www.northmaincog.org/online

Joseph

(Matthew 18:1-25)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… the Great I AM”

Series Title:  “What Child is This”

December 1st, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49353878

Joseph’s story is anything but normal.  It’s one of a kind; it’s unique; it’s quirky; it’s important.  Of all the men mentioned in the Bible, the story of Joseph, though only briefly mentioned, is significant in light of the kind of man Joseph was.  In the very few verses that mention him in the Gospels, we seem to get a glimpse of a kind and quiet man; unassuming and humble, while also strong and courageous.  It’s hard not to imagine what Joseph was really like.  Our minds are prone to fill in the blanks where Scripture remains silent about the stepfather of Jesus.  However, there are some important points to his character that are illuminated in the verses we have surrounding the birth of Christ.  Let’s take a closer look…

www.northmaincog.org/online

One Day at a Time

(John 10:1-10)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

November 24th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49351180

As we close out our series on the spiritual disciplines of Solitude and Silence today, we must remember the importance of not drifting through life aimlessly, but rather living every day with purpose and meaning in the ebb and flow of spending time alone with GOD and living in community with others.

www.northmaincog.org/online

Calling

(1 Kings 19:11-21)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

November 17th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49347488

So as we wind down this series over the next couple of weeks, we come full circle to Elijah’s story once again.  If you remember where we started back in September; Elijah had just experienced one of the greatest victories over the pagan prophets of Baal in the Northern Kingdom and had over 400 of them put to death for their deception and treachery over the people of Israel.  However, when Queen Jezebel heard that he had put her prophets to death, she was incensed and put a death warrant out for him.  In fear for his life, Elijah, discouraged and seeking refuge, ran south into the wilderness by himself.  All alone GOD met with him there.  After feeding him and allowing him to rest, GOD sent Elijah further into the wilderness to Mount Sinai to wait on Him there.  The following instructions that GOD give him is where we pick up the rest of the story…

www.northmaincog.org/online

Guidance

(1 Corinthians 2:1-16)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

November 10th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49344168

As we learn the spiritual disciplines of spending time alone in solitude and silence, we begin to learn and discern the presence of GOD.  We don’t necessarily learn this through feelings and emotions, but by discerning the reality of GOD’s presence as we quiet ourselves before Him and bring all that we are and all that He is into complete focus.  Jon Bloom, in his book, Desiring God, writes,  “God designed your emotions to be gauges, not guides.  They’re meant to report to you, not dictate to you.  The pattern of your emotions (not every caffeine-induced or sleep-deprived one!) will give you a reading on where your hope is because they are wired into what you believe and value – and how much.”

www.northmaincog.org/online

The Presence

(Jeremiah 29:10-14)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

November 3rd, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49340530

It’s not until we seek GOD with our whole heart and stand completely in His presence with what is true about ourselves, that we are able to encounter His utter and complete love for us.  And this is what GOD truly desires for us to experience.  Though a part of His nature is wrath and judgment because of sin, the overwhelming essence of His nature is love.  Sadly, we avoid His presence because most of us feel unlovable.  As a result, we stand on the outskirts of His Kingdom and His throne room, peering in from the outside, when all the while He is calling us to come inside and experience His abundance. 

www.northmaincog.org/online

The Mirror

(Lamentations 3:22-33)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

October 27th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49337174

When God makes us wait upon Him, it becomes a profound journey of self-reflection, compelling us to confront aspects of ourselves that may be unsettling or painful. This period of introspection, though challenging, holds the potential for significant personal growth and transformation. Throughout this process, God's compassion and love remain steadfast, guiding us with gentle patience toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our purpose.

www.northmaincog.org/online

Empty

(Philippians 2:1-11)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

October 20th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49333831

Being empty is a scary thing indeed.  Who are we when we’re empty?  What defines us when those things we use to fill the void in our lives keep leaving us unfulfilled and hollow?  Am I my occupation?  Am I my gender, race, or ethnicity?  Who am I when all that seems to define me are the external things in life – the labels the world uses to describe me?  Why do I keep striving and searching for the perfect situation or thing to make me happy?  This emptiness, this God-shaped hole, can never truly be filled apart from surrendering to GOD in solitude and silence.  It’s in these moments of time spent with GOD that this empty space is filled with that which is truly freeing and satisfying for the soul.

www.northmaincog.org/online 

Soul Rest 

(Matthew 18:1-4) 

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious” 

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise” 

October 13th, 2024 

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49330654 

As we continue our series about learning the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence, we come to a passage in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.  At the beginning of Matthew 18, Jesus is confronted by His disciples with the question of who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Calling a little child to Himself as an example, Jesus told them that anyone who wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven must become as humble as a little child.  “Childlike faith and trust in GOD is the key to true contentment and soul rest.” 

www.northmaincog.org/online

Burnout

(Psalm 131:1-3; Ecclesiastes 1:1-18)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

October 6th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49327304

As we continue our series today on Solitude and Silence, we need to address the importance of what it means to rest our minds.  Just as our bodies need physical rest, our minds also need rest from all of the thoughts, dreams, pursuits, and busyness that consume them.  In order to illustrate this, we come to a couple of passages that focus on the importance of being still and quieting our minds from relentless pursuits. King Solomon (King David’s son in the Old Testament) wrote a book from his own experience of having everything, including knowledge and wisdom, only to find those pursuits pointless.  That’s not to say that wisdom and knowledge shouldn’t be gained in this life, however, if all of our days are spent in relentless pursuit of those things devoid of our pursuit of GOD then they are truly meaningless and drive us to exhaustion. 

www.northmaincog.org/online

Exhausted

(Psalm 127:1-2)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

September 29th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49323693

Physical Rest is necessary for a healthy mind and spirit, and this requires complete trust in God for our daily provision.