North Way Live: Recent Episodes
North Way Christian Community
Welcome to North Way Live Podcast, featuring the weekly messages recorded live from North Way Christian Community in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
North Way is a non-denominational church, home to people just like you from a wide spectrum of church backgrounds – and some with no church background at all. You are welcome here no matter where you came from!
You are invited to join our weekly gatherings at one of our six locations throughout the Pittsburgh region. Visit us online at northway.org.
Are we parenting God’s way or following the patterns of culture? Parenting is filled with challenges and requires spiritual grit. Our goal isn’t just our children’s short-term happiness but it’s their long-term faithfulness in a complex world. To help them develop spiritual resilience, we must resist the urge to rescue them too quickly and model a genuine faith of our own. Who and what influences our children will shape who they become.
How do you know your faith is being tested? What about those moments when you start to question God's goodness? The trial of brokenness in marriage produces a testing of our faith. In marriage, we don’t fix brokenness by fixing the other person. We fix brokenness by fighting for oneness. True oneness in marriage is a daily choice built through grace, honesty, and healing words. This pursuit of unity reflects a greater love story, our oneness with Christ.
God calls every man to be a spiritual father. Like Abraham, we’re called to be faithful followers, loving leaders, and humble warriors. That means walking in obedience, laying our lives down for others, and trusting God deeply, even when the path is unclear. Spiritual fatherhood isn't about perfection; it's about surrender, courage, and letting God build something lasting through us.
Control is our defense mechanism. It’s a natural response when life feels out of control. Who or what are you trying to control? What if, instead of returning to your natural response you turned to something supernatural: trust over control? When we learn to trust God instead of leaning on our own understanding we find joy. We see this in the life of Joseph. Full surrender allows us to experience forgiveness, gratitude, and an eternal perspective.
We all face failure, but what if our failures could be the starting point of something redemptive? In this message, we explore how to respond when failure threatens to derail our lives. Whether it’s failure by comparison, risk, poor choices, or sin, God can redeem it all. As we confess, turn to Him, receive His grace, and walk in freedom, our story becomes a testimony of His power to redeem anything.
We all have experienced loneliness in our lives. We long to be known, accepted, and truly connected. But loneliness isn’t the absence of people, it’s the absence of connection. We often separate our desires from our faith, our identity from our worth, and our trials from our purpose. We chase fulfillment apart from God, hoping that something or someone will satisfy us. But not only do we have a God who sees our loneliness, we have a Savior who understands. The cure for loneliness isn’t more people, it’s a deeper connection with God and with others who draw us closer to Him.
Darkness and suffering can trap us in a draining loop of “what if,” but hope and the radical acceptance of “what is” offers the way out. Hope is not a fixed point we will reach, but a living force that propels us forward. Through hardship we are formed anew, and in our suffering, Jesus brings forth a new creation. Good things are happening even in the darkness.
Happy Mother’s Day! Today we celebrate all the women in our lives, those who have nurtured, led, and loved us deeply. We honor the heart of a mother, a heart that reflects Jesus. Whether biological or spiritual, moms carry superpowers of love. They see the unseen, make space for the lost, and take risks for the defenseless. Many mothers battle mom guilt, feeling they fall short. But true freedom comes when we receive Jesus’ love. We aren’t empowered by expectations from the world, but by the spirit of God.
Anxiety and fear are real responses, but they are meant to counsel us, not imprison us. In His own suffering, Jesus showed that surrender brings strength and that anxious thoughts can point us to our deepest longings to feel significant, accepted, and secure. But these needs are fully met in Christ. When we reframe our life’s telos around Him, anxiety becomes a doorway to deeper trust, joy, and freedom.
Is something currently testing your faith? Are you struggling with difficult relationships? Being offended and angry with difficult people is inevitable but living offended and angered by difficult people is a choice. This sermon introduces our study on trials and how they test our faith, especially through difficult relationships. Pastor Scott reminds us that trials are normal, can be a source of joy, and can transform us by building steadfastness in our lives.
Responses have consequences. This is true in all areas of life but especially true as we consider the resurrection. When we look at Scripture we see a variety of responses to the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. Some people said, "no way," viewing the resurrection of Jesus as an idle tale. Others marveled that Jesus was alive and went back to their old way of life. Some allowed this truth to change them and responded, "now what." When the truth of the resurrection changes us we have a living hope that will transform every area of our lives. Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life." Do you believe that true life is found in Jesus?
Hospitality isn’t just about opening our homes, it’s about opening our hearts. It’s a spiritual practice that reflects the gospel by welcoming and pursuing the stranger. God calls us to see and move toward those who are different. Just as we were once strangers and God welcomed us, we are now invited to extend that same love to others.
Prayer can sometimes feel confusing or uncertain. Is God really listening? We often treat prayer as something we do only in desperation or celebration, but is it truly our way of life? Prayer is not a transaction to get something from God, it’s an invitation to keep company with God. Let’s seek to respond to God’s invitation by being present with Him.
In a world suffering from an epidemic of loneliness, community is the remedy. We were created for relationships and God designed us to thrive in meaningful connection. Community is more than just a place of belonging; it’s also a place of becoming, where we grow into who God created us to be. Community brings us to Jesus.
We all long to be unrushed and present in the moment. The Sabbath is God’s gift to rest and refocus our hearts on Him. It’s not about rules or striving for perfection but resting in His perfection. Jesus redeems the Sabbath, making it a time to reorient our lives around Him. True Sabbath isn’t just about rest but also worshipping, joy, and being present with God.
Jesus made solitude a regular part of His life, retreating to desolate places to be with His Father. Stepping into solitude transforms us, allowing us to hear God’s voice, reveal hidden rebellion in our hearts, and invites us into true rest. This week, we are challenged not just to find time but to make time, resisting the urge to fill the silence, and allow God to do what only He can do.
Have you shared your faith with a non-believer recently? Are you letting others see your hope in Christ? In this message, we explore how to change our mindset, step out in faith, and share the gospel with urgency. Our feet bring peace, happiness, salvation, and good news when we walk into the world as a witness of the gospel.
When was the last time you had a fresh encounter with the gospel? Fasting isn’t just about giving something up but drawing closer to Jesus. In God’s Kingdom, the dependent version of you is the best version of you. Jesus fasted and expects His followers to do the same, not for show but to expose our weaknesses, reveal our idols, and stir compassion. This Lent, challenge yourself to fast and experience the gospel in a fresh way.
Jesus spoke frequently about money and possessions, not just in words but through His generous life. We live in a world today that often defines success by wealth and upward mobility. True abundance isn’t found in possessions but in being rich toward God. Generosity requires a shift in thinking and begins with a step of faith.
Jesus calls us to a life of service. Transformation happens when we set aside our ego, empty words, and displays of power, and instead embrace humility, living faith, and small acts of love. When we are empowered by His Spirit and step into the greater works He has prepared, transformation spreads everywhere, through our willingness to kneel down and serve others.
Who shapes your identity? We often seek guidance from those who don't truly know us, when we should be looking to God, our Creator. Scripture is a weapon against sin and the key to discovering our true identity. When we are led by the Spirit, we leave behind the old and step into the new.
Are you truly a disciple of Jesus, or just identifying as a Christian? In this message, we explore what it really means to follow Him by denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and surrendering fully to His way. Discipleship is a lifelong journey of abiding in Jesus, being shaped by His practices, and walking in His truth. Who are you following?
We all love the advantages life offers, but when it comes to the ultimate advantage, the Holy Spirit, we may feel fearful or confused. The Holy Spirit offers us guidance, peace, and comfort, working in both ordinary and extraordinary ways. Though often misunderstood or feared, the Holy Spirit is a helper from God that points us to Jesus, helping us experience His love on a personal level.
The power of knowing, experiencing, and following Jesus transforms our lives when all three are present. Though most Americans acknowledge the Bible’s value, few engage with it daily, a choice between wisdom and folly. Reading God’s Word daily brings peace, trust, clarity, and empowerment, equipping us to proclaim the gospel and fulfill our mission as followers of Jesus.
Our mission as a church is to lead people to know God through His Word, experience Him through the Holy Spirit, and follow Him in our hearts through obedience. At the center of knowing, experiencing, and following Him, we encounter God. To truly live out this mission, we must balance the Word, Spirit, and obedience, sacrificing personal preferences to align with His purpose.
Do you believe God still performs miracles today? Without the supernatural, we are left with a life of good morals, but no power. Through gratitude, regular time in the Word, and prayer we can open our eyes to the miraculous all around us and share the greatest miracle of all: eternal life with Him.
The Magi's gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh not only honored Jesus but also told the story of the gospel: His eternal reign, righteousness, and victory over sin and death. These gifts remind us of the greatest gift of all, eternal life and redemption for everyone who believes in Him.
The magi’s gift of myrrh foreshadowed Jesus’ suffering and death for our salvation. Jesus came to reach us from our sin, wrap us in His love, and release us from death. Just as Jesus chose to endure pain wrapped in the Father’s love on the cross, we are called to trust in God’s love in our darkest moments, resisting the urge to escape and instead remain hopeful.
What is the best gift you ever received? The best gifts go beyond the object itself, they make us feel seen and valued. In Jesus, God gives us the ultimate gift, declaring we are known, significant, and loved. The wise men’s gift of frankincense reminds us that Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of God’s promises, fully God and fully man, and our Great High Priest. Through Him, we receive complete forgiveness, access to God, and unending grace...a gift that changes everything.
The story of the Magi reveals truths about our response to Jesus. They pursued Him, recognized His royalty, and honored Him with generous, sacrificial gifts. The gift of gold signified Jesus' kingship, confirming He is not just any king, but THE King. How we perceive Jesus shapes how we respond to Him. Recognizing His authority calls for worshipful honor.
Join Allison and Pastor John as they reflect on the transformative teachings of the Sermon on the Mount in this season's final episode. They explore the power of building your foundation on Christ, embracing a renewed mind, and living out Jesus' teachings.
To watch this past week's sermon: Built to Last | John Reilly
For more info: northway.org
What is the foundation of your life? Jesus redefines what it means to live in God's Kingdom, not tied to a place, but built on the good news of the gospel. In this message, we explore how loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind creates a foundation that stands firm through life’s storms. When emotions, identity, and intellect are submitted to Him, we discover a steadfast purpose that transforms how we live.
In this episode, Allison sits down with Pastor Dave to discuss his recent sermon, focusing on discerning good versus bad leadership and understanding the fruit in people's lives. As they reflect on lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Dave shares practical insights on studying scripture and cultivating an eternal perspective in daily life.
To watch this past week's sermon: Abiding Through Understanding | Dave D'Angelo
For more info: northway.org
Jesus calls us to understanding, abiding in Him, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. This sermon reminds us that God's will is belief in His Son and salvation rests on God’s love for us, not our performance. True fruit reflects a transformed heart as we focus on what God is doing in us, not what we are doing in the world.
Join Allison and Amanda as they dive deeper into Matthew 7 and discuss cultivating curiosity as a spiritual practice.
To watch this past week's sermon: Judge Not | Amanda Beggs
For more info: northway.org
The way of the God’s Kingdom changes the way we approach relationships. Before we guide others, we must examine our own hearts humbly, letting God’s word change us. It’s important that we don’t have condemning hearts disguised as discerning minds. When we see ourselves rightly, we see the gospel clearly.
This week on Behind and Beyond, Allison and Pastor discuss reducing anxiety by trusting God more deeply and focusing on His kingdom. They explore how prayer, scripture, and gratitude can help manage worry and bring peace.
To watch this past week's sermon: Stop Rocking | Dave D'Angelo
For more info: northway.org
As a society, we are more anxious than ever before. Jesus calls us to take another path, to dare to think differently, even in the face of our worries. By seeking first the Kingdom of God, reorienting and reprioritizing our lives and our minds around Jesus, we can find peace.
In this episode, Amanda and Allison discuss Amanda’s recent sermon on costume Christianity and take a deeper look at the Lord's Prayer, line by line. They explore what it means to follow Jesus authentically, going beyond surface behaviors to embrace a true dependency on God for daily needs and forgiveness. They also highlight how the Lord’s Prayer offers comfort and grounding, especially during challenging times like election season.
To watch this past week's sermon: Costume Christianity | Amanda Beggs
For more info: northway.org
Changing how we look on the outside will never change who we are on the inside. Costume Christianity is the appearance of faith without true heart change, leading to either self-righteousness or despair. Jesus invites us to take off the costume and seek real communion with Him through prayer as He moves our hearts from a place of entitlement to a place of gratitude. In prayer, we trust that God is big enough for our past and our future.
Join Pastor Dave and Allison as they discuss practical ways to deepen prayer life. Dave shares his personal journey, emphasizing daily rhythms of prayer. Also, a listener’s question sparks a conversation on maintaining hope and persistence in prayer during times of unanswered questions.
To watch this past week's sermon: Ask, Seek, Knock! | Dave D'Angelo
For more info: northway.org
In this message, we’re reminded of the importance of listening carefully, not just with our ears but with our hearts. Jesus urges us to "ask, seek, and knock"(Matthew 7:7), showing that genuine prayer is transformative. Prayer isn’t just about saying words; it’s a form of deep communion with God that reshapes our desires, aligning them with His Kingdom. As we engage in prayer, our hearts begin to crave what He values, empowering us to walk the narrow path and grow closer to His presence.
In this episode, Pastor Scott shares his passion for developing young leaders and believers in the local church, as well as fostering a culture of generosity within communities. He also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at some of the incredible acts of generosity he's witnessed through his ministry.
To watch this past week's sermon: Investing in Eternal Treasures
For more info: northway.org
Earthly investments fade, but heavenly treasures are everlasting. As followers of Christ, we should evaluate whether our investments are solely in temporary things or eternal. We are generous not to earn God's love, but because we are already loved by Him. Here at North Way, we express our commitment to investing in eternal treasures through next generational church leadership, global missions, and local and regional church planting.
More info on Deep and Wide here: https://northway.org/deep-wide/
This week on Behind and Beyond, Pastor Dave joins Allison as they discuss examining our motives and how the Lord meets us in the secret and low places.
To watch this past week's sermon: Remove the Mask
For more info: northway.org
We often try to preserve our own image by seeking to be rewarded by others. Jesus teaches that "practicing righteousness" should only be to and for God, not to and for each other. While the reward of man is fleeting and based on performance, the reward of God brings true peace, freedom, and joy. God's reward isn't something we earn but something He graciously bestows upon us.
Welcome back to Behind and Beyond! This week, Allison and Pastor Dave D’Angelo dive into Dave Buehring’s powerful sermon on loving your enemies. They explore themes of forgiveness and the call to do good to those who have wronged us while living in light of eternity.
To watch this past week's sermon: Turning the Other Cheek
For more info: northway.org
Who is your enemy? Does someone who harmed or hurt you come to mind? This sermon explores Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:38-42 on loving our enemies and waiving our right to retaliate. While it's natural to seek revenge against those who harm us, Jesus calls us to a supernatural response—choosing love over retaliation. We must trust God as our vindicator and extend love by praying for, blessing, and doing good to those who have wronged us
Join Pastor Dave and Allison as they continue to dive deeper into the Sermon on the Mount. They discuss what it means to abide in the Lord and how to allow Him to transform our hearts more into His image.
We often seek God's blessings without being deeply rooted in Christianity, relying on self-evident truths. Jesus teaches us that our words should be truthful and full of integrity, avoiding manipulation. True transformation comes from the heart, not just behavior change, and happens when we root ourselves in the gospel.
This week on Behind and Beyond, Pastor John joins Allison as they dive into Matthew 5:21-26, where Jesus teaches us to see anger and reconciliation in a new way. They start by digging into the scripture, then get practical about how it plays out in everyday life and relationships.
To watch this past week's sermon: Forgiveness Over Fury
For more info: northway.org
In our journey through life, we often carry burdens that weigh us down. Getting angry is inevitable but carrying around our anger is a choice. Instead of swallowing, justifying, or releasing our anger destructively, we are called to embrace forgiveness and lament, freeing ourselves from the heavy load and stepping into the life God intended for us.
In this episode, Allison and Pastor Dave continue discussing the Sermon on the Mount. They dive into some tough topics like adultery, divorce, and lust, and talk about how important it is to lean on Christ’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to deal with these challenges.
To watch this past week's sermon: The Narrow Path
For more info: northway.org
When God’s Kingdom takes root in our hearts, it transforms how we view and engage with the world. What consumes our hearts dictates what we experience. Jesus calls us to hear His voice not as a threat but as an invitation to abundant life. The narrow path leads to life by confronting lust and to stop viewing our marriages as disposable. We need to choose love, not consumption, to walk on the right path.
Behind and Beyond is back with Season 4! We're diving deeper into Amanda Begg’s recent sermon from the "Your Kingdom Come" series. This podcast explores how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament and the difference between behavior modification and heart transformation, especially in parenting and personal growth. Allison and Amanda also discuss remaining hopeful in an election season.
North Way Counseling Services: northway.org/counseling
To watch this past week's sermon: The Heart of a Disciple
For more info: northway.org
At the core of "Your Kingdom come" is a deep desire for God to restore the world to its rightful order. We must go beyond surface-level Christianity and allow Jesus to fully reign in our hearts, granting Him complete access to transform us from the inside out. We must regularly check our hearts, motivations, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. It’s only through Jesus that our hearts and actions can align as genuine disciples, living for the Kingdom.
