The Cross Raising Celebration

To say yesterday was one of the most powerful days in the life of our church is an understatement. I am worn out but in awe of how many people came out and how moving the day was for everyone.

I will never forget pulling up to our post for the first "congregational" event and seeing traffic backed up a 1/4 of a mile. Get ready, newhope, this is only a preview of what is to come.

After the crane lifted high the cross, I shared a brief homily about "WHY?" That is, why would hang a cross when many contemporary churches are steering away from buildings looking like anything traditional. Why would we raise a cross when many people find it unnecessary? Here are just a few answers to the big WHY question:

(BTW - this is straight from my homily notes. Truthfully, I don't have the energy or need to tighten them up or make them cutesy for the Internet. :-))

Why? In a day when more and more contemporary churches are looking like business buildings, warehouses and movie theaters, why did we stay with putting a cross on the building? Because the church is not a building, there is nothing wrong with a church deciding to not put the cross, or looking like a secular business building or warehouse or strip mall for that matter. In case you don't know, I told the Lord years ago, “I will never pastor a church in a strip mall...” And God said, "Oh yea..." Wouldn't you know the Garret Road location was our next stop on the journey of newhope. :-)

But WHY that cross on top of this building?

This Cross, 60 feet off the ground, is a:

1. Visual reminder of God’s incredible love…
a. He has spread wide His arms and put on display incredible love!
b. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave...” How did He give, by sending His Son to die on a sin scarred and blood stained cross!
c. We sing a song, "Amazing Love..." It goes like this, Amazing love, how can it be, that you my King would die for me!”
d. Every Sunday, every day you ride by, every day you think of this church and that cross, be reminded of God’s incredible love poured out for us.




2. Visual reminder of God’s amazing grace!
a. I pray this cross will serve to remind you and this community of God’s amazing grace!
b. The Bible says this, “Let anyone who calls on the name of the LORD be saved!” (Romans 10:13) WHO? ANYONE! That’s grace!
c. This cross reminds us every time we see it, this church is for who? ANYONE. Who? ANYONE! It’s an invitation to amazing grace! The old hymn out it like this, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see." May this cross always serve to remind ANY AND EVERYONE that grace and forgiveness are available in this community because God has shed His blood on an old rugged cross! Amen church!
d. Let anyone - that means Asian, Latino, Black, White, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, found, lost, content, empty – let anyone who calls on the name of the Lord be saved! Since day one we have always said, “Come as you are…”



3. Visual Reminder of Discipleship!
a. This cross reminds me of what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, a DISCIPLE!
b. This cross reminds me that my life no longer belongs to me. It is not mine anymore. I am a claimed, forgiven, and now called Christian to live for Him and Him alone. This cross reminds us that we are called to a life of discipleship. This faith impacts how I treat others, how I interact with the world, what kind of music I listen to, what kind of movies I attend, how I raise my kids, how I treat my spouse, how I spend my money - EVERYTHING.
c. Our Vision is to REACH, TEACH, RELEASE! On the front end, that Vision is all about God's love and grace. On the back end, that Vision is all about RELEASING fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Sold out, radical and reckless followers of the crucified Lord of life! That means following Jesus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 weeks a year! No room for half-hearted dedication.
d. Some might ask, "How many people do we want to REACH, TEACH, RELEASE? Here is the simple answer - our task of reaching people for Jesus, teaching them the Word, and releasing fully devoted followers shall not end until there is NOT ONE person in central North Carolina left to Reach, Teach, and Release! The Bible says this:

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8 – 10)

Notice there is no timeline or cap on that task! Check this out:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Say it with me...“I have been crucified with Christ / I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." We see this cross every Sunday and we pull out this lot, knowing that we have been crucified with Christ and He now lives in me. Friends, that is discipleship. At my best, I am a dead man walking! Dead to self and alive to Christ!
f. That’s powerful, newhope!

Review - while looking at that awesome cross on top of our new church home, tell me what this cross visually reminds us of?
➢ Visual reminder of God’s incredible love…
➢ Visual reminder of God’s amazing grace…
➢ Visual reminder of discipleship


ILLUSTRATION: The Charing Cross
One of the reference points of London is the Charing Cross. It is near the geographical center of the city and serves as a navigational tool for those confused by the streets.
A little girl was lost in the great city. A policeman found her. Between sobs and tears, she explained she didn’t know her way home. He asked her if she knew her address. She didn’t. He asked her phone number; she didn’t know that either. But when he asked her what she knew, suddenly her face lit up. “I know the Cross,” she said, “Show me the Cross and I can find my way home from there.”

So can you. Keep a clear vision of the cross on your horizon and you can find your way home. May this cross always be God's way of showing people His way home.