Eight Days That Changed The World “The Temple”

Eight Days That Changed The World 
“The Temple”
Mark 11:15-19 (CSB)

 

- Discontent – When our internal convictions produce in us an external response that works to foster changein our circumstances, our lives, and our world.

- Key Truth: - “Over the course of eight days, God’s redemptive plan culminated in man’s eternalhope.”

Main Question: What do Jesus’ actions in the Temple on Monday reveal about Himself and our relationship with God? 

1.    Jesus enters the temple as its Lord.  (Mark 11:15a)

2.        Jesus demonstrates holy zeal.  (Mark 11:15b-17)

3.        Jesus becomes the target of the religious authorities.  (Mark 11:18-19)

After the Message: 
After the Message: Read Week 2 in Eight Days That Changed the World: An Easter Devotional, pages 39-60.

Mountains and The Mountain Mover

 Friday, March 7, 2025

Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Mark 11:23-24

Mountains and The Mountain Mover

Faith is essential for our prayer life. If we don’t have faith in God why would we pray to him? Jesus tells the disciples that if they have faith to believe that God can actually move a mountain it can happen. Do we believe that God can actually move a mountain. We do but we have some reservation because we have never seen a literal mountain move before our eyes.

Jesus was talking literally but also figuratively. He was making a point and used something so radical to prove that point – that God can do anything we ask and if we believe hard enough it will happen. Does that happen with everything we pray about? No because God is all powerful, but he is also all knowing. He plans every minute of our lives and knows what is the very best for us. He will always answer with his very best for us, but it won’t always be what we asked for. Even when we don’t understand, we can trust him and know that the answer he gives us is because he loves us. 

Mountains are magnificent and awe-inspiring. But they can also be terrifying as they loom before us. We all have some very big figurative mountains in our lives. They can come as  obstacles, opposition, sickness, death, difficulty, impossibility, and insurmountable and hopeless situations. We have mountains that hinder us from getting to God’s very best for us because we don’t risk climbing the mountain to get to the other side. We have mountains that seem to keep us stuck in the valley. We have mountains that keep us stuck out of fear and may keep us from being obedient to God’s call on our lives. God can move all these mountains if we have faith and believe that he can do it. We also have to believe enough to surrender it and lay it down at his feet instead of trying to find a way around or over ourselves. We need his power, and we have that power as his children if we only believe – and ask. Sometimes we don’t even believe enough to ask him for it.

What mountain is looming in front of you keeping you stuck or keeping you from God’s very best for you? 

What mountain is keeping you from being obedient to God’s call on your life? 

God is bigger than any mountain that is before you. Have faith in his power and authority over all the mountains. Believe in him, let go, and let God do what only he can do. 

Mercy and Compassion

Thursday, March 5, 2025

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  Psalm 145:8

Mercy and Compassion

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mercy as: 1.) compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; 2.) lenient or compassionate treatment; 3.) imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder; 4.) a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion; 5.) a fortunate circumstance; 6.) compassionate treatment of those in distress.

Some people get mercy and grace mixed up.  Mercy is deliverance from the punishment we deserve for our sins.  Mercy is deliverance from judgement. Grace is extending kindness and blessings despite that fact that we don’t deserve it. It is kindness extended to the unworthy. They are distinctly different, yet go hand in hand.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sin, made us alive together with Christ. Ephesians 2:.4-5.  

Because of His unfailing love we can know we are forgiven and we can know that He will not turn us away, no matter how many times we fail.  He loved us when we were dead in our sin and brought us back to life.  This is what gives us the strength to get up again after every fall.  This is also what gives us a heart of mercy for others who deserve judgement. How can we know and experience the unfailing love, mercy, and grace of God in our own hearts and not show mercy and grace to others who fail us?  If He can give us mercy, then we can surely show His love to another undeserving sinner. As Christians, perhaps our greatest testimony to the world is how we treat those who mistreat us.  

God has been clear in His Word about how we are to respond in these situations.  Matthew 5:7 says Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  We are to show mercy as we have been shown mercy by God.  Knowing his mercy drives compassion in our hearts for others who need mercy. The mercy and compassion of a Christian may be what turns one unbeliever to Christ. Bitterness, resentfulness, and refusing to forgive will hurt you much more than the person you are trying to exact punishment on.  

