North Way Sermons

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.

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.

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.

**This sermon addresses emotionally difficult material including sexual violence/rape and abortion.

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.