'Crossing the Street' Resources

As followers of Jesus, we are called to cross the street, step out, build bridges and meet people where they are. We are called to live alongside our neighbours with the hope of Jesus. That's what our intercultural teams around the world do! And it's what church communities in Australia are called to as well. 

Through this four week Crossing the Street series, we will explore stories of Jesus from the Gospels, learn from His example and see how passionate people in Australia and around the world are living it out. 

Crossing the Street
Living alongside with the hope of Jesus 
  1. Crossing the Street – Sent like the Son [John 20:1-23, Mark 1:9-15]
  2. Crossing the Street – Meeting people where they are [John 4:1-38]
  3. ​Crossing the Street – Modelling the heart of Jesus [Luke 7: 11-17]
  4. Crossing the Street – Being the good news together [Luke 10:30-37]

Use the dropdown sections below to explore resources for the Crossing the Street theme. 

Crossing the Street short film

Crossing the Street (short film) from Baptist Mission Australia on Vimeo.


WATCH OR DOWNLOAD THE FILM    
Video with captions >>
 

Crossing the Street short film

We are excited to share this short film with you! Crossing the Street tracks the daily lives of three followers of Jesus in Thailand and Australia. Each are living out what it means to cross the street in the community they live.

This short film has been created as the entry point for the Crossing the Street theme. It can be used as part of a sermon, as a standalone video or as a small group resource.
 

What's the short film all about?

In Crossing the Street, we meet Liz who is an intercultural worker in Thailand, Jan who is a supporter in Australia and Danny who is a university student. They live in different contexts and are at different stages of life, however, they are all followers of Jesus who are following Him across the street. Because that's how Jesus lived His life on Earth! He went out of His way to embody the good news and meet people where they were.

In the film, we see Liz doing this by building relationships with sellers at the market and her tuk-tuk driver, and then getting her hands dirty to help her friend on her farm.

Jan crosses the street by listening to and praying with her friend, and then volunteering to teach English at her local church.

And Danny shares God's love through offering hospitality to his friend at uni and inviting him into a welcoming group of friends.

In ordinary - but transformative -  ways, Liz, Jan and Danny are crossing the street with the hope of Jesus. 

And so are our Baptist Mission Australia teams, all around the world! Your partnership means they can keep crossing streets and seeing people meet Jesus in ways that makes sense to them.
partner today    

Video Script

We see it all through Jesus’ life on Earth, don’t we... the act of crossing the street.
The act of stepping out, of building bridges, of meeting people right where they are. 
Of coming into our world! 

Crossing the street to meet the Samaritan woman, the tax collector, the person with a disability, the child, the woman who bled, the man who had leprosy. You. Me. 
Crossing the street to love people His culture said you shouldn’t even talk to.  

Yes, it’s countercultural and transformative… it’s confronting.
It’s hope for you and me! He’ll cross the street for us too. We know it. He already has.
It’s hope for the whole world.  

Jesus came into the human neighbourhood to show us what love with skin on looks like. He came to give us life with passion and purpose.
He came as a servant and invites us to do the same. 

Jesus’ life asks something of us – calls us to follow Him. 
It’s a gracious invitation, but it’s confronting at the same time. 

Jesus calls us to cross the street.
To step out of our comfort zones in our own neighbourhoods and to the ends of the earth.  
To love people through our actions.
To go to them, not expect them to come to us. 
To partner with God in sharing His stories in places where few have heard them.
To suspend judgement and actually listen.
To embody the good news.
To live alongside.

We see it in people like you, through the daily, imperfect, busy lives of Australian believers – choosing to follow Jesus’ even when it’s hard, choosing to try again after mistakes. 

Crossing the street, sharing a meal, starting conversations, modelling God’s love, meeting people where they are… in your local neighbourhoods.

And we see it in our humble, passionate Spirit-led workers, serving in communities across the world.

Here and there - we’re on mission together. 
We’re listeners, learners, alongsiders. 
Givers, go-ers, pray-ers. 
Followers of Jesus. 
Street crossers. 

And our Baptist Mission Australia workers can only keep crossing streets and seeing people meet Jesus in ways that make sense to them with your partnership.

Join us, partner with us, and let’s cross more and more streets around the world together! 
 

Special Thanks
Thank you to everyone who made this short film possible:
Nithya, Liz, Glenn, Jesse, Pam, Ruth, Stinoj, Dilo, Janice, Peter, Sherena, Edwin, Shaolui, Vanessa, Zhong, Ziliong, Weihong, Rob, Sue Isaac, Teagan, Scott, Lena and Phil.


Extra special thanks to Baptist Financial Services Australia LTD (BFS) for sponsoring this short film. 


Crossing the Street was produced by Thick Black Frames
 

Pastor's and Leader's Guide

The Pastor's and Leader's Guide has been developed as a launching pad for leaders to use in exploring the key themes of the Crossing the Street series with churches and small groups. 