Love drives our actions, including our relationship with God. Jesus calls us to make disciples—those who love, follow, and obey Him. Our journey with Jesus is a lifelong progression, where we move from being lost to becoming disciple-makers. As we obey and make disciples, we experience God's presence and see lives transformed. Jesus modeled invitation by reaching out to the lost, and we are called to do the same, sharing our faith intentionally and walking with the authority and power of Jesus.
Are we making a real difference in the lives of others around us or are we straddling the fence between God's Kingdom and the world's ways? By examining our choices through the bible, we can live within God's will, where true joy and effectiveness are found. To get off the fence, we must fear the Lord, live earnestly, never negotiate, be committed, and exemplify Christ. Praying and fasting help build the discipline, diligence, and dependence needed to stay aligned with God's purpose and make a lasting impact.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be like salt and light--to preserve His way, and positively influence and guide the world around us. Regardless of generational differences, we must be consistent Christian influencers living out our faith visibly and effectively and striving to be an example that non-believers might be drawn to Christ.
In life, we often ask, "is it worth it?" when faced with big decisions. But when it comes to following Jesus, we rarely count the cost. True discipleship is costly, requiring us to choose the narrow path, align with Christ, and face persecution. We are faced with a choice: to be citizens of this world, conforming to its ways, or citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, following Jesus.
Just like we can’t stop at one bite of dessert, gossip is a temptation we often can't resist. However, gossip corrupts everyone and is the opposite of peacemaking. Jesus is calling us to stop feeding our souls with toxicity and to move towards peace by stop gossiping, refusing to listen to it, and living out Matthew 18.
When our hearts are purified, we can see God in new and beautiful ways. God's goodness surrounds us constantly, but we need the right lenses—purified hearts—to see it. Our hearts are not meant to be followed but purified, and this purification comes through God's Word and the fire of the Holy Spirit. As the Word of God enters our hearts and the Spirit of God works within us, we are cleansed, allowing us to see the ways of God's Kingdom and His goodness. When we surrender to God, letting His Word and Spirit purify us, the eyes of our hearts are opened, and we can truly see Him.
God's favor rests on those who show mercy, recognizing that the mercy Jesus calls us to is about the Light of Eternity (LOE) rather than Return on Investment (ROI). Being merciful starts with examining our own hearts and actions. Jesus’ call of mercy is bigger than something to do, it’s someone to be, and the world is desperate to experience. We're called to be merciful, forgiving, and generous, with the Holy Spirit guiding us every step of the way.
In moments of emptiness, we often seek to fill the void with things that don’t truly satisfy. Instead of seeking identity and purpose in artificial things, Jesus calls us to pursue righteousness by living in a right relationship with God and avoiding self-righteousness and cultural influences. By embracing this authentic hunger, we not only fulfill our own needs but also become a light to the world, demonstrating the only genuine way to fill the void within us.
Jesus teaches that true discipleship involves living with submission, humility, and meekness. Meekness is not weakness but controlled strength, showing gentleness, wisdom, and peace. By submitting to God's way, we live in contentment now and look forward to reigning with Christ in the new heavens and earth. Embrace meekness, knowing it leads to true blessing and aligns us with the Kingdom of God.
Mourning is a natural and expected part of life. Psalms of lament teach us to express our sorrow and rely on God, transforming our grief into joy. By bringing our pain to God, persistently seeking His help, and praying with the cross in mind, we experience true comfort and a renewed heart, as God promised.
Sometimes as Christians, we feel the pressure to have it all together, but Jesus teaches us the importance of relying on Him. Being "poor in spirit" means recognizing our need for God, like using crutches when we can't walk on our own. It's about spiritual dependence, not independence. We must embrace our need for God and lean on Him, for this is where true strength and a taste of heaven begins.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaims the gospel as the good news that the upside down, inside-out Kingdom of God is here now, and seeking it leads to human flourishing. As disciples of Jesus, living out the ways of the Kingdom will bring it to earth by pursuing a way of blessing that is countercultural, counterintuitive, and distinct in posture, priorities, perspective, practices, and path.
To witness the extraordinary works of God in our lives, we must consistently practice our faith and follow His revealed guidance. As we draw closer to God, He will draw closer to us, fulfilling His promises in His perfect timing. Throughout this sermon, we are presented with 9 daily decisions to help deepen our faith.
Fasting provides spiritual nourishment from a heavenly source and gives us remarkable grace to handle whatever we face. Eating food we don’t know about means focusing on and living according to God's will and being nourished by His spirit. Hunger is a reminder of our need to be nourished. When hunger persists, it causes us to remember where real and lasting nourishment come from, which is God alone.
Join Allison and Dave as they explore the themes of operating in the opposite spirit, especially in home and work settings, and the importance of understanding spiritual realities in daily conflicts.
To watch this past week's sermon: Operating in the Opposite Spirit | Dave Buehring
For more info: northway.org
When you are in situations where you are falsely accused, treated unjustly, actively opposed, or spoken to disrespectfully how do you respond? When faced with wrongful actions, our natural tendency is to react out of our flesh—anger for anger, hurt for hurt. However, Jesus teaches us to move in the opposite spirit, turning these situations into opportunities for spiritual impact. This purposeful response not only changes the spiritual atmosphere around us but also advances God's Kingdom, embodying true discipleship by serving others and continually forgiving and blessing, even in the face of injustice.
This week on Behind and Beyond we discuss trusting in the Lord's providence and how to apply God's promises practically in daily life.
To watch this past week's sermon: Promises of God | John Reilly
For more info: northway.org
In the book of Esther, we see how God turns ordinary moments into extraordinary ones, even when His hand is hard to see. While we may struggle to understand our own story, relying on God's promises gives us hope, patience, and steadfastness in uncertain times. Let's actively trust in these promises to be part of God's bigger narrative, even when it feels challenging.
Promises of God
Join Pastor Dave and Allison as they dive deeper into Esther chapter five. They discuss surrending our pride, biblical fasting, and how to wait on the Lord.
To watch this past week's sermon: The Destructive Power of Pride
For more info: northway.org
Do you believe God extends His grace even to those against us? Do you embrace justice and mercy as God does, or are you too focused on demanding justice for yourself? Through the lens of Haman's pride, we see how it blinds us to God's truth and perpetuates anger and hurt. Pride convinces us that joy and security lie in possessions and status, leading us to minimize our own faults while magnifying others'. God calls us to humble ourselves, plow the fields of our hearts, and open ourselves up to His word, seeking healing and transformation.
This week on Behind and Beyond we have a conversation about repentance, spiritual disciplines, and what it looks like to die to ourselves daily. Pastor John Reilly dives deeper into his sermon and how he studies scripture.
Resource: Habits of the Household
To watch this past week's sermon: The Daily Choice | John Reilly
For more info: northway.org
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What is your ultimate pursuit in life? Are you striving for wealth, prestige, or the validation of others? Or are you prepared to relinquish everything to embrace Jesus? Every morning presents us with the choice: Will we conform to the values of this world, or will we align ourselves with the Kingdom of God? We are called to choose God’s world and walk daily in accordance with His will.
This week, host Rebekah Stolle sits down with Amanda Beggs to dive deeper into her sermon on the book of Esther. The two discuss signs of a prideful heart, the idea of an invisible God in a visible world, and the difference between lament and grief.
To watch this past week’s sermon: The Enemy’s Trap | Amanda Beggs
For more info: northway.org
The book of Esther shows us to look for the hidden hand of God in our lives. Just because we can’t see God, doesn’t mean He isn’t there. But the enemy tries to trick us into believing lies. Satan always presents the bait, but then he hides the hook. Have you given the enemy unchecked power in your life? Have you fallen into the trap of unquestioned acceptance or confusion? The enemy uses these traps to try to take our eyes off Jesus. But Jesus is always walking with us. He enters the confusion. He can sympathize with us inside our pain and also save us from it. When we lean into scripture and rely on the power God has given us, we are freed.
Join Pastor Scott Stevens as he sits down with Rebekah Stolle and discusses the concept of "grit" and how we cultivate spiritual perseverance in the face of challenges. Topics also include how we live as a minority in a broken world and the importance of establishing healthy, spiritual habits.
Link to the grit test: https://sasupenn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06f6QSOS2pZW9qR?Q_JFE=qdg
Link to grit TED talk: https://www.npr.org/2013/11/01/240779578/is-having-grit-the-key-to-success
To watch this past week's sermon: Easy Choices v. Hard Choices
For more info: northway.org
Why does Jesus challenge us to do the hard things of faith? Being a Christian in American culture is becoming increasingly more difficult. However, it’s okay to be on the wrong side of culture if you’re on the right side of God’s word. Living the life of flesh is choosing to do what we want to do and when we want to do it, which is easy. But choosing the life of the spirit is doing what God wants us to do in His timing, which is hard. When we choose to do the hard things, God will reveal His providence, blessing, and favor over us.
Season 3 of Behind & Beyond is here! We're diving into our brand new series on the book of Esther and tackling topics like God's providence, mutual submission in marriage, and what it looks like to live out the objective truth of the gospel in today's culture.
To watch this past week's sermon: Eyes of Faith
For more info: northway.org
We are constantly searching for hope in times of distress. Sometimes we struggle to hold onto our faith and have patience and courage. The book of Esther encourages us to recognize and develop eyes of faith rather than hearts of fear. Esther demonstrates how to trust in God’s providence and faithfulness, even when we can’t see that it’s present.
Many of us know about the resurrection but how many of us are transformed by the resurrection? A lot of times, we are just like Peter. In the wake of pain or disappointment, we go back to what we know to try to make sense of our current circumstances. We go fishing. We find ourselves stuck in the past trying to get someone back, earn something back, or are playing something back. When we encounter the risen Jesus, we can stay stuck in the past, or we can commit and submit to Him as Savior and allow Him to transform us. When we do, our lives will never be the same.
Join Amanda Beggs and Rebekah Stolle for a conversation on the difference between conviction and condemnation, how we cultivate an attitude of amazement towards grace, and practical tips for how to prepare our hearts in a new way as we approach Easter weekend. This episode marks the end of our Around the Table series.
To watch this past week's sermon: Return to Remembrance
For more info: northway.org
Rituals never fill us, but remembrance does. Remembrance brings our eyes back to Jesus. Sometimes we treat the table as ritual, yet it is remembrance that deepens our love for Jesus. Moments of remembrance are sacred moments. We walk away thankful, filled, and connected. At the table, we find grace for everything we need. We find the grace of nourishment, gratitude, and communion.
Join host Rebekah Stolle and Pastor Dave as they discuss how we disarm the lies of the enemy, the importance of Godly community, and the power and victory in our personal testimonies.
To watch this past week's sermon: Spiritual Self-Control: Pushing Back the Enemy
For more info: northway.org
Do you invite the enemy to your table? The devil looks for a seat at our table to distract us from God’s call on our lives and to turn us from God’s provision to our own provision. The devil feeds us lies, distracts, deceives, and devours us. With spiritual self-control, we can push the chair back so the devil can watch us eat the beautiful feast God provided for us. We must abandon all outcomes to God, giving Him our ultimate trust.
This week, Rebekah Stolle sits down with Pastor Scott Stevens for a conversation on not settling for less than God has for us, how to hear from the Holy Spirit, and the importance of Godly community.
To watch this past week's sermon: Interruption or Invitation?
For more info: northway.org
Are you knowingly or unknowingly wandering and or settled in a place that you were only meant to pass through? Are you willing to allow Jesus to interrupt your schedule? When we allow God to reset our schedule, what we think might be an interruption, might be an invitation for a breakthrough in our lives.
Join Pastor John Reilly and Rebekah Stolle as they discuss how we're wired to worship, the importance of costly grace, and what it looks like to live from a confidence like Lazarus's.
To watch this past week's sermon: What Does Worship Cost You?
For more info: northway.org
Worship is more than just music. It’s a response to who God is. God calls us to worship with our time, relationships, attitudes, words, and resources. Our worship of God is determined by where we’re willing to sit and worship. God calls us to sit in the seat of gratitude, humility, and love so we can respond to His goodness. If our faith doesn’t cost us anything, it isn’t worth anything.
This week, we welcome Natalie Mather to the Behind & Beyond table for a helpful and encouraging conversation surrounding mental health (specifically OCD) and the power of sharing our testimony with others. We cover the different ways God brings about healing, the importance in naming our struggles, and the freedom found in laying down idols.
Today's episode contains references to OCD and may be sensitive to some viewers.
To watch this past week's sermon: Resting In Him
For more info: northway.org
What do you hold closely as part of your identity? Are you resting in your distinctiveness? Resting in the wrong place is actually no rest at all. When we rest in anything other than the gospel, we will always find ourselves weary, unsatisfied, and always on guard trying to protect our distinctiveness. Jesus wants us to put our striving aside, trust Him, and rest in Him alone.
Join Pastor Dave and Rebekah as they cover the signs that we've made Jesus too small, practical steps for reinvigorating our daily walk with God, and a relevant conversation on the tension between loving others without condoning sin in today's culture.
To watch this past week's sermon: Hungry for Mercy
For more info: northway.org
As Americans, we are tempted to think of spiritual growth as progressing in familiarity. According to Jesus, spiritual growth is about progressing in humility.
Jesus is calling us to humility and urges us to learn and grow in mercy. When our hearts stop giving mercy, we stop hearing His call. Giving and receiving mercy is found by fixing our eyes on Jesus. We must tend to our hearts, so we don’t miss His voice.
S2, E3: What's Filling Your Cup?
Join Amanda and Rebekah as they unpack Amanda's message and discuss topics like bringing our specific anxieties to the Lord, what it looks like to be filled abundantly by Jesus, and how to create memorable moments around the daily tables in our lives.
To watch this past week's sermon: Fed and Filled
For more info: northway.org
What table do you love being around? Where do you look to be filled? Jesus offers us a seat at His table. It’s not a seat that we must earn, but one that is waiting for us. When we come to the table with Jesus, we are always fed and filled. When we allow Jesus to feed us specifically, we experience His provision in a whole new way. Jesus feeds with authority and invites us to exchange our performance for His provision. He fills us completely and abundantly. We are called to invite people in and give them a taste of the abundant life of Jesus.
Do you feel like you're stuck in a cycle of busyness? This week on Behind & Beyond we discuss the importance of making time for the things that matter most, how to pray with boldness, and what steps we can take to deepen our conversations with our loved ones. Pastor John Reilly dives deeper into his sermon on how we lay down our expectations and choose the eternal things of life.
To watch this past week's sermon: Trading Expectations for Eternity
For more info: northway.org
Behind & Beyond is back for season 2 to unpack our new series, "Around the Table: Jesus, Meals, & Ministry." Do you want to know how to have spiritually healthy confrontation with others? This week, Rebekah and Pastor Dave talk through the keys to God-honoring confrontation and how to shift our focus from being right to seeing God more rightly. When we're lead by the spirit, we're more open to what God wants to say to us and through us, especially around our tables.
To watch this past week's sermon: Is It Worth the Risk?
For more info: northway.org
Have you ever had an unmet expectation? This is usually caused by unrealistic or uncommunicated expectations. When we invite people over to our houses for a meal, we hope things will go a certain way. But an invitation to the table is not an invitation for others to be more like us. It’s an invitation to encounter Jesus. We can set the environment, but only prayer can set the atmosphere. Are we willing to be vulnerable and to shed our expectations so others can taste eternity by Jesus speaking through us?
Throughout the series Around the Table: Jesus, Meals, and Ministry, we will be asking Jesus to challenge us to move more toward risk just as He did. Jesus describes His method of ministry as eating and drinking with people who needed to be reached. He ignored the risk and gathered with all sorts of people around the table to reach them. His church is called to do the same. Tables are places where healing happens and where anyone can belong. If we are going to allow God to cultivate a reaching heart, then we will be challenged to reset our tables and reset our hearts.
Throughout the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus reveals the various ways that our hearts and minds can be swayed in the wrong direction while also demonstrating His response to those areas of brokenness. In the family of God, we are not orphans or older brothers. We are first borns who can find freedom, abundance, and identity in the Father. To grow into a first born we must cultivate abidance actively, be transparent, and intentional with our actions.
As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to row back to those who are dying spiritually and offer rescue. We must offer the gift of forgiveness, status, and a reframing of identity to those who are drowning. People who are drowning need a place to belong. Status, or proximity to us, is not meant to be protected, it’s meant to be shared. When we help those reframe their identity and how they see themselves, we share that in Christ we are no longer sinners, guilty, ashamed, and broken. Instead we are free, forgiven, significant, and beautiful.
All around us people are drowning and desperate for rescue. Even with our best efforts to save ourselves, it never works. Rescue comes from outside of ourselves, through Jesus. Jesus was willing to risk it all because people were drowning, and He empowers the church to do the same. The moment the church stops going is the moment the church starts dying. Jesus’ presence is found in the rowing back. We can achieve this by feasting on a gospel scripture, inviting and investing in others, praying consistently in a different direction, and letting our own story be the menu.
