Gospel

Gospel Intentionality

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If you want a church to grow biblically, you must focus on evangelism.  Much of what happens in churches can be attributed to transfer growth vs. conversion growth.  Evangelism can catch fire in a church when everyone assumes the responsibility to grow in the gospel. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To …

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Faith of a CHILD

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As you share the gospel with your child, there are many things to consider. One way to help you think through “the faith of a child” is by using the acrostic “CHILD.” These five steps are beneficial in evangelizing the children in your life. Chronologically Teach the Bible Highlight Teachable Moments Initiate Open-Ended Questions Live an Authentic Example Decipher a …

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Gospel Essentials

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When we think about having a Gospel Focused Family, we need to first focus upon gospel essentials.  What is essential for your family member to understand in order to respond to the gospel? Your family’s greatest need is the gospel. Concerns You might have concerns about sharing the gospel with your family.  These are common concerns: What if I don’t …

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Gospel Hoarders

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It was such a joy to read Gospel Hoarders.  I was blessed to get to know some of the Via boys when I went to North Greenville University.  Eventually I would get to know the entire clan.  When I met their dad, Rick, I understood partly why I loved these guys so much.  Rick Via exemplifies ministry passion and personal …

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The Tabernacle

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In the Book of Exodus, we see the divine design of God’s plan for the tabernacle and how he used his people to build it.  Not only was it a place for the people to meet with God, but it was a pattern that pointed to something still yet to come.  According to the New Testament, God sent his Son …

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The Wilderness Test

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Exodus 17:1-7 is a wonderful portrayal of God’s wandering people and his unwavering commitment to them. After the exodus from Egypt, the people demand water from the LORD.  They don’t ask, they don’t pray, they demand.  God commands Moses to strike the rock and water flows out. Paul taught us (1 Corinthians 10:5-6) that we are to learn from Israel’s …

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The Pharaohs of This World Are No Match for the Great I AM

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God is God alone.  He demonstrates his glory by comforting his people and confronting those who oppose him. When Moses confronts Pharaoh, this ruler believes he is more powerful than the great I AM.  He pridefully states he doesn’t know who this God is.  He is about to find out. Here are some notes: Pharaoh is about to get a front-row …

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Moses, a Bush on Fire, and the Almighty’s Plan

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As we continue going through the Bible, we have now approached Exodus. God responded to Israel’s terrible plight by listening to the prayers of his oppressed people, revealing his character to Moses, and promising to deliver and redeem them. Here are some notes: Moses attempted to deliver God’s people but tried through his hands (Ex. 2:12). “I am the God …

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God Makes Good Out of Evil

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God took the evil deeds of Joseph’s brothers and used them for his greater plan of providing salvation from the famine.  In the same way, God used the evil injustice of those who put his son, Jesus, on the cross to bring about his master plan of providing salvation from sin and death. Here are some of my notes from …

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When God Calls Us to Suffer

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Joseph suffered unjustly and was later exalted to a place of prominence.  In a similar manner, Jesus suffered unjustly and was later raised from the dead and exalted as Lord of the world. Here are some of my notes from last week’s lesson from the Gospel Project: God never promises that faith will spare us from suffering. Favoritism of one …

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God’s Dysfunctional Covenant Family

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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 …

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Jacob’s Ladder

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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 …

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Abraham & Isaac & Jesus

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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 …

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God’s Covenant with Abraham

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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 …

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God Has to Humble Himself to Behold Our Extravagance

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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 …

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Notes on Noah

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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, …

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The Cross Disarms the Cherubim

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I was excited about others learning a lot in the Gospel Project.  I was thrilled when I saw how much my children were learning.  Have I mentioned how much this material is pushing and teaching me? Here are some of what I have been learning this last week as we studied “Human Rebellion” in Genesis 3: Satan’s strategy hasn’t changed …

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How Was Eve Supposed to Help Adam?

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Our church has been enjoying the Gospel Project curriculum.  I have heard so many great comments from all ages! This week, it was great how time with our college group studying Genesis 2 led to discussions about dating and marriage. After God created all things by using his words (or the Word), he created one thing with his hands – …

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In the Beginning, God…

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While I was excited about utilizing the Gospel Project to unite all ages with one curriculum, I never imagined I was personally going to get so much out of it as I have.  I have loved the group interaction time, the discussion time with our family, and utilizing the family Bible reading plan. I taught the first lesson with my …

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Creation & Legos

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Studying the Scripture together as a family is important.  Studying the Scripture as a church is important.  If you can combine those two things, you can make some significant progress!

We unite our church’s curriculum so that all ages are all learning the same thing at the same time.  It’s so helpful for church and family discipleship to take place more naturally.  As I learn in my group, I know what my kids are learning and we can stay on the same page throughout the week.

One night, I was asking my children what they knew about Creation, Eli (7) told me what God created on each day, Obadiah (7) told me that all things created were meant to give God glory, and Gloria (3) told me that everything God created was good.  I think they were getting it!

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3-Year Bible Study Plan

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Here is an additional Family Ministry update for your viewing pleasure.  We are excited to announce that one of the ways we are going to equip parents is by providing a 3-year Bible study plan for the entire family!

