Audio Messages & Sermon Series - Crosswinds, Plainfield, IL

This message explores how the Israelites' worship of the golden calf reveals that idolatry is ultimately a heart issue, not merely an external action. It challenges believers to examine what truly holds first place in their lives, reminding us that worship is about loving and surrendering our whole lives to God rather than simply participating in religious activities.

In this message we are invited to reframe what “budget” means in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ: it’s not just about money, but about giving of our time, talents, priorities and resources in such a way that follows His economy. We are challenged to count the cost, allocate wisely, and trust that when we surrender, God supplies more than we think.

The world defines greatness through power, status, and personal achievement, but Jesus flips this concept by demonstrating that true greatness is found in servanthood and humility.

A healthy community, a people willing to serve, and training are what make disciples in our church. Disciples are eager to learn with a desire to teach. They are everyday people committed to serving our Lord and encouraging others to also follow the Gospel.

As we face a new year what is going to make this year extraordinary? Is it losing weight? Making more money? Having more friends? Jesus has a new command that if obeyed could make this and extraordinary year. It is to "Love one another." Obeying with command will revive our church, your relationship with God, bring rival to others in our community. While breathing makes one physically alive. Loving makes one spiritually alive.

God's grace, revealed through Jesus Christ, offers salvation that we could never earn and restores our relationship with God. But grace is not simply forgiveness that allows us to remain unchanged; it trains and empowers us to turn from sin, surrender to Christ's lordship, and live differently. The transformational life is an ongoing journey of faith, repentance, obedience, and dependence on the Holy Spirit as we become more like Christ.

Paul introduces Timothy and Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:19-30 as examples of ordinary people whose lives were shaped by the grace of Jesus into lives of genuine concern, faithful service, humility, and sacrifice. Rather than asking, "What can I get?" they lived by asking, "How can I serve Christ by serving others?" The message challenges us to allow God's grace to reshape our time, relationships, resources, gifts, and priorities so that our lives increasingly reflect Jesus.

Philippians 2:12–18 challenges believers to live out the salvation God has already given them—not to earn salvation, but as a response to God’s work within them. Paul teaches that because God is actively working in us, our lives should be marked by humble obedience, gratitude rather than grumbling, and a willingness to serve others even when nobody is watching.

In Philippians 2:1–11, Paul challenges believers to allow Christ to transform not only what they do, but how they think, especially in a culture that encourages self-promotion, comparison, status, and personal achievement.

This is part of our series titled: Inner Life, a journey through the book of Philippians. This message is based on Philippians 1:26-30