If you or someone you know is affected by abuse, here is a list of resources available to you.
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Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
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Crisis Center North Hotline: 412-364-5556 or 412-444-7660 (TEXT)
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North Way Counseling Center: 724-935-0680
After the message, Scott is joined by Lauire Johnson, MA, to extend the conversation around this difficult topic and discuss what to do in an abusive situation.
Join us as we gather online together as one church, exploring how we can relinquish our rights in whatever season we may be in. Whether you are single, married, experiencing divorce, or in a legacy stage, we have a specific sermon to meet you where you are.
This message is catered specifically to those who are in a legacy stage of life. The tighter we hold onto the past the more we miss out on what God wants to do right now. There is joy and purpose found in following God wherever He leads. We relinquish our rights to determine how God will use us when we stop telling God how and start asking God “how?” It’s not about us being remembered, but about Jesus being remembered.
After the message, Amanda is joined by Mark C. Hutchison, MSW, to have a discussion on what it looks like practically to relinquish our rights to how God will use us in our daily lives.
If you or someone in your life has been affected by abuse, we have a specific message from Pastor Scott Stevens available here: How Do I Heal from the Scars of Abuse?
Join us as we gather online together as one church, exploring how we can relinquish our rights in whatever season we may be in. Whether you are single, married, experiencing divorce, or in a legacy stage, we have a specific sermon to meet you where you are.
This message is catered specifically to those who are single. Our culture screams that singleness is the ultimate freedom, and church culture often teaches singleness is all about focusing on yourself. When we hold too tightly to either of these ideas, we feel entitled to use our time to best serve us. What if our time is not our right to hold but a resource to relinquish? God is calling every one of us to think differently about our time. As believers, we don’t spend our time like everyone else. We redeem our time from sin nature and invest in things that really matter.
After the message, Brad sits down with Katie M. Iwanyshyn, M.S.ED, ABA, to extend the conversation around singleness and discuss what it looks like from a mental health perspective to redeem our time for Christ.
If you or someone in your life has been affected by abuse, we have a specific message from Pastor Scott Stevens available here: How Do I Heal from the Scars of Abuse?
Join us as we gather online together as one church, exploring how we relinquish our rights in whatever season we may be in. Whether you are single, married, experiencing divorce, or in a legacy stage, we have a specific sermon to meet you where you are.
This message is catered specifically to those who are married and explores the foundation of a healthy, Biblical marriage. The world teaches marriage is about self-fulfillment, but marriage in the Bible depicts two people relinquishing their rights to self, and instead, finding their significance, acceptance, and security in the never-changing love of Christ. When we are filled with God’s spirit, we can serve our spouse with a strength and grace that comes from God Himself.
After the message, Dave is joined by Kaitlin Simonette, L.P.C., to discuss how to have helpful, productive conversations within our marriages.
If you or someone in your life has been affected by abuse, we have a specific message from Pastor Scott Stevens available here: How Do I Heal from the Scars of Abuse?
Join us as we gather online together as one church, exploring how we can relinquish our rights in whatever season we may be in. Whether you are single, married, experiencing divorce, or in a legacy stage, we have a specific sermon to meet you where you are.
This message is catered specifically to those who have been affected by divorce. God deeply cares for us, and He hates how divorce hurts us when two lives are torn apart. What do we do with all the heartache and loss that remains? Through Jesus’ teaching, we see His heart is for forgiveness, even when it seems impossible. When we relinquish the right to hold onto our pain and withhold forgiveness, we allow healing to take place. Forgiveness is not meant to focus on the other person, but instead, we’re meant to focus on Jesus and the impossible forgiveness He offers us.
After the message, John is joined by Jennifer Simon, MA, to extend the conversation around this difficult topic and speak directly to the mental health side of divorce.
If you or someone in your life has been affected by abuse, we have a specific message from Pastor Scott Stevens available here: How Do I Heal from the Scars of Abuse?
What are you searching for this Christmas? Our searches reveal our needs and what we think will fix our problems. But are you truly satisfied by what this world offers? Are you exhausted by trying to fill the need? This Christmas, what if we asked what should we want for Christmas? Who should we search for? Jesus’ birth, celebrated at Christmas, is the beginning to the end to our search, once and for all! Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever receive. Jesus offers significance, acceptance, and security. This means our search ends here. There is great joy, everlasting peace, and eternal security found in the gift of Jesus.
The very things God’s people were waiting for back then are the things we need to remember now.
We must remember and be thankful that God redeemed His people. He redeems what sin destroys. Jesus is our Sacrifice and Deliverer, who leads us to freedom and gives victory over sin. As people who are redeemed, there is a great exchange. There is a transfer from us to Jesus where our sins are put on Him and we are forgiven, our debt is cancelled, and we are free. There is also a transfer from Jesus to us. Jesus gives us His rights and privileges as a Son. Let’s remember and be thankful that because of Jesus, we have life.
Christmas is the gift we want but Jesus is the gift we need. Zachariah prophesied the coming of our Savior. We must remember and be thankful for “he has visited” (Luke 1:67-68). We must embrace the gift of wisdom from the Wonderful Counselor, gift of strength from the Mighty God, the gift of identity from the Everlasting Father, and the gift of peace from the Prince of Peace. Let’s be thankful for the divine difference that Christmas signals in all our lives.
As we close out this season of Behind & Beyond, Pastor Dave recaps the highlights from this series on the 10 Commandments and the abundant life found in being “kept” by them. He and Amanda Beggs discuss the tenth commandment on coveting and cover topics like parenting, reconciling expectations, and the dangers of social media.
To watch this past week's sermon: Comparison to Celebration
For more info: northway.org
We often think things will fill our lives, but covetousness only leads to emptiness. Coveting is the “gap of desire” between our reality and our expectation of reality. The longer we live in this gap, comparison and discontentment settle into our hearts. We start to distrust God and our hearts become disordered, which can lead to a toxic life. But what if we started to rejoice with those who rejoice? What if we celebrated others and practiced gratitude, regularly giving thanks to God? When it comes to celebration and rejoicing with others, our feelings first follow our obedience. God’s word leads to true abundance.
Pastor John Reilly breaks down this past week’s message on the ninth commandment. Topics include the importance of addressing our spiritual condition, the benefits of confession, and the weight our words hold, both in our minds and out loud. John also discusses the peace found in the never-changing love of God and the power of deliberate community to hold us accountable.
To watch this past week's sermon: Power of Words
For more info: northway.org
Before we speak, our words start in our heart. God created us to have power in our words because we were made in His image. God’s words are full of power, goodness, and life. We are willing to bear falsehood to hide from God and to try to control how others see us. We are afraid that we are the only ones who struggle with sin. Our words can bring healing into our lives if we’re willing to stand before God to confess our sins and thank Him for His mercy, grace, and faithfulness.
This week, Paul Hunter extends his sermon on “do not steal” with Amanda Beggs. The two discuss the ideas of gratitude, time and giftedness, and how to live out obedience while we walk in step with the Spirit. We learn the importance of taking intentional time to stop and thank God verbally for all He has done to combat entitlement.
To watch this past week’s sermon: Buried Blessings
For more info: northway.org
We feel entitled to our time, talents, and money. We often think that we aren’t stealing because it’s our own. However, it was never ours to begin with. When it comes to stealing, we are confused about ownership, and we use our resources on ourselves. Because our view of God is distorted, we hoard our abundance. Our blessings are buried and we mismanage what God has given us. God calls us to live below our means in all areas of life so we may be a generous light and example of His generosity to others.
Pastor Dave D’Angelo continues the conversation from Sunday’s message on God-honoring marriages. He breaks down the importance of learning to love your spouse as you both change, serving the other when we don’t feel like it, and how we work towards honor together as a couple.
To watch this past week’s sermon: Faithful Marriage: More Than Good Intentions
For more info: northway.org
Good intentions don’t determine our destination. The path we are walking on does. God deeply values marriage. When adultery occurs in a marriage, it betrays the emotional, physical, and psychological bond of oneness that a husband and wife are meant to share. Lust lies at the root of adultery and causes us to treat other people with contempt, not as valuable human beings but as objects. A turnaround in marriages is more about good intentions. It’s about changing the direction, taking steps, and serving one another repeatedly, just as Jesus serves us.
Amanda Beggs and host Rebekah Stolle break down this past week’s message on the sixth commandment. Topics range from when you put your Christmas decorations up to the importance of reconciliation and not carrying offenses (and not masking them with religious activities). The two break down how you measure the health of your relationships, how to be free from the weight of the offenses you’re carrying, and how we engage with a post-modern culture on the topic of absolute truth.
To watch this past week’s sermon: Guilty of Murder
For more info: northway.org
The 10 Commandments not only show us what God wants, they show us what God is like. We see throughout scripture that every person bears God’s image and has purpose. Every life has value. Sin destroys our ability to fully live up to the standard of what it means to image God. As followers of Jesus, we should be characterized as people who honor life, in all stages and situations. Our response to one another is our response to the image of God.
This week, Pastor Dave D’Angelo sits down to discuss the importance of apologizing to our kids, developing young leaders, and distinguishing between honor and worship when it comes to our parents. He expands on the idea of living as a spiritual being in a physical body, and how the truth of the gospel shapes our definition of righteousness.
To watch this past week’s sermon: Hearts and Honor
For more info: northway.org
We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. With regenerated hearts, we look at things differently and live from the inside out, no longer driven by our flesh. The 10 Commandments are a path to freedom and flourishing. If we can’t honor our given family, how will we honor God? Honoring our father and mother keeps us in following Jesus. When we look at Jesus, we see that honor is respecting our parents and their authority. Honor involves being present, communicates appreciation, and provides for as opposed to always expecting from. When we live like Jesus, we live from the inside out.
Join Pastor Dave D’Angelo as he breaks down Dave Buehring’s message on remembering the Sabbath. Dave discusses a range of topics including what it’s like to simply listen to a sermon when he’s not teaching, practical steps to implement a weekly sabbath with his family, and which coach on The Voice he would choose if he were on the show! We learn to ask God to help us prioritize what is most important and receive His gift of the sabbath every week.
To watch this past week’s sermon: The Gift of Rest
For more info: northway.org
We often find ourselves caught in the relentless rush of life, fearing we'll be left behind. But God intends for us to honor the Sabbath and to trust Him with our time. We must allow God to guide us in incorporating rest into our lives intentionally. This includes seeking His presence, rejuvenating relationships, and finding mental and emotional rest. God wants us to live and lead in peace, joy, and health, with a deep sense of His presence and purpose in our lives.
This week, Scott Stevens extends his sermon from Sunday on not taking the Lord’s name in vain. He covers topics like what it looks like to represent God well and how to boldly share the gospel in our relationships with others. We discuss Scott’s heart for evangelism and how that affects the way he not only lives his daily life, but also his style and scope of preaching.
To watch this past week’s sermon: Reverence for His Name: Living as God’s Loudspeaker
For more info: northway.org
In the beginning, God spoke creation into existence. Each time God speaks in scripture, we must take notice of His words of power and receive them in reverence. As followers, our sole purpose is to be a loudspeaker for His glory and name. The Third Commandment challenges us to respect the name of God and His character in all that we say and do.
Amanda Beggs and host Rebekah Stolle discuss the difference between spiritual snacks v. meals, releasing control via surrender, and what we do when God seems silent. We learn how to cling to the promises of who God is and the importance of Godly community to cheer us on in spirit and truth.
To watch this past week’s sermon: 10 Signs You’ve Made God Small
For more info: northway.org
We live in an age of customization where we can tailor things specifically to us. Some of us approach God the same way. We want to customize Him in our image and likeness. When we worship the God we want instead of the God who is, we trade genuine worship for counterfeit worship. Counterfeit worship will never lead us to the freedom and flourishing that God has designed for us. We must seek the God who is, stop looking at everything else, and start looking at Jesus.
This week, we dive into the first commandment and discuss what sermon prep looks like for Dave (did you know there’s a mid-week run through?), Snuggies (yes, you read that right), and how to have Spirit-filled conversations on controversial topics. We learn what it looks like to speak with 100% grace and 100% truth, and how we can rely on God’s goodness to guide our conversations.
To watch this past week’s sermon: Counterfeit Love
For more info: northway.org
In our culture, we love progress. We crave more and more of it. We often think if we aren’t progressing, we are regressing. By seeking to fulfill our own passions, we settle for any myth just to suit that appetite. God creates and Satan counterfeits. Love is becoming our idol. God is love, but love is not our God. God calls all of us to be living sacrifices. We must follow the words of Jesus and take everything to the cross, not the culture.
Join host Rebekah Stolle as she sits down with Pastor Dave D’Angelo as they discuss dropping your kid off at college, how to choose a sermon series, and the importance of the Old Testament. We dive deeper into God’s perspective when He gave us the 10 Commandments (spoiler: they weren’t actually called “The 10 Commandments”!) and how we can leverage gratitude to combat judgment. To watch this past week’s sermon: Not Just a List of Rules For more info: northway.org
We all have a different posture and response when it comes to rules. Sometimes we view rules as whether they apply to us or not based on where we are in life. We must start seeing beyond our own perspective. When we see as God sees, then we start to do as God says. God gave us the 10 Commandments as a gift so we can flourish and be free as His people. In this new sermon series, we will be exploring the 10 Commandments, not just a list of rules, but instead an invitation to know a God who invites us into a life of freedom and joy.
Sometimes we view church community as an optional bonus that comes with being a follower of Jesus. However, it’s an integral part of following Him. When we put our faith in Jesus, we believe the good news of the Gospel and that we belong to God and to one another. Our faith is personal but never private. It’s made to be experienced inside community. We encounter Jesus through the way we love one another. We are created, called, changed, and will be completed in community.
As Christ followers, we often use excuses to keep from doing what God is calling us to do. Sometimes we turn a blind eye to those who need us. We turn a blind eye to family or friends that are lost and don’t have hope in Jesus. We must be proactive in our faith and share the hope of the Gospel with others. This may be challenging, but we have the Holy Spirit, who will empower and guide us. Obedient perseverance brings about blessing and fear will be replaced with confidence. God always upholds His children!
We always want the quick and easy fix, especially in American Christianity. When it comes to loving God and others, we often get caught up in thinking that the solutions need to look bigger, better, and faster. But Jesus shows us that the smaller things are actually the greater things. Jesus is constantly challenging our perspective on how we love. We are to love earnestly. As Christians, we need to become more aware and step out in obedience. We are called to community and to be missional. We love because we are overcome with His love for us.
In the scriptures, God commands us to give generously, and he blesses those who obey. We all need God’s blessing and supernatural favor in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Dave shares seven truths about giving and God’s blessing. Giving works greed and selfishness out of our lives, keeping us from sin and opens God’s word to us.
When we turn away from the reliance of Jesus Christ and look to something else for a blessing or fulfillment, we are chasing after an idol. In John's letter, he tells us if we aren't experiencing God's love and light there is something competing in our hearts for God. When an idol rules our hearts, we can become prideful, and our hearts harden. To honor God, we must loosen our grip of any idols and call upon the Holy Spirit, practice generosity in all things, and humble ourselves.
Sometimes we like to push against boundaries. We do this in small ways but also larger ways with God’s commandments. We can say something is true but live our lives as if it’s not true. To abide in God’s light and love is to have a close enough relationship with Him to understand His heart and to not see His list of commands as burdensome. Out of His love for us, God gives us boundaries to follow so our lives can flourish and be a blessing to others. The commandments are not a burden, but a blessing put in place for our good.
At the root of all fears is mistaken or forgotten identity. Where are we abiding? Where we abide influences who we think we are. When we know who we are in Christ, all fear vanishes. We are beloved children of God and His perfect love casts out fear.
How do we discern what's from the Holy Spirit and what's from the world? Objective truth seems hard to come by, and it gets tricky when spiritual truths are mixed in with cultural concepts. We need a test; a way to discern what is from God. Discernment is more than choosing right from wrong; it's choosing right from almost right. The gospel continually moves from our head, to our heart, and to our hands in a cycle. How you think about God is going to impact how you love Him, and how you love Him is going to impact how you follow Him. The worldly tests we use are leading us astray as we falsely rely on our emotions or cultural approval to discern truth. The best way to discern what is from God is by discerning what points to Jesus and His Supremacy.
The full joy that we long for is found by abiding in God’s love. It’s found by loving others the way Jesus did. Jesus died willingly on the cross for us and our benefit. Jesus’ love is an unconditional, covenant love. According to Jesus’ version of love, “if” is never part of the equation. It’s always a matter of “how.” John is calling us to obedience and to love like Jesus. The question we need to ask is, “How do I love someone, not if?”
Our identity is crucial as Christians. When we lack confidence and have doubts about our faith, our relationship with Jesus doesn’t grow. We become more shameful of ourselves. When we misplace our confidence, we become more critical with others. In Christ we are forgiven and there is no room for shame. We aren’t called for perfection but for repentance. Jesus calls us to obedience because a life lived for Him is what we were created for.
