraculous work that God did on the Day of Pentecost. 

There are ways to impact this world both in this life and after. It's hard to think that we may be gone one day, but have we said and done all that we want to with what God has given us? Do you want your impact to stretch beyond your years on earth? Do you know how to communicate your values to your family now and in the future?

Pastor Jon Twitchell joins the Crossroads podcast to talk about generosity, his reflections of what matters at a funeral (through the eyes of a pastor invited into these moments), legacy, tax benefits. This episode will make you think, make you feel, and make you want to act. 

500,000 dead in a pandemic

Jobs lost

Economy in flux

Political changes

Death of friends and family

Yet, life carries on, kind of 

What does the bible say about how to grieve this? Where is God when we hurt? How can we love those who are hurting? Pastor Lynn and Pastor Tim talk through stories, theology, hope, and the bible as we try to locate healthy grief. 

Did you know churches used to measure attendance during Sunday School and not Morning Worship? Being that we don't do Sunday School much anymore - even before gathering was made difficult in a pandemic - how do we grow in Christ moving forward? What does community and discipleship look like in a post-COVID world? Pastor Liz Powers joins to talk about thoughts about the shape of discipleship and small groups in 2021 and forward. 

Resetting for a new year.: What is happening at Crossroads? What are the church's ministry goals and objectives for 2021? Putting a request out there to share with us what you want to be taught or discussed on the podcast in 2021. We want this to be a tool to help you grow, here is your chance to have a say in what we do next! Your input matters!

In a me-first culture, the question of marriage comes under question often. So, we delve into why we get married as Christians. There are also practical tips to focus on in order to strengthen the marriage you have. Whether you are married, divorced, hoping to get married someday, this is a helpful reminder of why the church has always taken marriage seriously, and how to be serious about it in your life. 

Proverbs puts the onus on us to be a low energy guest. Rightfully so! But, what do we do when we are the host with high effort guests? When they interrupt us, bother us, exhaust us? Jesus points us toward being a good neighbor because maybe - just maybe - God is putting this person in our care. 

It's been a strange time in America. Everyone is told yes, and our suspicions are fed on demand. Who can tell you know? How do we sober up from the drunkenness the church has on political power? 

Love is a central theme in the Christian faith, but it is hard to practice. It does not always look like the Hallmark Channel. Often it is messy, so messy that we run from risking love. Rev. Mike Graham, the pastor of East Flint Church of the Nazarene, tells the dramatic story of becoming a foster parent, and eventually adopting some of the children in their care. Risking love was hard, but it changed the lives for the better of many. In this episode, we talk about fostering and adopting, but for those who can't, we also talk about how the church can rally around those who have done this work. Love is a call for all of us, and fostering/adopting can be the work of the whole church.

Advent is new to many Christians, but it's themes enrich in unique ways. Brannon Hancock joins the podcast to talk music, worship, joy, and pop culture. There are stories and practices that can help you and your family draw nearer to God as we begin to wind down Advent.

Advent is a new concept for many of us Evangelical Christians. But, it's practice can be so helpful. Through this episode we talk about 2 minute strategies, bringing our personality to our discipleship practices, the meaning of peace, and how lamenting tough times can help us grow closer to God. Dr. Doug Hardy, Professor of Spiritual Formation at Nazarene Theological Seminary is our guest and conversation partner. You will not be sad if you spend this time with him.

Seeing your past in ash and rubble is hard. The temptation is for nostalgia, but God calls us into His good future through hope.

Joined by Crossroads member and author Lisa-Jo Baker, Pastor Tim works through the concept of Advent: What is it? Why does it matter? How can it help me and my family on our journey with Jesus? Here are some ideas of how to help your family grow nearer to Christ through this season.

Lean into this story of God's goodness through tragedy. This pastor had a heart attack days after her first child was born, leading to a heart and future kidney transplant. Her call, purpose, and rhythm were all upended. Sometimes thanksgiving comes through looking back at God's hand through a series of tragedies. 

The last book of the Old Testament. A prophetic word before God's silence. 

How do we read prophets? What clues do we bring to the table? Through the book of Zephaniah, we explore what makes reading the Minor Prophets difficult, and how we can see hope through the harrowing images in the text.

We are told all too often that science and faith are enemies. Yet, Dr. Mark Allen reminds us that most scientists are theists. So, how can we hold things like creation and evolution together. Dr. Allen shares his journey in science and how the Bible helped him “see it.”

Stop right there! 

You don't have to love women's ministry - or even be a woman - to celebrate what God does when God's people gather. We are celebrating a Women's Conference highlighted by a diversity of speakers, a unified sense of worship, and a powerful realization of the presence of God. This is a MUST listen! 

Check our interview with Lorene Huffman who is our Women's Ministry Leader.

2020 has brought new challenges to parents and children. We dig in to think about what is clinical, and what is normal? We also consider how to help our kids in a hard season, and what are good practices in this time.

How did we get here? How do we show Christ in the divide? How do we love our neighbor/enemy when the stakes seem so high? Dr. Peter Baker walks us through the political struggle we are in through a historical lesson and casts a vision for Christlikeness no matter who wins. 

Dr. Peter Baker helps us think about our highest callings, how we arrived at this political divide, and what being. Christian in this moment could look like.