CrossPointe Church Westerville | Sermons (Audio)

True biblical worship extends far beyond Sunday morning songs and emotional moments in church. It is living in constant awareness of God's worth and responding with obedience, gratitude, and praise in every part of life. Psalm 96 reveals three compelling reasons why God deserves our complete devotion: He is great, glorious, and just. His greatness means He is supreme and unequaled in being, power, and authority. His glory represents the sum of all His perfect attributes and character. His justice assures us that He reigns as the righteous judge of all the earth. Worship becomes a lifestyle when we fill our minds with Scripture, discipline our thoughts to focus on God's character, and approach Him with reverence throughout each day.

Jesus came as the promised light to a world trapped in spiritual darkness. Matthew 4:12-17 shows how Christ fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy by bringing hope to Galilee, a region steeped in spiritual blindness and idolatry. Unlike other religions that offer moral codes, Christianity teaches that God Himself entered the world as light incarnate. Jesus began His ministry among the despised and downcast, calling them to repentance and offering the kingdom of heaven. His message wasn't just about being kind, but about turning from sin and self-reliance to trust in Him as Savior and King.

The story of Ruth reveals how God specializes in restoring what appears permanently lost. When Naomi lost her husband and sons, leaving her empty and bitter, she couldn't see God's plan unfolding. Through Ruth's faithfulness and Boaz's role as kinsman redeemer, God restored not only Naomi's family line but also her hope. This restoration came through God's established laws and covenant faithfulness, not human manipulation or shortcuts. Ruth's journey from Moabite foreigner to honored wife demonstrates God's grace in elevating the humble. Ultimately, this story points to Jesus Christ, our ultimate Redeemer who restores sinners to God forever.

Ruth chapter 3 reveals that trusting in God's sovereignty doesn't mean passive waiting—it calls for bold, faithful action. Naomi devised a risky plan for Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor, and Ruth courageously proposed marriage to him as her kinsman-redeemer. Boaz responded with integrity, promising to redeem her if the closer relative declined, while honoring God's established order. After taking wise, biblically informed action, Naomi demonstrated trust-filled patience, knowing God would work through their obedience. This passage challenges us to examine where we might be using God's sovereignty as an excuse for inactivity in relationships, evangelism, holiness, and service.

Ruth's story in chapter 2 reveals how God works through ordinary circumstances to accomplish extraordinary purposes. When Ruth went gleaning for survival, she happened to work in Boaz's field—but this was divine orchestration, not coincidence. Boaz showed remarkable kindness to this foreign widow, going far beyond legal requirements to provide for her needs. When Naomi saw Ruth return with abundant grain, she recognized God's faithfulness and providence. This story teaches us that God is never too busy for our small concerns and often works through common, everyday actions rather than spectacular miracles.

Life often unravels without warning, as seen in the Book of Ruth where famine forces difficult decisions and tragedy strikes repeatedly. Naomi's journey from Bethlehem to Moab and back reveals how circumstances can break us, yet we are not without hope. When bitterness clouds our vision, we can miss God's grace working even in our darkest moments. Ruth's extraordinary commitment to follow Naomi and her God demonstrates faith beyond human understanding. Though Naomi returned feeling empty and bitter, God was orchestrating events with perfect timing, bringing them home at harvest season. Their story reminds us that divine providence works through our real choices and circumstances, even when we cannot see the bigger picture God is writing.

Many churches avoid deep theology, thinking it doesn't connect with people's hearts. However, Paul's response in Romans 11 shows us that true understanding of God's character naturally leads to worship. After eleven chapters of profound doctrine, Paul burst into spontaneous praise because he was overwhelmed by God's infinite wisdom, knowledge, and riches. When we truly grasp that God's judgments are unsearchable and His ways beyond our understanding, we respond with humility rather than pride. God is the source, means, and goal of all things - we need Him, but He doesn't need us. The only appropriate response to knowing who God really is becomes worship and giving Him glory forever.

In a world where assumptions can be deadly, we must be careful not to fill gaps in our knowledge with speculation rather than trusting God's revealed truth. Paul warns against becoming wise in our own sight regarding Israel's future. God has revealed that Israel's hardening is partial and temporary, lasting until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. When that time arrives, all Israel will be saved through divine intervention, not their own efforts. God's gifts and calling are irrevocable, meaning His promises to Israel remain secure despite their disobedience. This demonstrates God's faithfulness to all His people and should increase our confidence in His character and promises.

The Israelites found themselves trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea, facing an impossible situation that revealed two different responses to fear. While the people were consumed by terror and wished they had stayed as slaves in Egypt, Moses demonstrated how trust in God can manage fear. The difference wasn't whether they experienced fear, but what they did when fear came. Moses had learned to take his anxieties to God through smaller steps of obedience, proving his trust by obeying despite his fears. Jesus echoed this approach in the Sermon on the Mount, pointing people beyond their fears to their heavenly Father who knows their needs. The greater you trust, the less you will fear.

Bible Study 10_29_25

Spiritual pride is a dangerous trap that every believer faces. Paul uses the metaphor of olive trees and branches in Romans 11 to remind Gentile believers that they were once spiritually fruitless wild branches that God graciously grafted into His covenant tree. We did nothing to earn our position and contribute nothing to sustain it - the root supports us, not the other way around. When we forget this truth, we begin looking down on unbelievers instead of reaching down to help them. Paul commands us to replace pride with reverential awe, remembering that we were once exactly like those who reject Christ. True believers who stay amazed by grace never become arrogant.

Bible Study 10_22_25

Visiting Missionary John Cooley delivers a sermon at CrossPointe Church