Inconsistency of morality without a standard will always lead to chaos. Our own truths won't set us free. The eternal truth will set us free. The disciple John reminds us that the end could be near any day and to anchor ourselves in the truth. Having a last hour mentality causes us to see our relationships differently, handle our resources differently, and understand our time differently. We abide when we stay in the Word and stay connected to His Spirit.
Obedience matters. If we believe in God, our behaviors should match our belief. We must lean into new patterns enabling new power from God. Loving others must be central in our life. Specifically, loving others not just as we love ourselves, but as Jesus loves us. Love hard, even when it is hard or painful.
Are you struggling with shame in your life? Do you want to be free? The more we renew our minds on truth, the freer we become and the further we get from shame. Knowing who God is contains the secrets to living the most joyful and satisfied life. God’s love isn’t based on us; it’s placed on us. One of the biggest components of the process of sanctification is learning to receive grace. When we fully commit ourselves to knowing, experiencing, and following, Jesus, we encounter true freedom and joy.
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Because God is light, He contains the goodness we all long for. John urges us to take our sin seriously because it has the power to divide us, destroy us, and remove freedoms. By ignoring or tolerating our sin, self-deception, and chasing idols, we are walking towards darkness instead of the light. In Christ, we are fully excepted, significant, and eternally secure.
John, Jesus’ disciple, heard all that Jesus taught and saw how he lived. He witnessed firsthand God’s glory. As we study 1 John, we will explore John’s words and discover what it means to live in the light. Throughout John’s words we will see three main concepts. Theology matters: knowing Jesus begins with believing what God says. Devotion matters: experiencing Jesus allows us to enjoy eternal life now and forever. Obedience matters: following Jesus is our response to God’s love. When we anchor ourselves in what matters- knowing, experiencing, following Jesus, we will experience God’s love more fully. The fuller our experience of God’s love, the deeper our love for one another. Our identity is rooted and secured in the love of Christ.
Often, we come across the choice of either listening to a good God who loves us or listening to the lies of the enemy. Periods of waiting can be painful, but when we choose to listen when God speaks, the reward is immeasurable. When God guides, He will always provide. God wants to grow us so we can experience the level of His goodness. His timing is just as important as His direction. Will you follow Jesus’ example and do it afraid?
Often, we take God’s gifts and love them more than God Himself. They become ultimate things and we believe they will give us acceptance, significance, and security. We use the gift of relationships in our lives as an ultimate thing but end up disappointed. Only God can provide us the acceptance, significance, and security we need. When God is our ultimate source of goodness, we are free to enjoy good relationships.God is calling us to not only know about Him but to experience Him inside a relationship by tasting and seeing His goodness.
Most days of our lives are ordinary. But are we conditioning ourselves to search for God’s goodness only on the extreme days? God is good always! We can train ourselves in everyday moments by simply recognizing and responding to what God is asking us to do. We have the chance to do justice every day when we encounter something that is wrong. When we experience something to forgive, we can love kindness. Each day there is something to be honest about, which gives us the opportunity to walk humbly.
Hope in the Midst of Suffering Suffering is an inevitable part of life here on earth. But why does God allow it? Suffering identifies us with Jesus, creates a "witness" for others to see, and produces what comfort cannot. Suffering also helps us to see what we cannot see otherwise and always produces good from the pain. Through God’s infinite mercy and grace, we have the tools and power to overcome the suffering and bring biblical hope to the surface.
Sometimes we make judgements of God's character depending on our circumstances. Our circumstances change and challenge us, but they never change God's character. Throughout our waiting, He reveals to us His goodness through the work He is doing inside of us. God grows our dependence, aligns our hearts, and builds our trust in His timing.
How often do we ignore God’s call? Why is it easier for us to ignore His call during the successful and high times in our lives? Are we doing God things with our good things? It’s important how we respond to the successes we receive from God because that will shape how we view the other times when we don’t feel blessed. Success and wealth can tempt us into giving ourselves all the credit and blaming God when things aren’t going well. But the real message of the Gospel demands more than we thought and offers more than we ever imagined.
God is sovereign and in full control. However human beings also have free will and the ability to choose. The problem isn’t that God lacks goodness. It’s that we lack goodness. But when we look at all the evil in the world or in our own lives, we start to question God’s goodness. Even though it’s challenging at times, we must stand on the word of God. Anchoring ourselves in what we do know, allows us to experience God’s goodness in what we don’t know. Visit the North Way app (Resources) for a panel discussion on today's sermon.
Who defines good? Us or God? In this sermon series “Somehow God is Good,” we will examine our definition of good and what the Scriptures teach us about God’s version of good. Throughout this sermon, Pastor Dave focuses on Romans 8:28 according to our feelings and Scripture. When feelings become our determiner of truth, we are asking to be deceived. But when all of Scripture is our lens, good is determined by the one promising it, not receiving it.
His is risen! Jesus’ resurrection changes everything! Jesus’ empty tomb means death is no longer a prison. It’s a passageway to life. The empty tomb is also a passageway to freedom, from the debt of sin and from the sting of death. Jesus’ resurrection allows the scriptures and truth to come fully alive to us. His sacrifice opens the gateway to unimaginably wonderful existence for all of eternity. Have you stepped into the empty tomb and believed?
We all have questions for God. Why did this happen? How much longer do I have to wait? Are you there God? Even Jesus questioned His Father while nailed to the cross, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In that moment, the weight of our sin is crushing Jesus. But He is also feeling the wrath of God. In this sermon, Pastor John Reilly speaks about the truth and purpose of God’s wrath. God’s wrath is intense hatred of sin that is born out of His holiness. His wrath is never disconnected from His character, slow because we are, and is to be feared.
How we think shapes how we live. Are your thoughts full of fear or peace? Are they critical or joyful? Do you think about your own kingdom or serving God’s Kingdom? We must renew our minds from the lies we tell ourselves and instead believe what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. Living like Jesus begins with thinking like Jesus. Our lives are changed as our minds are changed.
Feelings of nervousness, panic, fear, and uneasiness are only a few symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety exists across a broad spectrum. No matter what type you experience, it can disrupt your day-to-day life. However, we can find hope in Jesus, our redeemer. In this sermon, Pastor Dave gives us 4 key observations from Philippians 4:4-7. Anxiety is not new, and we must do better as a church, facing this issue with compassion and love. Prayer combats anxiety and God’s peace is always with us to guide our minds and hearts. The Lord is at hand.
Think about how many things in your life need a routine maintenance. None of those things get better if left unattended, they only become worse. The same can happen when it comes to our faith. In Philippians 3:12-21, Paul tells us that nothing, especially our relationship with Jesus, gets better if left unattended. In this sermon, Pastor Dave gives us three maintenance questions to ask ourselves. May we forget what lies behind and instead be open to God’s new, reconciling, and freedom in Jesus.
Creating checklists can make tasks easier such as going to the grocery store or getting chores done around the house. But what about when it comes to your faith? Do you have a checklist? Are you trying to accomplish certain things to make God love you more? In this sermon, Pastor John Reilly travels through Philippians 3 where Paul warns against making your relationship with God a series of checklists. Sometimes we focus more on our own checklists, trying to check off the right boxes, than Jesus. But Jesus came and fulfilled every checklist needed for us to be in a right relationship with God. When we “work out” the righteousness of God- the checklists we once thought earned salvation turn into opportunities to celebrate salvation.
Can you think of a situation where you were dissatisfied and annoyed? We all have moments where we catch ourselves complaining and grumbling. Sometimes our mouths and thoughts get in the way, affecting our sanctification. As we try to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we must do all things without grumbling and disputing. We must ask for God’s grace in our hidden faults and to keep us from the temptation to sin. Then we will shine as lights in the world.
As we continue to study the book of Philippians, we are diving into what it means to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This week we are learning that working out our salvation means moving from limiting our faith to moments and making our faith a mindset. With moments, we can limit the impact of our faith to certain instances in our lives. But when we change our mindsets, we can allow the Gospel to transform our hearts that our faith impacts the way we approach everything. When we humbly approach our relationships by putting others first by letting go of power, pursuit, and privileges, we can show the world Jesus.
Who are you seeking to be worthy of? Who do you long to experience praise and recognition from? We all long for the approval of others such as our family, friends, and coworkers. We all long for breakthrough in our lives. But it is only in the Gospel where we can find true freedom, joy, and peace. In the Gospel, God shows how much He loves us and that we are celebrated not tolerated, forgiven not in debt, and beautiful, not broken.
We often find ourselves chasing after the world’s definition of love. Love has been compromised between the scriptures and our culture. Compromised love is driven more by consensus than by God’s word. Compromised love also takes the path of least resistance and leads to a compromised influence. Paul encourages us in Philippians 1:9 to love more. If we want to know what love is, we must look at Jesus.
What does salvation mean to you? In the first week of our sermon series “Fear and Trembling” we begin to dive into the book of Philippians where Paul writes about salvation. He talks about it in three tenses: the past, present, and future. In this sermon, it’s compared to learning how to ride a bike. We also learn different ways to work out our salvation with fear and trembling by starting with Jesus, having the right kind of fear, and working out what’s worked in.
All mankind is created in God’s own image. We have attributes that reflect the divine nature of God. All human life is valuable. But are we living from the truth that God values all human life or just with that truth? When we choose to live from the truth of the image of God, we choose to trust God and not lean unto our own understanding of the future, even if that involves pain and suffering. Living from the truth of God’s image also means that His value of life applies to all stages and issues of life as well as treating those who think or believe differently as Jesus would treat them. We can ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit to help shape our hearts with compassion and to be more like Jesus as we show up for one another.
When a new year comes around, so do our new resolutions. We create goals, plans, and make certain things a priority over others. But what about when it comes to our faith? What is your individual plan to know Jesus more this year? What if we make knowing Him our sole effort of our existence here on earth. Gathering regularly in person for church, growing closer to Jesus personally every day, grouping up with other believers regularly, giving money generously to God’s church, and going into the world as a servant, are all different steps to knowing Jesus.
All relationships can be tough to navigate at some time throughout our lives. We become frustrated and annoyed with people and began to pick things out in them that we want to change. We know what will “fix” them, but in reality, we are unable to change them. We focus on how to fix others instead of ourselves. Jesus points this out in Matthew 7:5 saying, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” If we want to navigate healthy and fulfilling relationships full of love and peace, we must focus on beam removal than speck fixing and aim our life to walk humbly with our God.
What is your current attitude towards singleness? If you find yourself frustrated or disappointed, you've come to the right place. Today's message from Vince Giordano unpacks the Biblical teaching on our life's purpose, single or not. Let's lean in together to embrace a Godly view of singleness and marriage.
What does it look like to leave a Biblical legacy? The story of Daniel in the Bible offers a wonderful example for us. Daniel's steadfast faith led to a generational love for God being passed down through generations. Today's message from Scott Stevens looks at how to lead a God-honoring legacy through daily decisions. Let's lean in together to build lasting legacies right now through steadfast devotion to God.
Are you battling through unmet expectations in your marriage? What if the key to a God-honoring marriage was found in understanding who the real savior and the real enemy is in your life? Today's message from Amanda Beggs unpacks the ultimate purpose of marriage and the keys to fighting well together against our real enemy. Let's lean in together as we learn how to build marriages grounded in God's faithfulness.
When we think of Christmas and Jesus’ birth, we usually focus on the big moments of the story. Sometimes we miss the smaller details that are as equally as important. God chose the small town of Bethlehem to put Jesus on this earth. This was the same spot where the Passover lambs were raised. Jesus became the Passover lamb for all of humanity. God’s only son, sinless and perfect on earth, sacrificed His life and blood as a once and for all sacrifice. Jesus’ earthly birth that we celebrate at Christmas declares an end of sacrificing, rituals, and the idea that we must work to earn favor with God. Jesus’ earthly beginning also puts an end to our soul’s deepest hungers. He is the bread of life and only He can truly satisfy.
What are you wishing for in your life right now? What do you want to end? All the grief, pain, anxiety, and suffering make us long for endings. Our longing for endings is actually our longing for a Savior. In this fallen world, we experience sin and struggle. But there is hope. God sent a savior to break the curse of sin and end it all. We are saved. God sent Jesus not only to reveal Himself but to bring us to Himself. In Him, we can find all the endings that our hearts are longing for.
Throughout the Christmas season, we tend to focus on and celebrate the newness Jesus brings into the world. But there is also amazing peace to be found by looking at the things His beginning brings an end to. In Christ, there is no inside or outsider restriction, only faith. There are no binding labels from our past, Jesus wiped them clean. His earthly beginning ends the lines that we draw between us and God. Jesus’ birth is an introduction to eternal life for all of us if we are willing to believe.
Waiting can be difficult. Whether you’re waiting for a place, pace, problem, or a person, you can start to lose hope easily. You might find yourself asking, “God, where are you?” Throughout the Old Testament we see a lot of waiting. God promised a savior and messiah to His people and then another 400 years passed. But just at the perfect time, God sent His son. While God’s people were waiting, He was working. While we are waiting on something in our lives today, God is working. At the perfect time He will reveal provision, reconciliation, redemption, or restore peace. Just because God feels silent doesn’t mean He is absent.
When life isn’t going well, do you find yourself trying to grab onto something thinking it will give you hope in that moment or a feeling of wholeness? We all have that temptation to grasp onto lesser things that only bring temporary healing. When God’s love is small in our eyes, the response to His love will be small in our lives. We start to respond with small sacrifices, turn to small leaders, and gravitate to only small connections. We try to set up borders when it comes to God’s love. But just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean He can’t do it.God’s love goes beyond what we can see! Throughout God’s word, He reveals how much he loves us and encourages us to let go of the lesser things and grab onto Him.
Priests, judges, kings, and prophets were the primary leadership roles in the Old Testament. This leadership system was not replaced by Jesus but redeemed by Him in the New Testament. Jesus showed us what it really meant to be a priest by representing the people to God. Instead of living off the offerings of the people, Jesus offered Himself to God for the people. He is the perfect High Priest. He showed us throughout scripture that He’s also the perfect Judge, King, and Prophet. Jesus models for us what these roles were designed to look like from the very beginning. He makes them relevant and precious in our lives today. When we are willing to step into these roles, and obey God, His presence goes with us.
What’s your idea of love today? Is it fueled from God or from our culture? Our culture has taken the idea of love and warped it. We have forgotten that God is love and instead we have made love our god. When this happens, we take love and make it according to our preferences and stay away from unconditional commitment. In the book of Ruth, she gives us a picture of love that’s not based on how we feel inside but based on who God truly is. Biblical love is not an emotion we feel. It’s a path we travel. As the children of God, we are called to walk in a committed, other-first love that is defined by God’s truth not our feelings.
What’s your idea of love today? Is it fueled from God or from our culture? Our culture has taken the idea of love and warped it. We have forgotten that God is love and instead we have made love our god. When this happens, we take love and make it according to our preferences and stay away from unconditional commitment. In the book of Ruth, she gives us a picture of love that’s not based on how we feel inside but based on who God truly is. Biblical love is not an emotion we feel. It’s a path we travel. As the children of God, we are called to walk in a committed, other-first love that is defined by God’s truth not our feelings.
We often make judgements of who God is based on our circumstances or what’s going on in the world. But when we dive into the scriptures, we see the truth revealed in His word. Just as God provided and was fully present for the people of Israel, He provides for and is present with us today. Do you recognize God as your source? When we give our life over to Jesus, it’s just the beginning of a beautiful spiritual journey in which we must allow God’s presence to transform us.
We often make judgements of who God is based on our circumstances or what’s going on in the world. But when we dive into the scriptures, we see the truth revealed in His word. Just as God provided and was fully present for the people of Israel, He provides for and is present with us today. Do you recognize God as your source? When we give our life over to Jesus, it’s just the beginning of a beautiful spiritual journey in which we must allow God’s presence to transform us.
When you think of the spiritual disciplines, generosity might not be the first to come to mind. However, it is as equally as important as the others. Generosity is not primarily for the good the church can do with your gifts, but rather how it will re-posture you for the good you will do with your life. Generosity frees, heals, and unleashes us.
When you think of the spiritual disciplines, generosity might not be the first to come to mind. However, it is as equally as important as the others. Generosity is not primarily for the good the church can do with your gifts, but rather how it will re-posture you for the good you will do with your life. Generosity frees, heals, and unleashes us.
God wants us to experience Him fully and know His son Jesus. When we look at the Passover in Exodus, we see how Jesus is revealed throughout scripture. Just as the lamb was sacrificed for the Jewish people, Jesus is the perfect, unblemished, sacrificial lamb offered for our sins. God was establishing the new covenant, His new promise with humanity, fulfilling the prophecy. Putting our faith and trust completely into God, will give us confidence in forgiveness and confidence that He has a plan for our lives.
God wants us to experience Him fully and know His son Jesus. When we look at the Passover in Exodus, we see how Jesus is revealed throughout scripture. Just as the lamb was sacrificed for the Jewish people, Jesus is the perfect, unblemished, sacrificial lamb offered for our sins. God was establishing the new covenant, His new promise with humanity, fulfilling the prophecy. Putting our faith and trust completely into God, will give us confidence in forgiveness and confidence that He has a plan for our lives.