As followers of Jesus, living and loving like Jesus means treating others with compassion and mercy as long as there is no abuse. God never wants us to stay in an abusive relationship. As we walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength we need to be merciful and compassionate to those who do not deserve it. This display of God's love, mercy, and compassion will be a testimony to that person and others of God's love. The Lord is merciful and compassionate to us and he calls us to extend that mercy and compassion to others.

The Crowd

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 

Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Mark 11:8-10

The Crowd

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he came humbly and in peacefully, unlike the expectations of the people waiting. But that day he was accepted, reverenced, and praised. They thought he would be the political king that would overthrow the Roman government, setting them free from its rule. He was coming to set them free – from sin and death. They would soon understand, although some who stood praising him that day would be chanting, “Crucify him!” by the end of the week. 

Many people had rejected Jesus during his ministry. Now as the Messiah they had all waited for, they took off their coats and laid them on the road for him. It was a display of reverence and respect for this long-awaited fulfillment of God’s prophecy by Zechariah. (Zechariah 9:9) They treated him like royalty. 

Some of them cut palm branches, waving them and spreading them on the road. Palm branches were considered a sign of victory, especially a military victory. Palms signified triumph. He was a triumphant king that day, although no one understood exactly what that meant. He was not riding in from a battle, but riding into a battle for you and me – for our hearts.

They sang his praises and shouted Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!  For the weeks leading up to this day Jesus did not want to be publicly celebrated as he performed miracles, healing and teaching the crowds. Many times he healed someone and told them to go and tell no one who healed him. But this day the crowd erupted in passionate praises for the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus. The spontaneous praise was fitting for a king.  

What would you have done if you had been there that day? Would you have taken off your coat and laid it on the road for him? Would you wave a palm branch and sing his praises? Or would you have been afraid? It is easy for us to think of how we would have praised and worshiped him and laid our coats and leafy branches out for him. But even in our lives today we don’t praise him and treat him like the king he is. Monday through Saturday some of us put him on the back burner and live our lives without a thought of him. He is our king when we walk through the doors of the church but maybe not when we want to do things or go places that don’t glorify him. Jesus deserves our praise and glory every moment. Sometimes giving him praise and glory is what saves us from the rest of the moments of our lives. He is the King of Kings and should be on the throne of our lives every moment of every day. When we have a relationship with him our hearts will overflow with devotion and praise. The world tries to get in the way but his love for us, our love for him, and an overwhelmed heart can drown the world out. 

The triumphant entry, as with all the events of Easter, was not a moment in time but is an ongoing, living part of our lives as his followers. Every day we should roll out the red carpet for him, honoring and welcoming him into our lives.  Every day we should remember the victory and peace he gives. Every day sing his praises and declare his goodness. Every day live out his love and glory in your life and let it spill out to others around you. 

Everything Is Important

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.” - Mark 11:1-2 (CSB

Everything Is Important

On Palm Sunday, Jesus asked two disciples to go into town and bring back a donkey. They didn’t hesitate or ask questions, they simply obeyed. They didn’t know what Jesus needed the donkey for. It may have seemed like a strange request and maybe they discussed all the reasons he would ask them to go and get this donkey and bring it to him. They did not ask questions or balk at his request. They immediately responded in obedience. Could they have known that the donkey they delivered to Jesus would carry the King of Kings into Jerusalem on the first day of the eight days that would change the world? 

How many times has Jesus asked you to do something that you didn’t quite understand at first? How many times have people asked you why you are doing something and the only answer you can give them is that this is what the Lord told you to do? The smallest nudge from the Lord can bring some of the most overwhelming blessings to our lives when we act in obedience. It might leave us shaking our heads and saying, “Who would have ever thought…” 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” Mm                                                                                 This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

It is so true that his ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts. Our thoughts are so limited by this world and our tiny perspective compared to his. He knows so much more than us. He is sovereign. He is omnipotent. He planned every day of our lives and every second, in every minute, in every hour, of every day. He knows our future and he knows every nudge from him that we will be obedient to. 

