Cross Creek Church Blog

Summer Series: A Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Do you ever struggle with discontentment, even while recognizing how much God has blessed you?

We live in a beautiful place. Many of us experience safety, provision, meaningful relationships, and for some, a saving relationship with the Lord. And yet, it is still easy to find ourselves grumbling or lacking a deep sense of delight and satisfaction in Him.

If that resonates with you, you are not alone.

Beginning May 24, we will start a new sermon series guided by A Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. Though it was written in the 1600s, its message speaks directly to the struggles we still face today.

Throughout June and July, we will pair each sermon with a weekly reading, one chapter at a time, to help you go deeper.

You can pick up a copy on Sunday morning, order from Amazon, or find it on Hoopla. We will be using the Zaak edition.

We would love for you to join us this summer.

Pursuing faithfulness in singleness, marriage, and sexuality

As part of our ongoing “Relationships in God’s Design” sermon series, we’re taking time to reflect on what it means to build Christ-centered community in the church—especially across different seasons of life. In these three conversations, Pastor Chris Peters and Women’s Ministry Director, Laura Dougherty discuss how singles and married people can better connect, how to navigate discontentment in singleness, and how we can all pursue a more biblical view of sexual intimacy in a culture that often teaches otherwise.
Singleness and marriage both come with strengths and struggles—and sometimes, a lack of conversation between those two groups can make meaningful connection difficult. This video encourages believers to bridge that gap by asking intentional, heartfelt questions and creating space to share life across seasons and experiences. The goal isn’t to “fix” one another but to encourage mutual growth in Christ. This kind of relational depth helps all members of the church feel known, valued, and invited into meaningful fellowship, regardless of marital status.

When singleness feels unwanted or lonely, it’s easy to get stuck in a place of longing. This video speaks directly to that experience, offering both compassion and wisdom. There’s an invitation to trust God’s timing, pursue meaningful connection in the present, and remain open to what the Lord might provide. Drawing from Proverbs 3, the conversation encourages singles not to overlook the beauty and purpose of their current season. It also highlights the ways singles within the church are already contributing richly to the life of the body—through friendship, service, and shared community.
Cultural messages about sexuality are constant and powerful—but often far from the biblical vision of intimacy. This conversation emphasizes the importance of awareness and intentionality, recognizing that we are always being shaped by the influences around us. Rather than defaulting to silence or defensiveness, believers are encouraged to engage in gospel-centered conversations within trusted relationships. Resources like Sex in a Broken World by Paul David Tripp, The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis, and the ministry Harvest USA are recommended for further reflection. Whether single or married, it’s within close friendships, small groups, and especially within marriage itself that space can be created for honest, wise dialogue and encouragement.

🎙️ Sermon archive

What Does It Mean to Love One Another in the Church?

As part of our ongoing “Relationships in God’s Design” sermon series, we’re taking time to reflect on what it means to build Christ-centered community in the church—especially when it’s challenging. In these two conversations, Pastor Chris Peters and Women’s Ministry Director, Laura Dougherty discuss how favoritism can subtly impact the way we relate to one another, and what it looks like to love deeply even when it’s difficult.

This conversation explores the sin of partiality as described in James 2, with reflections prompted by a sermon from Jason Tucker. Favoritism is examined not only in obvious ways but also in more subtle forms—such as how we respond to political views, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or gender. There’s a challenge to consider: What causes me to immediately favor or disfavor someone, even without knowing them? The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing each person as an image bearer of God and making space to truly understand those with different experiences. Referencing a framework by Tim Keller, it’s noted that even when Christians differ in their cultural or political approaches, they are still called to seek the good of the world as salt and light.

Loving others isn’t always easy—especially when relationships are strained. Drawing from John 13:35 and 1 Corinthians 13, this video reflects on how love is the defining mark of a disciple and yet can feel difficult in practice. It’s often easier to say we’re “frustrated” than to admit we’re not loving someone well, but honest self-reflection can be the starting point for growth. The conversation also highlights that while Scripture calls believers to love everyone, it doesn’t require the same level of emotional connection with every person. The encouragement is to take the next faithful step—whether that’s asking a sincere question, offering grace in hard moments, or staying engaged even when love involves correction or persistence.

🎙️ Sermon archive

Marriage Roles: Living Out Ephesians 5

This post is part three of a three-part blog series expanding on themes from our current sermon series on relationships. Each post includes a video interview conducted by our Women’s Ministry Director, Laura Dougherty with our Pastor, Chris Peters.

These two videos zoom in on Ephesians 5 and the roles of husbands and wives. Pastor Chris speaks with humility and care as he addresses questions around submission, respect, and sacrificial love in marriage.

