Crossroads Community Church

09/07/2026

Monday, September 7, 2026

A Love That Surpasses Knowledge: A 5-Day Bible Reading Plan
Based on Ephesians 4:17-24 | Crossroads Community Church | Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr.

Day 1: The Old Life Left Behind
Reading: Ephesians 4:17-19

Devotional: Before Christ, every person walks in spiritual darkness. The mind drifts without purpose, the conscience grows callous, and sin becomes ordinary rather than alarming. Paul warns believers not to return to that former way of living. The danger is not always dramatic rebellion -- sometimes it is simply the slow drift back toward old patterns, old thinking, and old company. Consider where your feet have been pointing lately. Are you walking toward Christ or sliding back toward familiar ground? The old life offers nothing new. It only promises more of the same emptiness. Today, recognize the darkness you have been delivered from and refuse to go back.

Personal Reflection: What old patterns of thinking still compete for your attention, and what specific step can you take today to resist them?

Practical Application: Identify one habit, relationship, or thought pattern from your former life that still has a foothold. Write it down and bring it before God in honest prayer.

09/07/2026

Subject: Week 9 Recap - The New Life: Taking Off the Old, Putting On the New

Dear Crossroads Community Church Family and Friends,

We hope this message finds you well and that your week will be filled with the grace and peace that only Christ can provide. We wanted to take a moment to recap this past Sunday's message as a reminder and encouragement for your walk with the Lord throughout the week.

Summary: The sermon explored Ephesians 4:17-24, the ninth installment in our series "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge: A Study Through Ephesians." Pastor Ricky drew on a vivid and relatable picture — taking a shower after a hot, sweaty day and then putting on the same dirty clothes — to illustrate a truth that strikes at the heart of Christian living.

When God cleanses us through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are called to match that inward cleansing with an outward change in how we live, think, and conduct ourselves.

Paul's central message is clear: Christians are not to live the way they used to live, because they are not the people they used to be. Understanding your new life in Christ must affect how you live in the new community of faith.

Takeaways:

- The old way of life is incompatible with your new identity in Christ. Paul describes the former state of those outside of Christ as marked by darkened understanding, hardened hearts, and consciences so dulled by repeated sin that what once shocked them no longer does.

As believers, we have been called out of that way of living. Returning to old patterns after being washed by the blood of Christ cancels out the very benefit of that cleansing. There are consequences for everything we think, say, and do, and we are warned not to grow careless about that reality.

- Knowing Christ is both a one-time decision and a daily commitment. To "learn Christ," as Paul writes in Ephesians 4:20, is not merely an intellectual exercise — it is entering and cultivating a living relationship with Jesus. The truth is not abstract; it is personal.

As Pastor Ricky reminded us, the better you know Jesus, the better you will make sense of truth. Salvation is received in a moment, but freedom from the former way of life is pursued daily through obedience, renewed thinking, and a conscious choice to put on the new self.

- Transformation begins in the mind. The key to taking off the old self and putting on the new is being renewed in the spirit of your mind, as Ephesians 4:23 instructs. Before Christ, we were like a radio with only one station, tuned entirely to the old way of thinking and living.

When we come to Christ, a new channel is made available to us — but we must intentionally tune in. Surrounding yourself with the old influences, the old voices, and the old ways will keep you singing the same old song. Choose to tune in to who God says you are and the power He has made available to you in Christ.

We want to close with this reminder from Pastor Ricky's message: living for Christ is rarely a single dramatic moment of surrender. More often, it is done 25 cents at a time — in the small, faithful, daily acts of love and obedience that quietly shape a life that honors God. That is the new life Paul calls us to in Ephesians 4. It is a life worth living, and it begins with a renewed mind and a willing heart.

If you have not yet trusted Christ with your life, we want you to know that today is the day. Tomorrow is not promised, but in Christ, your salvation and your eternal reward can be secured right now.

We love you, and we are grateful to do this journey alongside you.

In Christ,

Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr.
Founding Pastor, Crossroads Community Church
303 East Oak Street, Red Oak, Iowa
Phone: 712-357-1060
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.crossroadsredoak.com
Sunday Worship: 9:23 a.m. | Thursday Bible Study: 6:30 p.m.

Meets Every Sunday at 9:23am across from the old Dollar General. Please use the north alley entrance. Live stream at 10am on our Facebook.

09/06/2026

Ephesians 4

09/06/2026

Sermon notes 9.6.2026

09/05/2026

Saturday 9.5.2026

5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide
Based on "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge" -- Ephesians Week 8: Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love

Day 5: United in Christ -- The Prayer of Jesus
Reading: John 17:16-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Devotional:

In the hours before his crucifixion, Jesus did not pray for comfort. He did not pray for escape. He prayed for unity -- for his disciples and for every person who would ever believe through their testimony. That includes you. Jesus prayed that you would be one with other believers, just as he and the Father are one. This is not a casual request. This is the deepest longing of the heart of Christ for his church. He prayed that the world would look at the church and see something so unexplainably unified, so genuinely loving, that they would conclude only one thing: God sent Jesus.