The donkey was so important that day. It was needed to fulfill prophecy and to send a message to those people – that a different king had come – a humble king. Usually, entering a city on a donkey signified entry in peace, rather than a conquering king arriving on a horse. Donkeys were typically owned by those who had little money because they could not afford a horse. He did not need fanfare and majestic gestures. The people showed a humble symbol of laying it all out before him. He needed palm branches and the clothes off the backs of the people praising him. Everything God asks us to do is important and serves a purpose. We need to be open and surrendered – and obedient. Nothing he asks us to do is unimportant.  

A Different Kind Of King

Monday, March 3, 2025

Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Mark 11:8-10

What does Palm Sunday tell us about Jesus and how his entry into Jerusalem set the stage for our redemption? 

Palm Sunday, one week before the resurrection. For us it is the beginning of Easter, the first day of holy week, the eight days leading up to the resurrection. The people in Jerusalem had lined the streets because Jesus, the king of kings, was expected to arrive in with a triumphant entry. The crowd was gathered, and the excitement was high. The city was crowded with those who had come for the annual Passover celebration, and now the long-awaited king was expected to arrive! It was sure to be a spectacular event, and everyone had a vision of what was surely to be event to remember.  

A Different Kind Of King

It was an event to remember, but it didn’t go exactly as the people envisioned.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people spread their coats in front of Him and greeted Him with palm branches. The King came, but it was not the spectacular display everyone thought it would be. There were no instruments and caravans. There were no majestic white horses, only a humble donkey, carrying a humble Jesus, who looked just like the rest of them.  He was not the king that many of them expected.

Most of the people did not understand what kind of king Jesus would be. They expected this coming king to be a great political and military leader who would free them from the tyranny of the Roman Empire.  Jesus was a different kind of king. Whereas most royalty comes determined to rule, he comes determined to serve  with a totally disarming humility.  Whereas most kings would ride white stallions, king Jesus rode a donkey, a symbol of meekness, of peace. He knew what He was doing. A different kind of king; a different kind of kingdom. 

Jesus was so many things that day on that donkey. He was sovereign, victorious, and triumphant while at the same time he was humble, meek, and gentle.  He was sovereign even while a man here on earth. He knew things. He knew where the disciples could find the donkey and sent them to get it. He was and still is victorious and triumphant over sin. He was also triumphant and victorious in a way they could not see yet. They expected a warrior king to defeat their earthly enemies. They did not understand that he was already triumphant and victorious against sin, death, and hell. He came to fight the greatest battle that none of us could fight, but defeat would last a literal eternity. He was humble and willing to set aside his status as the true King of Kings and do what his Father said. Riding in on a donkey not only fulfilled a prophecy about the coming king, but also helps us see Jesus for the king he is – humble. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9  The people had no idea who they had before them that day.  

When we look at the triumphant entry, we can see that Jesus is so much more than we could ever imagine. There is no way we could ever fathom the vastness of his love, mercy, and grace for us. Our minds want to put Jesus in a box just as the Jews thought they would see a “king” riding in like a “king” would. They expected a great warrior who would deliver them. And he did come to deliver them – not from a moment in battle, but for eternity. He came to give them freedom – not the kind of freedom they were imagining, but an everlasting freedom. He came to make the captives free from the sin and shame that we carry that keeps us from abundant life.

Have you seen the king in your life? Or have you missed him because you are only looking for a certain answer, the direction you think is best, one specific person, or only your solution? We can miss Jesus easily by only looking for what we want to see. The people were looking for something different and many did not see the humble king on the donkey right before their eyes. If we truly want to see the king, we must surrender our idea of what He should do for us and how he should do it. When we only look for what we think should be we miss him and so many blessings along with the lessons and wisdom. 

Eight Days That Changed The World “The Entry”

 

Eight Days That Changed The World 
“The Entry”
Mark 11:1-11 (CSB)

 

- Key Truth: - “Over the course of eight days, God’s redemptive plan culminated in man’s eternal hope.”

Main Question: What does Palm Sunday tell us about Jesus and how his entry into Jerusalem set the stage for our redemption? 

1.    The coming King. (Mark 11:1-7)

2.        The triumphant King. (Mark 11:8)

3.        The worshiped King. (Mark 11:9-11)

After the Message: 
Read the Introduction and Week 1 of Eight Days That Changed The World: An Easter Devotional on pages 13-37.

