Crossing Over (Pastor Chris Zauner) · Grace City Eugene summary

Key takeaways

Stepping into the unknown requires faith, often seen in the act of crossing over the river with obstacles.
This new church season is a mission-focused move rather than a comfort-focused transition.
The church should not have a wilderness mindset as it enters a promised season; they are called to build rather than just survive.
Active participation and intentionality are crucial in reaching out to the community during this transition.
The coming season is meant for the next generation, emphasizing outreach and the importance of discipleship.

Summary

Introduction: A Time for Cross Over

Pastor Chris Zauner opens with reflections on the final gathering in their current space. He introduces the day's message, focusing on a prophetic word rather than nostalgia, emphasizing the faith needed to transition into the next phase of their church's journey. The Pastor highlights the church's desire for more capacity to engage in kingdom work rather than just comfort.

The River Between Promise and Possession

Drawing from Joshua 3, Pastor Chris discusses the challenges faced by the Israelites at the river, serving as a metaphor for the church’s current situation. He explains that there will always be obstacles between where one is and where God has promised to lead. True faith is illustrated by stepping into the unknown, highlighting that God's miracles follow acts of faith.

Mission Over Comfort

The message emphasizes that the upcoming move to a new space is not about personal comfort but about expanding mission. Pastor Chris articulates that the crossing was meant for future generations, urging the congregation to see this as an opportunity to reach those who are disconnected from God. He stresses the need to avoid making their new building a monument rather than a movement.

Mindset Shift from Wilderness to Promise

Pastor Chris reminds the congregation that they must leave behind a wilderness mentality as they step into a new season filled with responsibility and active stewardship. He notes that relying on past provisions (like the manna) is not sufficient in the promise land, where they are called to build and actively participate in God’s work.

Commissioning for the Future

The sermon transitions into a practical application where listeners are encouraged to write down the names of those they will pray for and invite into the new season. This collective act of faith and the commitment to reaching out serves as a key thematic conclusion, reinforcing the message of movement towards God's promises.

Show notes

In this special one-off message, Pastor Chris Zauner brings a timely and prophetic word for our final worship gathering in this space as we prepare to move into our new location. Titled “Crossing Over,” this send off sermon isn’t centered on nostalgia or simply changing buildings, but on the faith required to step from what’s familiar into what God has promised. Drawing from Joshua 3:12–17, Pastor Chris reminds us that there is always a river between promise and possession, and that God often brings His people to the edge of what feels impossible so the miracle becomes unmistakable. Israel stood before the Jordan at flood stage, not because they had missed God, but because they were standing at the threshold of fulfillment. In the same way, this moment for our church is not the end of something, but the edge of something, and the question isn’t whether we are ready, but whether we will step forward in obedience.

This sermon highlights that the water didn’t move first, the people did. The priests carrying the ark stepped into the river while it was still raging, and only then did God stop the waters. Pastor Chris challenges us to recognize that faith doesn’t wait for perfect conditions, and that miracles are often connected to movement. As a church, we’ve prayed for more capacity, more room for kingdom work, and more opportunity for people to meet Jesus, and God has answered. But answered prayers still demand faith, especially when it means leaving comfort, routine, and familiarity behind.

“Crossing Over” also reframes why we’re moving by making it clear that this isn’t about comfort, convenience, or upgrading our experience. It’s about mission. The crossing in Joshua wasn’t just for the people standing there that day, it was for the next generation and for the nations to know the power of God. In the same way, every new seat and every new opportunity represents people in our city who are anxious, skeptical, disconnected, hurting, or far from God, and this move is about reaching them. We are not crossing for ourselves; we are crossing for others, and we are crossing into a calling, not a monument.

Pastor Chris also warns us not to bring a wilderness mentality into a promise season. In Joshua 5, the manna stops after the people eat from the fruit of the promised land, signaling a shift from survival to stewardship, from simply getting through to building what God has prepared. This message calls our church to leave behind passive faith and consumer Christianity and to step into a season of intentional discipleship, service, generosity, prayer, leadership, and invitation. The invitation is not merely to attend a new space, but to consecrate ourselves and participate in what God is doing as we cross over together.

The sermon closes with a practical and powerful commissioning moment as the church is asked to write down at least five names of people who don’t know Jesus or are disconnected from the church, committing to pray for them and intentionally invite them into the next season, leading into Easter. Together, we lift these names to the Lord, believing for salvation, baptisms, prodigals coming home, softened hearts, and a city that recognizes the mighty hand of God. This is our moment to step into the river, trust the Lord to make a way, and move forward with faith as we cross over.