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?

A History of Fellowship and Service to the Community

Friday, February 21, 2025

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

A History of Fellowship and Service to the Community

God calls special people to special tasks at special times. In the course of our lives, we have many purposes and many special tasks. The same is true for the body of believers. Our overarching purpose is to know God and to make Him known but we have lots of other purposes and special tasks that branch out from our central purpose. 

A couple of years ago North Side Baptist Church celebrated 125 years of knowing God and making Him known, not only in our community, but across America and to other countries as well. We are a fellowship on a mission and with a vision for the future. As Weatherford has grown, we have risen to the challenge of meeting the needs of a growing community and we continue to meet those needs. We have a heart to not only provide space for the community to worship, but we want to meet the needs of the people in the community right where they are. We want to minister to their hearts and meet physical needs as well and we strive to be responsible to steward His purpose for us in complete surrender. 

As North Side grew, our shared vision became a powerful vision. Unity was more than a word; it was part of our DNA. Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 The responsibility is there in those words. As believers, we are to provide a climate of fellowship, an atmosphere of love, hospitality, holiness, and humility. 

Climate of Fellowship – Fellowship is so important to us as believers. We need one another to build each other up when we are going through tough times, to encourage one another, to pray together, and to worship together- and to be an example to the community we live in. 

Atmosphere of Love – As the love of Christ overflows in our own lives, it flows to those around us. His character, His nature, genuine and never forced. In a church, this kind of love provides a safe place to be vulnerable before the Lord and others as the need is felt. It creates a space for people to feel they can always come to God and be loved and accepted no matter what. When you don’t feel loved, you feel unsafe. You feel fear. Our God is a God of comfort, and He is accessible to all people at all times. As His church, we want to extend this atmosphere of love to everyone, inside and outside our walls.  

Hospitality – The church is a sanctuary for all. It is not a place to come and hide from sin, but a place to come bearing the sin and burdens we carry and lay them at His feet. The hospitality of the church is to extend the hands and feet of Jesus to all. To love unconditionally as Jesus does and to serve others in His name.

Holiness – Church can be seen by some as a social club, but a good church provides opportunities for deep spiritual growth. It is also important to provide growth at all stages – for new Christians to mature Christians. Some Christians have a casualness about their relationship with God today. We should always feel like we have access to Him no matter what, but we should never forget His holiness. 

Humility – Jesus washed the disciples’ feet to model humility for us in John 13:12-15 - So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. He wanted us to realize that if He – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords - could wash feet, then we should be ready to do the same for others. Serving in humility will bring us closer to holiness. Realizing the humility Jesus modeled and the sacrifice He made on the cross for us is the beginning of knowing what holiness is. You can do all you can to get right with God – but you still have to humble yourself and let Him wash your feet. It is all about what He does for us, not what we do for ourselves. 

The response of people to a church will be greatly determined by the way they "feel" as they worship with the members and how engaged we are with the community and culture around us. North Side Baptist Church has made it a priority to create an atmosphere where guests feel welcomed and accepted and where members can grow and thrive in their relationship with God and in service with the church. Now we are in a new era, moving forward launched off the past 125+ years. We have new core values and new leadership, who are committed to all the great new things that God has in store for us as we move forward. For over a century, our unity of commitment, vision, and fellowship has welcomed the new and cared for the established members of both the community around it and the community inside its walls. 

Biblical Community in the Community

Thursday, February 20, 2025 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body, we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8

Biblical Community in the Community

Our relationships with other Christians (Biblical community) run on grace and mercy – the same grace and mercy that God showed us, and that Paul talked about in the first 11 chapters of Romans. The love, grace and mercy of God is designed to flow straight from Him, through us, to others all around us. There are many ways this happens in biblical community. The culture and the community we live in will see the Biblical community in action. How we treat each other, how we treat the community, and how we serve them will tell them exactly who we are. 

Pastor Keith did a sermon a few years back and gave us three points from Romans 12 of this flow in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul’s practical application of the horizontal flow of grace now shifts to how we as believers’ function in community with one another – and how we will influence the community we live in. 

Three dimensions of biblical community:

Humility – “not to think too highly of himself…” v.3

Verse 3 is about not elevating ourselves above others. The world is constantly telling us just the opposite. Humility has no place in this world of “self-love” and “self-care.” But as believers, we are not supposed to be conformed to this world, right? (v 1) When we have received the awesome mercy in Christ, the way we lead our lives should change and that means it is our responsibility to be in this world, but not of it. Social media will tell us the complete opposite – on all fronts. On social media we will find all the reasons we should practice self-care above everything, while excusing us of any responsibility for anything at all that we don’t want to deal with. But as Christians, the way we treat each other and the way we engage in the community is how the world will know if we are his disciples or not. They will make that judgement based on our actioins.

Interdependence – “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ…” v.5

Let us not lose sight of how much we actually need each other, especially within the church. We can easily gravitate to an “every man for himself” mentality. During the pandemic, we spent months without meeting together and we all realized just how vital the body of Christ is to us. We are one unified, whole body, while at the same time being distinct individual members. We are unified in Christ, one body in Him, working together for His glory.

