Worship Service for January 30, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thanks to all of you who participated in this past Friday’s Community Meal.
Please take for free any or all of the books on the table in the back. Whatever is left after today is going to be dropped at Project Learn.
MDG Flooring will be here tomorrow morning to start the install on this stage and in the office. If you have some time after worship, we’d like to clear those areas.
Today is Gather to Scatter Sunday. We are celebrating and highlighting it by focusing on our participation in the Chippy’s Back Polar Bear Event. As it stands right now, the walk/run/plunge will be a live event on Saturday, February 19th. The Chief Polar Bear and his sidekick Chippy are with us today and will have some news to share about this year’s event in a few minutes.
Gail and I will be leaving for Florida next Friday to spend a week with Brett and his family in Sarasota. And then we’ll be flying to Houston to see my son, Brian, and his family for a few days. So next week, on Communion Sunday Jim Brandenburg will be preaching. And on February 13th Randy Hall will fill the pulpit. I don’t want to give away his message, but let’s just say he had a life-altering experience that drew him closer to God that he will be sharing with you.
CALL TO WORSHIP
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
Psalm 40:1-3
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
OPENING WORSHIP SONGS
Our first two worship songs are scripture songs. I Waited for the Lord on High is taken directly from Psalm 40 and To You, O Lord comes from Psalm 25. What those two Psalms have in common is the author: David, the King of Israel who both triumphed and failed in his walk with God. Even so, David is the only one in all the Bible of whom it is said, “He was a man after God’s own heart.” In fact, it says it twice; once in the Old Testament, in I Samuel 13:13, and the other in the New in Acts 13:22.
I Waited for the Lord
Batstone, Bill
I waited for the Lord on high,
I waited… and He heard my cry.
I waited for the Lord on high,
I waited…and He heard my cry.He pulled me out of my despair,
He showed me where to walk,
From fear into security,
From quicksand into the Rock.There’s a new song…in my heart to sing,
A new song, praises to my King.
I’ll sing to let the people know
That I have been restored.And they will kneel and understand
To return and trust in the Lord.I waited for the Lord on high,
I waited…and He heard my cry.I waited for the Lord on high,
© 1982 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
I waited… and He heard my cry.
CCLI License No. 1843349
To You, O Lord
Kendrick, Graham
To You, O Lord, I… lift up my soul.
In You I trust, O my God.
Do not let me… be put to shame.
Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.Show me Your ways and…teach me Your paths.
Guide me in truth…lead me on.
For You’re my God… You are my Savior.
My hope is in You… each moment of the day.No one whose hope is in You, will ever be put to shame
That’s why my eyes are on You, O Lord.
Surround me, defend me, oh how I need You.
To You I lift up my soul, to You I lift up my soul.Remember, Lord, Your…mercy and love
That ever flow… from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways.
According to Your love, remember me,
According to Your love, for You are good, O Lord.No one whose hope is in You, will ever be put to shame
That’s why my eyes are on You, O Lord.
Surround me, defend me, oh how I need You.
To You I lift up my soul, to You I lift up my soul.No one whose hope is in You, will ever be put to shame
©1998 Ascent Music, Ltd. Admin by Music Services
That’s why my eyes are on You, O Lord.
Surround me, defend me, oh how I need You.
To You I lift up my soul, to You I lift up my soul.
CCLI License No. 1843349
I’m Amazed
David, Jeffery
I stand in awe at the way that You love me.
Yet with my faults…You say that You love me.
How can it be that someone so pure could love me?
How can it be that something this good is free?I’m amazed, I am humbled,
At the way, You look at me.
I’m amazed, I am speechless,
At the way, You look at me.I’m amazed, I am humbled,
© 2002 ‘n touch music.
At the way, You look at me.
I’m amazed, I am speechless,
At the way You look at me.
CCLI License No. 1843349
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord, our God, we thank You that whether we are gathered together in the church building or reading or listening to this message online, all of us have the opportunity to worship You; to join David in expressing our feelings about You through singing songs about Your amazing love for us and our hope in You. If you O Lord would enable us as a result of worshipping You today to learn to sing a new song that will help others come Your way, we would be grateful. And therefore, we open our hearts to Your word and Your will as we pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus, amen.
OFFERING
If you would like to send your offering through the mail, our mailing address is:
CrossPointe Community Church
P O Box 126
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215
Now I would like to introduce to you Chief Polar Bear, also known as Alan Robbins, and his sidekick Chippy, who shall remain anonymous.
Thank you Alan for all the work that you and your fellow Lions do to make this event possible. Being a Lion and having attended some of the planning meetings, I know that Alan has put dozens of hours into this to make it all possible and work so efficiently. I want to also thank Annie Dean for working closely with Allen to make this happen. She is in charge of securing volunteers for this event and I know you will want to help her out by getting involved.