Seven Core Values of North Side Baptist Church

Friday, February 28, 2025

Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy. Proverbs 29:18 CSB

Seven Core Values of North Side Baptist Church

Since the beginning of the year Pastor Jim has been challenging us as a church with a new vision statement, goals, outcomes, and 7 core values that will determine who we are and what we do as a local congregation in the future.

Our church motto: A Church for Every Generation…

Vision is the reorienting of our thinking, talking, and doing around God’s agenda for the future, grounded in current practice that are purposeful and repeatable.

NSBC Vision Statement- “Leading every generation toward a fully-formed life with Jesus.” 

Goal: That NSBC attendees are connected in intentional, multiplying, disciple-making relationships.

Outcome: To mobilize every generation of growing disciples to expand the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations.

NSBC Core Values:

Our First Core Value is… Christ-Centered Worship - We value worship as a whole-life response, both corporately and individually, to who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. (Ps. 29:2; Ps. 95:6-7a; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 1:17, 3:17; Heb. 10:24-25)

 Our Second Core Value is… Biblical Authority - We value the whole counsel of God’s Word, both Old and New Testaments, as the authoritative foundation for understanding and relating to God, each other, and the world as the church applies its truths in every area of life. (Psalm 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12)

 Our Third Core Value is… Intergenerational Relationships - We value spiritually maturing, redemptive relationships purposely working together to build biblical community across multiple generations. (1 Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4:3,13,32; Phil. 2:1-11; Col. 3:14)

 Our Fourth Core Value is… Holistic Discipleship - We value disciple-making as the primary purpose of Jesus’ call on the church. Therefore, being and making disciples in all areas of life is the central focus of who we are as a local church. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:15-17; Lk. 9:23; Jn. 8:31-32; Col. 1:28-29)

Our Fifth Core Value is… Intentional  Witness- We value the call to actively bear witness in word and deed to the gospel of Jesus Christ for all who will hear. (Matt. 5:14-16; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20; Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 1:8; 1 Pt. 3:15; Rev. 12:11)

Our Sixth Core Value is… Community Engagement- We value that our first mission field is at home; in our families, our communities, our schools, the marketplace, and all our areas of influence. (Jer. 29:7; Jn. 13:34-35; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 17:22-34)

Our Seventh Core Value is… Global Mission- We value that God has invited us into His work of renewal as we pray, give, and go to the nations in Jesus’ name. (1 Chron. 16:24; Is. 6:1-8; Matt. 24:14; Mark 16:15; Jn. 20:21; Rom. 10:13-15)

We know that we need God's divine guidance and his vision will bring blessings. He gave our leadership at North Side a vision and core values to help lead our congregation forward in this work. He loves his people. We have work to do as the body of Christ and he has given us everything we need to do this work for the kingdom.  

The Promised Power of the Holy Spirit

Thursday, February 27, 2025

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… He said to them: It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:4-5; 7-8

Read Acts 1. How does Jesus equip His disciples for His purposes? Where are they to go? How does the choosing of Matthias demonstrate the beginning of this work?

The Promised Power of the Holy Spirit

The disciples are with Jesus after His resurrection. He spent 40 days with them learning more about the Kingdom as they were preparing to be His witnesses. They grew during this time and His presence was proof of His resurrection. Lots of people saw Him during those 40 days. Twenty-five years later some of those people were still alive and Paul spoke of it in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Jesus spent time with the Disciples during that time telling them what to do in His absence. Then, before He ascended, He said His final words to them - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

In verses 3-5, Jesus told the Disciples that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus had previously spoke of this promise in John 14 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever -  the Spirit of truth. v16-17 This is Jesus telling them the promise of His Father of the Holy Spirit. When they received the Holy Spirit, they would receive power from the Holy Spirit right away. Not in 10 years, or 5 years, but right away. With this power, they were to be witnesses for Jesus. In the power of the Holy Spirit they would spread the news of the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 

At this time, the whole Roman Empire was considered to be “the ends of the earth. ” How could the Church be established and the gospel spread so quickly? This could only happen with the power of the Holy Spirit - the gift from the Father. This power was the same power that powered Jesus’ ministry, including the miracles He performed. It was also the same power that rose Him from the grave. 

