The Debt Snowball
Want to get out of debt? Here is a principle that can help you do just that. Enjoy this video? Check out the growing collection of Family Alter videos!
The Whole Counsel of God
for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. -Acts 20:27 In Paul’s farewell speech to his beloved family in Ephesus, he makes a startling and yet glorious statement. In his 3 years in that city (Acts 20:31), he taught them the complete counsel of God. He wanted to make sure that they understood the …
Without Excuse
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse (Romans 1:20). Service Order Reading – Psalm 108:1-6 Brethren We Have Met to Worship – North Side Worship Prayer Time – 1 John 1:9 How Deep the Father’s …
A Shadow of A Doubt
A friend shared this video with me the other day. It is an extremely powerful spoken word by Joseph Solomon. Well worth 7-minutes of impactful truth!
7 Reasons Your Bible Reading Is Inconsistent
As of late, I’ve had some great discussions concerning personal Bible reading. While this spiritual disciplines post sparked some great conversation, I’ve also been trying to step up my intentionality in training my family, friends, and anyone who wants to listen concerning the need to read the Bible. For many years, Christians have called time in the Word and prayer …
Tempted and Tried
On a regular basis, I thank God for Russell Moore. I mean that as serious as I can say it. Oftentimes, when I read something he has written or hear something he has said, I will offer a prayer of gratitude for this work in Dr. Moore. As the President of the SBC ERLC, he speaks on issues of religion …
The Parent Funnel
You job is to make your child independent, but you might be going about it in the wrong order. Family Alter Videos
Stop Trying to Change Jesus
I often hear people ask, “Who is Jesus to you?” The insinuation is that it is one thing to know the identity of Jesus and it is another thing to embrace it. I agree with that, but it also can lead to an unhealthy idea that our interpretation of Jesus is the correct one. When people ask that question, they …
The Wrath of God
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. -Romans 1:18 Service Order Open Up the Heavens – Meredith Andrews Prayer Time Lord, I Need You – Matt Maher Baptism (11:00) It Really Does Matter Day of Giving Prayer Time Jesus Paid It All – North …
The Worship Critic Isn’t Your Greatest Opposition (God Is)
Worship leading is a dangerous task. Concerning the musical side of worship gatherings, churches and ministries assemble teams with a unique charge: Worship teams are the only type of musical producers in the world who are expected to give a quality offering without desiring a commending response. In every other setting in life, musical presentations are always meant for the applause …
My 3 Daily Spiritual Disciplines
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. -1 Timothy 4:7 If anything other than godliness is your purpose for spiritual disciplines, you will lose momentum. Spiritual disciplines are not to earn God’s love, increase his favor for you, or to help him by supplying something lacking in him. God doesn’t need you to spend time with him. If you don’t spend …
What’s Your Worldview?
I often see books that spark my curiosity. Occasionally, I will see a book concept that I just applaud the brilliance behind the topic or the approach. What’s Your Worldview? was one of those books for me. Years ago, I thought about creating an adult Choose Your Own Adventure book working through the consequences for our sinful actions. The CYOA …
Engagement Rules
Make sure that you don’t prepare more for the wedding than you do the marriage. Here are 4 relationships you need to cultivate during your engagement: Jesus Fiance Godly Friends Godly Mentors
Open Up the Heavens
We introduced “Open Up the Heavens” today. I love this worship song that comes from Isaiah 64:1. Lyrics We’ve waited for this day We’re gathered in your name Calling out to you Your glory like a fire Awakening desire Will burn our hearts with truth You’re the reason we’re here You’re the reason we’re singing Open up the heavens We …
The Glory of the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. -Romans 1:16 Great services today. What a wonderful privilege to be able to focus on the gospel throughout our services today! Service Order Welcome Open Up the Heavens – Meredith Andrews Your Word – …
How to Find the Perfect Church
When the school year begins, we send off many college students to other cities who are searching for the perfect church. We also meet college students invading our community looking for the same thing. If I actually found a perfect church, it would no longer be perfect once I joined it. In reality, I know and you know there is …
Two Sides of the Cross
Preached on August 26, 2016 at North Greenville University for the Ignite 2016 Conference. Text is Luke 23:39-43. Main Points Avoiding hell is not the same thing as desiring heaven. Our churches market a better life and label it the gospel. If the residents of hell believe in God and shudder, than mere intellectual ascent is incapable to grant heavenly …
A Catechism for Boys and Girls
I got a copy of Carey Publications’ A Catechism for Boys and Girls to implement in our homeschool. As we take primary responsibility in our children’s spiritual education, I constantly research methods. The word “catechism” carries all types of stigma with it. Some of them good and some of the bad. In its basic form, a catechism is a summary of …
5 Worship Team Killers
I can’t lead you somewhere if I don’t know the way. While that admission seems like an obvious statement, its reality can be tragically forgotten in our churches. In worship, the desire is to respond to God via offerings of praise and thanksgiving. The gathering of God’s people is a needed pause from the routine in order to proclaim the goodness of …
Shame and the Gospel
It was a great and full morning with the people of North Side! We focused our services on Romans 1:14-17 today. Service Order This Is Amazing Grace – North Point Worship No Longer Slaves – I Am They Spoken Word – Set Free – Tammy Haynes It Really Does Matter (FCA, Membership Matters, Day of Giving) Prayer Time When I …
Is Jesus Your Teacher or Lord?
