🧰 Resources

“Peace on Earth” New Recording

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Two years ago, we decided to record a bluegrass Christmas album.  As we finished up the project, I wrote a Christmas song that was a very different approach for me.  It felt more like a country song than anything else I had ever written. The concept of the song was my attempt to deal with the lack of peace in …

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Peace on Earth – Single

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The Song Two years ago, we decided to record a bluegrass Christmas album.  As we finished up the project, I wrote a Christmas song that was a very different approach for me.  It felt more like a country song than anything else I had ever written. The concept of the song was my attempt to deal with the lack of …

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New Doxology

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I loved singing this song with our church today. It always makes me imagine all the saints who have sung it over the years. Makes me realize that I am a part of something so much bigger than myself.

Build Your Kingdom Here

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Our church loved singing this song at the Gathering this week.  “Build Your Kingdom Here” is a great song by Rend Collective.

Lyrics

Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we’re made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
We need Your power
In us

We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause
We are Your church
We pray revive
This earth

Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray

Unleash Your kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope
On earth

Idolatry and Sports

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In this edition of Short Sermon Saturday, listen carefully to David Platt for 6 minutes and consider two things: How am I preparing to engage with the church tomorrow? How am I preparing to engage with college football next week?

Jesus Wants the Rose

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In this edition of Short-Sermon Saturday, Matt Chandler talks about the beauty of the gospel in light of how distorted we often present it. This “Jesus Wants the Rose” clip is a powerful less than 4 minute watch.  Enjoy!

Are You Creating Consumers Instead of Disciples?

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This edition of Short Sermon Saturday features a clip of Greg Laurie at the Resurgence 2013 conference.  In under 4 minutes, Laurie does a great job talking about how we should be as a church.  He asks the question: are you creating consumers instead of disciples?

God Is Better

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Ever feel like you are stuck in a temptation trap and can’t get out?  Francis Chan offers great insight and advice in this edition of “Short Sermon Saturday” in the clip below entitled “God Is Better.”

Is Church Membership Like a YMCA Membership?

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For this Saturday’s short sermon, Jeff Lethco asks the question: “Is church membership like a YMCA membership?” I post this message today since we are having connect on Sunday night at 6PM.  For those of you who have been coming to North Side but never really knew what it meant to be a member of North Side, I would love …

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What John Piper Feels About the Prosperity Gospel

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North Side spent months going through 1 Peter and 2 Peter.  1 Peter’s message is all about suffering well for the name of Jesus.  2 Peter’s message is all about being on guard against false prophets.  It was a challenging time in the life of our church. This edition of Short Sermon Saturday addresses both in under 3 minutes and …

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Following God May End Badly

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Short Sermon Saturday features Matt Chandler of The Village Church.  In this 2-minute clip, taken from preaching at the Catalyst Conference a few years ago, he delivers a not-so-feel-good message that following God may end badly for some of us.  We are not promised health, wealth, and prosperity.  Instead, we get Jesus. If you notice in the video below, he …

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What Is The Deal Brothers?

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I wanted to give you an edition of Short-Sermon Saturday.  It’s a couple of minutes to really challenge you. This one comes from David Platt as he addresses how guys need to grow up and become men.

Stand Firm

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These 12 songs were written straight from the text of 1 Peter, walking systematically through the message of that book. The message is simple: as followers of Jesus, we can stand firm regardless of our circumstances. We can endure these fleeting trials. On the midst of trials, we can confidently sing: “O blessed be our God and Father, praise to Jesus Christ, …

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The Master Plan of Evangelism

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I reread The Master Plan of Evangelism the other night.  This gift to the Church was written by Dr. Robert Coleman back in 1963.  I had the privilege to sit under his teaching a few years ago when I did my doctorate work. We are using this book in the New Testament class I am teaching here at North Side starting …

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The Resolution for Men Bible Study

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The Resolution for Men – Bible Study includes content for small-group sessions, five personal devotions each week, and leader notes. You’ll also find icebreakers, interactive Bible study, provocative insights, and guided prayer. This men’s group curriculum was inspired by the document featured in the movie COURAGEOUS. The Resolution contained 12 commitments related to characteristics that all men of God want to …

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The Love Dare for Parents

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The Love Dare for Parents Bible Study looks at parenting the way Scripture describes it. It’s about walking in relationship with the One who created us and entrusted our children to us. This study will inspire and strengthen busy parents—married and single—to learn and practice principles of love as they relate to their children, ages preschool to college. It offers a plan …

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Knowing Jesus (Live)

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Originally released in 2012 as a studio album, this live version was recorded Easter weekend 2013. Prologue Come Lord Jesus Gloria Wisdom and Stature You Must Increase It Is Written Words of Life I Will Follow Our Father Peace Be Still All Things Are Possible You Are the Christ Unconditional Love Friend of Sinners Hosanna Woe to You Not My …

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The Gospel of John

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We took 11 sermons from our Knowing Jesus: The Gospel of John sermon series and made sermon remixes from them.  Our worship team reduced the time and put some music to some great sermons.

