Cross Point Church of Newberry

06/21/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
“More Than a Cardboard Cutout”

Today was a little different at Cross Point.

Pastor Jeff had kidney stone surgery on Friday and, although he was back in church this morning, he wasn’t feeling his best. On this Father’s Day, his son, Teal O’Dell, stepped into the pulpit and delivered a message that challenged us all to look beyond appearances and examine our hearts.

Teal opened by calling himself what the Apostle Paul once called himself—the chief of sinners. It was a reminder that none of us stand before God because we’ve got it all together. We stand before Him because of His grace.

The message centered around what Teal called “Cardboard Cutout Christians.” Just like those life-sized cardboard displays you see in stores, they look real from a distance. They have the appearance of something genuine, but when you get closer, you discover they’re only an image.

Using examples from his years in law enforcement, Teal compared fake police officers who look the part but can’t actually help in a crisis to Christians who may look spiritual on the outside but lack a real relationship with Christ on the inside.

He reminded us that God isn’t impressed by appearances. While people see the outward person, God looks at the heart.

One of the strongest parts of the message dealt with gossip and sowing discord. Through several passages in Proverbs, Teal showed how gossip destroys friendships, damages trust, and creates division within the body of Christ. He challenged us to stop “stoking the fire” and instead become people who protect one another rather than tear each other down.

His words were a reminder that just because something is spoken doesn’t make it true, and just because we hear something doesn’t mean we should repeat it.

Teal also spoke honestly about seasons in his own life when he struggled to find peace. He shared how stepping away from conflict and focusing on God’s Word helped him regain the peace he had been missing. Drawing from Philippians 4, he encouraged us to fill our minds with things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.

The solution to being a cardboard cutout Christian isn’t trying harder to look the part. It’s allowing God to work on the inside. Teal reminded us that if we want genuine faith, we must genuinely know God’s Word and genuinely pursue His presence.

Near the end of the message, he shared some wisdom from his grandfather, Billy O’Dell: “Just be yourself. You can’t be anybody else.” Authenticity matters. God didn’t create us to be copies of someone else. He created us to faithfully be who He called us to be.

Pastor Jeff returned briefly before the close of service and shared a story from his recent surgery. When medical staff asked him questions about blood transfusions, he smiled and told them he had already received a “royal blood transfusion” through the blood of Jesus Christ. It was a simple but powerful reminder that our hope, our salvation, and our peace are found in Him alone.

The challenge we left with today was clear:

Don’t just look like a Christian.

Be one.

And while you’re at it, share the Good News with someone else. Because a faith that’s real on the inside can’t help but overflow on the outside.

Praying Pastor Jeff continues to recover quickly, and thankful for the next generation of leaders God is raising up at Cross Point Church. ❤️🙏🏻

Please join us on Sundays at 10:00 with services beginning at 10:15.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s!!!

God Bless ✝️

06/14/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
“Knowing Who We Are Because We Know Who He Is”

Today was a little different at Cross Point Church. Pastor Jeff had planned to be away on vacation, but after a painful kidney stone attack, he had to return home and was able to be with us in service this morning. We continue to pray for his healing and are thankful he was able to be in God’s house today.

Even though Pastor Jeff was back with us, my sweet husband, Curt Hollifield, brought the message the Lord had laid upon his heart. It was gentle, humble, and incredibly powerful.

Curt began by sharing his testimony and reminding us that he isn’t a pastor with decades of ministry experience. He’s simply a man who loves Jesus, was saved at 38 years old, and has allowed God to transform his life. Sometimes those are the messages that touch our hearts the deepest.

The question he asked this morning was, “Who are we in Christ?” But as the message unfolded, he showed us that we can never truly know who we are until we first understand Who He is.

Through scriptures like 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9, and 2 Corinthians 5:17, we were reminded that salvation changes us. Not always in an instant on the outside, but first and foremost on the inside. When we become new creations in Christ, our desires change, our priorities change, and our lives begin to reflect the One who saved us.

One of the most beautiful parts of today’s message was hearing Curt talk about his love for God’s Word. He shared how he started reading a children’s Bible after being saved because he simply wanted to learn about Jesus. Since then, he has read through the entire Bible nine times, marking every chapter he reads. He said that every time he opens God’s Word, it becomes new all over again because the Bible is living and active.

He challenged us to spend time with God every day. It doesn’t have to be hours. Even fifteen or twenty minutes spent in prayer and reading His Word can change your day and your life.

Curt also reminded us of the importance of prayer. He keeps a written prayer list and faithfully prays for those who are hurting, sick, facing surgeries, or carrying heavy burdens. He reminded us that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” There is power when God’s people pray.

He encouraged us to keep inviting people to church, even if we’ve asked them many times before. Pray first. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Then invite them one more time and save them a seat.