Service – “let us exercise them [our gifts] accordingly…” v.6

We are one body in Christ, as the scripture says. The body of Christ only works when we all work together – and individually members one of another. The body doesn’t work well when it is missing a foot. It can still work – but there is a handicap, so it doesn’t work as well as it could. The same is true with the body of Christ. It will work when some of us don’t do our part, but we all have gifts and an important place in the body of Christ. 

God made every one of us different and unique. We all have skills, passions, and gifts that make us who we are. Our personalities enhance these and make us unique. All our unique personalities and gifts set in motion make up the body of Christ, where we grow, bless one another, and reach a hurting and lost world for Him.

Our relationship with one another will influence the community around us. How we love and treat each other and how the community sees us working together to the glory of the Lord will be a testimony of the goodness of God. It will show the community that we are his disciples indeed. 

We are at our best as a church when we strive for humility, recognize our interdependence, and exercise our unique gifts. 

So All People Will Know That We Are His Disciples

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  John 13:34-35

So All People Will Know That We Are His Disciples

Jesus demonstrated loving others with his whole life and ultimately the greatest love of all in sacrificing his life.  He loves the unlovable and the unlovely, not because they deserve it, but because it is His nature to love. He is love.

This love does not come naturally to us. True unconditional love can only come from its Source—our Heavenly Father. Because of His love for us, we are able to show that love to others – and how others will know that we are his disciples.  

This particular passage of scripture was during the last supper the disciples had with Jesus before he was crucified.  We get a very good look at the true nature of Jesus and His love in these verses. He wanted to show the disciples how to love others. This is a perfect example of Christ’s love for us to model our lives after.

In the verses leading up to these two verses above, Jesus had washed all the disciple’s feet as an act of humility and service, showing his love for them. Jesus loved them in an unexpected way. Normally a master does not serve his disciples, and they were probably not completely comfortable with him washing their feet. No one at the table "expected" Jesus to wash their feet, but that is what love does.  Love does what no one expects to be done for them. He didn't have to get down on His knees and wash the disciples' feet.  But He did it because he loved them, and he wanted to express and show His love for them. He did it to show them how they were to love. This simple and yet profound act would touch them for the rest of their lives.

Showing love to all people is how the world knows we are his disciples. It is easy to show love to those who are kind and sweet and that love us. Luke 6:32 says But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. But as his disciples we are to show love to the “prickly” people in the world as well. You know who I am talking about – some of you live with them or see them at work or school or at the grocery store. They may never see the love of Christ except from you and that is an important thing for us to remember. 

Jesus exampled true love by loving his enemies.  Luke 6:27 says But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…He is not asking anything of us that He wouldn’t do Himself. Even though He is the Son of God, it had to be hard to serve and show the full extent of His love to Judas when He knew Judas would betray him soon, but He did it anyway. He washed his feet along with all the other disciples’ feet. 

Of course this command to love one another was also about the body of Christ loving the body of Christ. Churches are filled with human beings with fleshly desires and emotions. We get selfish and we get hurt and sometimes we fight. Satan loves nothing more than for the body of Christ to be divided. The world sees this and thinks we are no different than them – maybe even worse. We have a responsibility to love one another, even when we disagree, because the world is watching. They are watching how we treat them and how we treat each other. 

It is not easy to show this love all the time. We do get hurt. We are wronged greatly sometimes. We make mistakes and thank God for grace. The world doesn’t know God’s grace, so they won’t be as understanding. But if we are walking with Jesus, stepping where the Spirit steps, we have a greater chance of showing the world we are his disciples.  As his followers everything we say and do should be a reflection of his glory and love so in his power only can we love one another so all people will know that we are his disciples.  

Salt & Light

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16

This past Sunday Pastor Jim spoke on our Sixth Core Value - 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)

As disciples of Jesus we are called to the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What did Jesus mean when he said this and how can we be salt and light in our own realms of influence - our homes, schools, workplaces, and community? 

Salt & Light

Salt changes things. Salt adds lots of flavor to our food. Salt also heals wounds, cleanses bacteria, preserves, and can even get rid of stains. In Jesus’ time, salt was used to preserve food because they didn’t have refrigeration. Salt was rubbed into meat and fish to keep it from spoiling before it could be eaten. Christians can be salt to the world by influencing the world for good, the way salt enhances the flavor of food. Jesus wants us to be salt to preserve the world or stop it from going bad as much as we can. We can be a positive influence, ministers of Christ to a broken and sick world by enhancing and communicating God’s goodness. 