The Love Dare for Parents

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I’m honored to have been asked by LifeWay and Sherwood Pictures to partner with them again on another Bible study curriculum.  I’ve been very humbled to play a very small part in their ministry over the last couple of years, and I was humbled again that I was thought of to come alongside the latest project. I was contacted about …

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Peace on Earth: A Bluegrass Christmas

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This collection of bluegrass Christmas songs was released December 9, 2012. Hark the Herald Angels Sing Angels from the Realms of Glory O Little Town of Bethlehem Away in a Manger In the Bleak Midwinter O Come O Come Emmanuel God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Peace on Earth Wonderful Peace Gesu Bambino Go Tell It on the Mountain Download Chord …

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Knowing Jesus

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Jesus changed everything. The world has yet to recover since the moment the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. As North Side Baptist Church studied through the Gospel of John, our worship team studied the life of Christ and wrote songs about some of the pivotal moments in His life and ministry. We wanted to tell the story chronologically …

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Enter His Gates

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Enter His Gates is an in-house recording where we worked on a few different types of songs: 1) Psalms – Many of the songs are taken directly from the Psalms or other passages of Scripture, 2) Instrumentals – We have 3 instrumental tracks which are proving to be some of the people’s favorites as we took the psalmic idea of the instrumental selah pauses in …

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Updates from the Frontline

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Last night, I shared a quote in our community group from a book I’m reading entitled Total Church: A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel and Community by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis.  Interesting read about what these guys are doing with The Crowded House network of home churches in the UK.

Here’s the quote that woke me up concerning missions:

“If someone was being sent as a missionary to a hostile context overseas, our attitude would be something like this: We would expect to pray often for them.  We would expect progress in building relationships and sharing the gospel to be slow.  We would be excited by small steps – a gospel conversation here, an opportunity to get to know someone there.  We would thrive on regular updates from the front line.  But the truth is that the lives of many Christians in work, and play, are just like the life of that far-flung missionary!  They are lived out in tough environments where progress is often slow and many factors make evangelism extremely difficult.  The challenge is to make news from the staff canteen as valued as news from the overseas mission field.”  –Total Church, p. 36

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Free Chapter from Freshman 15

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Ministering to college students since I began working at North Side has shown me that there aren’t many new temptations facing college students.  In fact, the same things that I teach on or counsel concerning one year or the same issues being addressed next year.  That’s why, a few years ago, I decided to write what the Bible says about 15 areas in which college students struggle.  I titled the book Freshman 15.

Freshman fifteen is an Americanized concept proposing that when students conclude their freshman year at college, they are approximately fifteen pounds heavier than when that school year began.  The theory rests on the fact that many college students experience an increase in their weight due to an excessive amount of alcohol, lack of sufficient exercise, and the consistent consumption of unhealthy food eaten at an unwise time and in exorbitant amounts.

My theory is that every college student will gain weight in college, but that doesn’t have to be a negative thing.  People in the ancient world spoke of giving weight to something as giving it glory or heightening it to a place of significance in one’s life.  You give something weight by valuing it.  In your time at college, you will put on the freshmen fifteen.  I would just recommend that you put it on in all the right places.

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How to Be a (Self) Published Author

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The boys were learning the word “author” the other day at the library.  Mommy told them that Daddy is an author.  It’s about the cutest thing to hear my sons say “author.”  The word is just funny from their mouths.

It’s true – I’m a published author.  A self-published author.  I’ve been asked before how to get a book published, and my response is – do it yourself.

I recently had an email from a friend wanting to know how to get started.  Thought I would share that info with you if you ever wanted to write something yourself.

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The Manifold Wisdom of God

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This project focuses upon the teaching ministry of North Side. These 10 tracks were taken from 10 pivotal messages preached to our congregation in 2011. Our worship team then trimmed the messages down, arranges, composed, and recorded some music to accompany these biblical truths in an attempt to further disciple those who would listen. As a result of this project, …

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Songs of Our Faith

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Few songs endure for generations. A rare few endure for centuries. Many songs that we sing today will not be sung in five years. So if a song has served as a voice for many generations as God’s people have proclaimed worship to Him, that’s something special. Now, when it comes to arranging and recording hymns, there is hesitancy involved. …

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Honor Begins at Home

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Honor Begins at Home: The Courageous Bible Study Member Book guides the participant through this compelling Bible study based on the movie Courageous. This 8-session study will take individuals and small groups deeper into biblical truths for a godly family, exploring topics such as redeeming your history, walking with integrity, winning and blessing the hearts of your children, and more. Every …

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Honor Begins at Home

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What an incredible weekend!  With a limited number of theaters showing the film Courageous, it was the top 5 movie in the box office this weekend!  That is unheard of!

If you got to see it, you know the range of emotions you experience during this roller coaster ride.  It is absolutely powerful.  We watched it with a Friday night showing at 7:00 that North Side rented out.  It was great to watch it and experience it with my church family.

Many of asked about the Bible study I worked on.  You can purchase “Honor Begins at Home” with LifeWay stores now.  It is an 8-session study that highlights principles in the book.  You can actually download a copy of one week’s lesson for free here.

But there is a slight catch.