The disciples knew they needed to replace Judas who had betrayed Jesus with someone else to take his place to fulfill the scriptures.  For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position. Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection. So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs. Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:20-26

Matthias was chosen to take Judas’ place as one of the twelve. He would be going out with the disciples to witness so it was important that he knew what they were doing any why. He had been a faithful follower of Jesus since John was baptized and had witnessed the resurrection. He knew Jesus, saw his work miracles, and spent time with the risen Messiah, he was just not one of the original twelve. He fulfilled the scriptures and now they could get busy with the work Jesus commanded them to do.

As believers, we often strive to do everything in our own power, including share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We forget, or fail to understand, that we have that same gift, or power from the Holy Spirit. We have been given this gift to rely on as the Holy Spirit’s power working through us to reach people for Christ and lead them to salvation. We don’t have to worry about not having the right words. His power is far greater and more effective than anything we could possibly do on our own. He has gone before us and prepared the way - softened hearts and made them open to hearing and receiving His good news. Trust Him to lead you in His power to share His gospel.

  

The Gospel Begins With Love

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  I John 4:7-10 

The Gospel Begins With Love

In Matthew 28:18-20, we read the command Jesus gave us that we are to carry out as his disciples. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.  We are to spread the Good News -take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Of course we need to be disciples to make disciples. One of the greatest characteristics of God that is also essential to being a disciple and making disciples is love. God loved us so much that he made a plan to save us before we were ever born, even before the world was ever created. The Gospel began with His love for us. It was fulfilled with his son’s death on the cross to pay for our sins, and his resurrection that promises us eternal life with him should we accept this priceless gift. As his disciples we are carrying out his command in love – to go and make disciples of all nations.  

God loved us so much that he sent his son to earth as a baby, a tiny savior for the whole world. He grew like all of us and as an adult he began his ministry here on earth with his disciples, discipling and teaching them so they would be ready to continue his work after he was gone. 

While he was with his disciples Jesus demonstrated everything they needed to know about making disciples. They got to see Jesus himself live it out right before their eyes. They saw him healing, saving, but most of all they felt and saw his love in action. Jesus loves so perfectly and unconditionally. They saw him love people that no one else would have anything to do with. They saw him heal people no would even get close enough to help. They saw him sit with sinners, tax collectors, young and old, rich and poor. They saw him give living water to the woman at the well who was so filled with shame that she waited until the hottest part of the day to go to the well. He waited there to meet her. He meets everyone exactly where they are because that is what perfect love does. His heart was broken for them and he loved them. 

Obedience to God calls for complete surrender. We cannot learn to live and love like him without complete surrender. That means we get in the trenches with people who need Jesus. It does not mean that we pick the most appealing mission trip, the easy service project, or the one that makes us look like the best servant. Loving others like Jesus and sharing his Gospel is messy. It means we sit with lost people in their muck, and we love them and share the good news that is for them too. We bring light and hope, seasoned with salt – and love. If people do not feel loved or that we do not care about them they will not care about what we say. 

Have you completely surrendered in obedience to God? 

Is your heart broken for someone you know who is not saved, running from God, or rejecting the Gospel? 

Do you show them love or do you stay as far away as you can? 

What has God called you to do in that relationship – have you really asked him? They need to hear the truth of the Gospel. It may not be for you to do this… but it might. 

Maybe he has called you to go on a mission trip. Whatever he is asking of you remember it began with his love for you. Have an open heart to what he is calling you to do. 

Do You Know Him?

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.  1 John 2:3-6

Do You Know Him?

In his first letter, John uses the word know 25 times.  He wanted the early church – and us - to know what we know, and to know God, without a doubt.  He also wanted believers to know that obedience is the true mark of someone who knows God. 

There was a dangerous heretical ideology at the time called Gnosticism, which proclaimed that the world and everything in it – including human bodies – was evil and the only path to salvation was achievable through knowledge (gnosis), or enlightenment alone.  Gnostics did not believe that their behavior had anything to do with their knowledge of God. John was passionate to make sure believers knew that moral behavior and their love for God go hand in hand.  He wanted them to know you can’t have one without the other. You can see why this was a threat to the early church.  

John’s message to the early church had three points that were clear and simple.  He gave them three truths that proves that our love for the Lord and our actions are intertwined.  We can know that we truly know Him by these three things:

We know that we have come to know Him when we obey His commands. V 2:3-4 Knowing him is different than salvation.  We are saved by faith, but we know him through relationship with him. Obedience is part of that relationship. 