Unity is not merely a strategy for church growth. It is the very testimony of the gospel. And because of Christ, you are a new creation. The old patterns of division, bitterness, and self-protection have passed away. Everything has become new. You now carry within you the capacity to be an instrument of unity, peace, and reconciling love in every room you enter. That is the life worthy of the calling you have received.

Reflection Questions:

When people observe your relationships -- within your church, your family, your workplace -- do they see a unity that points to something beyond human effort?

What old patterns of division or isolation do you need to surrender to Christ today so that the new creation he has made you can fully emerge?

Practical Application:

Close this five-day devotional with a time of intentional prayer. Pray specifically for the unity of your local church. Pray for your pastor and church leadership by name. Pray for any relationships in your life where division has taken root. Then pray the words of Jesus from John 17 back to the Father, asking that his prayer over you and your community would be fully realized.

This reading plan is based on the sermon "Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love" by Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., Founding Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, Red Oak, Iowa. For more information, visit www.crossroadsredoak.com or call 712-357-1060.

Meets Every Sunday at 9:23am across from the old Dollar General. Please use the north alley entrance. Live stream at 10am on our Facebook.

09/03/2026

Thursday 9.3.2026

Day 4: Speaking Truth Bombs in Love
Reading: Ephesians 4:14-15; Matthew 5:15-16

5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide
Based on "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge" -- Ephesians Week 8: Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love

Devotional: Paul warns that spiritual immaturity leaves believers vulnerable -- tossed about by false teaching, deceived by cunning craftiness, unable to distinguish truth from a well-crafted counterfeit. The antidote to this vulnerability is not isolation or suspicion. It is maturity, and one of the marks of that maturity is the ability to speak the truth in love. This sounds simple. It is not easy.

Speaking only truth without love produces harshness. Speaking only love without truth produces deception. The two must travel together. Jesus modeled this perfectly. Every truth bomb he dropped was aimed at the genuine good of the person receiving it. Truth bombs are not meant to wound. They are meant to heal. They are not meant to embarrass. They are meant to restore. As Pastor Ricky pointed out, when you speak the truth in love, you avoid misunderstandings, resentments, gossip, and superficial relationships. You build trust, integrity, and authentic community. You become a light that cannot be hidden. Do not dim your light by staying silent when love calls you to speak.

Reflection Questions:

Is there a truth you have been avoiding speaking to someone out of fear of their response or fear of conflict?
How might you approach that conversation with both honesty and genuine compassion for that person's well-being?
Practical Application: Think of one conversation you have been postponing because it requires honesty. Pray specifically for that person before the conversation. Ask God to give you the right words, the right tone, and the right timing. Then commit to having that conversation this week, approaching it not to win an argument but to genuinely build that person up.

This reading plan is based on the sermon "Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love" by Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., the Founding Pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Red Oak, Iowa.

09/02/2026

Wednesday 9.2.2026 - Day 3: Gifts Given for the Good of All
Reading: Ephesians 4:7-13

5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide
Based on "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge" -- Ephesians, Week 8: Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love

Devotional: Christ, having descended into the depths and ascended above all the heavens, did not return empty-handed. He gave gifts to his people -- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers -- not for their own prestige or comfort, but for the equipping of every believer for works of service. The goal is the maturity of the whole body. This means that spiritual gifts are never given for self-promotion. They are given for others. Every talent, every ability, every spiritual endowment you carry has been entrusted to you for the building up of those around you. You are not the destination of the gift. You are the vessel through which the gift flows to others.

Pastor Ricky reminded us in this sermon that the role of church leaders is to help broken people heal so that they can be effective in works of service. Leaders equip. Members serve. Together, the body grows into the fullness of Christ. This is not a system designed for a few to do everything while many watch. It is a system designed for everyone to contribute so that together the body reflects Christ completely.

Reflection Questions:

What gifts, talents, or abilities has God placed in your life that you may be withholding from others?
Are you currently using what God has given you to build up the people around you, or are you waiting for a more convenient season?

Practical Application:

Identify one specific gift or ability you possess. Then identify one specific person or need within your church or community where that gift could be applied this week. Take one concrete step toward offering that gift in service.

This reading plan is based on the sermon "Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love" by Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., Founding Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, Red Oak, Iowa. For more information visit www.crossroadsredoak.com or call 712-357-1060.

Meets Every Sunday at 9:23am across from the old Dollar General. Please use the north alley entrance. Live stream at 10am on our Facebook.

09/01/2026

5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide

Based on "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge" -- Ephesians Week 8: Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love

Day 2: The Power of Unity
Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:25-26; Ephesians 4:4-6

Devotional: Paul paints a vivid picture of what the church is meant to be: one body, animated by one Spirit, anchored in one hope, submitted to one Lord, united in one faith, joined through one baptism, and belonging to one God and Father of all. Seven times the word "one" appears in just three verses. That repetition is not accidental. Paul is driving home a truth that the enemy works tirelessly to destroy: division weakens the body of Christ. The Greek word for division, schisma, means a tear, a crack, a severance. All the enemy needs is a small crack to begin his work of destruction. Consider the redwood trees of California, whose roots intertwine beneath the surface so that when fierce winds blow, they borrow strength from one another. This is the design of the church. We are not meant to stand alone. We are meant to be deeply, invisibly connected -- sharing in one another's suffering and one another's joy. When one member hurts, the whole body feels it. When one member is honored, the whole body rejoices.