Why is this happening to me? Where are you God? We’ve all asked ourselves these questions at some point in our lives. Often the wrestling in our lives is with belief. Jacob wrestles with God but in the end comes out spiritually stronger. From his story we learn that there is healing from brokenness and when we tighten our grip on God, we loosen our grip on ourselves. Holding on with both hands involves declaring what’s true even when it’s difficult to believe.
As we continue to study the Old Testament, a consistent thread emerges. There are no circumstances that can prevent God’s redemptive and reliable promises. When we look at the story of Abram in Genesis, we see that his journey isn’t perfect. We see him trying to take control away from God, using others, and lying about it. But God uses the obedience of imperfect people to carry out His perfect plan. The reliability of a promise hinges on the promise giver. God’s promises are reliable because he has proven himself again and again to be reliable!
The Tower of Babel seems wonderful on the surface, but in reality, it was the start of idolatry, mistreatment of the Image Dei, and direct disobedience of God. Noah’s decedents were trying to make a name for themselves while striving for acceptance, security, and significance without God. They also disobeyed God’s command to be fruitful and multiply by staying in one place. The story of Babel is the story of us. In what ways do we strive for acceptance and significance? How do we disobey God’s commands? It’s also a call to not settle for anything less than God himself in terms of our worship. To see God for who He is, compared to who we’ve made Him out to be, it requires our willingness to shift our perspective and to consider things a little differently.
In the beginning, God created and moved things from chaos to order. To separate His creation of man from the rest of creation, God created man in His own image to bring order, stability, and peace. However, as we see in Genesis 3, Satan wanted to reintroduce chaos into the world. He belittled and twisted what God revealed in the garden. Satan tries to bring chaos and sin into our lives today. He is aware of the power God’s word can have over us and that’s why he attacks. As we continue this series, we will see the consequences of the fall and how it still effects our lives today. But we will also see hope throughout scripture that points to our savior Jesus!
This is the first week of our new fall series, Revealed! Pastor Dave introduces how the Old Testament points to Jesus. When we see Jesus in the Old Testament, it fully opens the scriptures to us and allows us to know Him better. It also prevents us from misperceiving God and frees us from performance driven religion. Understanding the Old Testament law that Jesus fulfilled, reveals just how amazing Jesus truly is.
It’s easy to slip into the “if only” mindset where thinking if you have a different job or nicer car makes you feel more content. However, as followers of Jesus, it’s the wrong perspective to have. If contentment is based on a material goal, then enough will never be enough. You’ll keep chasing after it. True contentment in life is not about what you have. It’s about who you have. Jesus is the one who gives us the safety and security we need. It’s a perspective shift. Jesus is always the better.
Over the years, there’s been a cultural shift of understanding what marriage looks like in our world. Marriage once was mainly viewed as a permanent, contractual union designed for mutual love, procreation, and protection. Today, it’s often viewed as a terminal contract designed more for personal fulfillment. A question to ask ourselves is, in whose honor are you holding your marriage? Yours or God’s? If we want to understand marriage, we must look to Jesus and what He did for the church. He held it in God’s honor.
Do you ever go through seasons of life wishing you had a remote control to pause, fast forward, or rewind a certain moment? We long for more control in our lives, especially when it comes to time. However, Jesus wants us to live in the now. But not for the now. He wants us to live with an eternal mindset. This starts with allowing God to shape the desires of our heart, practice gratitude, and to move toward Jesus.
Over the years, we developed this idea that when it comes to following Jesus, there is a spectrum of Christians. However, there is no biblical category for comfortable Christianity. Following Jesus means trading a comfortable life for a challenging life. In Hebrews 12, the author compares following Jesus to running a marathon. Running the race begins with believing in Jesus and ends with looking like Jesus and loving Him more. There are three keys to running the race, fixing our eyes on Jesus. Run surrounded. Run free. Run focused!
As Christians, there should be evidence of our faith based on our actions. When it comes to faith, we should constantly be desiring something more. It should always be active and growing. If we are struggling with this, it could be that we feel content. Hebrews 11 gives examples throughout the Old Testament of men and women who put their faith into action such as faith by worshipping, faith in leadership, and faith in obedience. God showed up for each of them. Their stories should inspire us to step out of our comfort zones, activate our faith, and live out God’s will.
The opinions of others effect the way we live. We try to cover the cracks and put on a great face because we don’t want others to see our struggles. Sometimes we strive to find significance in this world and the opinion of the crowd becomes our better. However, Jesus loves us just the way we are. He is our better! When we experience this, we become more authentic and have eyes to see others. When Jesus is our better, there is real freedom to experience. When we lack freedom, something else is our better.
Guilt and shame are present in our lives. We all do something to try to clean it up. We try to ignore, hide, and deny it. Sometimes we even try to justify sin, redefine it, or blame others for it. But we are only covering it up, we can’t clean it up. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God provides everything we need that we can’t provide for ourselves. He forgives our sins and takes away our guilt. Only Jesus can clean up what we cover up!
Does following Jesus feel like an obligation or a celebration? We all have religious mindsets that hold us back when it comes to following Jesus.
What keeps us from moving forward and truly walking with Him? Sometimes we think if we believe in the right things, we will go to the right place. But Jesus talks about enteral life that starts here, now! We are followers of Jesus because what He has done for us. It’s not about rules or a place. Jesus paid the ultimate price and sacrificed Himself. We don’t have to make offerings to make Him happy, or accept us, or love us. He already does!
What makes you anxious? What are some things that cause you to constantly worry? What do you think this anxiety is anchored to? Sometimes the things we consume such as movies, music, tv, and podcasts are contrary to the anchor of our souls. When we tie ourselves to these false anchors, our anxiety and worries start to rise. In this sermon, Hebrews 6 reminds us of four important truth anchors about God. He IS truth and guarantees His promises. We must try the process of letting go of our anxieties and holding onto Jesus.
Reading through and studying scripture can be challenging at times. Here in our seventh week of our Hebrews series, Pastor Dave dives into chapter 5 and 6 bringing truth to major misconceptions that we’ve all battled at some point. Scripture is clear. God’s word is clear. When it comes to a misconception, it’s often based off a misunderstanding or misreading of the text. Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith. It’s not about trying harder, it’s about looking closer.
When we see others who struggle with the same small things as we do, we feel a little more normal. We love when someone else can relate to our experiences. We love to feel understood and moments of solidarity. But what about when it comes to the significant things in life and more difficult experiences? We often live in this pain of isolation and convince ourselves that no one else understands what we’re going through. The deeper the pain, the deeper the isolation. We can also start to isolate ourselves from God.
In this sermon we learn that because Jesus understands our weakness, we can draw near to Him with confidence. When it feels like no one understands, Jesus does. He is able to sympathize and loves us more than we can imagine. We are never alone.
Covid shaped a tremendous global impact not only physically, but also mentally. Anxiety and depression rates have gone up. People are getting burned out. So much has been going on around us that we’ve slowly drifted and started to conform to the patterns of the world rather than finding rest in where we should. The world needs the rest that God offers. True rest can only begin with absolute surrender. Faith activates rest, obedience enhances rest, and Jesus perfects rest. We have to stop striving and hold fast to Jesus.
Who are you becoming? What change is happening within you?
When was the last time you looked at your own heart?
When our hearts become hardened, we also become unwilling, unmoved, and uninterested. We are always in need of guarding our hearts.
In this sermon, we learn 10 warning signs of a hardening heart. But by filling our life up with God’s word, the softer our hearts will become.
We all face different types of fear in our lives. There is the fear of flying, fear of heights, claustrophobia and much more. But what about spiritual fear? Do you struggle with trusting God? We can become paralyzed in fear spiritually if we don’t choose to trust him, his love, power, and direction. We loose sight of our worth when we attach it to anything other than Jesus.
In this sermon, Pastor Ryan discusses what Jesus has done and how he demonstrated our worth, which now enables us to not be ruled be fear.
Where do we spiritually drift? Sometimes we become so preoccupied with something else other than our faith over time, that we don’t notice. Drifting creates consequences and the less thankful we are, the more we drift. In this sermon, we learn that gratitude is what helps us shift our focus, slow us down, and fight the drift. Let’s acknowledge God and give thanks in our hearts for who He is!
Have you ever had a certain plan of how you wanted something to turn out? Sometimes we have certain expectations and a clear picture of how we want our life to be. Then suddenly a curve ball comes in and knocks us on our feet. We are then left wondering, where are you God? It feels like he is being silent. We start to feel discouraged, doubtful, and wonder if our faith is really worth it.
In this sermon, we kick off our new series on Hebrews. In the book of Hebrews, the Christian life is compared to running a marathon. There are times where we will want to give up, but we are meant to endure and always fix our eyes on Jesus. The secret to steadfast endurance is to replace trying harder with looking closer.
God uniquely created and gifted each of us. He has a big story planned for us. But why are we so hesitant to accept this? What is causing us to choose the smaller story instead? Sometimes we rather take the easy way out because we are too afraid or just don’t want to leave our comfort zone. If we aren’t careful, we might find ourselves so far away when God’s plan for our lives can be right in front of us. All we have to do is take that first step and He will meet us where we are. It is never too late to do great things.
He is not here. He has risen! When Jesus rose from the dead and the tomb was empty, there were different reactions throughout the scriptures. Mary Magdalene was confused, sorrowful, and suspicious. She didn’t recognize Jesus at first and assumed he was still dead. However, she kept seeking despite her reaction. What was your reaction to the empty tomb? What does it take for you to believe?
In this sermon, we learn to strive to be more like Mary, to never stop wondering and pursuing Jesus. She gives all of us hope. Our initial reaction doesn’t determine our final position.
Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Throughout Jesus’ last week, the disciples truly didn’t understand what was happening. They were confused. After hearing that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the crowd was very curious. They Pharisees were frustrated. But when they took a closer look at Jesus, he’s not what they expected. All these reactions are very relatable to us today. Sometimes we just see what we want to see. But when we open our eyes and hearts fully and simply embrace the beauty of Jesus, we can expect that Jesus is consistent in an inconsistent world.
Do you find yourself focusing on the disapproval or criticism of others? Do you ever feel hopeless or full of despair? As we conclude our series on The 7 Letters, we reflect on Jesus’ truth and promises written to the churches. We must allow ourselves to trust Him and focus on the promise rather than the rebuke. Jesus is offering us the blessing of anticipation. He’s giving us a chance to live differently now by showing us heaven and the future. When our hope is anchored there, we live differently today. He is our conqueror.
We all have experienced some sort of hardship in our lives. In some instances, it can feel like the suffering never ends. Do you ever wonder if it will stop? Do you ask yourself, what did I do wrong? Is God punishing me? When we experience hardship, God is disciplining us, not punishing us. In this sermon, we learn that there is a big difference between the two. God’s discipline is evidence of His gracious love for us. We must invite Him into our hearts to let him lovingly correct and shape us to be more like Jesus.
Do you find yourself resorting to other things than Jesus? Do you feel like your life is going great, so you don’t really need Him? In the Letter to Laodicea, Jesus calls the church lukewarm, which sent the message that there was nothing distinctive about following Jesus. Today, we conform to our culture too much. If we also become lukewarm, we reinforce the idea that Christianity is more about the American Dream than the story of God.
In this sermon, we learn that our world needs the church to be both hot and cold water. We need to rely on Jesus...His presence, promises, and His people.
If the opportunity appeared to protect Jesus’ name, would you? In the letter to the Church of Philadelphia, Jesus commended them for faithfully following His word. They were also unashamed to make Him known. Today, the spirit is showing us that we should continue to share His word! Jesus is the holy one, sinless perfection. We must look for open doors to share His good news with others and strive to love selflessly.
With the pressure of today’s society, it’s easy for us to get caught up in portraying a certain image outward. However, what we are projecting out into the world can be very different than what is truly going on inside of us. We start to project a reputation that is different than our reality. But Jesus knows more about us than we do. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly and still calls us to repentance.
In this sermon, we are reminded that repentance is beautiful, not shameful. But when we lose sight of the gospel, we begin to let our guard down in our faith. We must renew our minds and hold onto the good news.
What are you tolerating today? Is there something in your life that’s growing like a weed that you keep pushing aside? Sometimes we don’t want to address things and hope it will just fade away. Instead, it will continue to grow, especially sin. We try to tolerate sin and fear confronting it. We must fix our eyes on Jesus because the more we immerse ourselves in Him, the more we become like Him.
In this sermon, we learn the many ways Jesus was intolerant of sin but full of grace and truth.
Is there something in your life that you truly could not live without? Do you spend all your energy and passion towards it, without even realizing? If we are not careful and we place these things before God, they are considered idols. We can become blind of idolatrous compromise in our lives. We must put in work daily because it all starts from within our hearts.
In this sermon, we learn that the longer we go without experiencing the Lord, the more we comprise with false Jesus. We must gain a healthy fear of Jesus in order to battle these idols in our lives.
Have you ever been in a situation where you would do anything just to avoid pain? Did you try to run away from all the suffering because you just don’t want to face it? Jesus suffered too, and defeated death but was faithful! Faith is not faith without suffering. Pain and suffering are often necessary to bring out the potential that God has for us. Even though He didn’t promise a life without suffering, He did promise that He would never forsake us and stay by our side always.
Have you abandoned your first love? Are you believing in and doing all the right things but lacking love? Are you missing that light in your life?
God IS love. When we believe in the right things but remove love from the equation, we are no longer following Jesus. We’re following an ideology.
Ideology can masquerade as faith. When we lose sight of God’s love, we lose love for others. We must say yes to following Jesus and open our hearts to experience that love. How can we look out for each other as a church and individuals to never lose sight of God’s love?
Today we are consumed by the question “what if?” We constantly worry about what is to come. We are conforming more to the pattern of this world than we are to turning to Jesus for truth. We need to learn to test for truth and be mindful because the pattern of this world is not the same pattern that God offers us. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He has been there since the very beginning and will be there till the end.
In this sermon, we learn what questions to ask ourselves to test for truth so Jesus is who we always turn to.
We often try to avoid situations in life that we are afraid or not sure of. They can cause us anxiety and worry that something undesirable will occur. The same goes for the Book of Revelation. It is the most feared and misunderstood book in the Bible. But what if we are avoiding what we should be paying most attention to?
In this sermon, we are introduced to the 7 letters to the churches and learn that Jesus is pictured a little differently than what we are used to hearing in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We see Him fully revealed! He is not only speaking to the church, but us as individuals today. Jesus is the now. Where do you stand with Jesus?
When most people come across the Book of Revelation in the bible, they pause. They tend to stay away from it. They fear it and misunderstand it. It’s confusing and very different than the others. Sometimes it’s even referred to as an apocalypse. But what if we choose to approach it differently? It’s not just about end times. It’s telling us to persevere and that there is hope! There is light at the end of the tunnel. This conversation kicks off our new Revelation series, The 7 Letters – A Hopeful Call Back to Our First Love.
As we begin as new year, do you ever find yourself asking, who is God calling me to be or where is He leading me to go? These are great questions to ask because we are all blind in some areas of our life. We need guidance. We need oil in our souls. Jesus’ presence is the oil that we desperately need. Not only do we seek answers to these questions as individuals, but also as a church. Who is God calling us as a church?
In this sermon, we discuss our vision for our church and what that looks like for our community. We must continue to exercise our faith and bring the vessels to life that carry the presence of Jesus into our world.
Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
The start of a new year can be loud. We are consumed with different commercials and ads about new year’s resolutions. There are so many voices competing for our attention. We feel like we need to please everyone. We then become anxious and overwhelmed by the pressure to do it all. How do you know what matters most? What are you truly seeking?
In this sermon, we learn that we must seek first the kingdom of God and welcome His reign in every area of our lives.
Speaker: Amanda Beggs
Everyone longs for peace in their lives. When you’re at peace, you act and react differently. You feel calm and free from disturbance.
But if everyone desires peace, why do we still have wars, injustice, and anxiety? We are looking for peace in all the wrong places. This eventually leads to conflict with God, others, and ourselves. We won’t have true and lasting peace on earth apart from Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
The reason we don’t have peace is because we do not know peace. We must open our hearts to Jesus because He’s the one who brings us peace where we need it, not just where we hope and look for it.
Speaker : Pastor Dave D’Angelo
If you’ve had an unhealthy or nonexistent relationship with your father, you might have a negative perspective when people call God “Father.” But nothing about Him is negative. He protects, stays, listens, and provides unconditional love. He is father perfect. He is also eternal and infinite. Therefore, He is our Everlasting Father. Sometimes we walk throughout life not realizing we are lost. We aren’t allowing God fully into our hearts. But we must yield our hearts to the Everlasting Father and place all our trust into Him. The Gospel is our everlasting good news.
In this sermon, we discover different ways to invest in everlasting things and more ways to yield our lives to Jesus.
Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
What is your source of strength? Who or what are you looking for to heal you, restore you, and provide you with hope? What darkness do you need strength to battle? Our understanding of darkness determines the source of light that we need. Jesus is our light and might. But He is a different kind of unexpected might. He is our Mighty God, a perfect gift that provides us with hope. We must not overlook Him for a different warrior.
In this second week of our For Unto Us series, we dive into what the promise of a Mighty God means to us today.
Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
What good is a gift if you never open it? God sent us the greatest gift of all time, His only son. Do you ever feel yourself turning away from this gift at times or look to others to find purpose in your life?
We must let go of empty counsels and ways of the world that lead to darkness. Jesus is uniquely qualified to be our counselor and lead us into the light. If we ignore this, we will continue to spiral downwards and become more distressed. Jesus doesn’t counsel from a distance; he counsels with experience. When Jesus lived on earth, he also experienced darkness, temptation, pain, and loneliness.
However, he never caved in and always resisted. He is the perfect gift and example to provide us with wonderful counsel.
In this first part of our Christmas series, For Unto Us, we learn what it means to have a savior who is a wonderful counselor.
Speaker: John Reilly
Does your faith have a whole in it? Does your faith go beyond the walls of the church? Sometimes we isolate ourselves in our own Christian bubble. We try to escape from the world. But this is not what we are called to do. Each of us are called to live a life on mission for God with compassion and love. We are God’s plan to spread His good news and live out our faith publicly.
Everyone has their own unique gifts and talents that can be used to point people toward Jesus. In this sermon, we learn more about the importance of living a life on mission and our part in God's plan.
Speakers: Grace Pothen and Bryan McCabe
What are you hungry for? Are you constantly striving for something that you think will satisfy your hunger? When we are striving for fulfillment and trust ourselves more than God, we become easily tempted. Then when we are unable to get what we want, we are destroyed. We think it’s the only thing that would make us happy. We fall into Satan’s lies. He is always trying to get us into an agreement with him, but always leaves out the details. Satan tries to keep us far from God. He targets our wants, our will, and our way. In this sermon, we learn how important it is to humbly submit ourselves to God and how we must trust Him more than ourselves. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
It’s difficult to be vulnerable. Sometimes we feel so shameful of what we have done in the past that we keep it concealed. The voice of shame makes us feel unworthy and insignificant. We want to hide our sins and end up just tolerating them. How do we resist the devil if truth isn’t in us? If we aren’t truthful with ourselves and our sins, we become easily tempted. The more we try to hide our sin, the worse it gets. This is what the devil wants. If we are vulnerable and bring our sin into the light, all of this goes away. Confession helps us see the truth. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
To be human is to experience pain. We all have experienced some sort of pain, betrayal, or loss throughout our lives. When we decide to focus on this pain, we can struggle with forgiveness and resisting the enemy. Unforgiveness is one of the greatest temptations of the devil. It is one of the biggest traps. The more we stare at the pain, the more it consumes us. The longer we don’t face our pain, the worse it gets. This is what the devil wants. He wants the hurt to build up and to sit and watch the unforgiveness grow. We seek forgiveness from Jesus but struggle with forgiving others. Can we learn to be more like Christ and realize that forgiveness is the path to freedom? Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
Have you ever been in such a dark place in your life that you felt completely lost? Have you felt stuck, hurt, and angry at God? We live in a fallen world full of broken people. But if we are not careful when we find ourselves in our darkest hour, we will become consumed by own pains and problems. We need comfort from our comforter. We need healing from our healer. Praise is what helps us resist the temptation to wallow in our own self-pity. Praise can help us resist the devil and draw closer to God. In this sermon, we learn how important it is to submit ourselves to the Lord. Despite all the pain and suffering, we can still choose to praise God. Speaker: Billy Bob White
The enemy tries to tempt us every single day. He is against us. He tries to divide us, blind us, and intimidate us. He wants to manipulate and control us in any way possible. All these things have nothing to do with the kingdom of God, because his favorite target is God. The enemy is the devil. His plans are to steal, kill, and destroy. He will never quit. It is up to us to resist. In this sermon we dig into five of the enemy’s strategies…distort, distract, discourage, deceive, and divide. Where in your life is the devil doing these things? Speaker: Dave Beuhring
So many of us battle with control. We struggle with trying to control our day-to-day lives. Some of us like to take control because we want to determine the outcome. We control situations because we want all the credit for ourselves. We then become blinded by our own selfishness. Some of us who have issues with control can also struggle with sharing success, which makes us feel threatened and insignificant. When we are trying to take control, we are failing to remember that God is behind the wheel and He is our security. He ultimately is in control. In this sermon, we learn that it is God’s promises that keep us secure and we need to be obedient to His voice. Speaker : Pastor Paul Hunter
In our world with modern technology and social media, it’s hard not to compare ourselves with others. We get trapped in this temptation to feel perfect. It’s dangerous and soon turns into us wanting more and more. It’s never enough. We want to feel recognized and significant. Lies and more temptations start to form. We get so caught up in pursuing these things, that we miss out on the small joys of life. When we fall into this temptation, there is always a price to pay. We turn further away from God. In this sermon, we understand significance from God’s perspective and that the truth is always found in Him. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Rejection is tough. We all want to be liked. We want to please the people around us. We want to feel accepted. Sometimes people even pretend to be someone they aren’t and compromise their own standards. Then they don’t even know who they are anymore. The more we long to please people, the more we say yes. We become blinded to the things right in front of us and hurt the people we love the most. When we start to submit to the people around us for acceptance, then our focus is no longer on God. How can we learn to be more like Jesus and instead submit to the cross? Speaker : Pastor Dave D’Angelo
No one is perfect. We all make mistakes and are faced with temptations each day. Sometimes the advice we are offered to help us navigate throughout life doesn’t help at all. We are then left frustrated without knowing exactly how to do it. Greed, lust, jealousy, and fear are some things we know we should resist. But do we really know how to do it? Throughout the bible, Jesus resists temptations from the devil. Can we learn to be more like Him and know HOW to resist? This is what our new series Resist is all about. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
It would be nice to snap your fingers and have all your questions answered. You would feel so free without any doubts and curiosities. Do you ever wish your questions and doubts about God would be answered? Do you ever wish God, Himself, could snap His fingers and take away all your struggles? Unfortunately, it isn’t always that easy. The Christian life requires perseverance and determination, like running a race. In this sermon, we learn the importance of running together towards Jesus and the power of community. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
It seems that our world is so divided today. Life events are causing many arguments and anger. Within in the last year or so, have you made anger a priority in your life without even realizing it? Have you been placing the important things, that truly matter, aside? It’s easy to fall into the same pattern. When that pattern starts to become reckless, it must be broken. Where have you placed Jesus in all of this? Have you set Him aside too? In this sermon, we learn how important it is to place Jesus at the center of our lives. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
When all is lost and you feel like you’re stuck, do you want to be remembered as a person of hope? Or do you want to be remembered as a person who was broken and full of anger? In this last sermon series of the story of Joseph, we are reminded that God was with Joseph through all his hard times. Joseph was the person who was remembered for his hope. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Everyone has bad days. But when you are going through a hard time do you ever wonder…where is God? Is He still in control? Does He really care about us? Will He help me get through this? In this sermon we learn about the power of worship and how God is always in control. Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
Sometimes in life it can be hard to forgive. When someone close to you hurts you, it’s hard to let go of the pain. But when you struggle with forgiveness, you can lose sight of who Jesus is. After all the suffering Joseph endured, he was finally able to forgive his brothers. Would you be able to do the same? Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
When we’re younger, the load we carry is light and virtually care free. But as we get older, the load gets heavier and heavier. We all carry an invisible “backpack of our past”. It contains your biggest regrets, greatest mistakes and all of the shame that you hide. Deep down, if you’re honest, you believe that your past defines you. Your past disqualifies you and determines your worth. You will never be more than your greatest mistake. How can you possibly be loved or worth loving? The feeling or voice in your life that is telling you this, isn’t God’s voice. His voice is incapable of telling you these things. He IS telling you, you do not need to carry around this weight forever. Your past does not have to have power in your present. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
Have you ever done something in your past that you regret? Something that you wish you could go back in time to fix? Maybe you are having a hard time letting go of the past and are burdened with a guilty conscience. Or have you been on the opposite side like Joseph, who was mistreated by his brothers? Sometimes it can be very difficult to forgive someone after what they did to you. In today’s story, Joseph sees his brothers for the first time in years. How would you react if you were him? Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Waiting on something can be very difficult. Sometimes, it becomes all we focus on. It then consumes us. The longer we wait, the more impatient we become. We start to develop a certain mindset that restricts us. We begin to lose hope and want to give up completely. In this sermon, we learn how Joseph didn’t give up while waiting on the Lord. He never lost hope. Can we put our trust in God and find hope in the wait just like Joseph did? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Life is messy and complicated. At times it can seem like everything is against you. The devastating effects are all around you. You see it everywhere. When you look at your circumstances, sometimes you can’t see God. Because you can’t see Him working, you assume He is absent. Everyone talks about God working everything together for good, but is that true? And, what does that even mean? The story of Joseph demonstrates for you that that is indeed true, but how can you see it in your life? Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
Have you ever discovered something in your home that after years of “quick fixes” or duct tape and super glue, finally breaks for good? A problem like this doesn’t start in that moment, it was just the breaking point after years of neglect. All in an instant, it came crashing down. It’s one thing when it happens to our house, but what if the stakes are higher? What happens that day that everything hits the fan and exposes years of hidden lies and dysfunction? What about the day where that thing you worked so hard to hide from everyone (or that someone worked so hard to hide from you) is now out in the open? What do you do? Is it possible to have hope in your rock bottom moment(s)? Can you trust God to redeem what sin has destroyed? Speaker: Amanda Beggs
Our new series, based on the story of Joseph, is anchored in hope. Over the last year, you probably put your hope into things that were temporary, or fleeting. We are moving into what’s being described as a “post-Christian world.” As Jesus followers we need to understand where our hope is anchored. No matter what is going on in your life, regardless of how difficult your situation, God is there working. You cannot see the outcome from your current position, but He is working. In the story of Joseph, you have the benefit of knowing he ends up in the palace. He didn’t give up. He kept his faith in God. What about you? In this sermon we examine what all of this means; not only in your life, but living in a “post-Christian world.” Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
What does it mean to be free? Not the typical definition but truly free? So much of who you are comes from the pressures of the world. Society, friends, family and even the church can tell you how to be. When you try to live up to those “expectations” are you really, truly free to be who God made you to be? How you escape these pressures lies solely in your relationship with Jesus, relying on Him and Him alone to maintain your true, God-given, freedom. Speaker: Pastor Chris White
Do you feel lost? Four simple words, when put together, become anything but. In the 15th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us 3 parables known as the “Parables of the Lost.” Throughout these stories, four types of lost people are identified. Could you be one of them? If you honestly assess your life against Jesus’ words, you may be surprised to find yourself. Even if you do not feel lost, perhaps this message could be the nudge you need. Listen to this message and dare to not find yourself in it. Speaker: Pastor Kent Chevalier
Whether you know the biblical story or not, you probably know “The Good Samaritan”. The modern understanding of what the story means, has overshadowed its meaning in the bible. When Jesus talks about His Kingdom, he doesn’t really mean it will be in the future, which is how our culture tends to visualize it. However, He talks about it in the here and now. Jesus has some expectations of us during our time in history, but, we’re not always great at living into them. The Gospels indicate that Jesus wants us to roll our sleeves up and live actively based on His principals. That is what the parable of The Good Samaritan is all about. Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
We are jumping back into the Parables by taking a look at the rich man and Lazarus. So take a big breath before we…go to Hell. Because, that is where this story is taking us. Like a warning label on a child’s toy, the Parables are a warning to us from Jesus. In this case, he is boldly telling us who and who will not enter His Kingdom. We may be good, honest, moral people who give to the church and charity. But we’re learning that Jesus isn’t impressed by this religion. In Luke 16:15, He says, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sign of God.” This is the backdrop for today’s Parable. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
In the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector, it’s very easy to compare ourselves with the pharisee and let ourselves off the hook. But if you take a moment to go deeper, Luke makes a point to tell us Jesus was speaking to a specific audience: “those who trusted themselves and hold others in contempt.” Contempt is the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving disregard; the act of despising. Who do you treat with contempt? Who do you secretly hope will fail? Or who do you put down in your mind so you can feel better about yourself? Who you think isn’t worth your time? If you check yourself, how many people do you hold with contempt? Perhaps it’s a group of people? A contemptuous frame of mind leads to self-righteousness. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
We’re not good at waiting. We just aren’t. We’re used to having things instantly: Amazon, Instacart, fast-food, movies and TV in the palm of our hands: on-demand. This Parables Series has been good for us, because a recurring theme in Jesus’ teaching is learning how to wait. How do we wait in this in-between. He talks about the Kingdom of God not just in the next life, but in the here and now. Jesus is teaching us how to live in the meantime, between his resurrection and when He will come again. Today’s Parable though, is a bit different. Jesus is telling us the wait is over! Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
Have you ever seen a hidden image in corporate logos? Like the arrow in the FedEx logo? Or the kiss in the Hershey Kisses logo? They’re communicating a sub-conscience message to us through these designs. In this week’s’ parable, Jesus is doing something similar. If the parable of the weeds seems confusing, you’re not alone. Even the disciples needed to ask what he meant. He is speaking about the crafty nature of satan. How he can throw people off track by making things appear the way they are not. There are enemies walking among God’s followers that appear to be genuine Christ followers, but they are sons of the devil. Their job is to knock you off course. There is a coming of age, and we need to be prepared. Jesus refers to this in His story as “the harvest”. This week, Pastor Paul Hunter reconstructs this famous parable as part of a deep exploration into what Jesus is trying to tell us about who we are and what to expect when He returns. Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
The parable of the 10 virgins sounds like it could be humorous, but Jesus is actually talking about something pretty serious. In this parable, the “virgins” are us. Think of them as our equivalent of our modern day wedding party. Digging in, Jesus is talking through several parables all in one, pointing to His ultimate return. He is saying: be ready. Spiritual procrastination costs a significant price. Procrastination is putting off until tomorrow what needs to be done today. When you procrastinate, there is always a price. Tomorrow is one of the most costly words for a follower of Jesus. If He were to return today, are you ready? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
The parable of the talents is one of His last teachings before His death. Through this short story, He is preparing the the disciples for life without his physical presence. We will never be able to accurately manage all that God has given us until we firmly understand that everything in this world is His. He is entrusting all of us with His possessions and He has given us the ability to manage them for Him. We will be held accountable for that which God has given to us. We aren’t to manage these gifts according to what we think is best for our lives, but what is best according to His word. How do you feel you’re stewarding the “talents” God has entrusted unto you with your life? Speaker: Pastor Billy Bob White
What is the difference between hearing and… hearing? True hearing produces a deep response, whereas superficial hearing produces a superficial response. Jesus said “he who has ears, let him hear.” What did he actually mean by this? True hearing depends on the condition of your heart. What in your life is choking out your ability to hear? The kingdom of God doesn’t come through religion, or spirituality or experiences. It comes from hearing. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
When it comes to your finances, whether you’re well off or on the brink, you have experienced problems when it comes to money. Sleepless nights, deep fear, strain in marriage, the pressure of working for a paycheck rather than a purpose and so on. It doesn’t matter where you are financially, when we struggle with money we turn to God and ask him to bless us. We’re asking Him for His order in our life. You want God’s order, but are you willing to live your life according to his order? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
If Jesus returned today, would he find his followers continuing to pray persistently and not give up? Or would he find them ceasing when the one, maybe two prayers, were not answered? Prayer, no matter how seasoned one may be at it, remains a mystery. The intersection of an all-knowing God and the desires of the human flesh can be a difficult to understand. We wish there was a formula, but the formula is simple: ask! 20 times Jesus asks, in the New Testament, to pray. Why does it seem that some prayers are answered and some aren’t? Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Did you know? Roughly 33% of Jesus’ recorded words in the Bible were His Parables? What are the Parables? If you grew up around the church, you might know them as Jesus’ teachings, but they’re much more than that. Much, much more. The Parables, simply put, paint a picture of what the Kingdom of God looks like here on earth. They are our ability to be able to see, hear, and understand what heaven on earth could look like so that we aren’t stuck waiting for it. What heavenly teaching of Jesus will you experience again or with a fresh set of eyes and ears? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and take a look at what that actually means for everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
Who are you? Seriously, who are you inside? Who is the person God made you to be. Not the person you show the world, but who are you, really? What’s the one thing you need to put into words, you haven’t put into words, that you need to say to yourself? Questions can be revealing and we don’t always like the answer. There is something about saying a thing out loud that forces us to face it. Paul tells us to put on our armor, but he’s not referring to a metal suit. He’s talking about walking through your life as God made you and when you do that, Satan is defeated. But that is easier said than done. Speaker Amanda Beggs
Slaves and masters: Paul addresses this relationship in Ephesians. Yup, this section of the Bible is uncomfortable. Sections of the Bible likes his one can make you not want to believe the Bible at all and just put it back on the shelf. Why didn’t Paul take this opportunity to call out the buying and selling of human beings? This doesn’t feel like it aligns with Jesus’ teaching at all. How can he possibly even talk about this from the perspective that it is acceptable? Let’s unpack this tension together. Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