When we obey His word, God’s love is made complete is us.  V 5  

We can know that we truly know Christ if we walk in obedience to his word.  This is an extension of the first statement that we know him if we obey his commandments, but it goes a step further saying that when we do obey – God’s love is made complete in us.  Obedience shows how completely we love Him. In John 14:15 Jesus said If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
We know we are in Him when we walk like Jesus v 6

Do we act like Jesus would act?  Do we live a life of complete obedience to God and loving and serving others?  If we say we love God, our lives should reflect it.  Everything we say and do will reflect the glory and love of God when we have flourishing, growing relationship with him.

We tend to gauge our relationship with God like we do our other relationships – on our feelings.  There are many times in life when we don’t necessarily “feel” the love of God in our lives.  And there will be times we may not “feel” like being obedient.  These are the times we act on our faith and love for him. In the three truths above John does not say anything at all about feelings. Instead, he says that our actions reflect our love for God completely.  If we love him, we obey Him. We can never live a flawless life following God because we are human, but we strive to because we love him.  

More than anything, God wants our obedience and love.  Abiding in Him – spending time in his word and in prayer and learning to live and love like Jesus – will produce godly characteristics in our lives and we will “walk” like Jesus did. We will become a disciple of him and then we will be ready to go and make more disciples.

But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 

The Mission of the Church

Monday, February 24, 2025

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8

The Mission of the Church

Since the beginning of the year Pastor Jim has been preaching on the Seven Core Values of North Side. Yesterday we heard about our last core value.

Our Seventh Core Value is… Global Mission- We value that God has invited us into His work of renewal as we pray, give, and go to the nations in Jesus’ name. (1 Chron. 16:24; Is. 6:1-8; Matt. 24:14; Mark 16:15; Jn. 20:21; Rom. 10:13-15)

What is the mission of the church and how are we to participate in it?

In his last words to the disciples before he ascended into heaven Jesus told his disciples All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20) This was the mission of the church then and it is now, and it will be until the end of the age – until all the people groups on the earth have been reached with the Gospel. 

The line Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations… is where we get our seventh core value of Global Mission. At North Side we understand the urgency and embrace the commitment to do what we can to go and make disciples of all nations in Jesus’ name. Missions begin at home -in our homes, schools, jobs, neighborhoods. But the command from Christ extends much further – to the ends of the earth. It wasn’t a choice for the disciples – it was a command. It is why we exist as his disciples. This was a command from Jesus not only to the disciples standing before him at that moment, but for every follower of Jesus until the end of the age. As his disciples we are commanded to go and make disciples of others. If we are not doing this, we are not being the disciples he wants us to be. 

In our churches we are equipped. As his disciples we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We could never do what Jesus is asking us to do in our own power, but with the power of the Holy Spirit we can. We learn how to be a disciple so we can go and make disciples – who can go and make disciples – who can go and make disciples… and on and on and on it goes. This is how the kingdom of God is built. 

The mission of the church is the great commission -  Go, therefore, and make disciples of^[ all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

There are many ways we can participate in this mission. We can pray, give money and supplies, equip others, and go – sharing the Gospel in our local communities, in the United States, and to the ends of the earth. How is God calling you to to participate in the mission of the church?

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future “Global Mission”

 

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future

“Global Mission”
Acts 1:1-11 (CSB)

 

- Key Truth: “Our values will determine how we think, what we believe, and how we live."

NSBC Vision- “Leading every generation toward a fully-formed life with Jesus.”

Our Seventh Core Value is… Global Mission- We value that God has invited us into His work of renewal as we pray, give, and go to the nations in Jesus’ name. (1 Chron. 16:24; Is. 6:1-8; Matt. 24:14; Mark 16:15; Jn. 20:21; Rom. 10:13-15)

Main Question: What is the mission of the church and how are we to participate in it? 

1.    The church is about God’s Kingdom.  (Acts 1:1-3)

- Kingdom of God-  The already, but not yet, reign of God over all
of life.

2.    The church is empowered by the Spirit.   (Acts 1:4-8)

3.    The church is about movement.   (Acts 1:9-11)

- “The local church is not a destination but a base of operation.”

 

After the Message: Read Acts 1. How does Jesus equip His disciples for His purposes? Where are they to go? How does the choosing of Matthias demonstrate the beginning of this work?