Hold Up The Book

The Christian experience is one that must be defined by perseverance. It's a concept that the Holy Spirit talked about a lot to our early brothers and sisters in the faith, because life is full of reasons to give in and give up. But Christians persevere in spite of all the things taht threaten to overthrow our faith. And we persevere because the reward of knowing Christ is worth all the trials and difficulties of life.

This is the final message in Northside's preaching theme series for the year: I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me.

The narrative about the Ethiopian nobleman (Acts 8) is the story of a man who already possesses some of God's gifts, and who receives many more blessings in addition. This message reminds us that baptism is a necessity that we must obey... and more than that, it's a gift.

This message, in which we sang several hymn (not included in the recording) reminds us of the connection between thankfulness and praise, reminds us that thankfulness is more than a nebulous feeling (it's got to be directed toward a person), and that it's the job of saints in every generation to make songs of thankfulness and worship an integral part of our lives. Happy Thanksgiving this week, everyone!

I was out of the pulpit yesterday, so here's a TBT for the regular listeners.

In this message from the autumn of 2018, we look at one of David's poems that illuminates the experience of sinning, trying to hide that sin from God, and then finally confessing it and being forgiven. It's a good reminder for how all of us process sin and repentance, and it reminds us that God is good to allow us forgiveness when we confess our sins to him.

This sermon was part of a series titled "Unity In Action," and it explores a simple but oft-overlooked aspect of what makes a congregation great: that her members are friends with each other. The early saints were often characterized by friendship, and so his people should continue to be in every generation.

This message is another installment in our 2022 theme series: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me." In this message, we hone in on temptation: What it is and isn't, how we often think rightly or wrongly about it, and where the power to bear it comes from. It's a good lesson for new Christians and seasoned Christians, because it reminds us that God's grace is continually at work in us as we do our best to live for his glory.

In this 2-part sermon series, we explore some of the temptations that are common to humanity. Loosely inspired by insights from C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," this message reverses the perspective, reminding God's people that, "If I were the devil, I would work on destroying your faith by..."

If God is the sovereign authority of the universe, and if he has spoken through the Bible, then we must listen to the Bible and respect its authority. This message adds a few more reasons for why we should live our lives under the authority of the Bible.

In this 2-part sermon series, we explore some of the temptations that are common to humanity. Loosely inspired by insights from C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," this message reverses the perspective, reminding God's people that, "If I were the devil, I would work on destroying your faith by..."