Salt can lose its saltiness. We can lose our influence on others by wrong actions or not loving others as Jesus did. Our actions will tell others who we are. When we do not act like followers of Jesus, people will not trust what we say. We can also lose our saltiness by not engaging in the community. We can sometimes withdraw from a culture that seems so opposite of how we live our lives but truthfully that is not what Jesus meant for us to do. Jesus didn’t say go find salt and go find light.  He said we ARE salt and light. We are to be separate from the world, while we make an impact, and penetrate the world, just as salt and light penetrate. When we engage with the community and culture instead of shying away from it, we have the power to influence them with God’s love. If we blend too well with the world, we lose our saltiness, our witness becomes tainted, and non-believers will not listen to us if we live the same as they do.

Light  

Light dispels the darkness, the dark shadows, the pitch black of night. Light illuminates, exposes, and shows the way. Light helps us find things. As Christians, Jesus says we are the light and we are to shine His light to the rest of the world, showing the way to Him.  We are not to hide away from the world. We are not to hide our faith or neglect to reflect Jesus. Just as light penetrates darkness, we are to penetrate the darkness of this world and lead them to hope.

This broken world needs hope. As Christians, being salt and light will happen naturally out of a life transformed by Him and walking with Him. Be salt and light at home. Go and be salt and light to the world – in your school, workplace, and community. Influence by illuminating and preserving. Love people and care for them and in doing so God’s light will shine through you, and they will know the flavor of God’s love that is better than anything they have ever known. 

How are you being salt and light in that areas of influence that God has place you? How are you purposefully allowing your good works to be a beacon through your home, workplace, school, and community so that those that see them will glorify God? 

Thriving in Babylon

 Monday, February 17, 2025

This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” Jeremiah 29:4-7

Thriving in Babylon

Jeremiah was a prophet that was sent by God to warn the Jewish people that, because of their unrepentant sin, their God had turned against them, and He would deliver them into the hands of a pagan king. They would be exiled to Babylon because of their idolatrous behavior and sinful alliances. Jeremiah had been there preaching to them for 40 years and the people still were hardened against God and the warnings that Jeremiah had been sent to deliver. They were to be held in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. God promised them that in 70 years he would fulfill his promise to them to bring them back home. 

When we are in a season of exile a minute can feel like an eternity. For the people of Israel, the news of 70 years in captivity must have been overwhelming. They must have been drowning in thoughts of “What do we do now?” Maybe they felt hopeless and wanted to do nothing but sit and pout. Jeremiah gave them instructions from God for exactly what he expected them to do in captivity, and it is a word for us as well.

“Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”

The sentence of captivity seems like they would not have the freedom to live normal lives, make choices about their lives, or thrive at all. The very word captivity seems to imply a hold of all things, where growth and freedoms would be stunted but that is not what Jeremiah told them. He said that God desired for them to thrive in their season of captivity. He told them to build houses and live. He told them to plant gardens and live off their bounty. He told them to marry and have children – to increase and not decrease. He wanted them to multiply in Babylon, just as they had in Egypt. He wanted them to pour into the community and culture there. Exile didn’t mean that God forgot about them or wanted to destroy them. He wanted them to not only thrive, but to help Babylon thrive and to be a blessing to the Babylonians. God exiled them and expected them to be a blessing in their exile – and to pray for the Babylonians as well.

Even in the “captivity” of our circumstances or the exile of our bad decisions, we can heal and thrive again – even before our circumstances change. Not only can we heal and thrive again, but we can engage with others and point them to him. God was with the Israelites in their captivity, and he is with us in our consequences, in every circumstance of life. This not only creates peace for us, but we are living and loving like Jesus in any and every way. He expects us to keep going, so that no matter what, we always seek him and bless others. He wants us to reflect his glory and love in any circumstance/es and be agents of change wherever we are.

What is God’s call to the city and how are we to live out this call for His glory and their good?

They could have refused to go out in the community. They could have refused to build houses, plant gardens, and to marry and have children. They could have decided to decrease, keep to themselves and not pursue the well-being of the community. As Christians these are the things that we are supposed to do in any community we are in – exiled or not. No matter what the situation or circumstances we are always to thrive, engage in the community and reflect and glorify God in every single thing we do.  We are to go out into the community and be a light, do good things, and influence others for the glory of God by how we live our lives – in everything we say and do. 

Jesus said in John 13:35, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. We will be known by how we live our lives. We will make the community a better place if we are living The Jesus Way and stepping where the Spirit steps. We will show his love to others, glorify him, and point to him with our whole lives, leaving the spaces we occupy and places we go better than the way we found them. 

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future “Community Engagement”

Sunday, February 16, 2025

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future

“Community Engagement”
Jeremiah 29:1-7 (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 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)

Main Question: What is God’s call to the city and how are we to live out this call for His glory and their good? 

1.        God will not abandon His people.  (Jeremiah 29:1-3a)

 

2.        God calls us to be faithful witnesses in the culture.   (Jeremiah 29:3b-7)

a.     Establish a presence in the city. (vs.5-7)

b.     Seek the peace of the city. (vs. 7)

- “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”- John Wesley

After the Message: Read Matthew 5:13-16. How are you being salt and light in that areas of influence that God has place you? How are you purposefully allowing your good works to be a beacon through your home, workplace, school, and community so that those that see them will glorify God?