In the final hours before Jesus’ crucifixion, every detail recorded in the Gospels is paramount. While the overarching story is known by many, there are also key statements and actions recorded that bring greater depth to what is transpiring. One of those key moments is seen at the Last Supper in comments given by the disciples. In Matthew 26:20-25, Jesus …
Suitable Helper
To say that God and Adam were close is an understatement. Adam experienced a level of intimacy in the Garden that no other human has ever fully experienced. There was no sin. There was no separation. There was no Fall, curse, or corrupt nature. God strolled through the Garden that Adam tilled. We are talking face to face, eye to eye, …
Search
Currently, I am working with two organizations going through a leadership transition time. As a pastor of North Side, our student pastor just took a job as a pastor at another church. As a trustee of North Greenville University and member of the presidential search team, we are picking up the pace and work regarding the school’s next leader. I …
Consulting Your College Student
When your child goes to college, your parenting must change or your relationship will suffer.
You’re a Pastor Before You’re a Worship Pastor
I was never passionate about becoming a worship pastor, but I was passionate about becoming a pastor. So when our pastoral staff decided to restart our church’s focus with a blank page, I honestly had no idea where we would land. If I still had a job, I wasn’t sure what I would be doing. We had grown overwhelmed with the busyness of …
Gospel Transformation
Exciting day to worship as our church family. It was our 2nd week in Romans, and it was so great to center our services around Romans 1:8-15. Loved seeing all our college students coming back into town! We’ve missed you and glad everyone is rolling back into Greenwood over the weekend. Service Order Here for You – Chris Tomlin Prayer …
How to Frighten Engaged Couples
We never intended to scare the engaged couple, but that is exactly what happened. Their faces said it all. No longer were they excited about the prospect of marriage, but they were frightened concerning the impending storm awaiting them. In perfect tandem, my wife and I sat across the table and barraged them with all the possible marriage landmines awaiting them after …
How Long Does It Take to Prepare a Sermon?
Since Sunday, I’ve received some questions and engaged in some great conversations concerning how long it takes to prepare a sermon. Our senior pastor has been talking for a long time about how ready he was to begin a sermon series through the Book of Romans. Due to his excitement, it was shocking when he wasn’t there delivering the first message on Sunday. …
You Are What You Love
I read James K. A. Smith’s You Are What You Love this week. Here is the description: You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. In this book, award-winning author James K. A. Smith shows that who and what we worship fundamentally shape our hearts. And while we desire to shape culture, we are not often aware …
Open Places
We are back with the 1st installment of this year’s Family Alter videos. These short videos are intended to help you make small alterations for home transformation. In this episode, we talk about the open places. In every home, there are open places for the enemy to enter. We must identify where they are, build up the walls, and fight …
The Gospel of God
The gospel of God has centered around the person and work of Jesus Christ from the very beginning. In Paul’s introductory comments in the Book of Romans, we see that he had committed his life for the sole purpose of spreading this gospel. Romans 1:1-7
No Longer Slaves
We introduced a song today called “No Longer Slaves.” While there are many versions of it, I love I Am They’s version they recently released. It was such a great song to sing today thinking about Romans 6: 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching …
The Gospel of God
It turned out to be a crazy, intense, fast-paced Sunday morning. Some things outside of our control caused us to step back and punt in some areas this morning, but we are thankful for the faithfulness of God during those times. We were so excited to kick off our long-anticipated Romans series. We got through the first 7 verses of Romans. Only …
Two Invitations
Series: Proverbs // Scripture: Proverbs 9 My life will be determined by the choices I make between what is easy and what is right. The wise will leave their simple ways and experience life. The foolish will maintain their simple ways and experience death. Main Points We are tempted to take the wrong path when the right path seems too …
Two Invitations
We finished our “Proverbs” series this morning! Service Order There Is a Fountain – North Side Worship How Deep the Father’s Love for Us – Kings Kaleidoscope Announcements Team Rephidim Video Prayer Time O the Blood – Gateway Worship Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb – North Side Worship Sermon – Two Invitations (Proverbs 9) Lord, I …
Accountability Questions
As of late, I have talked with a lot of people who have a whole lot of intention to follow Jesus, but they simply keep getting tripped up along the way. I hate to see someone who truly wants to change, but they can’t seem to get over making the same mistakes over and over again. What I have learned …
Always Check the Capo
You guitar players out there know how important it is to make sure you have the capo on the right fret when playing with a band. For you non-guitarists out there, allow Wikipedia to explain: A capo (short for capotasto, Italian for “head of fretboard”) is a device used for shortening the strings, and hence raising the pitch, of a …
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
It was great to reread The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe after reading The Magician’s Nephew a few weeks ago. While the first volume is an allegory of creation and the fall, the second is on redemption. There is a reason this book is the most famous of all The Chronicles of Narnia. It is so good and causes …
Help Me to Matter
Precious Jesus, Help me to matter. Save me from a life of complacency, Days filled with apathy, Concern without empathy. Let me not wander passionless, Aimless, frivolous, unambitious; But keep me driven To the point where I appear obsessed. Stir up my pathetic, comfortable state. Shake away my carefree, unintentional lifestyle. Invade my casual life and make me dread the …
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