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Don’t Drop Your Kids Off at Church

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Parents have often developed misplaced priorities when it comes to their children. Many children in America are so busy with numerous activities that their spiritual lives are unfortunately neglected. Our approach is to drop our children off at the best church in town which we qualify by which one has the hippest youth minister, most attended programs, and the nicest …

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Book of the Week: God is Not One

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This week’s book is God is Not One by Stephen Prothero, professor of religion at Boston University.  Prothero is not an evangelical.  His book is not a Christian world religions book.  I think it is always wise to read people who think differently than you to see if your faith really has substance.

I read this book, because his introduction blew me away.  Here was a very well-respected non-evangelical speaking of world religions with some actual solid reasoning abilities.  In a post-modern world where everyone wants to claim that all religions are the same and maintain religious tolerance, Prothero thinks that type of thinking is ignorant and dangerous.  A simple look at these religions show that there are remarkable differences in what they believe and how they practice.  I literally was jumping out of my chair reading the introduction because someone in a different thinking community spoke solid wisdom concerning this religious dilemma.

Below, you can hear Colbert interview him concerning the book.  Very intriguing:

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Book of the Week: Raising a Modern-Day Knight

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Knight-boyI finished reading Robert Lewis’ Raising a Modern-Day Knight this week.  Lewis is the author of the Men’s Fraternity curriculum that has really impacted the men in our church.  I highly recommend this book to anyone raising boys!

Lewis teaches that most people have a poor definition of manhood in our society.  As fathers, our responsibility is not only to teach our boys what it means to be men, but to actually affirm that and call out the man in our sons.  He uses a lot of symbolism from medieval knighthood practices.  You may or may not copy his ideas, but what I walked away with most of all is that boys don’t become men by accident.  And they also remember what we celebrate and invest in.

He incorporates family crests, weekend ceremonies, and a whole lot of creativity.  He has some great theological and biblical teaching on manhood.  Coupling these two together makes a quick and idea-spurring read.

Top 5 ideas:

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The Heart of Worship (Nashville and Back)

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I’m heading back from Nashville today from a busy few days at LifeWay.  I left Sunday in the middle of the last service to get to GSP to make a flight.  Monday and Tuesday were full of ideation for LifeWay’s 2012 curriculum.  I was humbled to write for this great team again when they asked me to write a unit on selected Psalms entitled “The Heart of Worship.”

It was great catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.  While I was there, I also got to spend some time with the editorial team for Courageous.

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It’s All About God

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This children’s book reminds young minds that all good things come from God and all of our lives are for God. Every page of every story has one main character: it’s all about God. Get Copy on Amazon

Founding Freedoms – New LifeWay Curriculum

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  I was so excited to receive these copies in the mail of LifeWay’s LifeTruths upcoming quarterly edition.  The crew at LifeWay does a fantastic job at this Bible study curriculum geared towards parents. I was honored to write for the second time for this publication.  The first time I wrote a curriculum called “I (Still) Do” on marriage.  In …

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Book of the Week: Christian Beliefs

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This week’s book of the week is Wayne Grudem’s Christian Beliefs: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know.  This book is a condensed version of the condensed version of his first systematic theology textbook.  The big one that I read in college is 1,290 pages, and he has a condensed version of 528 pages.  This volume is down to 159.

I’ve always known Grudem had a brilliant mind.  Just recently, I discovered he’s my hero as he shared a testimony concerning marriage at Family Life’s Art of Marriage conference.  He is truly loving his wife the way Christ loved the church.  Never imagined this great theologian as such a romantic!

So much good stuff in here.  A short chapter on each belief.  Lots of scripture references and study.  I’ll give you 10 great lines from the first chapters to whet your appetite!

10 of the 20 Chapter Summaries:

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Book of the Week: Radical

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I had already shared my problems with David Platt’s book, Radical, a few months ago.  Still having a few chapters left at that time, I finished this book this week and still have the same soul-stirring problems when I started it.  Platt is so dedicated to God’s Word and his commission.  I just pray it is contagious in my heart …

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Book of the Week: StrengthsFinder 2.0

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This week’s book of the week is Tom Rath’s StrengthsFinder 2.0.  This book was given to me as a gift.  Within each book is a code that allows the reader to take an online survey which determines the 5 top strengths of the reader.  You then can read more concerning your personal strengths. The premise of the book is found …

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Book of the Week: Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God

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This week’s book of the week is C. J. Mahaney’s Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God.

This short read is full of great scriptural insights into romance within marriage.  What I love about the book is that it is not crass but it is also not fuddy-duddy.  It speaks of marriage, sex, and romance in a practical, engaging manner and gets its boldness from the Word of God.

While it is geared primarily towards men, his wife also provides some chapters at the end.  So practical and so God-glorifying.  A great reclaiming of the joy of romance for Christians living God’s way!  Great read!

Top 5 Ideas:

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Book of the Week: The Multi-Site Church Revolution

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This week’s book of the week is The Multi-Site Church Revolution by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird.  Multi-site churches are growing by the day.  That term means a whole lot of different things, but fundamentally, it means being one church in many locations. Some of these congregations show videos of their preacher in different locations.  Some have campus …

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