The heart of the message centered around Psalm 91, a chapter Curt said beautifully describes who God is. He is our refuge, our fortress, our protector, our peace, and our deliverer. He reminded us that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life… the Author and Finisher of our faith… the True Vine… the Bright and Morning Star… the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys.

And because of who He is, we can know who we are.

As the musicians came and we sang “We Fall Down,” the altar filled with prayer. We were reminded that today is the day of salvation, that there are no accidents in God’s plan, and that we are here for such a time as this.

I may be a little biased, but watching my husband humbly stand and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through him was one of the greatest blessings of my day. God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

It was a beautiful morning in the house of the Lord.

May we all spend time in His Word this week, pray for one another, invite someone to church, and never forget who we are because of Who He is.

Please join us on Sundays at 10:00, services begin at 10:15.

God Bless ✝️

06/07/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
“Leaving It Behind and Pressing Forward”

There are some sermons that encourage us, and then there are some that hold up a mirror and ask us to take an honest look at where we are in our walk with Christ. Today’s message from Pastor Jeff O’Dell did exactly that.

Pastor Jeff challenged us to move beyond simply going through the motions of church and into a genuine relationship with God. Prayer was never meant to be a ritual we perform because it’s expected. Worship was never meant to be something we do for the approval of others. Both were designed to draw us closer to the One who loves us most.

One of the most powerful reminders from today’s message was that our past does not define us.

The enemy loves to keep us chained to old mistakes, old failures, old labels, and old shame. But God’s Word tells us that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come.

Pastor Jeff gave us several things we need to let go of if we want to continue growing in our faith: our past, our need for the approval of others, our desire to control everything, our shame, our fear of the future, and our unforgiveness.

That list hit me right between the eyes.

How many times do we carry things that God has already forgiven? How often do we allow fear to steal our peace or try to control situations that belong in God’s hands? If God has forgiven us, why are we still carrying the weight of what He has already removed?

I especially loved Pastor Jeff’s reminder that we are not called to live looking backward. Like Paul, we must forget those things which are behind and press toward the mark that God has placed before us. None of us have arrived. None of us know it all. We are all still growing, still learning, and still becoming who Christ saved us to be.

The altar was opened today as a place to leave burdens behind, and the invitation was simple: stop carrying what Jesus already carried for you.

As we closed with Amazing Grace, I couldn’t help but think about those beautiful words, “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.” What a fitting reminder that God never intended for His children to live in bo***ge to yesterday.

Walk forward this week knowing there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Your past is not your identity. Your mistakes are not your future. God’s grace is still sufficient, His peace is still available, and His love is still greater than anything you are carrying.

Leave it behind and keep pressing forward.

Please join us on Sundays at 10:00. Service begins at 10:15.

God Bless ✝️

06/01/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
“When the Fire Grows Dim, Stir the Coals”

Some Sundays a message doesn’t just speak to where we are, it meets us there.

This week, Pastor Jordan Smith took us to 2 Timothy 1:6-7, where Paul reminds Timothy to “stir up the gift of God” and remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Using the simple picture of a campfire after a long rain, Pastor Jordan reminded us that when the flames seem gone, the fire isn’t necessarily dead. Beneath the ashes are often old coals still holding heat, waiting to be stirred back to life.

Life has a way of raining on us. Stress. Disappointment. Heartache. Fear. Weariness. Before we know it, the fire that once burned brightly seems reduced to embers. Yet God’s answer isn’t to quit. His answer is to stir the coals.

We saw God’s power through Caleb, who at 85 years old wasn’t looking for a rocking chair, he was asking for a mountain. While others focused on giants, Caleb focused on God’s promises. Fear says it’s too late. Power says God isn’t finished.

We saw God’s love through Joseph, who had every reason to become bitter but chose forgiveness instead. Betrayed by his own brothers, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, Joseph still trusted God’s hand at work. Fear builds walls. Love builds bridges. Fear seeks revenge. Love extends grace.

We saw God’s peace and sound mind through Mary, the mother of Jesus. Long before anyone else understood what God was doing, Mary trusted Him. At Cana she simply said, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” At the cross, while others ran, she remained. Her confidence wasn’t in her circumstances, it was in who Jesus was.

But the message didn’t stop there.

Caleb pointed us toward God’s power.
Joseph pointed us toward God’s love.
Mary pointed us toward God’s peace.

Jesus is the fulfillment of them all.

He is our power for every mountain we face.
He is our love for every wound we carry.
He is our peace for every fear that tries to steal our joy.

One of the most powerful reminders of the morning was that peace isn’t found in having all the answers. Peace is found in knowing the One who does.

As the altar opened and the congregation was encouraged to seek God personally, the call was simple: Stir the fire. Remember what God has done. Trust what He has promised. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

The same God who brought you this far has not abandoned you now.

As we closed in worship singing “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” the challenge echoed beyond the sanctuary walls:

Spread the fire.

