Crosspoint is a Lutheran Church where we believe that Jesus is God's
only son, and through his death and resurrection, we are freely given
God's grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. The Bible is God's only word, and the source of inspiration and teaching.
WHO IS JESUS?
For
more than 2,000 years people have asked the question, "Who is Jesus?".
We were not present when Jesus lived on this earth, but in the Bible we
have the record of his birth, life, death on the cross, and
resurrection. Study of the Bible, God's Word, will enable you to seek
out the answer to this age-old question. But be careful - it is an
answer that will challenge you to respond!
WHAT IS THE LUTHERAN CHURCH - MISSOURI SYNOD?
Crosspoint is a part of a voluntary association of independent congregations called The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
These congregations share a common confession of faith, as well as
common goals for ministry and cooperative work. More information about
this common confession and mission can be found at:
With
the Universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator
of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer
and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in
the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who
creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.
Lutheran
churches arose almost 500 years ago when Christians sought to return
the church to the teachings of Jesus and His first disciples. The issues
on which the "reformation" focused can be summarized in three short
phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
GRACE ALONE
God
loves the people of the world, even though we often live in ways that
are against his plan for our lives. He sent Jesus, His Son, to save and
reunite us to Him.
FAITH ALONE
By
His suffering and death Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal
life for all people of all times. Those who hear this Good News and
believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in us
and gives people forgiveness through Jesus.
SCRIPTURE ALONE
The
entire Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals
His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the only way
we discover God's plan for our lives. Our church still focuses on these
truths today!
WHY IS CROSSPOINT A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION OF OTHER CONGREGATIONS?
Just
as it is a good idea for individual Christians to be together with
other Christians for mutual support, encouragement, and accountability,
so also, we believe it is a good idea for churches. By being part of an
organization of congregations (often called a "denomination") we hold
one another accountable to true teaching and to pursuing the mission of
the church. You can enter any LCMS congregation and be sure that,
although the methods for ministry may differ, the same commitment to
God's Grace and His Word will be found there!
BAPTISM & MEMBERSHIP
ABOUT BAPTISM
Before returning to heaven, Jesus left His disciples with these instructions (known as the Great Commission of the Church), “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28.19-20) Making disciples of Jesus Christ from generation to generation has been the primary work of the Christian Church for 2,000 years. At Crosspoint, we continue the teaching and practice of the original disciples by teaching the truth of the scriptures handed down to us and baptizing new members of the faith in the name of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
ABOUT MEMBERSHIP
Membership in a church is not a requirement of salvation, but it is an important part of our confession of faith in Jesus and a vital way for Christians to practice their faith in the Word and will of God. As a Christian community, we are called to support and encourage each other, and to ask and offer forgiveness. Jesus makes this possible through the love and forgiveness He has given to us.
ABOUT CROSSPOINT
OUR STAFF Rev. Robert Stevens - Pastor
Susan Fiehler - Administrator
Adam Guenthner - Music Leader
OUR HISTORY
Gracepoint was started as a “mission plant” of Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior in Green Valley.
In
2006-07, Jim Halsted a staff member at Risen Savior started forming a
small group in Green Valley. They were called Sahuarita Lutheran
Fellowship.
August
2007, Steve Patton a seminary student arrived to begin vicarage at Risen
Savior, with the intention of starting a new congregation in Sahuarita.
In February 2008,
Vicar Steve began working with the small group, envisioning and teaching
Sunday School on porch of Risen Savior. By fall 2008, Steve was
ordained and the group began meeting in his home, with the great help of
Myra his wife. At this time the new name was decided upon by the group,
Gracepoint Lutheran Church.
In
February 2009, worship services began in the Sahuarita High School
Cafeteria. The group continued to meet there until Sept 2011.
2011
was a busy year for Gracepoint. We purchased the old Sahuarita
Christian Academy property at our current location in February. In March
we were officially chartered as a congregation of the Lutheran Church –
Missouri Synod. And in September we began worshipping at the new site.
In
2016, we changed our name from Gracepoint to Crosspoint to minimize
confusion with other churches and to reflect our deepening commitment to
the mission of Christ our Savior, who calls His disciples to take up
the cross and follow Him. (Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23)
In September 2018, Crosspoint extended a call to Rev. Robert Stevens. Pastor Stevens accepted the call and was installed on October 28th, 2018.
THE MEANING OF CROSSPOINT
As a Christian church we believe that no other historical event was more important for the salvation of man than the day Jesus died on the cross to restore the brokenness caused by our sin. Jesus is both God who came down from heaven and the only perfect man who has ever lived on earth. Only Jesus was worthy of being the ultimate sacrifice to pay for our sins. This makes the symbol of the cross a powerful reminder of God’s grace for us and the lengths that God will go in order to save us.
Crosspoint seeks to be a church that humbly remembers our need for God’s grace and mercy. So we gather for worship before an altar at the point of the cross. We regularly receive the Lord’s Supper at this altar for the forgiveness of our sins, just as Jesus instructed His disciples to do “the night when He was betrayed.” (1 Corinthians 11:23)
For us, the point of the cross is also a symbol of hope. On the third day after His death (Easter Sunday), Jesus rose from the tomb alive, appearing to many people and living among them for many days. Jesus’ saving mission was complete. Before He returned to heaven, He promised He would come again and fully restore the world and those who believe in Him. As gruesome as the cross event surely was, it is also the day that death and sin were defeated and eternal life and salvation were won for all people…if we will look “to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Crosspoint is a Lutheran Church where we believe that Jesus is God's
only son, and through his death and resurrection, we are freely given
God's grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. The Bible is God's only word, and the source of inspiration and teaching.
