GROW Together: Serving Something Bigger Than Ourselves
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2: Grateful Hearts GROW Together (WATCH HERE)
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Today, we pause to remember and give thanks for the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize those who were willing to put aside personal comfort, leave familiar surroundings, endure hardships, and accept great sacrifices for the sake of something bigger than themselves. Many served far from home, missed important family moments, faced difficult circumstances, and carried responsibilities that most of us will never fully understand. Their willingness to serve reminds us that some things are worth sacrificing for.
There is something important about living for something bigger than ourselves. Our natural tendency is to look inward. We think about our schedules, our comfort, our preferences, and what we want out of life. But Jesus calls us to a different way of living. In John 15, he tells his disciples, “Love each other as I have loved you.” Then he describes the greatest expression of love: laying down one’s life for another. Jesus wasn’t simply giving his disciples a noble example to follow. He was preparing them for what he himself was about to do.
The greatest act of service in history took place at the cross. Jesus willingly gave his life, not for people who deserved it, but for sinners who needed rescuing. He didn’t come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. His sacrifice wasn’t motivated by duty alone, but by his extraordinary love for us. Through his death and resurrection, we have forgiveness, life, and the assurance that we belong to him forever.
As we think about growing together at Crosspoint, this is an important reminder. The church doesn’t grow simply because people show up. It grows as people grow in God’s Word, love one another, serve one another, encourage one another, and look beyond themselves to those who need to hear about Jesus. Sometimes that means giving up time, sharing our resources, welcoming someone new, or stepping into a responsibility that isn’t necessarily convenient.
Today, thank a veteran for their service. Remember their sacrifices with gratitude. And as you do, remember the Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice for you. Then look for an opportunity to reflect his love by serving someone else. We grow together when we stop asking only what we can receive and begin looking for ways to give.
We honor those who have served us, and we follow the Savior who gave everything for us.
Reflect: How does remembering the sacrifices of our veterans help you appreciate the importance of serving something bigger than yourself? What is one way you can put someone else’s needs ahead of your own this week as an expression of Christ’s love?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the men and women who have served our country and sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy. Bless our veterans, comfort those who carry difficult memories, and encourage their families. Above all, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly gave his life to rescue us from sin and death. His love is greater than we can comprehend. Forgive us when we become focused on ourselves and our own comfort. Give us hearts that reflect the love of Christ. Help us see the needs of others, willingly serve those around us, and work together to share the good news of your grace. May our lives be a reflection of the love we have first received from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
GROW Together: God Makes It Grow
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2: Grateful Hearts GROW Together (WATCH HERE)
1 Corinthians 3:5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Have you ever planted something in a garden, watered it faithfully, and wondered if anything was ever going to happen? You put the seed in the ground, give it water and sunlight, and wait. For a while, it seems like nothing is happening. Then one day, you notice a little green shoot pushing its way through the soil. Something was happening all along, even when you couldn’t see it.
The apostle Paul uses a similar picture to describe the work of God’s kingdom. The church in Corinth had begun dividing itself into groups, some claiming loyalty to Paul and others to Apollos. They were placing too much importance on the people doing the work and losing sight of the One who makes the work fruitful. Paul reminds them that he planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. The servants had different responsibilities, but the results belonged to God.
What a freeing reminder for us! We sometimes measure success by what we can see. We count attendance, evaluate programs, measure progress, and look for immediate results. Those things can be useful, but they are not the ultimate measure of God’s work. A conversation about faith, a child’s question about Jesus, a prayer offered for a struggling friend, or an invitation to worship may seem like small things. We may never know what God accomplishes through them.
The same is true when we think about the future of Crosspoint. We can make plans, plant seeds, build facilities, develop ministries, and invite people into our church family. All of those things are worthwhile, but none of them can create faith. Only the Holy Spirit can do that through the powerful message of the Gospel. We don’t build because we think we can manufacture spiritual growth. We build because we trust that God will continue to work through his Word and want to provide opportunities for more people to hear it.
