WELCOME TO ILLUMINATE

About Cross Church

HOW WE STARTED

In September 2016, the Blackburn family received a call from God to become Metro Missionaries to the Greater Kansas City area. Cross Church was born out of this call and burden of Mark and Crystal Blackburn to reach Kansas City for Jesus Christ. They envision the church as a family who loves and cares for one another regardless of personal history, family background, ethnicity, or gender and are living on mission for Jesus Christ.

The Blackburn family moved to Olathe in July of 2018, 25 years to the month after they first discussed planting a church. In March 2019, they begin six once a month preview services at Green Springs Elementary. The church officially launched September 15, 2019, as they begin weekly services. The Lord led the church to lease a building and in January of 2020 we moved to our current location. 

HOW WE OPERATE

Connect, Grow, Serve, and Go are the four elements of the Cross Pathway and is how our church family walks together as a movement of truth, love, and community. From visiting a worship gathering, to growing in discipleship, to becoming a partner, to leading a ministry, to being sent out to plant future churches, our pathway serves as our strategic guide in making disciples of all nations.

In order to fulfill our mission, we create relevant pathways to equip people to:

• Connect to God and the church

• Grow to be like Christ in maturity and commitment

• Serve the Church and others using their gifts

• Go through outreach, evangelism, and missions

HOW WE SEE THE FUTURE

We are excited about the future! We envision Cross Church Kansas City to be a growing and healthy multi-congregational Apostolic church that saturates the greater Kansas City area with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will accomplish this through planting daughter churches, campuses, and autonomous churches throughout the Kansas City area. Our vision is to see one hundred new Apostolic churches in the Greater Kansas City area by 2043. We see the future with YOU right alongside us!

WHAT IS ILLUMINATE?

A six-lesson series designed to build a strong foundation in the Word of God and deepen your understanding of faith. Whether you are new to your walk with God or looking to strengthen your grasp of biblical truth, this study will guide you through key themes of Scripture – from the creation of the world to the final victory of Jesus Christ.

OUR GOAL…

Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 

Is to help you discover the profound spiritual truths of the Bible and understand how God’s plan of redemption unfolds throughout history. The Bible is not just a religious book—it’s God’s inspired Word, a guide for living, and a revelation of His plan to restore humanity to Himself. Each book, each story, and every command in Scripture is purposefully crafted by God to lead us toward salvation and a life filled with purpose in Him.

WHY DOES THIS STUDY MATTER?

THIS STUDY IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU SEE THE WORD OF GOD AS ONE COHESIVE NARRATIVE BY HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND:

• The of Biblical History: How God’s plan unfolded from creation to the early church.
• The of Biblical Covenants: God’s agreements with His people and how they point to Jesus.
• The of God: His holiness, love, mercy, and justice.
• The plan of : How the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide the path to eternal life.

THE BREAKDOWN

• Lesson 1 – The Bible & Creation
• Lesson 2 – The Old Testament & Prophets
• Lesson 3 – The Gospels of Jesus
• Lesson 4 – Salvation & The Birth of the Church
• Lesson 5 – Righteous Living (The Letters to the Churches)
• Lesson 6 – The Last Days & Rapture

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS STUDY

1. – God to open your eyes and your heart to His word and increase understanding.
2. Come Expecting to Learn – Each lesson will cover a lot of material, so come ready to absorb the teaching.
3. Use Your – We will be looking at many scriptures, so have your Bible ready to follow along.
4. Take – Writing down key points will help you remember the material and reflect on it later.
5. Ask Questions – There are no bad questions when it comes to understanding God’s Word.
6. in Discussion – The more you engage, the more you’ll grow.

By The End Of This Study, You Will:

• Understand what Cross Church believes and follows, which is directly from the Word of God.
• Understand the big picture of the Bible and how it all fits together.
• Be confident in explaining the plan of salvation and God’s purpose for humanity.
• Develop a stronger relationship with God through a deeper understanding of His Word.
• Be prepared to live out your faith in righteousness and holiness.

ARE YOU READY? LET’S GO!

LESSON 1 – THE BIBLE AND CREATION

WHY BELIEVE THE BIBLE?

• The Bible is of God
  • 2 PETER 1:21- HOLY MEN OF GOD WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
• The Bible is God’s to humanity.
  • Two Timothy 3:16 – inspiration means “God breathed”
• The Bible is the of God
  • We do not add to or take away from it:
    • Deuteronomy 4:2
    • Proverbs 30:6
    • Revelation 22:19
• The preservation of God’s word (Psalms 12:6–7 and Luke 16:17)
  • We believe that the word of God is true, our faith lies in that these scriptures are factual and infallible.

THE OLD TESTAMENT

STRUCTURE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

• 39 books
  • Covers 3,600 years of human history
• 4 major sections:
• The law (Pentateuch/torah) – 5 books
• History – 12 books
• Poetry & wisdom – 5 books (such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Solomon)
• Prophecy – 17 books
  • Major prophets (5 books): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
  • Minor prophets (12 books): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

WHY THE OT MATTERS

• • Matthew 5:17 – Jesus, explained He did not come to destroy the law, but instead He came to fulfill it
• Why study it?
  • Romans 15:4: “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning…

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Old Testament is not only historical—it is instructional. It teaches us how God interacts with humanity, reveals the nature of sin, and shows the need for a savior. Every story, from Adam to Malachi, points toward Jesus Christ.
• The Bible is God’s word, not man’s word about God.
• God inspired and preserved the Bible through the holy spirit.
• The Old Testament is divided into four sections: law, history, poetry, and prophecy.
• Every part of the Old Testament points toward Jesus and God’s plan of redemption.
• The Old Testament is still relevant today—it shows us the nature of sin and the need for salvation.

