We got to celebrate the global Church today. We had one of our missionary partners from West Africa join us in worship and it was great to have everyone together! Here was the service rundown: Hausa Greetings Go – North Side Worship Holy Spirit – Francesca Battistelli Mission Video Prayer Time Jesus, Son of God – Chris Tomlin No One …
Misconception: God is unconcerned with your choices.
While some people struggle with the concept that God is unconcerned with our difficult situations, many people struggle in a different way. Some believe that God is unconcerned with our choices.
Jacob received a new name from God. His old name meant “deceiver” and was an apt description of his life. But after a mysterious encounter with God, Jacob was never the same. He received a new name that reflected God’s grace to him and his descendants. Encountering God leads to a fundamental change of identity and purpose. Here are some …
It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a few days away. Before the break-neck pace of December begins, I want to help you gather your family to see four specific things happen in the days to come. Here are some tips to lead your family to become more grateful.
Recently, a friend showed me this video. He is a pastor and has learned all the patient, soothing techniques that can be utilized. But, at the end of the day, he often feels like showing this video to his counselees. Oh, if only it was this easy on both sides of the desk. Obviously, this is farce, but there is …
This was a full morning celebrating with the Body of Christ in 3 services and 2 different locations! I got the privilege to take one band over to South Main Street Baptist Church and lead worship for their early service and then lead with another band for the two services at North Side. At South Main, our band led with: …
Studying through the Gospel Project, we have come to the unique relationship between Jacob and Esau (Gen. 27:1-40). God is sovereign over all of life, and he will work out his plan of redemption despite and sometimes through our dysfunction. Jacob’s story is a good example of why humanity needs a Savior. Like Jacob, we seek a blessing that is …
We are introducing the song, “Good, Good Father,” this Sunday. The passage we are focusing on talks about the faithfulness of God. What I love about this song is it speaks to the need of so many out there who have a difficult time understanding God as Father. Due to what earthly fathers have done or not done, many have a …
Series: The Gathering 2015 // Scripture: Luke 6:46-49 & Colossians 3:12-21 Do you ever feel that your family isn’t perfect? What can you do to help put things back together when it all seems to fall apart? God calls us to love one another in the same way he loves us – unconditionally. Your family cannot change if YOU stay the same.
Many people wrongly assume that God is unaware concerning our situations. Believing that he is too lofty and too out-of-touch with us down here on earth, some people will live in such a way that ignores God’s involvement in our lives. They ignore God because they believe that God is ignoring them. The Bible teaches us that God knows how …
Yesterday, we sang one of my favorite hymns entitled, “There Is a Fountain.” Written by William Cowper, it is a great message of redemption and the gospel. Before the last stanza, I stopped the band and told the story about the author and what makes the final stanza so powerful. Later that day, someone on the tech team asked ever-so-kindly …
I love Jesus’ church. It is amazing to see what he is doing in our midst. Today we focused on 2 Thess. 2:13-17: 13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so …
Loved this week study through The Gospel Project Chronological. In this session we see that God renews his promise to be with Abraham’s offspring and to bless the world through them despite their sinful and unworthy ways. Notes from this week’s study: This family displays that the message of the Old Testament is not portraying good people but a good …
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4 How we live, as individuals and as a church, tells the world around us a lot about who we are and what we believe. Do the things we do as a church turn “the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) much like they did in Thessalonica?
The person you married has changed and will continue to change. Are you staying aware of who he or she is becoming? This Family Alter video is taken from a developing resource entitled “Just [About] Married.”