That takes some pressure off our shoulders. You don’t have to produce results every time you share your faith. You don’t have to convince someone to believe. You don’t have to make everything happen. Your calling is simply to be faithful with the opportunities God gives you to plant the seed of the Gospel. Plant the seed. Water the seed. Speak the Word. Show the love of Christ. Then trust God with the results.
God has been faithful to you and his people through many generations, and he isn’t finished working yet. The same Gospel that brought you to faith is still powerful today. So keep planting. Keep watering. Keep trusting. God is still making things grow!
Reflect: Where have you seen God bring growth from what seemed like a small or insignificant beginning? Is there an area of your life, your witness, or Crosspoint’s future where you need to stop worrying about the results and trust God to provide the growth?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being the source of all growth in your kingdom. Thank you for the people who planted and watered the seeds of faith in my life, and for the Holy Spirit who worked through your Word to bring me to faith in Jesus. Bless Crosspoint as we look toward the future. Use our efforts, our gifts, and our building project to create opportunities for more people to hear the Gospel and grow in faith. Remind us that the work is yours, the power is yours, and the glory belongs to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
GROW Together: Someone Planted the Seed
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2: Grateful Hearts GROW Together (WATCH HERE)
Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
Have you ever stopped to think about how you came to know Jesus? Perhaps it was a parent who brought you to the waters of baptism, or read devotions to you at bedtime. Maybe you had a grandparent who faithfully took you to church, a Sunday school teacher who patiently taught you Bible stories, or a pastor who shared God’s Word at just the right time. For some of you it was a friend who invited you to church or someone who took the time to listen when life was difficult. However it happened, God used someone to plant the seeds of faith in your life.
Faith is a gift worth passing along. Every generation who has been touched by the power of the Gospel and the wonderful grace of God wants the next generation to know. How many generations have passed since Psalm 78 was written, I don’t know, but what I do know is that each generation took the time, invested the energy, and ensured the grace of God was communicated to the next generation.
What does your “faith family tree” look like? It may be your biological family tree, but it may be very different. The reality is God used people in your life to pass along the good news of what God has done for us. We tell them about Jesus, who came to rescue sinners, carried our guilt to the cross, and rose again so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life. Seeds were planted and faith grows where that good news is heard.
The people who planted Gospel seeds in your life maymay never know the full impact of their words, prayers, invitations, or encouragement. They probably didn’t see all the ways God would use their faithfulness. But God did. He used ordinary people and ordinary moments to bring his extraordinary promises into your life.
Now consider the people God has placed in your life. Children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and even people you haven’t met yet. What seeds are you planting? You don’t have to have all the answers or be an expert in Scripture. You simply have the privilege of sharing what God has done for you. A conversation, an invitation, a prayer, or a simple word of encouragement can become an opportunity for someone to hear about Jesus.
Collectively, the history of Crosspoint is filled with people who planted seeds before us. We give thanks for their faithfulness and trust that what they planted God would cause to grow. But we also recognize that the story isn’t finished. The same Gospel that brought us to faith is the Gospel we want future generations to hear. It’s why we exist: to bring the Gospel to the next generation.
May God use us to plant seeds for tomorrow!
Reflect: Who planted seeds of faith in your life, and how did God use that person to bring you closer to Jesus? Who has God placed in your life today with whom you could share the good news of Jesus?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the people you placed in my life who shared your Word, encouraged my faith, and helped me grow in your grace. Thank you especially for Jesus, whose death and resurrection have given me forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. Give me courage to speak, patience to encourage, and faithfulness to plant seeds of your Word. Bless the generations who will come after us, and use us to pass along the wonderful story of your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Go Together: We Never GO Alone
This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Grateful Hearts GO Together (WATCH HERE)
Matthew 28:18–20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Have you ever started something that seemed bigger than you? Maybe it was a new job, an unfamiliar challenge, or a project that required more time and energy than you expected. At first, you were excited, but as the work continued, questions began to surface. Will we have enough help? Will we have the resources? Will all this effort make a difference? Sometimes the hardest part isn’t getting started. It’s finding the confidence to keep going.