What if submission feels confusing, frustrating, or even painful? Pastor Chris acknowledges the difficulty and clarifies what this call does—and doesn’t—mean. He also offers encouragement for women navigating this with wisdom and grace.


How do men grow in spiritual leadership without falling into pride or passivity? Pastor Chris offers practical encouragement and emphasizes the importance of community and intentionality for husbands.

🎧 Full interview available as a podcast

🎙️ Sermon archive

Living in Community: Mutual Submission and Humility

This post is part two of a three-part blog series expanding on themes from our current sermon series on relationships. Each post includes a video interview conducted by our Women’s Ministry Director, Laura Dougherty with our Pastor, Chris Peters.

Relationships are hard because people are broken. So why does God call us to submit to one another? This post explores what mutual submission really means—and what it doesn’t.

Submission isn’t about control or passivity. Pastor Chris explains how humility and love are essential in healthy Christian community, and why this command is about your posture before God more than the worthiness of the other person.

 

🎧 Full interview available as a podcast

🎙️ Sermon archive

Our Foundation: God’s Design for Relationships

This post is part one of a three-part blog series expanding on themes from our current sermon series on relationships. Each post includes a video interview conducted by our Women’s Ministry Director, Laura Dougherty with our Pastor, Chris Peters.

Before we talk about the “how” of relationships, we begin with the “why.”

These three short videos explore why our relationships matter so deeply, how they reflect God’s nature, and why placing God first changes everything.


Pastor Chris shares his hopes and prayers for this series, highlighting the beauty and challenge of relationships and God’s desire to be glorified through them. Many in our church are walking through painful or complex relational situations. This series is meant to be a help, a comfort, and a challenge for all of us.


The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in perfect relationship with one another. Pastor Chris invites us to see that divine community as the starting point for understanding how we’re meant to relate to others with humility, love, and unity.


For most of us, our human relationships come first. But Pastor Chris explores why and how our relationship with God needs to be primary—the foundation for how we love, forgive, and grow with others.

🎙️ Sermon archive

Relationships in God’s Design

Relationships. Relationships. As we move into this fall season at Cross Creek Church, so looking forward to diving into a sermon series where we’re going to focus specifically on both the beauty of our relationships and the challenge of them.

Certainly, whether it’s in a marriage relationship, friendships, co-workers, neighbors, parenting, an extended family, or any other number of connections we have with people. Relationships are one of those areas where we know the glory of God can shine and we experience the image of God that we see in one another. And at the same time, it’s one of those places that we know from even the early chapters of the Bible that the fall has affected and where we need Jesus, his redeeming love, his rescuing grace.

And so as we go through the next couple months in the life of our church, we’re going to be looking at topically through the scriptures, different verses that speak to relationships and some of the dynamics at play there. I hope it’ll be transformative to us.

We know that the Lord Jesus told us that we’re to love him with all that we have and then we’re to love our neighbor as ourself. So we know this is an important thing for us in life to grow in and also something that can really bless us if we embrace his plan and his purposes.

So I hope to see you each Sunday over the next couple of months as we dive into this special series.

“Twelve” Campaign Celebration

And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
— Joshua 4:21–24

Fifteen years ago, Cross Creek Church launched with 12 households and a calling to glorify God by inviting all into His grace. Earlier this month, we paused to celebrate a major milestone in that journey: the completion of our “Twelve” Campaign—a three-year initiative of faith and generosity through which God provided over $693,000 to secure and renovate our church home.

“Twelve” Celebration Video

This campaign began during our 12th year as a church and was named Twelve – Called by Him, Called for Him, reflecting both our beginning and the biblical paradigm of God working through 12 tribes and 12 apostles. What started as a shared space with Lake Crest Presbyterian Church grew into an opportunity: to purchase, repair, and renew a space that now serves as our central hub for worship, community, and mission.

Before & After

Through this campaign, we were able to accomplish:

  • Flooring upgrade in almost all of the building
  • Repainting all children’s rooms with dynamic themes, and all other areas of the building
  • Replaced existing play area with a professionally installed playground,
  • Roof repairs
  • Resealing and repainting the lines on the entire parking lot
  • Security and lighting upgrades
  • Expanding our stage and backdrop
  • Most recently, our sound system speakers and paneling, and new projectors

Other improvements we considered and might hope to pursue include restroom updates, foyer expansion, additional parking, and a potential outdoor pavilion for gathering and outreach.

Want to Learn More?

You can read our full FAQ for details about the campaign, history, and future plans.

Strategic Planning Update

On Sunday morning, April 27, we’ll have a strategic planning update where we can answer questions people may have on the “Twelve” Campaign Celebration FAQs or other matters related to long-term direction with our property and facilities.

