How The Cross Changes Everything

Monday, March 23, 2026

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27 CSB

 

How The Cross Changes Everything

Sunday Pastor Jim began a short Easter series called Risen, through which we will discover how the cross, burial, and resurrection of Jesus have changed history and can change our lives forever. Our key truth is Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb provide hope and life to all who believe. In this first message Pastor Jim spoke about three people who were at the cross the day Jesus was crucified. They wept at his feet as he suffered and died, and the cross changed everything for them. 

 

The Cross is a Place of Redemption – Mary Magdalene

Mary was a woman who was possessed by demons before she met Jesus and was healed. Because of her past, she might be the least likely person you might expect to find at the foot of the cross, but the cross is a place of redemption for all – no matter your past. Jesus had already healed her, and she was living out the testimony of a changed life. Now she would personally witness the greatest sacrifice ever as Jesus gave his life to redeem us all and give us eternal life. 

 

The Cross is a Place of Relationship – Mary, Mother of Jesus

Jesus’ mother, Mary, was at the foot of the cross as her son’s life was sacrificed for the sins of the world. As Jesus saw her there, along with the disciple he loved, John, he made a provision for his mother through her relationship with John. He asked John to take care of his mother, and he did for the rest of her life. He provided for his mother when he knew that she couldn’t provide for herself. Just as he provided for his mother when she could not for herself, he provides for us by bringing us back into right relationship with God through redemption. We cannot do that for ourselves – only the shed blood of Jesus justifies us before God. Through him we are also brought into right relationships with others, and as believers through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we become members of a new family – the family of God. 

 

The Cross is a Place of Responsibility – John

Jesus gave John a responsibility to care for his mother in his absence. He asked John to take his place in caring for his mother just as he asks us to take his place and be his hands and feet in this world. We represent him and our lives are a living testimony of his redemption. Everything we say and do is to point others to him and glorify him. 

 

What does the cross mean and how does it change everything for us?

The cross changes everything for us because when we are saved, everything about us should change – our words, deeds, thoughts, and actions. We still fight the flesh but the cross provides a transformative relationship with God and brings us abundant life in him. Our whole lives revolve in and around him.  

Like it did that day for Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother, and John, the cross changes everything for us as well. It means redemption for us just as it did for a woman who used to be possessed by evil spirits. She was redeemed, healed, and with Jesus as he laid down his life for her to have eternal life. The cross means we are brought into a right relationship with God. We are justified and able to be in a relationship with him because of the atonement paid for on the cross by Jesus. The cross means responsibility for us just as it did for John that day. We are all to take Jesus’ place as his disciples - to go and make disciples and to show the world the love of Jesus. We have a responsibility as his disciples to carry on his work here on earth so everyone can know of his mercy, redemption, and love. 

 

When is the last time you thought about what God has done for you – both on the cross and in other areas of your life? 

Have you been to the foot of the cross, confessed, repented, believed, and received his gift of salvation and eternal life? If not, don’t wait another day. If you need to speak to someone about this please call the office of North Side Baptist Church and we will walk with you through a decision to follow Jesus.  

Risen “The Sacrifice of the Cross”

 

Risen
“The Sacrifice of the Cross"

John 19:25-27 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: “Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection provide hope and life for all who will believe.”

Main Question: What does the cross mean and how does it change everything for us? 

1.        The cross is a place of redemption. (vs. 25) 

2.        The cross is a place of relationship. (vs. 26-27a)

3.        The cross is a place of responsibility. (vs. 27b)

After the Message: 
Read John 19:1-42. What are some key elements of this story that you haven’t seen before? How does Jesus’ death on the cross change how you can relate to God and others? Give thanks to God for “his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, CSB)

Gospel Worthy Conduct

  Thursday, March 19, 2026

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel...  Philippians 1:27 

Gospel Worthy Conduct

It has been said, "If it waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, and swims like a duck it must be a duck." When others look at our life do they get the idea that we are Christians?  Does your lifestyle and habits make it obvious to those around you that Christ lives in your heart?  We often put high expectations on ourselves and other Christians as well.  We are human and imperfect and even though we are saved, we are still sinners.  It is a struggle and we will never be perfect, but as Christians we should strive to live a lifestyle that is different from the world.  

In Philippians 1:25-26 Paul speaks of his commitment to the Philippians and helping them in their spiritual walk: Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again..  He wanted spiritual life to be advancing and their joy to be abundant. He wanted to help them be all that they should be and should become as a Christians. He wanted them to grow up in their Christian life and go on in their Christian life.

Beginning in vs.27 (above) Paul speaks of living a life which is worthy of the Gospel. The Gospel is the most valuable thing we could ever have. Salvation and God's grace and mercy, along with eternal life is everything. Living a life that shows this to others is living a life worthy of the Gospel. 

Conduct Worthy of the Gospel - Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ...

