About Us www.anthemcross.org

For those who want to get a basic understanding of Cross of Christ’s history and beliefs, we encourage you to read through these pages. This is meant to be a starting place for discussion. Write down and ask any questions you may have. Cross of Christ’s History • Kevin Kosberg moved to Anthem in July 2001. Six months later over 300 people came to the Christmas service in the park’s amphitheater. • Worship began Feb. 10th, 2002 in a hotel with 91 people. • 3½ years later (Sept. 2005), with an average worship attendance of 241 in a strip mall, the church moved into the newly built gym & classrooms, launching Cross of Christ Christian School with 250 students. • 2 years after that (August 2007) the second phase of the school building was completed. Core Beliefs At Cross of Christ we understand we live in a world that is constantly measuring us, keeping score, and judging all kinds of things about us. That is why we are so committed to sharing God’s grace with the people we come in contact with. We believe that God is not keeping score in our lives, and that, in Jesus, He loves us completely. That is grace, and that is what we are all about. We are also committed to connecting people to Jesus in a personal relationship. We know that for many people, religion is about a set of rules. We want to let you know that Cross of Christ is excited about your relationship with Jesus. We want you to know Jesus, personally. Cross of Christ also understands that people are looking for answers to life’s tough questions. We believe that we have something that not only can help us in our lives, but that can have a lasting impact on our lives. We love and use the Bible at Cross of Christ. We also understand that daily life can be busy, stressful and draining. With that in mind, we design our weekend worship to inspire, comfort and fuel you for the coming week. Come hear what God has to say about His love for you and your life for Him. Mission Statement Cross of Christ exists to connect people to Jesus. We are committed to: Knowing Jesus (Up), being the People of Jesus (In), Doing the Work of Jesus (Out). Cross of Christ’s Denomination Cross of Christ is a Lutheran church. The hallmark of Lutheran faith is grace (the forgiveness given to us freely because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross). We follow the teachings of the Catholic-monk-turned-church-reformer Martin Luther. From 400-1530 AD the Christian church was for the most part one, catholic (unified) entity. By the beginning of the 16th century many Christians were complaining about the corrupt nature of the church. In 1517 Martin Luther wrote 95 theses (theological statements) against the church for debate. Among other topics, Luther challenged the practice of indulgences. Indulgences were pieces of paper that the church was selling for the forgiveness of past or future sins, mostly as a fundraiser for the 5.7 acre, lavishly ornate St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome’s Vatican City. Luther kept arguing for a return to the original teachings and practices of the church, however, after much debate, Martin Luther and his German supporters split away from the Catholic (Roman Catholic) church. Many of the writings produced during this time were distributed to the masses with the help of the new Gutenberg printing press. The key documents, including Luther’s Small Catechism, were put together in the Book of Concord, which is the standard collection of Lutheran doctrine. Luther wrote the Small Catechism (catechism means “sound aloud”) after touring his country and seeing how unaware people were about the Christian faith. Most people attended a church service that was held in a language they didn’t understand. The Small Catechism is a small booklet that contains 20 pages of basic teaching about the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper. 12 more pages give practical basics for prayer, communion and leading a Christian life in this world. The book was to be repetitively “sounded aloud” in question and answer form as a teaching tool. Cross of Christ’s H2H program for 6th-8th graders uses the Small Catechism. After Luther broke away from the Catholic Church, many others did as well, giving us what we know of today as Protestants (Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Non-Denominationals, and many more). Lutherans maintain a distinct