It’s been one year since our lives were interrupted by Covid19. We’ve been living in trauma, in multiple ways, since it began. And one of the areas it has affected us the most is in marriage. Marriage is supposed to be oneness, but if you’re honest, that probably isn’t how you feel right now. Are you feeling distance in your marriage today? How do you overcome that? There are answers and a way to oneness! Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Do you think the sins of this generation is worse than it has ever been? Porn, sexual promiscuity, entertainment, social media, culture, it’s all signaling that sin is overtaking us in a way it never has before! Ephesians 5 actually tells us something different. The sin that was facing the church and the world back then, is the same sin that is facing you today. What do you do to fix it? What is the shame you’re carrying? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
You’ve just accepted Jesus as your savior. Now what? The steps that follow your simple acceptance are explained by Paul in this week’s study of Ephesians. Pastor Scott Stevens ties these messages to his own story that he may help you relate to your own experience. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Do you think there are things starting to happen at the church? Are we becoming something we aren’t supposed to become? Paul gives us a vision of what the church should be in this chapter of Ephesians. He is encouraging us not to settle, knowing that we have been graced for more. Paul teaches us the calling for the church is gentleness, humility, patience and selflessness. This is the complete opposite of what today’s society would teach. Today, if we don’t agree, you get get cancelled. Being selfless doesn’t mean you get walked all over, it just means you value other people in the world before you value yourself. This may feel a little predictable or elementary. But take a moment to dig in and really look at your life over the last year. We’re you marked by humility, gentleness and patience? Or something else? In today’s world we’re urged and tempted to always be right. But the scriptures show us the people who were only interested in being “right” were the Pharisees. And they’re the ones who missed the savior. Do you want to be right or in relationship? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
The Bible is a Valentine’s Day card to us. It is literally a love letter to His people. We see so many passages that illustrate God’s love and instructions on how we should love each other. That is where we are in our study of Ephesians. This text shows the depth of His love for you. One of the ways He demonstrates His love is through the Holy Spirit. Do you have strife with someone? Do you desire better choices from someone you care deeply about? We challenge you to pray. Even if you don’t know how or what to pray, that is the challenge. What would happen in your life, if your first posture was prayer because of a Godly love rather than a condemnation because of human frustrations? There is power through the indwelling of the Holy Sprit within you. This is deep work. Not selfish “self help” work. The power of the Holy Spirit is at your finger tips right now if you’ve placed your love and trust in Jesus. Your love and trust in Jesus Christ requires faith. He wants you to experience faith in Christ, being rooted and grounded in love. This is a big love. Not a small worldly love. But a BIG LOVE. Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
Paul doesn’t lack for confidence. He makes bold statements! Yet, in the letter to the church at Ephesus, he says he is the “least of all the saints.” This isn’t false humility. He says that his confidence comes only from God. Specifically, he claims he is gifted grace from the Lord. What gives him confidence is that God “graced him” with it. Paul is most confident and sure and bold when he is doing what God graced him to do! What fuels your confidence? When you were a kid, where you bolder? Did you not fear rejection or risk? What happened as you got older? Where did this boldness go? You struggle to find confidence today, especially with the advent of social media. It is pervasive for all of us. This is why there are so many books dealing with “Self Confidence”. What if confidence doesn’t come from within? Confidence and boldness are not sourced from our personality, our past successes or what others say about us. This week, we search out the place where true confidence, assuredness and life come from. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Is there someone in your life against whom you have unending hostility? It’s not hard to find it in our world right now. It’s everywhere. Even in the church. Hostility is everywhere. It’s extinguishing our light. As a church, we’re meant to be a light. Unfortunately, division, hate and hostility are abound and many within the church are putting up “keep out” signs rather than signs of welcome and love. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul shows us that Jesus is the path to peace. Where sin brings division, peace brings us unity. But, how do we do this in a world so divided? Obviously making posts on social media isn’t working. This week we explore how to restore your relationship with God and those around you. Speaker: Pastor Brad Beggs
Whether we admit it or not, we care so much. We might express it differently, but we are all looking for someone, or something, to show that we matter. Is it in your family? In your career? In the knowledge you’ve acquired? What if worrying and trying so hard to prove to someone or something that we matter didn’t have to be an option? The Gospel tells us that we don’t have to work harder, achieve more, or prove ourselves to find acceptance or love. That’s given to us, by grace, when we accept Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. Does what you do flow out of who you are or does who you are flow out of what you do? You don’t have to live in the identity you achieve, but live in what you receive in Christ. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
Paul wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus because he heard that the people who lived there loved the Gospel. He was giving thanks to the Lord for them. He prays that the Lord gives them wisdom and hope. Don’t you think we all need a little of that right now? A preacher’s role is to "feed the sheep". Most of the time, all a pastor is doing, is trying to get you to your “next meal.” Each sermon isn’t supposed to solve every issue you face. God often does new things within the difficult things. Difficult times are expressed as "desert times" referring to the periods when Jesus was in the desert. Studies indicate we, as a society, are experiencing mental illness at extremely high rates right now. Entering 2021, most of us are warn out, stressed and feeling anxiety more than ever. This may be the longest period of unrelenting “desert experience” in our recently history. It is time to dig down and look at what God may be doing in this season. Let’s take one step, just one, out of the desert. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
For the next several weeks, we’re going to take a deep dive into the book of Ephesians. There is so much happening in our nation right now. Regardless of where you stand, you’re probably feeling a wide range of emotion. Yes, reform is needed in a number of our institutions, but we’re focusing on fixing the problem in the wrong place. The way we act is derived from the way we think and the way we think comes from the status of our hearts. The evil we see and experience stems and starts in our hearts. Ephesians presents a path forward. The book is broken into two sections, one deals with how we think and the other deals with how we live. The way we live is dictated by the way we think. For the world to be right, our heart needs to be right. You’re invited to dig in deep with us, visit northway.org for reading material and a free downloadable bookmark. Grab your physical Bible and journey into your heart with our teaching team. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
2020 was a lot like an escape room, everyone's goal is just to "get out". Let's be honest, almost all of us just wanted it to be over. The bible has a really unique word for what we've been through… life. The words of Jesus about tribulation in the world are as true today as they were 2000 years ago. Is there a way for us to find our way out? To make sure 2021 doesn't look like 2020? The short answer is: no. We still live in a fallen world. But, if you're familiar with the scriptures, you know that it's not about escapism, it's about learning how to navigate through the highs, lows and everything in between. Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
In the bible, the scriptures that refer to Jesus' early years are often referred to as the "infancy narratives." They're very familiar to almost everyone as the Christmas story. Today, Pastor Scott Stevens will be digging into one of the narratives that is not typically preached about. In fact, this is the first time he will be preaching on this text. You're invited to join with us as we turn a bit from Christmas and start looking toward the new year and explore these three movements: 1) Are there issues in your life where you possibly need to open up your mind to change your mind? 2) Is there something that God has been tugging at your hear to explore? But you keep putting it off? 3) What MUST you do in 2021? It's time to do it. Pastor Scott Stevens
You probably have a lot of Christmas Traditions! One of those traditions may be driving around and looking at Christmas lights. This year, lights were hard to find at the store - many were sold out. It seems as though everyone went over the top to light up the darkness. Despite the incredible lights all over the place, there are many homes decorated with just a single candle in each window. What is the meaning behind this way of decorating? There is more than we see on the surface. Historically, the candle light in the window is a signaling that people are welcome in your home, it's a sign of trust. The same is true in Luke 2:1-21, there is much more than we see on the surface. Luke records that Mary paused and pondered everything that was happening to her. We should take courage in knowing, like Mary, we do not know or understand everything that is going on and that is OK. We should be expectant, in time, to see what God is up to. In that moment she had no way of knowing everything that was to come through her son Jesus. The details of Jesus' birth serve as a preview of God's Kingdom. Merry Christmas. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t want, anticipate, or expect? It may have been the opposite of what you hoped for. We then become disappointed. Expectations are unmet. We start to doubt the plan WE had for our lives. But what if, instead of being disappointed in the plan we had for our lives, we found a fresh perspective in the plan that God has for our lives? If we stay in a place of disappointment, we might end up dis-appointing ourselves, and removing ourselves, form the very plans God has had for us all along. Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, found himself in a moment of disappointment during the very first Christmas. But he chose to trust the Lord and the plan for his life - aiding Mary in the birth of our Savior. We never truly know the direction the Lord wants to take us, but we might just find pieces of it, or even the whole story, if we trust Him instead of ourselves. Just because you may be in a season surrounded by conflict, doesn’t mean you can experience His peace this Christmas. Speaker: Pastor Billy Bob White
Everywhere we turn, people are promising us so much. From stores selling us stuff, to weight loss apps, to the government, but how do we know who and what to believe? What about God? What is your sign from God that when “this” happens, you can believe He will come through for you? When we believe God’s promises we’re transformed. But that is much easier said than done. God’s promises transform the way you see your circumstances. You can look at your circumstances through His promises or God’s promises through your circumstances. Christmas is the ultimate reminder that God joins us in our suffering and is with us every moment of every day. Jesus’ birth on earth is a promise from God. We have a faithful God who keeps His promises. This week we discuss the evidence of God keeping his promises through the scripture of Christ’s arrival on earth. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
We need Christmas more than ever, because when Jesus was born - he brought light into the darkness. When we’re focused on something we want, we miss what is present. Do you do this with the Christmas story? After doing it over and over and over again, is it possible you are no longer open to something fresh and new: seeing what God is trying to show you? If you dig into Matthew’s text, you’ll notice the surprises that God gives us about Jesus and the Gospel. They’re similar to the “Easter Eggs” that Disney likes to add to their movies. Join us for week #1 of our Christmas series “‘Twas the Night” as we explore the text we all know so well with an eye toward seeing it in a way we’ve never seen it before. Jesus is the light of the world! Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Forgiveness is a difficult topic for most of us. At any given moment, you may find yourself standing between two opposing forces and you feel the pressure to pick a side. These forces can come from the inside, when we're torn emotionally or from the outside in our relationships. The most challenging ground is oftentimes the place in the middle: the radical gap. It is the place where Jesus lived. Walking in the radical gap is what He did. Navigating between tension and vulnerability. How do you live in this place? There are two areas that often hold Christ followers back from becoming fully who God wants them to be: 1) Money 2) Unforgiving Heart. Today we're focusing on the unforgiving heart, which may make you uncomfortable. You know that in some areas of your heart, you may be carrying unforgiveness and bitterness from a past hurt or experience. It's crushing you. We're going to get a few handles on this pain and difficulty and help you live out your life the way God made you to do. It's time to find and experience that freedom. Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
God is looking for someone to stand in the radical gap. For most people that gap is between where we stand spiritually and where we ought to be. How do these gaps develop? We often look to money, sex, drugs, and other vices. But they always fall short, leaving us feeling disappointment. When we do not turn to God to fill the gap, we will always be left helpless. How do you fill that gap? How do you find hope? This week, our guest speaker dives into this enigmatic question. Speaker: Matt Geppert
This week we hear from Will Ford and Matt Lockett, two men living in this place. One the descendent of a former slave owner, the other a descendent of one of the slave owner's slaves. Will Ford is the Director of the Marketplace Leadership Major at Christ For The Nations Institute and is the co-founder of 818 The Sign. Matt Lockett is the Executive Director of Justice House of Prayer DC. Together, Matt & Will have authored: The Dream King Is the dream of equality Dr. King envisioned still alive today? Can our historic national hurts still be healed? How can we rise above the racial tension threatening the nation? There is hope to heal the racial divide. The Dream King is the astonishing true story of two men whose lives are woven together by history and the hidden hand of God. It reveals an inspiring narrative that exposes systemic injustice and delivers new keys for understanding the nation's past, present, and future. Speakers: Will Ford & Matt Lockett
Maybe your candidate won? Or lost? Or is contesting? This election is just another way 2020 has brought uncertainty into your life. The gamut of emotions we are all experiencing is vast. We’re all wondering, what’s going to happen next? Whether your candidate won or lost, we can’t believe this is actually happening. We’re feeling fear, frustration, fatigued… or, perhaps, full of hope. At this point, most of us don’t even know what to say. All of us are looking for a word of inspiration or hope! You’re asking, now what? We’re not the only ones in history who have had “now what” moments. It’s actually happened again and again in scripture. When you’re out of words, that is an invitation to pray..”now what“ moments are invitations to pray. Though things are out of your hands, they’re never out of His hands. What does prayer do? It demonstrates that it is: In God We Trust. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Is your heart sold out to your political party or in the Kingdom of God? Do you believe you can have peace under the person you want to be elected? “It’s the most important election of your life time.” We’ve heard this phrase everywhere. But this phrase was created to drive the narrative of fear. 2000 years ago, real hope arrived in Jesus - not a political candidate. Fear is crushing almost everyone. You may not even be aware that you have had fear peddled to you non-stop for a long time now. Or that you are perpetuating it. Unknowingly it could be the cause of your stress and anxiety right now, the reason why you are simply: exhausted. Whether you’re on the extreme left or the extreme right… or what some call “the exhausted center” our devotion should be to God and not a party, a person or an agenda. There isn’t a party that God is looking down on right now and saying “you’re the one I want to win.” Taking aim at the fear narrative means we have to try to stop co-opting God into our candidate and party. You can find peace in the Kingdom. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Your home shapes who you are and how you live. But what do you if you wake up one day and realize that you may have been operating out of the wrong home? Have you heard the phrase: “be in the world, not of the world”? It’s actually not a verbatim phrase in scripture. It’s not specifically written in the Bible. Jesus said our home is not this earth, it’s in Heaven. He asked God to make us holy. He teaches us how to live from the home of heaven, not the home of earth. Because home shapes who we are and how we live… it also shapes how we vote. This time of year you always hear “vote your conscience.” But when was the last time you checked your conscience? How is your conscience informed from a heavenly perspective? Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
There is a lot of political noise out there right now. With everyone so diametrically opposed and trying to get their message out there, from yard signs, to political ads, to social media posts - it’s hard to actually hear anything. The story of the friendship between the late Justices Ginsberg and Scalia became big news after RBG’s death a few weeks ago. Why? When love eclipses our differences, the world notices. People are so opinionated, and mean, and bullying. And while that may not be you, you may be one to “present yourself well”, but what if the world could HEAR your thoughts? Internally, are you opinionated, and mean, and bullying? We are to go out of our way to love those who are opposed to us. As human beings, we bare God’s likeness. As Christians we believe that every person is made in His image and is fearfully and wonderfully made. Donald Trump is made in God’s image, Joe Biden is fearfully and wonderfully made. God loves them both. Loving unconditionally is primary, even if it’s counterintuitive to us. Are you loving EVERYONE in this way? Speaker: Amanda Beggs
Who really wants to talk about politics right now? We’re looking for moments to distract ourselves from this incredibly tense political atmosphere we’re living through. So, for the next five weeks we’re going to talk about the Gospel and politics. To see how we can handle this tension. All throughout this series, more important than who wins the election, we’re focusing on the condition of our heart. We need to be intentional about shepherding our hearts. The Bible talks a lot about our hearts, they’re the wellspring of our life. How we protect them and who we give them to shapes our eternity. Who/what has your heart should be the priority of your life and remember, if you have more than one priority, you actually have no priority. It’s God’s likeness that is stamped on your heart. Are we willing to see our politics through a filter of faith? You probably think you already do. But would you be willing to challenge your own belief in yourself, just for a moment? If you’re honest, you probably actually see your faith through a filter of politics. How do you have a faith-first filter? This week we examine this question and open up the box of Christianity and politics. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Just because your prayers have not been answered, doesn’t mean your story is over. Keep going. This week we’re exploring the restoration in God’s big story. And, whether you realize it or not, restoration is the part of the story we’re living in right now. Jesus said “the kingdom of God is at hand.” This was a common theme throughout Jesus’ teaching. He was here to announce it. God’s kingdom is to be our first priority. We cannot explore restoration in God’s story without looking into the book of Revelation. This can feel apocalyptic and scary, but there is much more to it. John provides us with important imagery about the future. One of the strongest images in this book is that of what heaven will be, it’s perfection. Something you may be seeking right now? God is restoring things to the way he wanted them to be all along. This is the segment of the story we’re living in right now! But what does all of this mean for us today? It’s not here…yet. Restoration is a time of both now and later. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
A broken creation can only write broken stories. But this isn’t something you only see in the Bible. Broken stories are all around you. But, if you’re honest, it’s not just the world around you… it’s you too. Brokenness is not the end of the story though, because of God’s promise to you. There is a phrase in storytelling called “breaking the fourth wall”. This refers to the moments when the storyteller speaks directly to or refers to the audience. In the story of the Bible, Jesus is God’s way of breaking the fourth wall. He came to have a relationship directly with you. To help you with your brokenness. Eden was never meant to be your home. Redemption was always part of the story, it was the plan from the very beginning. Today we discuss the “what” and “why” behind the redemption Jesus brings to us. Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