Our manner of life that Paul speaks of is more than just our talk. It speaks of our walk. It speaks of our conduct and behavior. It is not what the Christian says, but how he is seen. Paul is saying that there is a certain conduct that is expected of those that are Christians.  

Notice the word "conduct." The word used is a political word. It is a word that is descriptive of a citizen. It was a word that the believers at Philippi would have quickly associated with and understood.  Philippi was a Roman colony. Roman colonies were little bits of Rome that were planted throughout the then known world.  In these colonies, the citizens acted as Romans.  They spoke the language of Rome, wore the dress of Rome, and handled all their affairs as Rome, even though were a long way from Rome.  Paul was saying to them, You know how citizens of Rome live and act like Rome. You are citizens of a heavenly world. You should live and act like citizens of that heavenly world.

Christians are in this world, but are not of this world. We are pilgrims passing through.  Our citizenship is in heaven, therefore the life that we live should be that of a citizen of heaven.  The Church is a colony of heaven on earth and we should live as citizens of that heavenly colony.  There is a standard by which we must measure our life, a heavenly standard.  We, as Christians, should strive to live up to that standard and our lives be a reflection of that standard.

We should live a life that is befitting and becoming of our name.  As Christians, we should live as Christians.  The world is very aware of all that is associated with that name and they will notice any discrepancies.  With your life, the way you live and handle things every day, the words you say and how you treat people, you are writing the gospel before the world’s eyes.  Will they see an example of the gospel in your conduct?

 Therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.   Ephesians 4:1-3

In Search of the Truth

 Wednesday, March 18, 2026

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  Colossians 1:9-10

In Search of the Truth

Where can we find truth? Today especially, we don’t know who to believe. As Christians, we can know that God is truth and in Him, we can always find truth. Knowing God and who He is, is the place to start when we are in search of His truth.

Until we truly understand and know God, can we trust what He says about Himself, or the future - eternity, or about us? Learning who God is and reading in His word about how He has fulfilled every word He says about Himself and who He is and His promises, will be the foundation on which every other truth is built. 

When we study the truths of God, over and over, they will become engrained in our thinking, and in the choices we make, as well as reactions to the things that happen in our lives. When we are filled with the knowledge of his will and spiritual wisdom and understanding, then we will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord - a way fully pleasing to Him. When we walk in a way that is fully pleasing to Him, we will be filled with the knowledge of His will and understanding. It just keeps building on itself. 

As we gain this understanding of God and who He is, we will be deeply rooted in these truths When life gets crazy, or tragedy strikes, or we go through a tough season, we can recall these truths. Its so important to have these truths to cling to. We tend to turn to something or someone more tangible to make us feel better or fix things quickly. The quick fixes will never fix anything and often create bigger problems. And those “somethings” or “someones” that are supposed to make us feel better will not live up to our expectations. There is only one thing and one someone that is the true answer for every single thing in our lives. 

In the verses above, Paul was speaking to the Colossians. He knew that he needed to remind them that in order to stand firm and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, they would need to trust what made them worthy in the first place! 

Also, we see fruit in our lives when we are living in God’s truth. …bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Not only will we bear fruit because of this truth, but we will continue to grow in His truth. This is not just knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but knowledge to live by. 

 

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14

Clean your Closet

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Clean your Closet – Colossians 3:5-15 Submitted by Kay Crumley

As I studied Colossians 3 over the last two weeks it occurred to me that these verses are a bit like cleaning out our closet, getting rid of those things we no longer need and replacing them with what is needed. Paul told his readers, in verses 1-4, that those who are in Christ have died to the old, sinful, nature and are now a new person in Christ. So, then, if the old person/nature has died we must ‘put to death’ the old behaviors. Sometimes when we clean out the closet, we put the discards in a pile but maybe let it set there for a time. That allows us to go back and pull out discarded garments. It was the most comfortable item we own even if it no longer ‘fits’ our new life we hate to give it away. 

Paul tells us to not just move it to another place in the house but put those old lifestyles to death. Put those ‘garments’ in the burn pile and burn them immediately. Some are sexual sins that need to be removed. Others center around greed. Our world is full of enticements for having the newest, the best, and the most popular. I must pause and ask myself if that is a need or a want. Greed leads to idolatry. We may argue that we aren’t guilty of idolatry since we don’t have physical figures that we worship sitting in our homes. But we must ask if there is something so important to us that I put it first, before God, if so, that is our idol. 

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient ⁷ and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. ⁸ But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. ¹¹ In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

Secondly, in verse 8, Paul lists our attitude and speech as sinful characteristics of which must rid ourselves. We are to be truthful with one another as well as having a good attitude. Why? We have put on a new self, one that is like Christ. He doesn’t play favorites, so this applies to ALL those what are Christ followers.

