1. CROSSing the Intersection Phil Van Auken

2. ACTS: Witnesses to Christ
1 JOHN: Children of God
LUKE: In the midst of Christ

3. These three very meaningful verses make our relationship to Christ come alive even more.
The reading from Acts tells us that the disciples were witnesses to Christ. 1 John calls the disciples children of God, while Luke mentions that Christ was in the midst of his disciples.

4. But these intimate encounters with Christ weren’t just for his disciples.
We too can be witnesses to Christ
We can help others become God’s children
We can experience Christ in our midst

5. But how can we experience these 3 things if we aren’t around Christ like his disciples were?
The answer is simple. We can have an intimate encounter with Christ when we

6. Come to the cross

7. Christ crossed the intersection of life & death on the cross—that’s what Easter is all about.
We can help others cross this same intersection.

8. But where is the cross?
It’s right in our midst, wherever we find people who are

9. Carnal
Rebellious
Oppressed
Selfish
Separated

11. Christ died on the cross so we can overcome sins like these.

13. But what about this troubled man who doesn’t know how to overcome his sin?

14. He‘s struggling with guilt over behavior he’s not proud of.
But he doesn’t how to make his guilt go away.
He doesn’t know how to cross the intersection from

15. Sin
GRACE

16. How can we help him cross this intersection to become a child of God?
The disciples certainly saw how Christ dealt with this.
Jesus was willing to

17. Associate
with
sinners

18. And so can we.
And when we reach out to sinners, Christ will be in our midst.

20. This lady needs help crossing the intersection from

21. Hate
LOVE

22. We can help her if, like Christ, we are willing to

23. Love
the
unlovable

24. The disciples themselves were not always lovable, but Christ loved Peter even after he betrayed Jesus.
Jesus loved the apostle Paul even though he persecuted the early Christian church.
This same love of Christ is also in us.

26. Here’s a young man who also needs to cross an intersection to become a child of God.
Only at the cross can he learn how to turn

27. Selfishness SACRIFICE

28. Jesus was no stranger to selfish people
Jesus was no stranger to selfish people. Many of them, like the rich young ruler in the Bible story, were drawn to him.
God sends hurting people to us too, so they can witness Christ in us.
All you have to do is

29. Sacrifice
your
time
& comfort

31. When we bring this woman to the cross, she can turn

32. A wasted
life
NEW LIFE

33. But how can we help her cross this life-giving intersection?
Very simple, we just need to

34. Reflect
Christ in
our own
lives

35. As Christians, we know what it’s like to be God’s children
Sharing this with others can give them a new lease on life

37. What this grieving woman needs right now is to turn

38. Despair
HOPE

39. Our hope for the future is receiving eternal life
But for today, prayer is our greatest hope.
We can revive people’s hope not only when we pray for them, but also when we

40. Pray
WITH
others

42. This burdened man needs to cross the intersection from

43. Disbelief
FAITH

44. Faith in
God
begins
with...

46. Faith in
Christians!

47. We can’t help people cross the intersection to Christ unless they have faith in us.
Their faith comes from our own faith in Christ.
They can witness Christ—in each of us.

48. Like the disciples, we witness Christ when he is in our midst.
And Christ is in our midst every time we help others cross the intersection to the cross itself & become children of God.