I would like to add that over the past 10 years, we at CrossPointe have received, get this, $45,809.36 from the Lions Club as a direct result of the Polar Bear Event. We have used this money to purchase food for our monthly community meal, we have helped people in the community with basic needs, we have purchased materials for Chuck Lemmon’s Recovery Ministry, Annie Dean has received training and passed it on in both Griefshare and Divorce Care for adults as well as children, and Gail and I received and training and passed it on for Stephen Ministry. In addition, to all that, we are hoping to help strengthen marriages by sponsoring a weekend Marriage Seminar for anyone in the community.
We are very grateful for our wonderful partnership with our local Lions Club, which, by the way, is one of the most active and productive clubs in the state. And I am proud to recognize those members of CrossPointe who also are Lions: besides Alan and Vanna and Annie Dean, we have Suzanne Rentschler, Alisha Mooney, Eric Estes, Spring Manning, Katie Albright, Sally Krall, David and Joan Long, and yours truly.
OFFERING/PRAYER SONG
Blessed
Zschech, Darlene/Morgan, Reuben
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house
They are ever praising You
Blessed are those whose strength is in You
Whose hearts are set on our GodBlessed are those who dwell in Your house
They are ever praising You
Blessed are those whose strength is in You
Whose hearts are set on our GodWe will go from strength to strength
Till we see You face to Face
Hear our prayer, O Lord, God Almighty
Come bless our land as we seek You
Worship You.Blessed are those who dwell in Your house
They are ever praising You
Blessed are those whose strength is in You
Whose hearts are set on our GodWe will go from strength to strength
Till we see You face to Face
Hear our prayer, O Lord, God Almighty
Come bless our land, as we seek You
Worship YouHear our prayer, O Lord, God Almighty
Come bless our land as we seek You
Worship You.For You are holy, for You are holy
For You are holy, LordFor You are holy, for You are holy
For You are holy, LordFor You are holy, for You are holy
For You are holy, LordFor You are holy, for You are holy
For You are holy, LordHear our prayer, O Lord, God Almighty
Come bless our land as we seek You
Worship YouHear our prayer, O Lord, God Almighty
©2002 Darlene Zschech/Reuben Morgan/Hillsong Publishing
Come bless our land as we seek You
Worship You.
CCLI License No. 1843349
MORNING PRAYER
Robyn Tresch
Dear Lord,
I thank you for each person hearing these words today. Help us to call on your name and give you praise. You continue to be there for us at every minute of every hour of every day. It is only fitting that we continuously bless your name. Your promises stand firm as you guide us through our trials and tribulations. Help us to remember that even on our darkest days, you are the flashlight leading us towards a brighter tomorrow. There is no one like you in all the earth and we pray to know you better as our faith continues to develop. Use our hands to be of service and our voices to speak words of support and encouragement to those in our community and all those we shall encounter.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
SCRIPTURE
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?
Romans 10:1-4, 9-14
MESSAGE
Sharing God’s Grace
Randy K’Meyer
Last week, I spoke about the ministry of reconciliation, suggesting that II Corinthians 5:19 was one of the most important verses in the New Testament.
For God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting peoples’ sins against them.”
We talked about how we are invited by God to join Him in this ministry, as much as Paul writes in that same passage, we are ambassadors for Christ. God is making His appeal through us” (II Corinthians 5:20).
Last week, we mentioned that after His resurrection Jesus gave His parting instructions, all of which focused with laser-like clarity on reaching others for Christ. However, as today’s gospel informs us, even at the beginning of His ministry He was encouraging His followers to do the same, using the metaphors of salt and light.
And I mentioned that this vital ministry of reconciliation; being salt and light, takes place in two arenas; the first being through the ministry of the church. In fact, I mentioned that everything any church does needs to be seen through the lens of ‘how is this going to enhance our ministry of reconciliation?’ And at that point, I promised I would come back to this today and will shortly.
But before I do, let me tell you what the great theologian C. S. Lewis once wrote:
The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” 1
So the question that I pose for you today is how does participating in the Lions Club Polar Bear Event enable our ministry of reconciliation?
Or for that matter, we might wonder the same thing about when we provided the leadership for the annual Chippewa Lake Labor Day party, or the last Friday of every month Community Meal, or when we Gather to Scatter into the community to help someone clean up their yard, or paint playground equipment, or even when Jim and I provide rock and roll music every summer at the local Community Pride Fundraiser.
And the answer is people in the community take notice when we engage in these activities. They hear the CrossPointe name involved with these things. People know that churches stand for Jesus and His Kingdom. And in ways that we may never find out, Jesus gets the glory.
Let your lights shine in such a way that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Ask the average person in Chippewa Lake if they have ever heard of CrossPointe Community Church and they will most likely answer, “Yes.” We have a good reputation in this community for fulfilling our purpose which is To Share God’s Grace with Our Community. Such that, when someone suddenly has a need to find or rekindle their relationship with God, perhaps they will come here and we will have the privilege of sharing their journey with them.