Now that we have emptied our closets of those sinful ways, we may feel there is nothing that identifies us. However, we are not left without a closet full NEW characteristics we are to put on, a whole new wardrobe. 

We are chosen by Him, His dearly loved children! We clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, long suffering, forgiving spirit (don’t hold grudges). The reason is simple, we have been forgiven by our Lord and we must forgive others just as He did. Finally, we are to put on the most beautiful cape or overcoat over all that. Put on love. His kind of love produces unity and peace.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 

We read in 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. It’s easier to forgive the one we love. As a body of believers, we are called to love deeply those who follow Christ. We are one family, adopted as sons and daughters. Only with love that creates unity will we live in the peace of Christ with all who are the body of Christ. Then we can genuinely be thankful for all His many blessings, His great mercy, and His unending love.

Let’s give the closets of our character a good cleaning and completely destroy the sinful behaviors and attitudes so they can be replaced with His character as we grow in the image of Christ.  

How Can God Change Us?

Monday, March 16, 2026

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

Every day that we live is a day of transformation.  There is not a day that goes by that God is not doing something in our lives, even though we not feel like anything is happening.  Some days it even feels like God has left us altogether, but that is never the case. 

God loves us unconditionally, no matter what.  He died for us before we even knew who He was.  But His heart for us is to be changed.  It is what He can do for us that no one else can – not in the same way.  He can help us grow and become more like His Son, Jesus. 

How Can God Change Us?

New Thinking – The way we think affects the way we feel and the way we feel affects the way we act.  Sometimes instead of changing our thinking, we just change our actions.  When we do this without allowing God to change our way of thinking, we are just putting a band aid on the problem. True change happens from the inside out.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  ...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; Ephesians 4:23  

The Right Community – We need a community that will encourage and enable us.  The right community will make a difference in our lives and will be a direct source of growth for us. 

Truth - Truth is not simply a principle – it is a person.  Jesus said, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6) Because Jesus is the truth you can trust what He says.  Why does God say you’ve got to know the truth if your life is going to be transformed?  Because Every self-defeating behavior in your life, is based on a lie you’re believing.  It may be a lie about my past, worth, present or future.  It may be a lie a lie about God other people.  But what Jesus says is truth we can build our lives on and if He loves us and thinks we are worthy, then we are worthy.  That truth has to drown out every lie of Satan and the world. 

Make Room - throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Ephesians 4:22 NLT 

We have to clean out our mind, body, and spirit, and make room for the new thoughts and ways we must adopt for true transformation to happen. We need to get rid of old ways of thinking and also take a look at the people and situations that we allow to take up our time.  Are they godly influences?  

Faith - Transformation begins with faith.  We must believe we can be different - with God’s help – or we won’t be different.  Motivation is an emotion and like other emotions it is fed by fear or faith. Fear produces negative motivation responses - restricts, inhibits, tightens, protects.  Desire is positive - opens, reaches, encourages plans, achieves.  Fear looks to the past and desire to the future.

Here’s what the Bible tells us in Ephesians: Now, by his mighty power at work within us, God is to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.  All good things in us come from God. Only His power is strong enough to transform us. In our own power we cannot change anything. Notice none of that has anything to do with will power; you are not forcing yourself to change - this is God working in your life! 

We get to choose how much God blesses our lives. You get to choose. What will you choose?  

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians “New Life in Christ”

 We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians

“New Life in Christ”
Ephesians 4:17-32 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: The local church is not a destination but a base of operation.

Main Question: What does it look like to grow up in Christ and how is that lived out every day as the church? 

1.        Unlearning to Walk (vs.17-19) 

Six ways of Gentile thinking and conduct:

a.         “The futility of their thoughts…” (vs. 17c)

b.         “They are darkened in their understanding…” (vs. 18a) 

c.          “Excluded from the life of God…” (vs. 18b) 

d.          “Because of the ignorance that is in them…” (vs. 18c) 

e.          “Because of the hardness of their hearts…” (vs. 18d) 

f.             “They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity...” 
(vs. 19)

 

2.        Relearning to Walk (vs. 20-24)

Three distinct ways Christ-followers should live:

a.         “To take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires…” (vs. 22)

b.         “To be renewed in the spirit of your minds…” (vs. 23) 

c.         “To put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and purity of the truth…” (vs. 24) 

 

3.        Living in the New Walk (vs. 25-32)

After the Message: 
Read Ephesians 4:17-32 and Galatians 2:20. What areas of your “old self” are still hanging around? What do you need to “put on” so that you might live in the fullness of the “new self” you have been given in Christ? 

