John

I Am the Door

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Well, I planned today’s service with the good possibility of me not being there due to the baby’s arrival.  While our band never needs me there, they really didn’t need me there today, so it was good just to come in and sing and play along with them.

They are so good, I’m honored they let me play and sing with them!  And that is the truth.

Wonderful day with North Side today!  Continuing on through John, we arrived at John 10 today focusing upon Jesus’ statement: “I am the door.”  I have really loved this “Knowing Jesus” study.

Speaking of doors, Ms. Rosalie Cromer is normally seen opening doors on Sunday mornings for our worshipers, but today she was opening another kind of door.  I asked her to read one of her poems that she has written during our worship today.  Her poem, “The Greatest Desire of My Heart,” went perfectly into John’s song, “May Your Life Be.”  It was almost as if the 2 of them wrote those pieces together!

She read from her book of poems entitled “If.”  We have copies in the bookstore or you can get them online here.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Now I Can See

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Crazy good day with North Side.  We finished up John 9 in “Knowing Jesus” with the man who once was blind but now can see.  For a bluegrass section at the end of the service, I was even able to talk Jeff into playing banjo with us at the end.  So, so good.  In addition to preaching a fantastic sermon today, he also played some mean banjo.

Today, we worshiped to:

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The Truth Shall Set You Free

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The above picture is of the boys joining the choir for warmup this morning.  As people were coming in for practice and we got things rolling for run-through, the boys joined the choir.  Obadiah especially liked pointing in the air like McFadden and making his “Mommy” singing face with the open mouth and dropped jaw.  Fun times!

It was a wonderful day of worship!  Even in the giving, we were reminded of how everything we do is an act of worship.  In addition to some baptisms this morning, we also had Jeff share a way that people could financially support our missions effort in Africa.  After sharing how to do this, it seemed so fitting to sing: “Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the church.”

Today, we worshiped to:

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The Light of the World

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Jam up day with the church family!  Jeff, now a grandpa of 4 grandchildren, gave an incredible message out of John 8 on the Light of the World.  We were also blessed to hear from our own Carl Burrell concerning the Gideon’s ministry with which he is involved.

We had a great group of worshipers in the house today as we got rowdy in Jesus name.  While we always have a great crew, it was great to have Gary Funderburk back among us to blow that saxophone for us.  During practice, I had to remind the band to keep playing and singing and stop listening to him because he was doing such a great job!

Today, we worshiped to:

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Go and Sin No More

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What a wonderful day to be a part of North Side!  Services full of some excited worshipers is always a great way to start a Sunday morning!  Jeff’s message on John 8:2-11 (The Woman Caught in Adultery) was absolutely incredible.  I learned a ton, but I was just reminded yet again concerning God’s amazing grace.  So, so good.  Make sure to check it out online.

We want to remind everyone about the Marriage Getaway.  We need to know today if you are going with us or not.  Sign up here on the City.

Today, we worshiped to:

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The Anticipation of the Christ

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At North Side, we’re all about discipleship.  In addition to discipling our worship team on Wednesday nights, I am also discipling a great group of college students right now.  These guys come over to our house on Wednesday nights and we get into the Word.  This semester, I am teaching this group, and our worship team, through the gospels.

We are doing a Christology of sorts.  A study of the life of Christ is normally organized around speculations or disagreements instead of simply going to the text.  In this study, I am using 14 main events or categories of Jesus’ life to get a clearer picture of the historical figure and the world-changing Savior.

Last night, we discussed the Anticipation of the Christ.  We actually started in our previous session by teaching through the entire Old Testament in one night.  I told the big picture of God’s plan from the beginning.  The blank page in between the testaments reveal a 400-year period of silence where God said nothing to his people.  While Israel waited to see if God would speak again, God brought a word in the Word himself!

In John 1, the apostle teaches that Jesus was that Word in the beginning at creation, and not only was he with God, he was God.  Just like the light that God created with a simple word in Genesis, at the fullness of time, the Word appeared and was the light of man.  The darkness could not overcome the light, the Word, the God in flesh who dwelt among us.

During this study, we also looked at the reasoning and information concerning the difference of the 4 gospels.  Four gospels were written because 4 authors had 4 specific audiences that they were educating concerning Jesus:

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The Words of Eternal Life

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I had a great reason to miss North Side this morning (my niece was being dedicated at her church), but I still missed being with North Side this morning.  It is wonderful to know all the talented, godly people that our church was led by today.  In addition to some wonderful worship leaders, we had a promo for many new groups that have recently formed, and a fantabulous message from John 6:41-71 which I can’t wait to listen to.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Bread of Heaven

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Pretty fantastic morning with North Side.  John 6, celebrating communion, spontaneous worship, planned worship, and so much goodness.

Jeff’s message concerning God drawing us to Jesus was very powerful.  My salvation is as secure as the hands that hold it.  Loved our time together focusing on the cross.  Felt led early this morning to be doing some worship from the piano as people walked in today.  I gathered Leah and Woody and said, “I’ll start in the key of F, just follow me.”  And they did.  Special time as we entered into his gates with thanksgiving.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Do You Want to Be Made Well?

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Whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

This morning at North Side was ridiculous.  Jeff’s message from John 5 was one of the most powerful messages I have heard.  The thought that there are many people complaining about their situations but really don’t want to get well resonated so much today.  Still processing all of that goodness.  If you didn’t get to hear it, check it out here on Monday morning.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Worship in Spirit and in Truth

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Our worship team is the best.  You can see from the picture above the sacrifices that each of them (and their families) make week after week.  This was taken during soundcheck early this morning where Cory’s son, Nate, asked if he could bring his pillow and keep sleeping.  The ability to sleep beside Cory’s amp is a very impressive feat.  So appreciative of all our volunteers on this Thanksgiving week that work tirelessly to lead in worship!

We focused on Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well.  Jeff’s message was incredibly powerful!  Never heard so much insight into this passage.  We also watched our Worship Preferences video this morning that we made with some talented folks (more on this later this week).

Today, we worshiped to:

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