CrossPoint Newsletter

Thirty Third Edition 1/5/2026

Every December my wife and I wrap a gift that seems almost too simple to matter: a calendar for our parents. Twelve pages. Twelve pictures. Just paper and ink. But when they open it, something happens. They flip slowly from month to month, smiling at the faces of grandkids, remembering moments they had forgotten, lingering over the little stories tucked inside each photo.

It’s a small ritual, but there’s something sacred about it. That first turn of the page—January to February, March to April—reminds them that life doesn’t just march forward; it accumulates. It layers memory upon memory. Blessing upon blessing (James 1:17). Grace upon grace.

And that quiet ritual has taught me something: real growth is never sudden. It doesn’t come from grand resolutions or perfectly polished goals. Growth happens in the unnoticed spaces—one square, one moment, one faithful step at a time.

As we enter 2026 across our CrossPoint network, I can’t help but think that spiritual growth works the same way. It’s not flashy. It’s not instant. It’s not about reinventing ourselves; it’s about returning to the practices that shape us into Surrendered Worshipers, Maturing Followers, Compassionate Servants, and Kingdom Multipliers.

Here are five ways to take those steps this year:

1. Engage the 2026 Bible Reading Plan.

Meeting God in His Word is one of the primary ways we surrender our will to His, for “the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul” (Psalm 19:7). Our Reading Plan creates a daily rhythm that’s simple and sustainable: no pressure for perfection, just space to enjoy Jesus and hear His voice.

2. Lean into a Grow Group.

We grow best in community, “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:11-12). A group gives you people who encourage, challenge, and walk with you, helping you become a Maturing Follower of Jesus through Scripture, prayer, and life shared together.

3. Memorize Scripture.

Carrying God’s Word in your heart helps you live as an Everyday Missionary—ready with truth when worry rises, temptation whispers, or someone needs encouragement. Even one verse a month can steady your soul and strengthen your witness.

4. Listen to CPXL and Two The Point.

Growth doesn’t only happen in quiet rooms. These podcasts help you think biblically and live wisely in the everyday spaces of life. They also keep us connected across our network, reinforcing our commitment to Togetherness as we follow Jesus side-by-side.

5. Serve somewhere. 

Serving is often where faith comes alive. When you give your time and gifts, whether with kids, guests, production, or mid-week, you embody the heart of a Compassionate Servant and actively help multiply disciples. This is where ordinary people step into extraordinary things.

Now imagine what God could do in our network if every CrossPointer embraced even one of these practices this year. The spiritual momentum would be unmistakable. So choose one. Commit to it. Trust the Spirit to meet you in that step, “for it is God who works in you” (Philippians 2:13), and watch Him do what only He can.

A calendar may be just twelve pages, but it holds a whole story. So does a year. And when that story is filled with daily steps toward Jesus, it becomes something beautiful.

Here’s to a year of daily formation, steady growth, and the quiet, sacred work of God in our lives—one square at a time.

Shaun Jones | Hutchinson Pastor

Things are happening at CrossPoint Sterling. Attendance numbers have been up the last several months. Definitely something to celebrate, but there is more to it than just attendance being up. God is at work. This year we are on track to have more baptisms than ever. I know you are thinking, “wait, that’s just tracking numbers”, which is true, but the testimonies of lives being changed by Jesus is what we are celebrating. Spiritual growth is happening in our Grow Groups. We are having record numbers in CrossPoint Students this year. What is more exciting than the numbers is the testimonies of students being challenged to be like Jesus at school. They don’t just want to be a follower of Jesus at church but in the hallways and on the field. Another point of celebration in connection with students is the volunteers are doing such an amazing job. They are pouring into the students and growing right along with them.

We would love it if you would continue to pray for CrossPoint Sterling. Here are a few ways you could pray. Pray for our students. Pray that the fire would continue in their hearts. Pray that each CrossPointer would embrace the challenge to Invest and Invite. Although Christianity is strong in the community there are still those needing an invitation into a relationship with the God of the universe. 

Michael Gray | Sterling Pastor

“I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11, ESV)

I sincerely hope that this verse is familiar to you. It was the verse that launched our Scripture memorization journey at the beginning of 2025.

It was also the very first verse I was ever challenged to memorize when I began a devotional called Survival Kit for New Believers by Ralph Neighbors in the summer of 1989. That single verse has stayed with me for decades. It has helped shape me, encouraged me, and–by God’s grace–protected me.

Psalm 119:11 is often used as the primary motivation for memorizing Scripture, and rightly so: God’s Word helps guard us against sin. But if that is the only benefit we see, we are missing just how powerful Scripture memory truly is. Memorizing God’s Word also fuels spiritual growth, strengthens our faith, renews our minds, provides wisdom for daily decisions, helps us resist temptation, brings comfort in trials, enriches our prayer lives, equips us for spiritual battle, and sharpens our witness to others. And honestly, that’s just the beginning.

When we memorize Scripture, we are taking the living Word of God–an incredible gift in itself–and committing it to memory, engraving it on our hearts, and placing it into the hands of the Holy Spirit to use within us for the days ahead.

I also firmly believe that when God commands us to hide His Word in our hearts, He supplies the ability to do it. Even if you feel you don’t have a strong memory, there is a supernatural work that happens when we consistently meditate on God’s Word. He meets us in the process.

If you’ve never memorized Scripture before, here are a few simple ways to get started:

First, meditate through repetition.

To meditate simply means to “chew on” something over time. You won’t memorize a verse by glancing at it a few times. Read it in the morning. Revisit it at lunch. Reflect on it in the evening. Let it echo through your day until it becomes part of you.

Second, find a method that fits you.

I’ve always been an index-card person–reference on one side, verse on the other. Others prefer using the Notes app on their phone or a flash-card app. There’s no single “right” way. Use what works for you and be consistent.

Third, don’t do it alone; use the buddy system.

Christian growth is never meant to be a solo adventure. Commit to memorizing with someone else. Quiz each other, encourage one another, and celebrate progress together. Accountability makes the journey both joyful and enduring.

There are countless other ways to strengthen your memorization habits, but whatever you do, don’t miss this opportunity. Last year was meaningful, but the year ahead is even more important. Each month we will add another verse, building a growing treasury of God’s Word together. You may be amazed at what God does through a heart filled with His Word.

Be sure to follow along in the reading plan, especially through the app, which will remind you each week of the verse we are memorizing together. May God richly bless you, and may we move toward a strong 2026 with deep gratitude for a wonderful 2025.

Andy Addis | Lead Teaching and Vision Pastor