Three Things…

 Thursday, March 12, 2026

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Matthew 7:7-11

You cannot possibly overestimate the purpose and power of prayer in the life of a believer. For many of us, we were taught to pray very early in life. We grew up listening to people praying and trying to mimic all of their words. Others feel like they can’t pray because they don’t know how. Real honest prayer is not the repeating of words like a mantra but spiritual communication with Holy God. In the passage above, Jesus gives us some simple guidelines about prayer and how we have a good father who love us and wants to give us good things. 

Three Things…

Ask implies asking for a conscious need. The word also suggests humility in asking, for it is commonly used of one asking a superior. We ask for what we wish.  Something we desire which is beyond our own power or resource.  Too many never get past the first step in the process of effective prayer.  They ask and then “leave it there.”  While there are some requests of God we need to leave to Him, personal change involves acts of faith.                                                                                                                                                        

Seek, involves asking but adds action. The idea is not merely to express one’s need, but to get up and look around for help. It involves effort. Seek Persistently. It’s not always enough just to ask, you also have to seek.  Add some works to your faith. If you’ve asked Him for a new job, seek a new job. If you’ve asked Him for reconciliation in a relationship, seek reconciliation. If you’ve asked Him for healing, seek healing. Don’t sit back and wait for an angel to do all the work. Faith without works is dead.

Knock includes asking, acting and persevering—like someone who keeps pounding on a closed door. We knock for access to some place or thing.  When we discover we are in the right place, we still need to step through the door. Knock Determinedly.  Once you see God's promise in clear view, knock and keep on knocking until the promised door is open. 

We are to keep on asking, seeking and knocking for those things that will make us more like Jesus. Perseverance is the key to God’s treasure, just as it often proves to be with earthly treasures. Persistent prayer will get an answer - in God’s time and in God’s way. Our prayers do not change God’s purpose, create His desire to give or persuade Him to give; it opens the way for Him to give. 

God “cannot” give until we ask, because in asking we admit our need and grant Him access to it.  God is our good Father, who loves and cares for us in a way we cannot fathom. His desire is to give the best, which means according to His knowledge. We do not always know what is best for us. God will give us what we ask for or something better. (He won’t give the “stone” but may not give the “bread” either.) We will not be satisfied in prayer if we only feel God answers when we get what we wanted. If we try to predict the outcome of our prayers, we take the power away from the One who truly deserves it - the only one with the power. Persistence and trust in who we know God is will bring assurance in our waiting.  Ask, Seek, Knock, and then trust.  He is your good Father who loves you and wants good things for you. 

Walk Worthy

 Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility W and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity hof the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:1-3

 

Walk Worthy

This past Sunday in the series we are going through, We Are The Church – A Study In Ephesians, Paul calls the church in Ephesus to walk worthy of the calling they have received. The first three chapters of Ephesians have been about our identity in Christ and all he has done for us in grace. Now Paul gives them, and us, a plan of action to walk worthy of the calling we have been given in our everyday lives. It is a plan for each of us individually and also a plan to walk worthy together as the body of Christ. 

In this series we are learning what church is, our part as Christians in the church and as the church in the world. Our key truth is, The church is not a destination, but a base of operation. Church is not where we are to quietly live outur days as a believer, but instead it is a launchpad where we are equipped, encouraged, supported, loved, taught, and sent out to do the work God has called us to do as his church – to go out and spread the Gospel far and wide. 

Paul urges us to walk worthy of the calling we have received. What does that mean – to walk worthy? Paul gives us the character of what that looks like: 

With all Humility – not selfishly; not about our own agenda but what the Spirit leads; thinking of ourselves less and others more.

Gentleness – strength under control. 

Patience - waiting with kindness

Bearing with one another in love - loving endurance with others

Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace – 

For most of us, these character traits listed are not naturally who we are. These traits come from a relationship with Jesus. Our flesh if selfish, ill-tempered, and impatient. We like to be in control and have things our way. These are the traits that will come out of our lives when we are not filling our hearts and minds with the things of Jesus. We have to fill up on his goodness and mercy and love so we can spread it to the world around us and point others to him. The calling we have received involves the transformation of our lives to look like Jesus. Everything about us should look more and more like Him and less and less like the world.

Walking worthy is not just about our individual behavior. It is about keeping the peace, a spirit of unity, in the body of Christ. To do this it requires all the characteristics above and the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives. As the church, if we cannot be unified to the world around us, we lose our witness. Paul goes on to remind them:

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. vs 4-6

The church is one body, with one Spirit (the Holy Spirit within us), we serve one Lord (Jesus Christ), we have one faith (faith in redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus), one baptism (His seal of His Spirit on us at the point of salvation), and we have one God and Father above all and through all. The Spirit of Christ in us connects us with the Spirit of Christ in other believers. 

We must maintain our relationship with Jesus, which maintains our hearts, so that we can be in right relationship with those around us. This maintenance – our relationship with him – changes the way we live and love those around us. We must show unity and love in the body of Christ to the world so they will know we belong to him.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35