We had an awesome time at the Fall Festival last night, an extra hour of sleep last night (if you were able to take advantage of it), and we had two eager groups of worshipers this morning despite the rainy morning weather. Today was great! Our passage focused today on 2 Thess. 2:1-13 which many biblical scholars comment that it …
Continuing through the Gospel Project Chronological, this last week has been amazing. In addition to the curriculum, our church is providing weekly Bible readings that go along with the lessons. While all of the focuses have been great, this week’s was very significant for two reasons: 1) Jesus saved my son, Obadiah, through the reading of Scripture this week associated …
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping, and flannel abounds everywhere you turn. While there are many favorite events and experiences associated with the Fall season, one of my favorites is North Side’s annual Fall Festival. For years, this event has been a great night for people inside and outside of our church …
Did you know that Scripture teaches that God refuses to hear certain prayers? If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. However, God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. -Psalm 66:18-19 This verse has an interesting connotation. What is the difference between having malice in …
I wish I could say that when a service comes together like today’s service did, it is because we are just that smart. Unfortunately, I can’t say that. I wish I could say we were so good in calendar planning that we plan a prayer study to start the evening when a prayer passage is preached as we work through a …
Anticipation is rising for this year’s Fall Festival! What will the special presentation be this year? We would love to have you join us for this year’s Fall Festival! Highlights Inflatable slide and obstacle course Pony rides Hay rides Bonfire Chick-fil-a box meals available for purchase Games for all ages Live music Candy, face painting, prizes, and more! This is …
By now, many of you have seen War Room. This powerful movie has caused many people to consider the power of prayer. I had the extreme privilege to work with the Kendrick Brothers to develop a Bible study on prayer. It is entitled, The Battle Plan for Prayer Bible Study. This was the fourth project I got to develop with …
Continuing through the Gospel Project Chronological, we have come to the part of Scripture detailing God’s Covenant with Abraham. In this session, we will learn that God is a covenant-making God. Because of sin, the people on earth had been separated from God (Eden) and each other (Babel), but God chose one man, one family, through whom He promised to …
Infertility is a unique and severe pain. For those who may suffering through it, here are some things to consider.
Yesterday, we sang “Oh, the Deep, Deep Love” during communion. This song has become one of our church’s favorites over the last few months. I pray it will encourage you to reflect on the cross and the grace of Jesus. VERSE 1 Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free Rolling as a mighty ocean In its …
It is a natural thing to pray for others. When it comes to praying for ourselves, we can easily get confused. What exactly should we pray for? Usually, prayers we offer for ourselves can focus on safety, security, or sanity. Our prayers can be limited to simple endurance through difficult or unsure situations. But, how should we pray for ourselves? …
Great day of worship with North Side today. As we dealt with 2 Thess. 1:5-10, it reminded me concerning the seriousness of both God’s wrath and mercy. While there were so many great things about today’s services, I loved the fact that the Hills were with us in worship all the way from Africa! They win the award for traveling …
Our church is loving the Gospel Project Chronological! Just six weeks in and all ages are learning so much and uniting together through discussion and application. Amazing to watch. In this week’s session, we see humanity’s propensity for inventing ways to build up our own prestige and bring honor to ourselves. As we build our kingdoms and lift up our …
Our lives are full of obstacles. Each of us know the frustration of dealing with unexpected circumstances. Some of you may have faced barriers to overcome in order to make it to church this week. Maybe you even struggled to make it to your discipleship group. What did you have to overcome this week to make it to church or …
Scripture teaches that parents who love their children are diligent to discipline them.
Regardless of your current family situation, each of us have people we consider family. It is easy to resort to worrying for our family or attempting to fix all of their situations, but are we strategically praying for them? When King David was nearing his death, he prayed over the entire nation of Israel but eventually he focused his prayer …
Great day to gather with the family of North Side today. After a week of the Gathering, we restarted our series, “Until He Comes,” as we picked up with studying 2 Thessalonians. The passage that guided our time together today was 2 Thess. 2:1-4: 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the …
This week has been jam-packed with all types of Kingdom goodness. With all the great time we had at the Gathering, I have not posted my notes on this week’s discipleship group focus with Noah and the Ark. Here are some notes I made during personal and group study: God’s regret was not based on what he had done wrong, …
I preached “As for Me and My House” on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 at North Side Baptist Church. It served as at the kickoff to the Gathering 2015. In this sermon, I addressed the need to expect not the culture to change but for believers to stand fast within the culture. Regardless of what our society believes or how they …
In this North Side podcast episode, I got to share concerning my connection with the movie War Room and the curriculum from the Kendrick Brothers’ films. Beyond the story of how God brought some things together, Strutton and I give some tips on what we are learning about prayer. Hope it encourages you! By the way, you can get all podcast …
We sang “From the Day” tonight at the Gathering and on Sunday. Love this rootsy song from I Am They. It teaches the gospel and causes us to look towards eternity. Lyrics VERSE 1 When You found me, I was so blind My sin was before me, I was swallowed by pride But out of the darkness, You brought me …
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