We inherit certain traits from the generations before us. Have you ever asked yourself “why am I this way?” This is one of the most important questions we can wrestle with. Because, when we understand who we are, we can understand what we really need. We don’t really read the story of the Bible, the story reads us. The Fall is where everything goes off the rails. Even if you’re unsure about God, when you examine the story of “the fall”, you can see yourself in it. Just like you inherit traits from your parents and the generations before us, you inherit traits from Adam & Eve. No one has to teach you to sin, it comes naturally. It takes so much more work to not sin. Sin leads you to believe that real happiness is in being god, and not being with God. You will only flourish if you operate inside God’s design. Where are you trying to control where you’re not in control? What if you made God - God, and were content to be WITH him? Speaker: Amanda Beggs
The Bible has 66 different books, written by 40 authors, in three languages over 1,500 years. And, It's all telling one big story. The Story of God. The story is written in four parts: • Creation • Fall • Redemption • Restoration This is the story of God, the story we're living through. Your moments, the good ones, the hard ones, the fun ones… all of the moments of your life, are part of a grander narrative found in the scripters. When we understand the scripture, we begin to know our moments. We need to understand the difference between reputation and reality when it come to God. Where we start this week, we begin to dive into the reality vs the reputation. Have you ever taken the time to look at the reality the scriptures reveal about God? Let's not miss: Who God is & what He does. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
As Christians, we are called to hold a certain worldview. A worldview that is not of our own, but one that is God-centered. But, sometimes, we tend to drift from that view to more a secular one and things such as doubt, worry, shame, and fear creep in. We might fall into the trap of focusing on what’s temporary rather than focusing on the truths of the Gospel. What would it look like if we fought the drift and started focusing on what’s most important: A Godly worldview and Jesus? Instead of worry, shame, fear, and doubt, our hearts could be filled with powerful and sacred signs when we seek the presence and guidance of God. Clinging to a Christian world view in an ever changing secular world isn’t easy, but standing firm in the name of Christ is always worth fighting this drift. Instead of winning people to a cause or a candidate, we could start winning people for Christ. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Drift happens. Think: Gym memberships, diets, relationship goals, and on and on. We start off so eager, but over time, we start to… drift. Intentionally or not, we start to drift from these goals. When we do it can become detrimental in our every day lives, our spiritual lives, and to the lives of those around us. It can also become detrimental to our relationship with Jesus. With so many ways to drift these days, we can lose sight of what’s really important around us. This week, we want to land on fighting the drift against repentance. Repentance can sometimes be that “churchy” word that we tend to run from, but we want to take a bit of a different approach when it comes to the word; a more constructive and beneficial approach to what it means to repent and how our lives can dramatically change because of it. Jesus came and died for each one us and opened up the direct avenue of communication to Him that we can use to confess our sins. Our encouragement this week is to examine our hearts where we could use the Lord to right our ships (lives) and fight the spiritual drift. What is the thing that’s holding you back from simple repentance? Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
During a season such as this it can be easy to find yourself adrift. Life might be heavy right now. You might feel sad, depressed, even lonely. Our thoughts can become like a small boat that gets tossed and turned in the middle of the sea during a storm. Do you feel like you are being tossed and turned in this season? Are you unable to see the light through the dark clouds? There is good news. If we anchor down in God’s Word, he promises to rescue us in our times of need. How do we ensure, daily, that we are fighting the drift? We can equip ourselves with three practical spiritual “weapons”: 1.) Anchoring our thoughts into the Word of God. 2.) Practice personal worship and praise 3.) Be connected to community If we can apply these three weapons in our lives, and be patient, He will come, he will be there for you, and he WILL rescue you. Speaker: Pastor Billy Bob White
It doesn’t matter if you’re well anchored or lightly tethered, drifts come for all of us and eventually they cause us to end up somewhere we didn’t plan to be. Drifts are things we absolutely have to pay attention to. If we’re not careful, we’re all susceptible to a spiritual drift. Paul’s letters were written to help the church avoid drifting. Throughout the Old Testament, in the time of the Kings, we see nothing but drifts. They would begin worshiping God, then they would stop praying to him, then eventually worshiping idols and sin and then we start over again. Why would this happen? Doe this happen to us today? We are most likely to drift when we feel that we are strong. The moment we run to God is when we feel weak. Is our need for God absent or are we just not aware of it? When we don’t know our need, we don’t know our God. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
It is back to school season again. But this year is different. We aren’t even sure what the phrase “back to school” means in the current climate. Life is disorienting at the moment and we are grasping for anything we can hold on to to feel some control. Are you feeling lost right now? You aren’t alone in that feeling, but why are you feeling lost? Are you searching for control of your life, especially in this troubling time? Throughout this series we’ve been studying the “I Am” statements from the book of John. This week we focus in on “I Am He”. If we believe Jesus when he says “I Am He”, we should see life differently. He is who we should orient ourselves around, and nothing else. Even in the darkness, Jesus is in control. The amazing thing is, He doesn’t avoid the darkness, He walks into it. He choses to die for us, for you. In Jesus we see a God who doesn’t avoid suffering, but steps into it for our sake. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
Something powerful happens when kids try to be adults. Like when they try on their parent’s shoes or other article of clothing. They don’t care how silly they may look. Kids are not inhibited by their exhibitions. They’re fearless. But that’s not like us as adults is it? We have an image to uphold. When we’re willing to walk in someone else’s shoes (their way) we really get to know them. Jesus said “I am THE way.” THE meaning “only”. Jesus is saying we’ve got to be more like a kid. We have to be willing to try things that don’t necessarily “fit”, not being fearful of how we’re viewed or how it feels at first. There is blessing when we try to live in the way of Jesus. He lived out His life as a servant. It’s not comfortable for us to serve others, as He did, it doesn’t fit. Jesus didn’t base His relationships upon what He deserved as we tend to do. But instead, He served. He gave even to people who didn’t deserve it. Jesus used words to build up. We use them to tear down… We should try on the words and acts of Jesus. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
The Father is the Vine Dresser, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. There are four faith realities from living in the "true vine". Everything we need as Christians, comes from Him, not us. Jesus never takes a day off, He is always our constant source and supply. Thus the metaphor of the vine. This was a radical concept to the Jewish people. The identification of God's people was no longer in their nation, but in their Messiah and this is open to all people! Don't look to yourself for your fulfillment, but to Him - as we face the temptation to rely on ourselves: me, myself & I. You do not need to be the provider of every single answer or the solver of every problem. So what does relying on the vine look like? How do we do that? How do we truly bare fruit in our lives? Speaker: Pastor Ryan Paskey
We have been failed by leaders throughout history and still are today. Is there anything true? Is there anything steadfast in life? We've been searching for answers over the last few months, but all we get is misinformation based on political bias, money and power. So where do we turn for the truth? Through the "I Am" statements in the bible, Jesus clearly states that He is the way. But, with the examples of failed leaders, why should we trust and follow Jesus? Why is He any different? What "leaders" are you following in your life? Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
These are still trying times and in the end, the only fear we want to have is the fear of God. If we’re going to be the church God calls us to be, sometimes we have to do things we do not want to do. At North Way, we let God lead. We all have experienced different traumas in our lives, and we do so vividly! It’s human nature. Can you imagine how we’re going to remember 2020? Currently we’re dealing with four simultaneous traumas: political, racial, financial and health. The question is, how can we all survive this? How can we actually thrive in this time? Trauma causes us to act in ways we do not typically act. We’re experiencing fear, anger, frustration and world of other emotions. However, we CAN survive! This can and will have an impact on future generations. There are grand stakes at play. Trauma doesn’t have to be devastating. Jesus’ story shows us this. We have to be willing to look and see what he did and to follow in his footsteps. He knew what was going to happen to him and willingly did it anyway. He did it because He loves us. 2020 isn’t over yet. We don’t have to be devastated. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Each of the four gospels are the same story, but told to suit different audiences. Based on the language and nuance, it becomes clear who each writer was writing for. John's gospel is different. His language and structure feels more inclusive. He perspective was from another angle. So, to whom was he writing? Mary and Martha ask Jesus to move, to perform a miracle, something they've witnessed him do in the past. But he doesn't move. Jesus stays put. They are unaware of what God is doing behind the scenes. There was much more happening than they realized. Does that hit home? When you pray for him to move, does it feel like he is staying silent? No matter how much you pray, nothing happens. We've all prayed that prayer, asking God to move, but he does not. But, what if the most loving thing he can do is not move? What if by staying put, he is making US move? Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
There is no doubt that racism is all around us and present in our lives virtually every day, whether in conversation, on the news, social media or personal experience. Many of us, wanting to do something about it, begin by asking the question "what can I do?" But, perhaps that isn't the question we should be asking. Lead Pastor Dave D'Angelo biblically tackles the seemingly infinite number of issues that confront the potential racism in our own hearts, leading to the way we communicate and live in our daily lives. Jesus is saying He is the door, we are not. What do I do? It begins with you, internally examining your own heart. In this sermon Dave provides a series of steps you can take to begin the process of answering the question. "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." - Isaiah 1:17 Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
Do you find yourself overly stressed, agitated or depressed? Are you spending more time on social media and watching the news than you are praying and reading your bible? Perhaps you should flip those. Light has shown to be a major symbol from God throughout the bible. Jesus comes and claims to be the light. When he says "I am the light" he is calling himself the light of the world, he is God. Darkness trembles and fears his presence. Deception thrives in darkness. Darkness has a way of to creeping into our hearts, without us even recognizing it. We can be deceived, easily, by the darkness. How do we prevent our hearts from being deceived by this darkness? Division also thrives in darkness, it is one of the enemies' greatest tools, especially within the church. Allowing division means that darkness wins. Unity, however, thrives in light. 1. Love reveals God’s grace. 2. Light reveals our hope. Are you willing to look at the darkness in your heart? Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
Like their ancestors in the desert, the crowd talking with Jesus, were looking to get their physical needs met. Jesus invited them to a greater experience than getting their physical hunger needs met momentarily. He was inviting them, as well as you and me, to an experience that would Satisfy their hunger and thirst forever. When you have tasted Jesus, embraced Jesus, accepted Jesus, put your trust in Jesus YOU WILL experience being satisfied in Jesus, and nothing else will do. What does it mean to Believe? Believing is our response in accepting Him for Who He Is. If you will believe in Jesus, “The Bread of Life”, who gives life, you will be satisfied for all eternity! Jesus is basically saying, I have taken care of your physical needs by feeding you loaves of bread and fish. Now let me take care of your spiritual needs by giving you the true and free Bread of Life. To believe in Jesus is to have faith that He is who He said He is. God’s Provision for us all is His Son Jesus – The “I AM” the Bread of Life – Who Satisfies. Speakers: Pastor Paul Hunter & Pastor Chris White
When I understand the I Am, it changes who I am. In this, we discover life. Jesus gave us the right to be children of God, that is a right we can’t afford to miss out on. Jesus makes it clear that God isn’t just God, he is Father. Jesus when he lived and died for us, the “us” is all inclusive. These words in the book of John, would have been shocking to those who read them at the time it was written. If we’re honest, those words can be just as eye-opening to our society today. We’re supposed to anchor our identity in the fact that we’re children of God and not in the opinions of others. Is there someone in your life in whom you have anchored your identity? The longer we play that game, the less life we experience. As a child of God, you were saved to be free… not in prison. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
The key to handling life’s circumstances – is to stop using them as a filter and to focus on God’s character. Three significant truths about God’s love for us: +Love responds “while…” +Love makes a away. +Love shouts celebration over condemnation. He is constantly pursuing you, regardless of your sin. If you’re a still long way off today, know that God loves you and is pursuing you not because of anything you’ve done, not because of how good YOU are, but because of how good HE is. God doesn’t pay us back for our sins, he pays for our sins. Speaker: Amanda Beggs
We have a direct influence, as parents, on the way our children view God and the image of God that we carry around in our hearts and minds affects the way we live our daily lives. No matter how good or how well we’ve been loved by our earthly father, that love will always pale in comparison to the way we are loved by our Heavenly Father. He has seen us at our worst and he still wants us. God’s love for us is perfect. There are a significant number of distinctions between God and our earthly fathers. In this message we explore those distinctions. Speaker: Pastor Kent Chevalier
Many of us were raised by great fathers, but no matter how good your earthly father is, he is still a human being. Human beings make mistakes. Most of the time, your father probably treated you the same way their father treated them. And like a ripple in a pond, the effects of generations before are affecting you today. Sometimes we just can’t help it to be impacted by the people who raised us. Truthfully, we all have some “daddy issues.” We are desperately needing to know what the Father thinks of us, we seek His approval and his love. If we don’t begin to challenge our view of God, then the ripple effect that has reached us from generation to generation will be passed on to those who will some day look to us as parents. What if we’re looking at the view of God through the lens by which we view our earthly father? Speaker: Pastor Billy Bob White
North Way's Directional Leadership Team tackles what God may be trying to teach us through the coronavirus epidemic. What is God trying to say to us and what are we supposed to be learning through covid19? Speakers: Pastor Dave D'Angelo, Pastor Scott Stevens, Pastor Billy Bob White, Shannon Libengood
When our life is not going the way we planned, we use words like disturbing, unsettled or chaotic. The question we all tend to ask is “why?” After we ask why for a while and the situation doesn’t improve, we tend to add to the question… “why, God?” This usually leads us to one of three age-old theories. 1) God must be angry. 2) He didn’t stop it because he cant. 3) He just doesn’t really care about me. Maybe what you’re experiencing in this moment is the providence of God. This is a deeply theological, difficult situation to fully comprehend and requires a tremendous amount of faith. We prefer control over providence. We think when God doesn’t seem to be hearing us, we can take control, and make things better than He can. This typically leads to a line of unhealthy choices. However, it is in the crisis spaces of our lives, He does his best work. In life, crisis is normal, through crisis we get to see how fit our faith is. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
This is such a difficult time to talk about money. Many of us are out of a job, not sure what the future holds. Others of us may feel guilty because we got our stimulus check, or we our industry is going well and we haven’t lost our job. Things are actually going well, financially. What does all of this mean? How do we deal with this? When it comes to our finances and covid19, this is a planting season. We have the opportunity to sew seeds of reframing the way we think about money. How we plant determines how and what we harvest. Wealth has a way of blinding us to reality. Money can’t be counted on. God can. Pastor Dave discusses six steps to finding contentment with your finances in this time and moving forward. Speaker: Pastor Dave D’Angelo
Have you ever had a question you’ve wanted to ask, but were hesitant to do so? Maybe you felt foolish, or vulnerable or were afraid to “look bad”? So, instead of asking for yourself, you’re “Asking for a friend…” Week #1 we tackle anxiety and fear. How do you remain hopeful and faithful in times like this? Is it a sin to be fearful? Do you ever get so caught up in life, you ask “is God causing this anxiety? And why would He cause this?” There are “six big causes” of anxiety that drive our society today. Psalm 23 gives us insight into God’s thoughts about anxiety and fear. God is not a taskmaster with a book of rules waiting for us to screw up. Instead he is an intimate, loving Father who looks after us and brings us through our anxiety and fear. “When you allow God to lead, you can’t get lost.” Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
The order of your life determines the order in your life. The evidence of the resurrection being real is strong and the path there was filled with pain. God's ultimate sacrifice is an indication of his love for us. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
Jesus said "no" to himself so God could say "yes" to us. That out of his love for us, Jesus gave up everything that he was so that he could be everything for you. Because when Jesus is everything, you don't have to be. Speaker: Pastor John Reilly
Are you doing this alone? If you’re trying to be your own counselor in these times, you must be exhausted. We all have so much responsibility right now, it must be so difficult to walk without the Holy Spirit. We were all made to drink of one spirit, the teachings of Jesus. Now more than ever is the time to come and drink of the spirit. There are three things our world has needed for many years that the coronavirus has forced us to face. Could that be God's plan? Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens
This will get personal, so respond personally. The Holy Spirit is a person who we can grieve and quench by the actions we take and words we speak. He also helps each of us share hope with the world in a unique way. Week number two in a three week look at the Holy Spirit according to scripture, both Old and New Testament so that we do not have to fear, shy away nor be embarrassed to discuss, experience and live out a life led by the spirit. Speaker: Pastor Kent Chevalier
“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95% of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” A.W. Tozer Join us for Week #1 of a 3 week series with an overview of the person of the Holy Spirit and exploration of the role the Holy Spirit plays to illuminate our lives by convicting us of sin and guiding us in truth – toward salvation. The Holy Spirit can lead us in this time of covid-19. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
Don’t let the moment grow bigger than the story. "The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." - Philippians 4:5b-6 During North Way's first ever LIVE service broadcast, Lead Pastor Dave D'Angelo brings a message of calming, hope and peace in light of the coronavirus pandemic. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, moments become smaller. Speaker: Pastor Dave D'Angelo
We were created by love, for love, and for a deep connection to the heart of love - to God himself. We can fulfill a burning desire in God’s heart for us to have a personal and genuine relationship with Him by living a life of worship. It’s not about preferences, music styles, sermon pieces, fancy lights - it’s about a LIFE of worship. The expression of love back to God. Worship is, at its core, a relationship. Speaker: Pastor Paul Hunter
Jesus provides us insight and instruction on private worship. Are you spending time with God Face to Face? Many Christians walk around miserably because they are following “rules” and not actually following Christ. God desires Face to Face moments with us, where nothing else matters and we just run into his arms. When an extremely intimate relationship is not tended too, it will begin to feel distant. Do you feel distant from God? Time with the Father should be in your words, it is Face to Face time with the Lord. The Lord’s Prayer is a frame work, from Jesus, to show us how to meet with God in our own words. Speaker: Pastor Scott Stevens