Carry His power into your battles.
Carry His love into a hurting world.
Carry His peace into anxious places.

And wherever life has tried to dampen the flame, stir the coals and watch what God can still ignite.

Please join us on Sundays at 10:00. Services start at 10:15.

God Bless ✝️

05/27/2026

July 20th - 24th
5:45 pm to 8 pm
(Light meal will be provided)

Ages: 3 yrs (potty trained) - 5th Grade.

Register your child(ren) with the below link.

Volunteers Needed: If you would like to volunteer, please register with the link also.

Get ready for an unforgettable week at Cross Point Church VBS 2026! Join us July 20–24 from 5:45pm–8:00pm for an exciting week filled with fun, friends, and faith as we learn what it means to “Shine a Light on Jesus!” Each evening will include energetic worship music, exciting games, creativ...

05/25/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
“Walking in the Light of Truth”

Today at Cross Point Church we celebrated our graduates and what a blessing it is to see young people stepping boldly into the next chapter God has prepared for them. Even more beautiful was seeing another young man stand and deliver the Word of God with conviction, humility, and truth. Brother Slayter Waters brought a message that reached far beyond age and spoke straight to the heart.

His message centered around one powerful truth… Jesus Christ is Truth.

In a world overflowing with deception, confusion, fake appearances, and shifting opinions, Brother Slayter reminded us that truth is not based on feelings, culture, or what the world says is acceptable. Truth is found in Jesus alone.

Using John 3:21, he spoke about coming into the light instead of hiding in darkness. He shared personal testimony about bo***ge, mistakes, and believing the lie that you could claim Jesus while still living however you wanted. But through the power of God’s Word and the Spirit of Truth, he discovered what so many of us have had to learn ourselves… sin promises freedom while secretly becoming chains.

One thing that stood out deeply was the comparison to bank tellers studying real currency so carefully that they can immediately recognize a counterfeit. The same applies to believers. The more we know God’s truth, the easier it becomes to recognize the lies of the enemy.

Brother Slayter spoke honestly about the pressure of this world, social media comparisons, worldly wisdom, and the constant lies Satan uses to make people feel unworthy, forgotten, or hopeless. Yet through it all came the reminder that God does not change. His truth does not change. The Gospel does not change.

Jesus still saves.
Jesus still delivers.
Jesus still sets captives free.

And the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead still changes lives today.

One of the most powerful reminders of the morning was something Pastor Jeff has often said:
“You can’t minister to somebody until they know that you love them.”

Truth without love can become harshness. But truth wrapped in love becomes the very thing that leads people to Jesus.

I may not have physically been there this morning, but listening to the recording while under the weather, I could still hear the sincerity, passion, and fire behind this young man’s message. It gives me hope seeing young people rise up unashamed of the Gospel and willing to stand in truth when the world keeps drifting further from it.

Congratulations again to all of our graduates. My prayer is that you never lose sight of the only truth that will still be standing when everything else fades away… Jesus Christ.

Please join us on Sundays at 10:00 with services starting at 10:15.

Congratulations to Cross Points Church of Newberry’s Class of 2026

05/17/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit-
Courage in a Compromising World

Today’s message from Pastor Jeff O’Dell felt less like a sermon from the pulpit and more like God sitting beside me having a hard but loving conversation about courage.

Not the loud kind.
Not the reckless kind.
But the kind of courage that stands firm when the world says bow.

Pastor Jeff took us into Daniel and reminded us of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing before a fiery furnace with a faith so steady they simply said , our God is able… but even if He does not, we still will not bow.

That hit me deep today.

Because courage is not always standing in front of kings. Sometimes courage is keeping your mouth shut when gossip is flying. Sometimes courage is refusing to participate in rumors. Sometimes courage is walking away from negativity instead of adding fuel to it. And sometimes courage is standing completely alone while trusting God to stand with you in the fire.

Whew.

When Pastor Jeff said hearing “Have you heard?” ought to make us run the other direction, I felt that. We live in a world where negativity spreads like wildfire, but Christians are called to be different. Romans 12:2 reminded us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That takes courage every single day.

One of the strongest parts of the message for me was this truth:
God did not give us the spirit of fear.

Fear talks loud these days. Fear of rejection. Fear of criticism. Fear of standing alone. Fear of what people may think. But Joshua 1:9 and Isaiah 41:10 echoed through the sanctuary this morning reminding us that God is with us wherever we go.

And I loved the simple but powerful illustration from The Wizard of Oz:
We need a brain to think with, a heart to receive it, and the courage to apply it.

That’ll preach all by itself.

Pastor Jeff spoke honestly today about growth, people-pleasing, church hurt, standing firm, and learning to obey God over man. I appreciate transparency in the pulpit because it reminds us courage is not something we are born with , it is something God grows inside us.

