Distinctives

Crossway is led by a plurality of elders (also called pastors) who are equal in authority, with varying shepherding responsibilities within the body. The function of pastors is to lead, oversee, teach, and shepherd the flock of God under the authority of the Lord Jesus. This leadership comes with input and accountability from the congregation. The elders direct the affairs of the church through prayer, study and teaching of the Word, and careful communication with the congregation. The office of elder is reserved for men.¹

Deacons, both men and women, are also raised up by the Lord to assist the elders in caring for the body of Christ.² For more information on leadership at Crossway, click here.

1 Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5.
2 Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:8-12

We are committed to preaching the whole counsel of God through a primary diet of verse-by-verse preaching and teaching through whole books of the Bible. Expository preaching means that (1) the main point of the Scripture text is the main point of the sermon; (2) the outline of the sermon reflects the grammatical outline/logic of the Scripture text; and (3) the sermon is filled with exhortation and application.¹ The goal of expository preaching is a love for God and one another, obedience to God’s word, and joyful, confident faith — in short, worship!²

1 Matt. 28:18; 1 Tim. 4:11
2 1 Tim. 1:5

God has given us his word (through the apostles and the prophets), proclaimed it to us by evangelists, and provided shepherds and teachers so that every member of the body will be equipped to serve. We want to fully train faithful men (and women) to understand and apply the Scriptures, to effectively counsel the hurting, and to raise up others to spiritual maturity. 1 No Christian is meant to be a mere spectator or consumer, and the pastors are responsible for providing the training needed for every member to serve effectively.

1 Eph. 4:11–13

As stewards of God’s grace, we are careful in our presentation of the gospel to avoid watering down or leaving out certain truths that might not be easy for people to receive. Our proclamation of the gospel must include more than descriptions of God's love, mercy, and grace. We must also explain the God-glorifying truths that He is holy, righteous, and just, and that men are sinful, lawless, and helpless.¹  Without these truths, the gospel of grace is hollow. We also acknowledge that although the gift of forgiveness and eternal life is free (in the sense that no one can earn it), it is also true that it costs everything. Christ calls us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and daily follow Him, our Savior and Master.² These hard truths are not bad news to be avoided, but joyful news that the holy God has not only provided a way to reconcile sinners to himself, but also to change us to be more and more like his glorious Son!³

1 Rom. 3:23–24
2 Mark 8:34
3 Rom. 8:29

We confidently believe the truth of the Bible, applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, is sufficient for all matters of life and godliness for those who truly know Christ as Savior.1 God's Word is living and active, can expose our hearts2, and is able to equip us for every good work3. There are no personal or interpersonal problems that the Bible fails to address either through general or specific principles. We also believe that Jesus’ command to love one another means more than just bible instruction, but knowing one another well enough to apply Scripture with wisdom, compassion, humility, and patience. We are not problems to be fixed, but people to be continually pointed to Christ! That is why we believe that biblical counseling is most fruitful when practiced in the context of our long-term relationships in the local church.

1 Eph. 4:11–13

The Scriptures provide instruction for reproving and restoring a sinning person within a local church. The Scriptural goals in offering reproof to a fellow believer in unrepentant sin include: (1) to bring about a return to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct1; (2) to maintain purity in the local church2; and, (3) to deter sin3, all to the glory of God.4 In rare cases, when a person persists in unrepentance over time and over the repeated loving exhortations of fellow members, removal from membership is required,5 but always in the hope that God will bring about repentance and the restoration to full fellowship.