CREATION

GENESIS MEANS “BEGINNING”

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. – Genesis 1:1

This simple yet profound statement sets the tone for all of scripture. It reveals that God is eternal, existing before creation, and that all of creation originated from him. The creation story unfolds over seven days, each one representing a distinct phase in God’s creative process. Let us walk through each day of creation and examine how God’s power and wisdom are revealed.

DAY ONE

On the first day, God created .

“And God said, let there be light: and there was light.” – Genesis 1:1-5

God’s creation of light without a visible source (like the sun) shows that he is the true source of light and life. This aligns with the New Testament revelation that Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8)

DAY TWO

““And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” – Genesis 1:6-8

On the second day, God created the .

The creation of the atmosphere prepared the earth for the ecosystem that would soon support life. It also reflects God’s order and precision in creation.

DAY THREE

“Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together… Let the dry land appear… Let the earth bring forth….” – Genesis 1:9-13

On the third day God called dry land earth and gathered the waters into seas. He created every plant to reproduce after it’s own kind.

This day underscores God’s ability to bring life from the earth and his provision for future generations. The abundance and variety of plant life also reflect God’s creativity and generosity.

DAY FOUR

“And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” – Genesis 1:14-19

On the fourth day God created the sun, moon, and stars.

Sun ruled the day and the moon ruled the night.

The sun and moon were created after the creation of light. This highlights that light exists because of God, not because of any physical source.

DAY FIVE

“And God said, let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” – Genesis 1:20-23

God created the sea creatures and the birds of the air.

This day showcases God’s power and diversity in creation. The beauty and complexity of marine life and the flight of birds reflect God’s design and attention to detail.

DAY SIX

“Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind.” – Genesis 1:24-25

God created cattle, creeping things, and beasts of the earth. Each animal was created after its own kind, ensuring genetic stability and order in nature.

“Let us make man in our image…” – Genesis 1:26-27 & 2:7

Man was made from dust.

Being made in God’s image gives humanity a unique purpose and responsibility to reflect God’s character in the world.

DAY SEVEN

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work.” – Genesis 2:2-3

On this day, God rested.

The seventh day serves as a model for humanity’s need for rest and reflection. God established a pattern of work and rest that reflects balance and completeness.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• God’s  – Everything was created by the spoken word of God.
• God’s  – Creation followed a specific and logical order, reflecting God’s nature of order and structure.
• God’s  – The universe was created effortlessly by God’s word, showcasing His omnipotence.
• God’s  – From the beginning, God provided all that was necessary for life and sustenance.
• God’s with Humanity – The creation of mankind in His image shows that God desires a relationship with us.

THE WILL OF MAN AND JUDGEMENT

• The gift of free will
  • Genesis 2:16-17 – do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
  • The fact that they had the ability to choose to eat of the tree is the example of free will.
• The role of Satan
  • Genesis 3:1 Genesis 3:4-5
  • John 8:44 refers to Satan as the father of lies.
• Eve’s mistake and Adam’s disobedience
  • Genesis 3:6 1 timothy 2:14
  • Even judged the tree based on:
    • Lust of the flesh – “good for food”
    • Lust of the eyes – “pleasant to the eyes”
    • The pride of life – “will make one wise”
• The immediate consequences of sin
  • Genesis 3:7 Genesis 3:8 Genesis 3:12-13
  • They immediately felt: shame, fear, & guilt
• God’s judgement and the curses
  • Genesis 3:14 Genesis 3:17-19
  • Genesis 3:16 Genesis 3:15
  • Satan: crawl on belly and eat dust
  • Eve: pain in childbirth and struggle with Adam
  • Adam: ground was cursed and would have to toil
• God’s provision and mercy
  • Genesis 3:14 Genesis 3:16
  • God showed mercy – he made them coats of skin, because they became aware of their nakedness.
  • This act would point to the crucifixion of Jesus.
• Expulsion from the garden
  • Genesis 3:24
  • God removed Adam and eve from the garden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and living forever in their sinful state.
  • This final act was not of judgement, but of mercy, because otherwise humanity would have been condemned forever.
• The story of the fall of man is one of the most critical events in human history. It marks the moment when sin entered the world and changed the relationship between God and humanity forever.
• Understanding the fall of man helps us to understand why humanity struggles with sin, why death exists, and why we need salvation. The consequences of Adam and eve’s sin are still felt today, but God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ was already being set in motion from the very beginning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sin always begins with doubt and deception – Satan’s strategy is to twist God’s word and create confusion.
• Free will means – God allows us to choose, but our choices carry consequences.
• Sin brings separation and – both spiritual and physical death were introduced by Adam’s sin.
• God’s mercy is always – even in judgment, God provided a covering and a promise of redemption.
• The promise of a – Jesus Christ would one day destroy the power of sin and death, restoring humanity’s relationship with God.