I walked away today asking myself:
Where am I bowing when I should be standing?

This message challenged me, convicted me, and encouraged me all at once.

May we all leave this week with the kind of courage that refuses compromise, refuses fear, refuses gossip, and refuses to bow to anything that pulls us away from God.

And if we ever find ourselves in the fire… may we remember we will never walk through it alone. ❤️

Join us on Sundays at 10:00, service begins at 10:15.

God Bless ✝️

05/10/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
“A Mother’s Greatest Calling”

Today Pastor Jeff O'Dell preached a strong and heartfelt Mother’s Day message that didn’t just pat mothers on the back… it challenged every parent to look honestly at what we are pouring into our children.

He spoke about the difference between an ungodly mother and a godly mother. One raises children for attention, appearance, popularity, and the world’s approval. The other raises her children for the glory of God. One follows the flesh… the other follows the Spirit.

Pastor Jeff reminded us that our children are watching everything , our words, our attitudes, our priorities, even how we treat others and carry ourselves. Are we leading them closer to Jesus… or farther away?

The heart of today’s message centered around Jochebed, the mother of Moses. A woman of unbelievable courage and faith. A mother willing to trust God even when her heart had to be breaking. She built that little basket, covered it with love and prayer, and trusted God with her baby floating down the Nile River. Because of her faithfulness, Moses would one day help lead a nation.

What a reminder that godly mothers may never fully see how far their prayers and sacrifices reach.

One thing Pastor Jeff said that stayed with me was how important our words are. Our children hear enough criticism from this world… they need encouragement, truth, love, and Jesus spoken over them at home.

This message wasn’t just for mothers either. It was for every parent, grandparent, and anyone helping raise the next generation.

And whew… sounds like Father’s Day may step on some toes too! 😅

Happy Mother’s Day to the women who love hard, pray harder, and keep trusting God even on the exhausting days. Your faith matters more than you know. ✝️

Join us on Sundays at 10:00. Service begins at 10:15. Have a blessed week. 🙏🏼

05/03/2026

From the Pew to the Pulpit
There’s only one truth… and it’s not ours to rewrite.

Today’s message didn’t tiptoe around anything, it came straight for the heart.

We hear a lot these days about “my truth” and “your truth,” but Pastor Jeff reminded us real clear… there’s only one Truth, and it belongs to God. Not shaped by feelings. Not adjusted to fit our lives. Just steady, unchanging, and right whether we like it or not.

And if we’re honest, that’s where it gets uncomfortable.

Because leaning on our own understanding feels easier. Especially when we’ve been walking this Christian life for a while, we start thinking we’ve got it figured out. But the truth is, we can be wrong and still feel completely right. That’s why trusting God isn’t a one-time decision… it’s a daily surrender.

One part that really stuck with me…..grace is not a free pass to keep doing what we know is wrong. That one will sit with you a minute. God’s grace is overwhelming, yes… but it was never meant to be used as an excuse to stay the same. Real repentance? It shows up as a changed life.

And then came those unshakable truths about God… the kind you hold onto when everything else feels shaky:

God’s love never runs out.
He never gets tired or worn down.
His mercy doesn’t expire.
He will never walk away from you.
And His truth? It does not change.

Not for culture. Not for comfort. Not for convenience.

Then we shifted into something so special, baby dedications that brought it all home. Because raising children in this world isn’t about perfection… it’s about foundation.

Make God the center, not just a part of life, but the center of it.
Love like Christ, sacrificial, patient, real.
Speak with grace, because words shape a home.
Pray and worship daily, not just on Sundays.
And when conflict comes (because it will), handle it God’s way, with forgiveness and truth.

What stood out most today is this:
We don’t need more time, we need fewer distractions.
We don’t get stuck by accident, we stay stuck by habit.
And if we ignore things long enough, they’ll eventually start controlling us.

That’s not easy to hear… but it’s necessary.

God’s truth isn’t always comfortable, but it is always right. And if we’ll trust Him with all our heart, and stop leaning so hard on ourselves, we might just find the kind of life that doesn’t shake so easily.

Join us on Sundays at 10:00. Service begins at 10:15. God Bless ✝️

05/01/2026

From the Pew to Praise 🙌🏼

I missed being in the pew Sunday… but I still felt what happened.

Pastor Jeff had our farmers come forward, and the church prayed for rain.

This week… the rain came.

Not just a sprinkle but we’ve gotten real, steady, needed rain and we are expecting more!

While the message was about growing in Christ, changing our hearts, trusting God more….He gave a reminder none of us can ignore:

He still hears us.
He still answers.

We say we believe in prayer… but do we really expect it?

Because this week, God didn’t just answer, He showed out.

And if He can send the rain right on time…
don’t tell me He’s not able to handle everything else too. 🌧️✝️

Please join us on Sundays at 10:00 with service starting at 10:15.

God Bless