As we seek to fulfill the mission of Jesus, we do so as sinful and broken people. When we fail, let each other down, or hurt each other... how do we move forward in unity? Acts chapter 6 helps us see that every church has problems, and the key to unity is humility that acknowledges the issue and engages in a solution, while remaining focused on the mission: making disciples.

This week we dove deep into the vision of NorthWest and the values that we believe should guide us as we move into the next season of ministry. In short, we want to know Jesus deeply, make Him known in our spheres of influence, and replicate that process in discipleship.

This week we kick off a new series talking about the Church. We will move specifically into the mission and vision of NorthWest as we move into the next few weeks. But before we get into the details, we took a look at what the Scriptures say should be the reality for the local church from the book of Ephesians.

This week, we encounter a miraculous healing in Acts chapter 3. Through faith in Jesus' name, a lame man is made to walk. A crowd gathers, and instead of getting off course from the mission of God, Peter takes the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter stands up at Pentecost and delivers the first ever sermon ever by the church. In it, he lays out four claims about Jesus that every individual has to wrestle with.

At Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, Jesus fulfills His promise of sending God the Holy Spirit to fill His church. And in that sending, something dramatic shifts: God's presence moves from places to people, and that presence empowers them to proclaim the Gospel message and demonstrate its power.

Jesus has given His followers a singular mission - "make disciples". Because of confusion, insecurity, distraction etc... we can tend to take our eyes off of that one job. In Acts chapter 1, Jesus gives His followers (and us) a clear purpose and plan, empowers and equips them to complete that plan, and calls them (and us) to obey.

This week, we kicked off a series in Acts by looking at a thread that runs throughout its pages: King Jesus advances His kingdom in the midst of opposition

Mark Gray from International Students Incorporated came and shared his heart for the church moving into our next season of life. As growth takes place, conflict inevitably follows. But we must remain unified in Jesus as we walk through that conflict together.

The truth of God's presence should change everything in our lives. There isn't a moment that He isn't with us. He cares about every moment of our lives. And He wants to use every moment to move in us and through us for His glory, the good of others, and the sake of the Gospel.