Ministry

“Enter His Gates” Release Details

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As you can see, Eli has been hard at work recording and mixing the newest North Side Worship album.  You will be impressed with his legit skills.  We are just weeks away from “Enter His Gates” being released and we couldn’t be more excited about how it came together!

When we set out to record 4 albums this year, I intentionally made each project get a little bit more difficult.  The sermon remix mainly needed keyboard instruments then we added some more. Enter His Gates added more live instrumentation and live vocals.  The Jesus album and Bluegrass Christmas is gonna be full scale in many ways.

With that being said, we have learned a lot on this project.  A lot.

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The Message of Jesus

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The Peak band did a wonderful job leading worship at North Side today.  When our high school students lead, it’s not a novel gesture, they are really great worship leaders and we are honored to be led by them.  Amanda and I were talking after services about how genuine, musical, and thoughtful they were with their leadership.  So proud of each one of you!

Today, we worshiped to:

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The Trouble With Following Christ

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What a very special day of worship at North Side!  In addition to recognizing our graduates, we also commissioned six college students who will be spending their summer in West Africa as North Side missionaries.  God orchestrated a very appropriate and powerful service to send them off.

Jeff’s message from John 12 was specifically directed towards ministers.  For all those who minister the Word of God to others, there are times when our souls become troubled.  Jesus showed us how to speak the Word with grace and truth.  For this message to fall in this week with these ladies being commissioned was a powerfully God-ordained moment.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Watering Down Missions

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Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of going on many mission trips and leading many mission teams.  Whenever I have prepared a team for a mission trip, I have constantly reminded them of an important fact: Christian sightseeing is not missions! Let me explain.  I think over the years, we have watered down missions so much that we classify doing …

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What Need Grabs Your Heart the Most?

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There are many needs in the world. You can’t do something about all of them, but you can do something about some of them. You can spend your life focused on confronting evil, pursuing justice, and loving mercy. Your life can potentially change the lives of others.

As you go through life, you probably resonate with certain needs more than others. We are each wired differently — that’s the beauty of the Body of Christ!  It’s best for each of us to specifically get involved in a need we are passionate about.

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Men: Step Up in Your Church

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Hopefully, you are connected with a local church. None of us should be left alone in this Christian walk by ourselves.  Your church is a wonderful expression of God’s grace, and while it is not perfect, it is God’s vehicle to make disciples.

You need your church, and your church needs you! Read Romans 12:3-8 to see your role concerning your church.

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Grain of Wheat

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Special day at North Side!  We had some info on promotion Sunday (June 3rd), family dedication with 9 families, great time of worship, great interview video on “who was Jesus,” and a wonderful message!  Jeff’s teaching on John 12 was so good.  So much to take in considering how we are to lay our lives down just as Christ was anticipating his sacrifice for us.

Today, we worshiped to:

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The Anointing of Jesus

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What a great morning.  The boys normally go to soundcheck with me, but birthday boy Obadiah was extra rowdy on the drums this morning.

It was such a powerful time of worship today at North Side.  I can’t begin to tell you how much the Holy Spirit united the service today.  There are times when we plan elements together and it’s great to watch them fall, and then, today, I listened to Jeff preach his sermon and use words that were verbatim of the last song we were going to do after his message on Mary anointing the feet of Jesus.

I figured he had looked at the flowsheet and studied the lyrics, but something also told me that maybe this was a God orchestrated thing.  Turns out he didn’t know what the lyrics of the last song were, but as he preached in his message about “focusing on the gift instead of the Giver…Giver of every perfect gift…being satisfied in only Jesus…”  It was wild.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Substitutionary Atonement

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John 11:49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

What a wonderful text that led our worship time today!  We focused on Jesus’ selfless sacrifice today and that is always time well-spent!  Jeff’s message was plain ridiculous.  The thought that we could possess a faith not to “offend Rome” really challenged some introspective time in my own life.  Powerful!

Today, we worshiped to:

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Bad Church Sign: Stolen AC

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This week’s bad church sign says: “WHOEVER STOLE OUR AC UNITES KEEP ONE IT IS HOT WHERE YOURE GOING.” Let’s just say that you were the person who stole that unit.  You went to that church intentionally because you know you could easily acquire them.  You either needed the money or you wanted the cool relief in your home.  You …

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