Justyn Smith • A Heart For Revival

  Christmas shouldn't pass by without you purposing to pause to MARVEL over the Saviour's birth! The Old Testament in the Bible prophesied many times of the CHRIST coming as a child - born of a virgin - born of the Jews - born to die - born to set people free from their sins. Isaiah 9:6 (pictured above) is one of those verses. Yet, some in Jesus' day missed the coming of the Messiah entirely! I wonder if we'll miss Christ at all this Christmas? Fortunately, the Bible gives us a few accounts of people marveling over Jesus Christ to serve as reminders of how wonderful and awesome Jesus Christ was, is and always will be! (Listen to the sermon for more on that.) Now, here's the definition of MARVEL: To MARVEL is to admire, to wonder and to stand in awe of something. The Shepherds, Mary and Joseph, Simeon, and Anna are just a few Bible characters who marveled at the Saviour on or shortly after the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke 2:33 "And Joseph and his mother marvelled...

Revive Your Bible Study This Christmas - Pt 2 This simple blog encourages the reader, you, to have PURPOSE in Bible Study. To simply read is great, but studying to ”take away” some nugget of truth is far better! Bible Study equips and encourages, grows and gains, and strengthens and satisfies the inner person of the disciple. Simply put, disciples are students, but are we the type of student just “making it through class,” or are we growing and learning by leaps and bounds to live life for the Lord? Let me give you 3 simple ways you can PURPOSE to get more out of your Bible Study in the future: I. PURPOSE to be specific in Bible Study. This certainly doesn’t negate those random times God speaks to you from random verses here and there, but random reception of God’s Word shouldn’t be the norm. We should specifically focus on something to better attain and retain that something. Try this...today I want to study the word GRACE, or today I want to study the life of GIDEON, etc. Then sink ...

Revive Your Bible Study This Christmas - Pt 1 This simple blog reveals the number one reason why you get nothing from the Bible. In fact, when I reveal the number one reason why you get nothing from the Bible, you may take the “smack your forehead” 🤦🏻‍♂️ emoji and make it a literal action by smacking your own forehead. I‘m actually curious if this number one reason is prevalent in your life, because it sure can be in mine. So, why do WE get nothing from the Bible? First, let me stress one purpose of God’s Word... He wants to speak to YOU. Yes, you! He wants you waiting and longing to hear from Him. He desires to fill you with truth and wisdom. Truth and wisdom that’ll change everything about your life. It‘ll save you for eternity through faith in Jesus Christ. It’ll strengthen your daily walk with and faith in the God Who saved you! It’ll make you a more effective witness for Him! Simply restated, your God wants to speak to you, and He does this through His Word-the Bible! Ok, I h...

  Christmas Excitement Captured It’s Christmas! Are you excited? This picture captures one boy’s excitement over getting a present for Christmas!  The young man pictured is my nephew, Joshua. He is a very sweet boy with a very kind heart! For the most part, Joshua is very calm, but when anticipation builds within, it’s hard to contain the happiness that leads to an outward expression of JOY! Due to the advancements of technology, we are all able to catch such sweet moments like these this Christmas. Years from now (if the files remain accessible) we’ll be able to pull moments like these out to view and cherish them! When my sister sent me this picture, it set an instant smile on my face, and then it sent my mind to work thinking about the JOY God can capture through His view finder on His eternal camera of remembrance!  I began to wonder, have I made Him smile recently with my reactions to His grace? What moments has God caught me rejoicing due to the eager anticipation t...

  MERRY CHRISTMAS From our family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS, and God bless you! We cherish the Way, the Truth, and the Life...He, Jesus, is the very reason we celebrate Christmas! Be sure to praise Him today! Blessed Beyond Measure, Pastor Justyn, Mrs. Rachel and Lydia Grace

  BEFORE REVELATION    BEFORE REVELATION Today, we are on the eve of celebrating one of the greatest revelations that ever happened on earth - the revealing of God in human flesh...we know His name to be JESUS CHRIST, or, EMMANUEL:  God with us ! Note the following verses: Matthew 1:23 " Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Introduction : Amazing, amen?! Now, let's consider three "before birth" truths about Mary and Joseph before baby Jesus was revealed.  I. There was obedience before revelation. Mary  Obeyed:  Luke 1:38 "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Joseph  Obeyed: Matthew 1:24-25 ...

  Christmas Celebration 2017 Today, was our Christmas Celebration Sunday, and we were greatly blessed with wonderful services! Thank you to every leader, helper, adult and child that made our Christmas Program entitled, “What If?,” so wonderful! You all did a fantastic job! You can view our Christmas Program by  clicking here . Thank you to every First Time Visitor (It was a joy to meet each of you.), Returning Guest (Thank you for choosing to return!), Faithful Attendee and Church Member. Your presence made braking 140 a reality today! God bless you, and we trust you were greatly encouraged by the ministry of the Word, as well as, the spirit of Crossroads. (We missed each individual and family who were either sick or traveling. You have been lifted up!) Thank you to everyone who stayed for our fellowship meal together, and for those who brought a delectable dish to share! Thank you to each person who unselfishly aided in “clean up“ or “child watch“ after the meal - what a ble...

  The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! The most wonderful time of the year can be even better with a surrendered and submissive heart to and for the Lord Jesus Christ!   May this most wonderful time of the year be centered around our wonderful Saviour, and let’s purpose to make sure He is the center of our joy and the reason why we sing, attend church, worship, preach, invite others to church, give gifts, help others, etc! As Pastor, I’m so thankful and privileged to be Pastoring Crossroads Baptist Church during another Christmas Season. I’m praying that I’ll lead and feed the flock of God the way God would have it to be led and fed - in accordance with His Holy Word! Let’s freely worship Christ this Christmas, for we may not have such freedoms next year!  This time of the year is wonderful, because Christ is wonderful! Blessed Beyond Measure, Pastor Justyn Smith (at Crossroads Baptist Church)