Why do we exist? What were we put on earth to do? These are among the most important questions we can ask in life. As a church we ask ourselves the same questions. From time-to-time it is good and even necessary for us to remind ourselves of what God has called us to do.

Our Mission statement:

CrossWay Bible Church exists to glorify God by making disciples who: Worship God, Grow in Christ, and Impact the World.

As a church, we long to become a people who worship God with our whole hearts, both in our lifestyle and our worship on Sunday mornings. We long to invest and equip God’s people for the work of ministry, growing in Christ together. And our prayer is that this worship and this growth would fuel us to make an impact for Christ in the world around us. 

How do we impact the world for Jesus in our every day of our lives? As the Lord directed me in preparing for our Sunday sermon, I was challenged with the truth that in order to honor God with our actions, it must comes from the inside out. 

In Ezekiel 37, there is an unbelievable scene of God's mercy and re our passage this morning. Verses 1-14. You may have heard this passage by another name, “Valley of Dry Bones.”

This passage shows us powerful images that paint a picture of God’s mercy and grace; how he loves and rescues lost and broken sinners. God gives Ezekiel a vision of what His power can do in the midst of lost and broken lives.

While this story is written to the people of Israel, showing their spiritual condition in the midst of captivity, we must realize that we all find ourselves in this story. All in all, Ezekiel 37 is about the human condition. It’s about our hopelessness without God, and it’s also about God’s heart, God’s desire to bring those far from him near. In the midst of God’s judgement; God provides mercy. We must remember that. God provides a vision of what his saving power looks like. 

Looking at Ezekiel 37:1-14, there are a few truths that remind us of God's miracle of salvation. 

• Keep in mind the harsh reality of life without Christ

As we talk about impacting the world for Christ, we must remind ourselves of God’s power to bring life in the midst of death. Only when God intervenes does our life have hope. In the midst of hopelessness, God brings hope.

The same is true for Christians as we think about living for Christ in our world. In our jobs, in our schools, even in our families, we see brokenness all around us.

As the prophet Ezekiel looks out on the valley of dry bones, God asks him: "Can these bones live." 

Many times when I think about God’s call for us to impact the world, it seems so daunting. I feel like Ezekiel looking out on that desolate field. We are often tempted to think: "Will people really respond when I talk to them about Jesus?" "Do people want to hear what I have to say?" That fearful outcome can be crippling.

In order to impact the world for Christ, we must understand that the power of God through his gospel is the only remedy for the ultimate problem of sin and death.  We must rest in this truth. While we want society to change for the better, while we are called to care for people’s physical needs (like Jesus did) We must understand that the message of the gospel is the ultimate and eternal hope for people in our world who are far from God. 

By God’s grace, He uses us to take part in his saving work.

As Ezekiel obeyed God’s command. Something amazing happened.

The bones began to rattle, they came together bone-to-bone. Flesh grew and skin covered them. God was restoring this valley of bones. As we encounter this vision, another truth emerges:

•  Embrace your role as God’s ambassador to restore lost and broken people

Ezekiel’s part in this glorious restoration was so small that no one could ever assume that he provided the power to make it happen. All the credit goes to God. Being God he, obviously, could have restored these bones without Ezekiel’s words, yet God chose him to participate in his magnificent work.

 The same is true for us. 2 Corinthians 5:20-“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf“

God allows us to participate in his work to bring those far from him to have a relationship with their creator. As followers of God we must:

•  Marvel at the miracle that God brings new life in the face of certain death.

The whole house of Israel was a lost cause, yet God will restore them. Ezekiel 37:12 says he will open their graves and they will know that he is God when He brings life from the midst of death.

For us, this proclamation shows us the mercy and power of God, and it points us to our Messiah, Jesus. He suffered death and was buried for crimes and sins he never committed. But we know that his death and resurrection made it possible for all those far from God to have new life in the midst of certain death.

What can this look like for CrossWay in 2020?

• We long to see others through God’s eyes and let it fuel our actions.

Seeing the condition of our spiritual lives without Christ, it must lead us to compassion. In Matthew 9:37, Jesus says: “The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest.” Just before these verses Matthew describes Jesus’ emotional state, He had compassion for them because they were sheep without a shepherd.

Compassion means a deep gut-wretching affection for others.

One reason we don’t share the hope we have in Christ is because we don’t share the deep compassion of Jesus. My prayer for all of us is that we would weep because those we see everyday, those in the neighborhoods around us, whether poor or rich or anywhere in between, they are sheep without a shepherd without Christ.

• We embrace sharing our hope in Christ as a part of the discipleship process. 

As a church, we want to be more equipped and confident in sharing our faith. As leaders, as pastors, We want to provide you with resources and opportunities to grow. This is one of our main priorities for 2020. We need to make sure we establish a strong foundation for how we can share Christ with others. 

• Impacting the World starts with your world

In order to impact the world for Christ, we must have a heart and desire for the lost. Think about where God has placed you. What is your sphere of influence: your job, your neighborhood, groups you are a part, people you interact with on a daily or weekly basis.

Who is one person you can commit to pray for over the next few weeks? Pray for God to work in their heart to give them a hunger for the truth of the gospel, and that he might use you to share His gospel with them, so that can passionately live for God too!

I am so excited for what God has for us in the coming year. I pray that our heart will align with God's heart as we seek to impact the world around us. 

See you Sunday! 

Pastor Sam