With that in mind, I want to introduce a very good friend and brother in Christ, Brad Winter, to share a little of his journey. (If you are reading this, I encourage you to listen to the audio and catch Brad’s words).
So then, our ministry of reconciliation occurs in the context of the church. “We are,” as Paul writes, “Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God” (II Co. 5:20) or whatever it is that God puts on our heart to say.
Which leads to my final point.
The other arena in which the ministry of reconciliation occurs is in our individual lives when we plant seeds of faith in others in three ways:
- when we share a little about how our faith in Christ enables us to live well,
- when we invite someone to worship or some other ministry of the church,
- and/or when we also allow God to use us as salt and light.
A guest staying in a Marriott hotel was told her sister had just died. Naturally, she was upset and she shared her sadness with a hotel employee. That employee, Charles, a Christian, had all the staff sign a sympathy card and then he gave it to her with a piece of hot apple pie. That guest wrote a letter of thanks to the President of Marriott. “Mr. Marriott, I’ll never meet you and I don’t need to because I met Charles. So I know what you stand for. I want to assure you that as long as I live, I will stay at your hotels.”
Charles was being the salt of the earth.
Chuck Colson was standing in a long line in the airport in Jakarta, Indonesia. He and some Prison Fellowship colleagues had been traveling all night. It was now early morning. The terminal was hot and steamy, and they were tired.
As Chuck relates in his book, The Church, Being the Body, “Passport in my sticky hand, I was exhausted and exasperated at the long, inefficient line snaking ahead of us. I was worried we would miss our next flight
and the ministry friends who were waiting for us.”
But, he adds, “I was also determined not to let my frustration get the better of me. I talked with my friends; we laughed and made the best of a bad situation.”
Two years later, he received a letter from a businessman who lived in Singapore. The man had been a follower of Confucius, but he sent his children to a Presbyterian church for moral training. One Sunday, as he picked up his kids, he caught the end of the sermon. A visiting missionary held up a copy of Colson’s first book, Born Again. On the cover was a picture of Chuck. A few months later, this businessman was stuck in a long line in the steaming Jakarta airport. Glancing over into the next line, he spotted the same face he’d seen on the cover of Born Again. He was so impressed by Chuck Colson’s calm demeanor and cheerfulness that when he got back to Singapore, he got the book, read it, and committed his life to Christ. 2
Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16
As I close, I want us to notice that followers of Confucius became Christian only after reading Colson’s book about being born again which contained Bible verses and information about how to appropriate them in one’s life.
Yes, it is very important to be the most flavorful salt and the brightest light we can be. However; no one has ever come to Christ by simply watching the life of someone else.
We must remember what Paul says in Romans 10:17:
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Back in the 1980s, a businessman went to a Billy Graham crusade and after hearing Rev. Graham explain the gospel and offer an invitation he received Christ as his Savior. The next Sunday he went to a church where he was surprised to see one of his business associates. After the service, he said to his friend, “I was at the Billy Graham meeting last week and received Christ.”
His friend replied, “I heard about it and I am so excited for you.”
Then the new Christian asked his associate, “How long have you and I been associated in business?”
“About 23 years,” the other answered.
“Have you known Christ as your Savior all that time?” the businessman asked.
“Yes, I have,” he proudly smiled back.
“Well, I don’t remember you ever speaking to me about Christ or His church during those years.”
The other man didn’t know quite what to say.
So his friend continued, “I have always thought highly of you. In fact, I thought so highly of you I felt that if anyone could be as fine a man like you and not be a Christian, then I didn’t have to be one either.” 3
Ouch.
I close with the words of the great apostle, Romans 10:13-14:
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him . . . unless someone tells them?
PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO THE MESSAGE
[I encourage you to pray as you feel led by the Spirit of God].
CLOSING SONG
Little is Much When God is in It
Brock, Dwight/Suffield, Mrs. F.W. Kittie Louise
In the harvest field now ripened,
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark, the voice of God is calling,
To the harvest calling you.Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it
And He’ll not forget His own.Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run;
He will say if we are faithful
Welcome home, my child well done.Little is much when God is in it,
©1969 Stamps-Baxter Music (Admin. by Brentwood Music Publishing, Inc.)
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.
CCLI License No. 1843349
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Kendrick, Graham
Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us;
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord,
And let there be light.Lord, I come to Your awesome presence.
From the shadows into your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me,
Consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord,
And let there be light.As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirror’d here, may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, Shine on me.Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord,
And let there be light.Shine, Jesus, shine.
©1987 Make Way Music
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord,
And let there be light.
CCLI License No. 1843349
BENEDICTION
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
1 C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963), was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist, best known for his works MERE CHRISTIANITY and CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. 4/30/17
2 Mark Earley, “BreakPoint with Charles Colson” (5-16-03)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2003/june/14467.html
3 Lorne Sanny, “The Key to World Evangelism,” Discipleship Journal (Jan/Feb 1982)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2002/may/13682.html