Resilient Faith - Crosstown Covenant Church

My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.

September 6, 2020 • Pastor John Jacobi

"Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Ambassadors

August 30, 2020 • Pastor John Jacobi

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 "And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." Contents: - Announcements: Church Retreat - Worship: "Cornerstone" - Confirmation Presentations - Resilient Faith Story: Kay Smith - Message - Prayer for Confirmands - Offering: "No Longer Slaves"

Pressed But Not Crushed

August 23, 2020 • Pastor John Jacobi

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Contents: - Worship: "Trading My Sorrows" - Children's Message - Resilient Faith Story: Scott Wood - Announcements - Message - Spiritual Practice - Offering: "I Will Wait For You"

Fragile Jars

August 16, 2020 • Pastor John Jacobi

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. Contents: -Worship -Children's Message -Resilient Faith Story from Marna Jacobi -Announcements -Message -Communion -Offering

Pleasing Aroma

August 9, 2020 • Pastor John Jacobi

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? Content: Worship "You Keep Hope Alive" Children's Message Resilient Faith Story from Anna Larson Sermon Offering

Be Resilient!

August 2, 2020 • Pastor John Jacobi

We begin a new series entitled "Resilient Faith" from 2 Corinthians. We'll learn of the resources available in Jesus Christ that enable us to bounce back from all sorts of troubles. As a real-life example of resiliency in Jesus, I'll be highlighting the faith of Congressman John Lewis. Do you know the incredible story of this dear man who passed away in the last week? We invite you to watch this story about John Lewis, our brother in Jesus. Contents: -VBS Recap Video -Worship -Children's Message -Sermon -Prayer of Examen -Offering