position between Catholics and other Protestants. On the one hand, we side with other Protestants that God’s grace is truly free, and does not require any repayment through good works. On the other hand, we side with Catholics in believing that God works through baptism and communion to bless us with forgiveness, faith, and connection to Jesus. More information about our beliefs regarding baptism, the Lord’s Supper and the Bible is found below. Cross of Christ’s Synod Cross of Christ is a Lutheran church in the Missouri Synod (LCMS). A synod is a group of churches that have come together for mutual support and greater effectiveness. The LCMS started in the United States in 1847 after a large group of Lutheran immigrants left Germany to avoid being forced to join with other Protestants. They networked together to provide training for church workers, to be more effective in mission work, to mutually support congregations, and to have doctrinal unity. Today the LCMS has over 6000 churches and 2.4 million members around the world. It is headquartered in St. Louis, and is sub-divided into 35 districts around the country. Cross of Christ is part of the Pacific Southwest District, and was started with financial support from the district and other LCMS churches in Phoenix. There are many other Lutheran synods, including ELCA and WES. The ELCA is the largest in America, and is liberal in their approach to the bible, to women’s involvement in the church, and to working together with differing churches. The WES is very conservative in these areas. The LCMS falls in the middle. Some examples include: Scripture. The ELCA believes the bible is true spiritually and morally but not always factually. Cross of Christ believes the bible is true factually, that we cannot dismiss the parts that make us uncomfortable. Women. The ELCA ordains women as pastors. The WES does not allow women to serve in any leadership capacity or vote in the church. The LCMS believes the bible talks about pastors as only men, but has women teachers, youth workers, worship leaders, etc. Other Churches. The ELCA allows pastors from other denominations to preach at their churches. The WES does not pray or commune with anyone outside of the WES. The LCMS partners with other denominations for service in the world, but is sensitive to the important differences of doctrine. Understand that these issues are constantly under debate in the LCMS. While we hold the same beliefs, as a new church Cross of Christ is different in style and in culture from most other LCMS churches. Cross of Christ on Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Bible

Baptism As parting words to his disciples, Jesus commanded them to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Baptism is not about how much you know, it’s about Jesus. Baptism is for people who: • wonder what God thinks of them • are just starting a relationship with Jesus • want a relationship with Jesus • believe in Jesus, but have not yet been baptized Baptism is not something we do, but something God does. God Himself is present as His name is joined to the water, with all His power and all His blessings of forgiveness, life and salvation. We baptize people of all ages. Infants and young children are baptized for the same reason adults are baptized: because of the command, promise, and gift of God. What is promised in Baptism is given to all who receive it; therefore, infants and young children also have the promise of God. They too, are made children of God. They too, are included in the words “all nations.” At the height of his popularity, Jesus specifically invited little children to come to Him, even though they wouldn’t fully understand. (Luke 18:15-17). Lutherans believe in original sin: that we are all born as broken people in a broken world. We believe that “there is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 6:10) We believe that when Adam & Eve sinned, human existence changed from being pure, innocent, joyful, and rewarding to sinful, broken, guilty, and frustrating. Only Jesus can restore us. “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22) We believe people of all ages need the gift of baptism, so that they can have new life in Jesus. Here are a few Bible verses about baptism: • Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” • Acts 2:38 – “Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” • Acts 22:16 – “What are you waiting for? Go, be baptized and wash your sins away.” • Romans 6:3-6 – “If we have been united with Jesus like this [through baptism] in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”

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Titus 3:5 – “God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:21 – “This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 22:17 – “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

Communion Just before Jesus was betrayed and crucified, he gave his disciples a command during their Passover meal. He took bread, broke it, and told them, “This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.” Then he took a cup of wine and told them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink this, do it in remembrance of me.” Communion is about Jesus coming into our lives, and it is a time for us to remember the sacrifice of his broken body and shed blood on the cross. Understanding the context of the Jewish Passover meal helps us understand communion. The greatest day in Jewish history was when God brought them out of slavery in Egypt. God told them to take a lamb and eat it, putting its blood on their doorposts. When God’s angel would pass through and kill all the first-borns, it would “passover” the houses with blood on the door. This was the act of God that brought them freedom and a new identity as a nation. They were to remember the Passover by eating a special meal with a lamb every year. Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover when he instituted communion. The meaning is rich. Jesus is our new lamb. His blood now frees us from death and gives us a new identity. His deliverance is now what we are to remember and celebrate. It is the greatest day in our history. In the early church in the city of Corinth, Christians were mistreating the Lord’s Supper when they gathered. Some were getting drunk and leaving nothing to eat before others had even arrived. The apostle Paul wrote to them (1 Corinthians 11) about why this was unacceptable. He taught them that because the bread and the wine were truly the body and blood of Jesus, the meal should be celebrated with reverence. At Cross of Christ we state every week that this bread and wine is Jesus’ body and blood, and we celebrate the great gift with thankful reverence for Jesus’ sacrifice. Some Bible verses on communion: • John 6 – See Jesus’ miracle and teaching, “I am the bread of life.” • Matthew 26, Mark 14, & Luke 22 – Jesus institutes communion. • Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” • Acts 20:7 - “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” • 1 Corinthians 10-11 – Paul discusses the importance of communion.