Each theme has an explorations of the theme and scripture/s, takeaways, mission stories to use as illustrations and questions for small groups. It can be used as a four week series or as standalone sessions. The guide has been based off Scott Pilgrim's sermon series.

It can be printed on A4 pages and then folded in half to create an A5 booklet.

leader's  guide     
Theme 1: Sent like the Son

Leader's Guide >>
Scriptures: John 20:1-23 (The Empty Tomb) and Mark 1:9-15 (Jesus' Baptism)
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video and audio
Key Points:

  1. We are sent like the Son
  2. We are loved by the Father
  3. We are empowered by the Spirit
Mission Stories:
  1. ​Suzanne, Silk Road Area
  2. Mel, Silk Road Area
  3. Dave and Caz, South East Asia
  4. Pete, Melbourne
leader's guide       
Theme 2: meeting people where they are

Leader's Guide >>

Scripture: John 4:1-38 (The Samaritan Woman at the Well)
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video and audio
Key Points:
Meeting people where they are...

  1. Models the incarnation 
  2. Is motivated by love
  3. Opens Gospel opportunities
Mission Stories:
  1. ​Sally, Mozambique
  2. Pete and Nomes, Central Asia
  3. Jennifer, Brisbane
  4. Cam, Mozambique
leader's guide       
Theme 3: modelling the heart of jesus

Leader's Guide >>

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17 (Jesus Raises the Widow's Son)
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video and audio
Key Points:
Just like Jesus in the passage, we need to...

  1. SEE the need
  2. FEEL the experience of the other person
  3. ACT in loving response
Mission Stories:
  1. ​Petra, Silk Road Area
  2. Megan, Melbourne
  3. Ben, Mozambique
leader's guide     
Theme 4: being the good news together

Leader's Guide >>

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan)
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video and audio
Key Points:
God calls us to...

  1. Get our hands dirty
  2. Embody the good news
  3. Do it together!
Mission Stories:
  1. ​New York church partnership story
  2. Tim, Malawi
leader's guide     

Filmed Sermons and Speakers

Sermons have been recorded for each of the four key Crossing the Street themes. These can be used with your in-person or online service. They are 15-20 minutes each and include and exploration of the passage/s as well as global and local mission stories.

To download a video, click on the link and then click the 'Download' button below the Vimeo player on the page that opens up.
Theme 1: Sent like the Son
Passages: John 20:1-23 and Mark 1:9-15
Sermon from:

[Sermon] Sent Like the Son - Scott Pilgrim
 

[Sermon] Sent Like The Son - Belinda Groves
 

[Sermon] Sent Like the Son - Ben, Mozambique

Theme 2: Meeting people where they are
Passage: John 4:1-38
Sermons from:

[Sermon 2] Meeting People Where They Are - Beth Jackson
 

[Sermon 2] Meeting People Where They Are - Muana, Thailand

 

[Sermon 2] Meeting People Where They Are - Scott Pilgrim

Theme 3: Modelling the heart of Jesus
Passage: Luke 7: 11-17
Sermons from:

[Sermon 3] Modelling the Heart of Jesus - Geoff Maddock
 

[Sermon] Modelling the Heart of Jesus - Scott Pilgrim

Theme 4: Being the good news together
Passage: Luke 10:30-37
Sermons from:

[Sermon 4] Being the Good News Together - Kath, Mozambique

[Sermon 4] Being the Good News Together - Scott Pilgrim
 

[Sermon 4] Being the Good News Together - Bob Rogers

Thematic Videos

Thematic videos are shorts stories or reflections related to the four Crossing the Street themes. These can be used as illustrations throughout sermons, standalone pieces or discussion starters for small groups.

Their purpose is to inspire and encourage, as together we participate in God's mission. They highlight God at work across the street and across the world.

To download a video, click on the link and then click the 'Download' button below the Vimeo player on the page that opens up.
 
Theme 1: Sent like the Son

What Happens When We Step Out? - Craig and Kim, Cambodia
 

Our Journey of Call - Rours and Reasksmey, Cambodia
 

(Suzanne's video: Contact for Password)

Sent Like Jesus - Suzanne, Silk Road Area 

 
Theme 2: Meeting people where they are

Meeting People Where They Are - Sally, Mozambique

 (Pete and Nomes' video: Contact for Password)

Stepping Out - Pete and Nomes, Central Asia
 

Meeting People Where They Surf - Andrew Hamilton, WA

Theme 3: Modelling the heart of Jesus

Creation Care - Andy, Global Partnerships Director

Word and Deed - Andy, Global Partnerships Director

 

Seeing the Heart of Jesus - David and Susie, Malawi

Theme 4: Being the good news together
(Mike's video: Contact for Password)

We Can Only do This Together! - Mike, South East Asia
 

Partnering Together (Whitehorse Churches Care spotlight)

Missioning Podcast

Across the series, join host Jodie MacCartney as she talks to people around the world who are stepping out and crossing the street with the hope of Jesus in the communities they live. Jodie also draws on the experiences and learning of her own decade in Thailand. She is currently serving in the Baptist Mission Australia team as a Mission Mobiliser.

missioning podcast       
Episode 1: Sent like the Son
 
  • Guests: Caz (South East Asia) and Andrew Palmer (former NSW/ACT State Leader)
  • Passages: The Empty Tomb (John 20:1-23) and Jesus' Baptism (Mark 1:9-15)
  • Listen now!
 