3-Year Plan

This plan will include:

  1. All ages on the same passage every week (except for Christmas and Easter where children will focus primarily on those significant events due to their importance at reclaiming those holidays).
  2. No more different ages in different places.  This effort is to fight against isolationist Christian growth and get back to what the Bible teaches concerning the centrality of the home (Mal. 4:6; Deut. 6:4-9).
  3. 3-Year plan going chronologically through the Scriptures so that you can see the grand narrative of the Bible instead of isolated stories and events.
  4. 18 months in the Old Testament and 18 months in the New Testament will allow a great coverage.
  5. If a family member promotes up to next age classing, they don’t miss a beat because we are all covering the same passages (preschool up to children, children up to students, etc.).
  6. Family discipleship can take place much easier because you will know what your children are learning without having to dig.
  7. Ages 1 to 100+ will all be together as well.  This means that grandparents and aunts and uncles and all family members (family unit and church unit) can share what they are learning through God’s Word!
  8. While our relaunch of Family Ministry happens in August 16, this curriculum will launch 3 weeks later on September 6th.  We want the system to be running well before new curriculum.
  9. If you aren’t in a discipleship group yet, now is the time to join one because this effort will help draw yourself and your family together around the Word like never before!

Gospel Project Chronological Promo

David, Goliath, and the Gospel

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If you’ve been around North Side lately, you know that we are switching curriculum to The Gospel Project. I am really excited about this for 3 primary reasons: Unites Families – This curriculum will position our church to have every age, every group going through the same discipleship curriculum together.  That means you don’t have to dig to find out what your …

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Why Are There 4 Gospels?

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The New Testament begins with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These four books, commonly called “the Gospels” serve as biographies on the life and ministry of Jesus. In New Testament study, the word “gospel” is used frequently. It means “good news.” When speaking of the message of the gospel, it will most often be written with a lowercase “g.” When …

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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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A Gentle Reminder

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Over lunch today, I told Amanda: “I have never seen such a hunger for God in our congregation than what I am seeing right now.” It’s true.  The people are rising up to be all that God has called them to be.  Their worship is more sincere.  Their intentionality is through the roof.  The expectations are rising.  It’s incredible to …

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The Mission of the Church

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We had some guest worship leaders helping out this Sunday for Father’s Day at North Side.  I assembled some of the band to recruit their children to help lead in worship and we had a stage full.  I was so honored to have my two sons leading beside me.  Obadiah and Eli are passionate singers and musicians.  Many people commented on their energy, and I told them this was them on calm.  If you were out of town, watch online here.

Family is important at North Side.  We prize lifestyles of worship lived within the homes.  This wasn’t a stage idea for Sunday, this was an example of what real life in the home should look like – men leading their children to love Jesus.

That’s what was great about the other elements in the service today.  It was about fathers and sons going on mission together.  Men of God stepping up to lead in the Great Commission.

Today, we worshiped to:

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Never Been More Helpless

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While we were in Africa, we were busy sharing the gospel.  Even if we were meeting needs, we didn’t do it without sharing the gospel.  Why?  Because that’s what Jesus did.  Yes, Jesus met physical needs, but he always addressed the greater spiritual need.  He never gave people a handout that would last for a day, he offered them words that could change their lives.

On one day, we held a gospel/medical clinic.  We would let people enter the courtyard in groups of 15 that later would turn into groups of about 100 at a time.  We would share the gospel with them, we would pray over them, and then we would try to address medical concerns.

In that day, I have never helped more people in my life and felt more helpless all at the same time.

As I rushed from person to person, some conditions could be treated with a simple Tylenol, Tums, or Neosporin.  Some of the other conditions were too great for the country to handle.  From 8-6 that day, I served as a medical assistant to some of the following conditions:

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“No One Else is Willing to Come Out Here”

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I’m still processing all God did among us in West Africa.  In some ways, this was the hardest mission trip I have ever been on in the fact of the conditions and what it takes to get there.  In other ways, it was the easiest in that it was very simple in theory.  Our primary objective was to share the gospel.

When speaking to our partnering missionary, I told him how difficult it was to get to him.  I had to fly across the world.  Then drive across the country.  Then walk across the desert.  Then, I was where he wanted me.  He said, “This is frontline missions.  There’s a reason your church was the last one to visit me months ago.  No one else is willing to come out here.  It’s too far.  Too hard.”

It was interesting to find out that out of the 18 summer volunteers serving with them this summer, 6 of them are from North Side, 3 are from Brook Hills (David Platt’s church), and the rest are from different locations.  Out of all the Southern Baptist churches, only 2 “radical” churches (sorry for the pun) are willing to encourage their students to go there.  And that is the reason why we must continue to go.

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God of GRACE

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Today we started a new series at North Side called “GRACE.” To help us understand the gospel, for the next few weeks, we will use the acrostic “GRACE:” God, Rebellion, Atonement, Conversion, and Eternity. The gospel begins with God. In fact, it is accurate to say that everything in life begins with God.  Jeff’s message was so powerful: anytime you …

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NSU – Night #2

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Thanks again for another great night at NSU in our Hermeneutics class. Your insights in our breakout time digging into Romans 12 were fantastic! You guys are really understanding on how to 1) grasp the text in their town, 2) measure the width to cross, 3) cross the connecting bridge, and 4) grasp the text in our town. I think …

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