The Bible The apostle Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy about the role of the Bible. Paul warned that there will be days were evil people did godless things, but he encouraged Timothy to stand strong, using the Bible for guidance. But how does the Bible guide our life? How can a book full of mostly ancient narrative be authoritative for us today? One approach is to read the Bible and pull out life lessons, or commands. For example, you could read the stories about King David and pull out 10 principles on leadership. In this way the Bible becomes a very practical rulebook for success. Another approach is to read the Bible and pull out answers to questions. For example you can find various Bible verses to help you answer, “Is Jesus the only way?” or “Can people who commit suicide go to heaven?” In this way the Bible becomes a set of truths to be proved and believed. Both approaches can be useful at times (the second approach was used above to teach about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper), however, they essentially want to change the Bible from what God has given us (ancient narrative, poetry, visions, and correspondence) to something else (a rulebook or list of truths). Lutherans have two helpful tools for approaching the Bible and understanding how it guides our life. The first is to distinguish between Law & Gospel. Any part of the Bible that places a burden on us to ‘live right’ is Law. Any part of the Bible that teaches about how God has forgiven us when we did not ‘live right’ is Gospel. Paul talked about Law and Gospel in Romans 6-8. He said the Law was given to help us live righteously, but it also shows us how unrighteous we are, and how much we need a Savior. While the Law shows us our sin, it does not equip us to actually live righteously. He concludes, “For what the law was powerless to do, God did by sending his own Son to be a sin offering, so that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us.” (Romans 8:3-4) So, when we read the Bible we distinguish between Law and Gospel. There are helpful verses about how to live, but ultimately, Jesus has lived perfectly for us and because of his sacrifice on the cross, we are forgiven. Every week at Cross of Christ you should hear about the cross, because it is the basis for everything. The second tool for reading the Bible is to understand that we are part of the overall story the Bible tells us about. Instead of picking out verses here and there that make our point, at Cross of Christ we try to read and understand larger sections of scripture as a whole. For instance Luke 18:18-27 records an encounter between Jesus and a rich ruler. The ruler asked Jesus what he had to do get eternal life. Jesus commanded him not only to obey all the Old Testament laws perfectly,

but also to give away everything he had to the poor. If we treat the Bible as a rulebook, and we read this conversation out of context, we will have to take away something like, “Success is found in living totally for God,” or “You can’t go to heaven if you care more about money than God.” But if we understand the role of Law and Gospel, and if we understand this encounter is part of a larger story about Jesus, then we can arrive in a much different place. You see, after this conversation the disciples ask Jesus, “Who then can be saved?” and Jesus replies, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Now we see Law and Gospel: you have to live perfectly to be saved, but no one can, so God saves us. Now we see our story: we are all broken people in need of the help and forgiveness God gives in Jesus. In Conclusion We hope that this gives at least a small peak into who Cross of Christ is, what we believe, and why we do what we do. The best learning comes from questions, so feel free to ask anything. We would be honored if you decide to join us in our mission to connect people to Jesus.

Getting to Know You www.anthemcross.org

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Contact Sheet Cross of Christ Lutheran Church 39808 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway Anthem, AZ 85086 Church Phone: 623-551-9851 Website: www.anthemcross.org

Fax: 623-551-3673

Church Contact Information: Pastor: Rev. Kevin C. Kosberg, [email protected] Associate Pastor: Rev. Marty Strohschein, [email protected] Director of Christian Education (Youth): Rev. Marty Strohschein, [email protected] Director of Worship Arts: Rob Wren, [email protected] Outreach & Event Coordinator: Rev. Kevin Kosberg, [email protected] Children’s Ministry:

Sheri Bandelier, [email protected] Taylor Bandelier, [email protected]

Connection Coordinator: Cathy Lenhart, [email protected] Communications Director: Halli Goolsby, [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Aleta Millette, [email protected] Kay Klavon, [email protected] Business Manager: Rob Gaboury, [email protected]

Board Members: President:

Randy Bosch

623-551-4865

[email protected]

President Elect:

Bob McFall

602-359-3901

[email protected]

Secretary:

Kendra Salmen

623-249-4779

[email protected]

Treasurer:

Carrie O’Connor

630-453-1529

[email protected]

Member at Large:

Rob Bandelier

623-229-8643

[email protected]

Member at Large:

Kay Klavon

623-337-4635

[email protected]

Member at Large:

Del Mau

623-551-2202

[email protected]

Member at Large:

Glenn Klinksiek

708-927-0484

[email protected]

Member at Large:

Donna Yow

913-284-3263

[email protected]

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