Episode 2: Meeting People Where They Are
 
 
Episode 3: Modelling the heart of Jesus
 
  • Guests: Max and Ezzie (South East Asia)
  • Passage: Jesus Raises the Widow's Son (Luke 7:11-17)
  • Listen Now!
 
Episode 4: Being the Good News Together
 

Children's Resources (primary school ages)

This is a four session curriculum for primary aged children. The aim of this resource is for kids to learn from Jesus’ example of loving all people and explore how we can all cross the street and love people. 

Through the sessions, children will explore stories of Jesus in the Bible, as well as discover what it means for them and how they can be a part of God’s mission. This is achieved through games, activities, bible stories, discussion, videos and prayer.

Children's ResourcE: Leader's guide          
Template for 'All People' activity (Session Three) >>

A BIG thank you to Maigen Nemes for writing this material.

Kid's Videos

These videos have been created by children of our intercultural teams for children in Australia. They are a great resource to help kids in Australia get a taste of life in another country.

Hello from Salem, Judah and Isaiah in Thailand!
 

What's it like being a teen in Mozambique? Matilda and Jack share the good and the bad!

(Nadya and Puia's video: Contact for password)

Hello from Nadya and Puia in South East Asia! from Baptist Mission Australia on Vimeo.
 

What's it like growing up in Thailand? Grace and Daniel report back!
 

Crossing the Street in Malawi with Clayton!
 

This is how we live like Jesus - Levi and Josiah, Mozambique

Youth Resources (secondary school ages)

Welcome to the Crossing the Street resource series created for youth!

What's the Crossing the Street youth series all about? 


The Crossing the Street youth resource is a special four session video series. As youth often participate in the congregational church service, this resource is designed to help them engage with the themes of the series through youth targeted reflections and activities. It has been created to sit alongside the full Crossing the Street series, however, it can be used as a standalone piece.

The videos created for each of the four sessions have ‘pause’ points throughout where the activities can be run. Refer to this Leader’s Guide for questions and instructions. Alternatively, the video script is outlined in this booklet for leaders to use in replacement of the videos.

The Leader's Guide includes additional resources for each session. These videos and extra questions can be used to expand each session into a full Bible study. Depending on how you use the resource, each session can go from 5-60 minutes.

youth resource: leader's guide     

 

Session 1. Sent like the son

Crossing the Street Youth Series: Episode 1

Key Idea: 

We are empowered by the Spirit and endorsed by the Father to be sent like the Son. Why? While we are not Jesus, we are sent out under the same authority and with the same spirit and purpose.
 

Session 2: Meeting people where they are

Crossing the Street Youth Series: Episode 2

Key Idea: 

Just like Jesus humbled Himself to take on flesh and meet us where we are, we are called to do the same. Jesus didn’t demand that people be perfect, easy to reach or exactly like Him when He healed, spoke to, or ate with them. Instead, He met people where they were at, building bridges rather than fences. Out of these relationships Jesus offered restoration and salvation through both word and deed. 
 

Session 3: Modelling the heart of Jesus

Crossing the Street Youth Series: Episode 3

Key Idea: 

Following Jesus means living a life that reflects Him. As Colossians 1:15 states, “The Son is the image of the invisible God…”. To model the heart of Jesus is to model the very heart of God to all we encounter, and creation itself. 
 

Session 4: Being the good news together

Crossing the Street Youth Series: Episode 4

Key Idea: 

Together is a key word here! We are partners in God’s mission and can partner with each other through prayer, giving, going, encouraging and advocating. This theme is a call to action and response. We all have a role to play in God’s redemptive plan. 
 

Videos from teens for teens

These videos have been created by children of our intercultural teams for teenagers in Australia. They are a great resource to help teens in Australia get a taste of life in another country.

What's it like being a teen in Mozambique? Matilda and Jack share the good and the bad! 

(Nadya and Puia's video: Contact for password)

Hello from Nadya and Puia in South East Asia!
 

What's it like growing up in Thailand? Grace and Daniel report back!
 

Crossing the Street in Malawi with Clayton!


Want to talk to someone?
If you would like to chat about resources or how you and your church can engage with Baptist Mission Australia's May Mission Month, then contact your State Leader here or our Communications Manager, Teagan Dwyer-Riviere on tdwyerriviere@baptistmissionaustralia.org