Jesus knew his disciples would face those questions. After his resurrection, he gave them a tremendous mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Think about the responsibility he placed before them. They were ordinary people being sent into the world with an extraordinary message. They would face opposition, uncertainty, and challenges they could not yet imagine.
But Jesus didn’t send them out with a mission and then leave them on their own. He ended with a promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
What a promise! Their confidence would not come from their abilities, their numbers, or their circumstances. It would come from the presence of Jesus. The same risen Savior who conquered sin, death, and the devil promised to be with them every step of the way.
That promise belongs to us, too. As we carry out the mission God has given us at Crosspoint, we don’t know everything the future holds. There will be decisions to make, challenges to overcome, and times when the work seems overwhelming. We may wonder whether we have enough people, enough resources, or enough strength to accomplish what lies ahead.
But our confidence is not in what we have. It is in the One who goes with us. Jesus is not simply cheering us on from a distance. He is present with his church through his Word and Sacraments, strengthening our faith and equipping us for service.
We may not know exactly what tomorrow will bring, but we know who holds tomorrow. We can keep moving forward, trusting his promises and serving together. The mission is his, the power is his, and the future is in his hands.
We GO together because Jesus goes with us!
Reflect: What uncertainty or challenge are you facing right now, and how does Jesus’ promise to be with you always give you confidence to move forward?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that we are never alone. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, you have given us forgiveness, salvation, and the assurance of your presence. Forgive us when fear, uncertainty, or discouragement keep us from trusting your promises. Strengthen our faith and remind us that the mission belongs to you. Guide the future of Crosspoint. Give our congregation wisdom as we make decisions, unity as we work together, and generous hearts as we support the ministry you have placed before us. Bless our building plans and provide the resources needed to serve others, but above all, keep our eyes focused on the people who need to hear the Gospel. Help us move forward with confidence, knowing that Jesus is with us always. In his name we pray. Amen.
Go Together: People Need to Hear
This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Grateful Hearts GO Together (WATCH HERE)
Romans 10:12–17 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Imagine having wonderful news to share but never telling anyone about it. Perhaps you have exciting family news, an answer to prayer, or something that has brought great joy to your life. You wouldn’t keep it to yourself for long. You would want others to know!
The apostle Paul reminds us that the greatest news in the world is the message of Jesus Christ. He writes, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). Those words remind us why sharing the Gospel matters so much. People need to hear about Jesus.
We live among people who are searching for hope, struggling with guilt, carrying burdens, and wondering where they can find peace. Some may look like they have everything together, while quietly facing deep questions about life, death, and eternity. They may not know where to turn or who can help. What they need most is not simply good advice, a better plan, or a more comfortable life. They need to hear the good news that Jesus loves them, died for them, and rose again.
And how will they hear? God chooses to work through people like us. He sends ordinary Christians into ordinary places: homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, and conversations with friends. We may not always recognize the opportunities, and we may not feel especially qualified. But God uses his people to carry his message of grace to others.
This is why our mission is about more than a building, a worship service, or a church program. Those things can provide opportunities, but the real purpose is people. Every person matters to God. Every soul needs the hope of the Gospel. Every invitation, conversation, act of kindness, and opportunity to share God’s Word can become a way for someone to hear about Jesus.
We cannot make someone believe. That is the Holy Spirit’s work. But we can faithfully share the message, trusting God to use it according to his good purpose.
Someone once shared the Gospel with us. Now we have the privilege of sharing it with someone else. People need to hear, and God sends us together!
Reflect: Who has God placed in your life that needs to hear the hope of Jesus, and what is one practical step you could take to reach out to that person?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing the good news of Jesus into our lives. Through the words of others, you have given us faith, forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life. Forgive us when we become so focused on ourselves that we overlook the people around us who need to hear your Word. Give us eyes to see those who are hurting, lonely, searching, or in need of encouragement. Place specific people on our hearts, and open doors for meaningful conversations and opportunities to share Jesus. Use our words and actions to point people to Christ, trusting that your Spirit will work through your Word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.