God's Plan, Our Purpose - 2025 Missions Theme

Reflections on Missions Month

This past month we were challenged and encouraged as we bore witness to the wondrous ways that our ministry partners have participated in God’s sovereign plan in our city, state, and across the globe. There was also a distinct call to each of us to join in those efforts as we discern the Lord’s plans and purposes for each of us to be on mission with our King. How might the Lord be burdening your heart to participate in His mission?

Here are just some of the ways that the Lord has been stirring the hearts of His people this past month… 

Our Missionary month was extremely heartfelt. Listening to their challenges and acceptance of God’s word and their perseverance to continue their mission was amazing. David and Jordan Fleming were very inspiring. Being in Senegal and having such a great language barrier has to be very hard. While listening to them, their love of our Lord was so apparent. I could tell they will continue to be vigilant and break that barrier. I would love to visit them.
– Sylvia Robbins

January is my time for reflection and renewal. Our Mission Conference opens my eyes to their call and faithful response. The Rockwell presentation stands out as an example of accepting a call and laboring to reach an isolated unreached people. Watching the presentation and experiencing with them the first warming of individuals to the gospel was a confirmation of a faithful servant who have labored for many years in obedience to God’s call.
– Bill Shine

I LOVED the hands-on Eurasia Sports Camp for the kids. We have to grow the next generation.
– Brian Duckworth

There are so many people that are not as fortunate as the US population, or even quite a few of the people within the US. I’m very encouraged by the engagement of our church and the effort we put forth. We cannot support everyone of course, but we are investing our time and resources for what we can do. I so do look forward to this ministry growing inside our church as well as seeing the impact it makes across many borders/lives.
– Bill Lambiase

Throughout Missions Month, as we listened to the stories of missionaries serving in different parts of the world, I was struck by what seemed to me to be overwhelming obstacles (language barriers, different customs, pagan beliefs, etc.) that missionaries face in trying to bring the Gospel to people of a different culture. I confess that I felt much of this effort would not bear any fruit. But last Sunday, when Jordan Fleming pointed out that we may not see fruit of missions work for many years—perhaps not even in our lifetime—I realized that I was looking at missionary work from a human perspective, wanting to see and measure results, and not trusting that God will use the work of those on the mission field to bring forth fruit in due season. This realization has changed my view of missions work.
– Vicki Brewer

I was really challenged by Brad Allison’s message about acknowledging our weakness and relying on God’s strength. His examples from the mission field have stayed with me. 
And the International Potluck dinner was a great time, as always! Love to see our church family come together with our missionaries and get to know a bit about them, the cultures they work in and the challenges and victories they’re seeing. It helps us know how better to pray for and support them.
– Sharon Duckworth

Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-20

Our pastor will conclude the Fall series on the spiritual Armor of God this Sunday, including exploring what “praying in the Spirit” means. Here are key points from the first part of that teaching in case some would like to have the quotes and bible references “in print.”

Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-20

Alert in Prayer – v 18

MAIN IDEA – Since Christ has called us to the spiritual army of God, we should remain alert, praying in the Spirit.

Why do we need to hear this? Although there are numerous other paradigms the Bible presents for the Christian life, one we most easily forget is that of spiritual warfare. We don’t actively remember that we are in a “spiritual combat zone” and this renders us less effective in prayer.

Prayer as Warfare

“The armor God provides for us must never be thought of mechanically, still less magically. The danger, the temptation, is to feel that as long as we put on this armor, there is no more to be done. All is well…the armor will in and of itself protect us, so having put it on, we can relax, and put watching aside…But that is the exact opposite of the true position….Every single piece, excellent though it is in itself, will not suffice us, and will not avail us, unless always and at all times we are in a living relationship to God and receiving strength and power from Him.” Lloyd-Jones

“Our blessed Lord, when He was here in the flesh, was engaged in the same conflict. He was ‘tempted in all points like as we are’. The devil assailed him, and all these powers were used against Him. And the very fact that we are Christians means that we are inevitably involved in this fight and conflict. Nothing is more fatal than to start in the Christian life with the notion that now we are Christians we have finished with all our difficulties and problems. That is far from being the truth. Indeed, it is almost the antithesis of the truth. The New Testament rather gives the impression that because we are Christians, we must expect attacks upon us in a way that we have never known or realized before. But, thank God, we are not only told that we have to wrestle and fight in this way, we are also told how we can be enabled to do so successfully.” Lloyd-Jones

Aware in Prayer

  • Mark 14:34-38
  • 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, Stand firm in your faith.”
  • Acts 20:31 – “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.”
  • 1 Cor 16:13, – “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
  • Rev 3:2-3 – “You have the reputation of being alive, but are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”
  • Col 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”