Date Posted: 2024-08-11 16:58:51 | Video Duration: 00:26:43
Highland Park Presbyterian Church is a community known for its welcoming spirit and deep commitment to exploring faith. Recently, the church was honored to host John Crosby, a pastor with a heart for justice and a wealth of experience in leading and mentoring others in their spiritual journeys. His sermon focused on the theme of new beginnings, drawing from the prophetic book of Hosea to illustrate God’s unwavering love for His people.
As John Crosby began his message, he shared a personal reflection on how he first heard of Highland Park Presbyterian Church over 40 years ago. He recounted his early days as a seminary graduate and his introduction to Howard Hendrick, who taught him how the Bible was truly meant to be taught. These formative experiences shaped his understanding of faith and community, and he emphasized how church leaders spoke fondly of the congregation’s dedication to discovering who Jesus is and how to follow Him.
Crosby’s sermon centered on the Old Testament story of Hosea, a prophet called by God to marry Gomer, a woman of questionable reputation. This story, found in the book of Hosea, was used to illustrate God’s unconditional love for Israel despite their unfaithfulness. In Hosea 1:2-3, God commands Hosea to “go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” This narrative serves as a metaphor for God’s persistent love and desire for His people to return to Him, even when they stray.
John Crosby encouraged the congregation to see themselves in the story of Hosea and Gomer, asking them to consider where they might find themselves on their spiritual journeys. Are they like Gomer, living in two worlds and seeking fulfillment in the wrong places? Or are they like Hosea, called to forgive and love unconditionally? The story challenges believers to reflect on their own lives and relationships, reminding them of God’s invitation to “go home” and start anew, just as Hosea called Gomer to return and begin again.
The pastor emphasized that sin is no small matter to God. He shared a poignant anecdote about a conversation with his wife, who reminded him that if it could happen to a respected pastor like Gordon McDonald, it could happen to anyone. This reinforces the idea that no one is immune to sin’s temptations and consequences. Nevertheless, the story of Hosea teaches that God offers not just second chances, but new beginnings and transformed hearts.
Crosby highlighted how Hosea’s story mirrors the parable of the Prodigal Son in the New Testament, where a father welcomes his wayward son back home with open arms. In both stories, the message is clear: God’s love is relentless and redemptive, willing to pay any price to bring His children home. In Hosea’s case, he bought Gomer back for 15 shekels of silver and half his crops, symbolizing the price of love and redemption.
The sermon concluded with a powerful call to action for Highland Park Presbyterian Church to be a community that embodies the lessons of Hosea. Crosby urged the congregation to become a place where sin is taken seriously, but where grace and new names are freely given. He invited them to sing the hymn “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” a fitting reminder of God’s steadfast love and the hope of new beginnings in Christ.
As the congregation left the service, they were encouraged to reflect on their own lives and consider how they might embrace God’s invitation to return home, start anew, and be transformed by His love. In doing so, they continue to build a church that reflects the heart of Hosea’s message—a community of grace, forgiveness, and endless love.
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