Reflection Questions:

Is there a crack of division in any relationship within your church or family that needs to be addressed?

How might you actively contribute to unity rather than passively hoping it will exist on its own?

Practical Application:

Reach out today to someone in your church or community with whom you may have experienced tension or distance. You do not need to resolve everything in one conversation. Simply make contact. A brief message, a phone call, or a kind word can begin the work of closing a crack before it becomes a canyon.

This reading plan is based on the sermon "Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love" by Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., Founding Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, Red Oak, Iowa. For more information visit www.crossroadsredoak.com or call 712-357-1060.

Meets Every Sunday at 9:23am across from the old Dollar General. Please use the north alley entrance. Live stream at 10am on our Facebook.

08/31/2026

5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide

Based on "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge" -- Ephesians Week 8: Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love

Day 1: Walking Worthy of Your Calling
Reading: Ephesians 4:1-3

Devotional: Every believer has received a divine calling -- not just pastors, missionaries, or ministry leaders, but every person who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul, writing from a prison cell, urges us to walk worthy of that calling. Notice that he does not describe this worthy walk in terms of great achievements or public recognition. He describes it in terms of humility, gentleness, patience, and love. These are quiet virtues, often unseen by the world, but deeply powerful in the kingdom of God. They are the very character traits of Christ himself. The question worth sitting with today is this: Does the way you carry yourself in ordinary moments -- at home, at work, in traffic, in conversation -- reflect the One who called you by name? Your calling is not reserved for Sunday mornings. It is lived out Monday through Saturday in the small, unremarkable moments of daily life.

Reflection Questions:

In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to walk in humility and gentleness?
What would it look like today to treat your daily responsibilities as an expression of your calling in Christ?

Practical Application: Choose one relationship today -- a family member, coworker, or friend -- and make a deliberate effort to respond to them with patience and gentleness, even if the situation does not seem to require it. At the end of the day, reflect on how that intentional choice affected the interaction.

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*This reading plan is based on the sermon "Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth Bombs in Love" by Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., Founding Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, Red Oak, Iowa. For more information, visit www.crossroadsredoak.com or call 712-357-1060.*

Meets Every Sunday at 9:23am across from the old Dollar General. Please use the north alley entrance. Live stream at 10am on our Facebook.

08/30/2026

Subject: Week 8 Recap -- Unity in Christ and Speaking Truth in Love

Dear Crossroads Community Church Family,

What a powerful morning of worship and the Word we shared together. If you were with us on Sunday, we pray this recap serves as a reminder of what God spoke to your heart. If you missed the service, we are glad you are here, and we trust this summary will be a blessing to you.

Summary: The sermon explored the eighth week of our series "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge," a study through the book of Ephesians. Pastor Ricky walked us through Ephesians 4:1-16, unpacking two overarching themes: unity in the body of Christ and the practice of speaking the truth in love. Drawing from the writings of the Apostle Paul, we examined what it means to walk worthy of the calling we have received, how division weakens the body while unity strengthens it, and how speaking honestly with gentleness and compassion builds up individuals, families, and the church as a whole. These principles are not reserved for those in ministry -- they are a divine invitation extended to every believer, in every season of life, in every vocation.

Takeaways:

- Unity is not optional -- it is essential. Division creates tears, cracks, and gaps that the enemy uses to weaken the body of Christ. Just as every part of the physical body matters, every member of the church matters. When one member suffers, all suffer. When one member is honored, all rejoice. We are called to pursue oneness with the same urgency and intentionality that Paul urges in Ephesians 4:3, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

- Your calling is not confined to a title or a platform. Whether you are a teacher, a homemaker, a business owner, or a garbage collector, your high calling is to live with complete humility, gentleness, patience, and love in bearing with others. God has equipped every believer with gifts and grace for the building up of the body of Christ. You do not need a pulpit to fulfill your calling -- you need a surrendered heart.

- Speaking the truth in love is a way of life, not a one-time event. Truth without love wounds. Love without truth enables. But when we speak honestly and compassionately, we avoid misunderstandings, resentments, gossip, and superficial relationships, and we build trust, integrity, and Godly influence. As Pastor Ricky reminded us, Jesus spoke truth bombs often, and they were always in the loving best interest of the other person. We are called to do the same.

As we step into the week ahead, we encourage you to reflect on the words of Jesus in John 17, where he prays not only for his disciples but for all who would believe through their word -- that they all may be one. That prayer was prayed for you. Live in a way that honors it.

If you have questions about Sunday's message, would like to connect with our church, or are in need of prayer, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you.

In Christ and with love,

Pastor Ricky A. Rohrig Sr.
Founding Pastor, Crossroads Community Church
303 East Oak Street, Red Oak, Iowa
Phone: 712-357-1060
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.crossroadsredoak.com
Sunday Worship: 9:23 a.m.

Meets Every Sunday at 9:23am across from the old Dollar General. Please use the north alley entrance. Live stream at 10am on our Facebook.