NorthStar Church Blog

 

“So that I could gain Christ and become one with him.”

Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

---

 

KNOWING JESUS IS EVERYTHING

Paul wanted one thing above all: to know Jesus more personally and deeply. His past achievements, his reputation, and even his religious practices were no longer his identity. He saw Jesus not as an addition to life but as the very center of it.

Jesus once told a parable about a man who found a pearl so valuable that he sold everything he had just to own it (Matthew 13:45–46). Why? Because nothing compares. That is the kind of discovery Paul made. Knowing Jesus became the priceless pearl, worth every exchange, and he never looked back.

Years ago, a Hall of Fame baseball player donated his entire collection of trophies and memorabilia to a small-town school. Over time, the school relocated, and many of the items ended up in storage. Decades later, a janitor cleaning out an old closet found a dusty box of awards that had once meant the world to the sports world. They were forgotten. That is what Paul is saying: earthly success eventually gathers dust, but knowing Christ never fades.

What “trophies” are you clinging to for identity or meaning? Are you ready to trade them in for something lasting?

---

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“Rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.”

Philippians 3:9 (NLT)

---

 

ONLY JESUS CAN MAKE ME NEW

Paul realized that being made right with God couldn’t be earned. It’s a gift received by faith. No amount of religious effort or moral behavior could cleanse his heart. Only Jesus could do that. That truth changes how we live. We don’t perform to earn love; we live from a place of being deeply loved already.

Max Lucado writes about the story of an old, broken violin left in the attic. It sat silent, its strings rusted and body cracked. One day, a skilled violin maker found it, took it down, replaced the wood, tuned the strings, and polished the finish until it produced music again. The violin could not restore itself; it needed an artisan’s care. Likewise, we cannot repair our souls by effort alone. Jesus is the artisan who restores, renews, and gives us new life by grace.

There was once a man who spent most of his life trapped in guilt over choices he had made decades earlier. He tried self-help programs, philosophy books, and motivational seminars, but nothing worked. One night, someone invited him to a Bible study, where he heard the gospel clearly for the first time. That night, he surrendered his life to Christ and later said, “I thought I had to clean up to come to God. I didn’t realize He was ready to meet me in the middle of my mess.”

This is the gospel: we don’t achieve righteousness; we receive it. Christ did what we couldn’t do. Our job is to trust Him. When we do, our shame is replaced with peace, and our past no longer defines us. Our role is not to rework ourselves by force, but to surrender ourselves and trust Him. He does the transformation.

Are you trying to fix yourself before you fully surrender to Jesus? Come as you are. His grace is the starting point.

---

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

---

 

WHAT THE WORLD VALUES IS TEMPORARY

When Paul says, “everything else is worthless,” he’s not exaggerating. He’s putting life in perspective. The things we tend to chase, such as fame, money, influence, and image, are temporary. They don’t last. But knowing Jesus? That’s eternal. That’s the one pursuit that truly satisfies and endures.

There was once a man who built a beautiful sandcastle by the sea. He worked for hours, sculpting towers and walls, protecting the castle with moats and deep trenches. Finally, at the end of a weary day of building, the tide came in, and in a matter of minutes, the sandcastle washed away as if it had never been there. He stood by the shore empty-handed, amazed that such beauty could vanish so quickly.

Like this man’s story, we can spend our lives making earthly investments, like those sandcastles. But when the waves of time, loss, or change rise, they disappear. However, for those who invest in their relationship with Christ and in things that will matter for eternity, those investments will remain.

Consider the plight of a businessman who once devoted his life to building an empire. He spent years climbing the corporate ladder, amassing wealth and recognition. But when his health began to fail, he realized he had spent so much time investing in things that could not last. One day, sitting in a hospital room, he told his son, “I built towers of money but forgot to build a life with God. Don’t do what I did.”

What are you building your life upon: sand or rock? What “sandcastle” areas in your life need to be replaced with the solid foundation of Jesus?

 

---

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”

Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)

---

 

SUCCESS WON’T SATISFY ME

Paul once lived for accomplishment, status, and the applause of others. But after surrendering his life to Christ, everything changed. Success wasn’t the goal anymore; knowing Jesus was. That’s still true today. You can reach the top and still feel empty. You can achieve more than anyone around you and still feel like something’s missing. Paul is reminding us: success is not the savior our hearts long for.

Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Tom Brady once said in an interview, “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? There’s got to be more than this.” That statement could be echoed by many standing at the top of the ladder of success. It proves that even the world’s greatest achievements can’t fill the spiritual void in our hearts. Only Christ can fill that void.

Knowing Christ gives our lives a deeper meaning than success ever could. Paul isn’t saying your work doesn’t matter. He’s saying it can’t define you or satisfy the deepest longings of your soul, such as love, acceptance, and lasting purpose. Let Jesus define your worth, not your wins. Chasing achievement is exhausting, but walking with Jesus brings purpose and peace.

What area of your life are you trying to “prove” yourself in right now? What would it look like to lay that down and rest in the approval you already have in Christ?

---

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort…”

Philippians 3:3-6 (NLT)

---

 

RELIGION CAN’T CHANGE ME

Paul had an impeccable religious record. His résumé was spotless by the standards of his day. But it didn’t bring him peace, joy, or a real connection with God. That only happened when he met Jesus.

In our modern lives, it’s easy to believe that going to church, doing good things, and avoiding bad things will make us right with God. But religion without a relationship is powerless to transform our hearts.

Tim Keller once said, “Religion says, ‘I obey, therefore I’m accepted.’ But the gospel says, ‘I’m accepted, therefore I obey.’” That truth changes everything. Religion often keeps people stuck in fear or pride. But being a Christian is about a personal relationship with Christ, where the Holy Spirit makes His home in our hearts and works to make us look more like Jesus daily.

In this grace-filled relationship, we don’t obey to earn love; we obey because we are already loved as much as we will ever be loved.

Many people mistake proximity to church for intimacy with God. But going through religious motions can’t remove guilt or change the heart. Paul realized that even though he followed every rule, his heart was far from God. Only Jesus can deal with our sin, break our pride, and restore our right standing with God.

A man once visited a gym faithfully for months, checking in at the front desk every day. He wore the gear, drank the protein shakes, and posted about his workouts online. But here’s the catch: he never actually worked out. He never lifted a weight or ran a mile. He assumed that just being in the environment would be enough.

That’s how religion without relationship works. It gives the appearance of transformation, but the change never reaches the heart.

Ask yourself: Am I trusting my religious performance, or my relationship with Jesus? What spiritual habits are helping me grow closer to Him?

 

---

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)

---

 

COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT

 

As we pulled into the shell parking lot for one of our last church services, there was a clear difference from other Sundays. Cars filled the lot, the grass, and even lined the road. Men in pressed suits and women in bright Sunday dresses mingled near rows of tables laden with many of the same dishes Pastor Kirk and his wife had prepared for us — plus many more. There was a cooler filled with bottled water and sodas, most notably Goombay Punch, a fruit soda native to the Bahamas that I wish they sold at Publix.

It was Pastor Kirk’s ordination day — the culmination of years of God’s calling. From his beginnings in Nassau as a young, partying rebel (his words, not mine) with a full head of hair (his pastor’s words, not mine), to being saved, and finally to being called to an island so sparsely populated it makes Paulding County look like a metropolis. He had traveled to the United States to attend seminary and returned to the island with a clean, bald look — one that, I’ll admit, gives the full-head-of-hair style a run for its money.

People from Eleuthera, Nassau, and other neighboring islands had flown in for the day. There was just one problem: Pastor Kirk was not there. Well — not there yet. A few minutes fashionably late, he showed up in his car with Mama June and many of the other regulars. Most people in JC do not own a car, and many are too old to walk to the church. So Pastor Kirk spends each Sunday morning driving to pick up those he can, while also inviting those walking along the pothole-filled Queen’s Highway to join.

I don’t know about you, but I often look to my own self-interest. If a day were being held in my honor — with a display of food, Goombay Punch, and friends — it would be all about me. And there’s a warning in a message like this. Pastor Kirk often reminded me that he was once a hard-drinking sinner who, by the grace of God, found salvation. In the deepest sense, it isn’t about glorifying the person, but about glorifying the One the person follows. “Follow me as I follow Christ,” as Paul says (1 Cor. 11:1).

As you approach this weekend, remember what we’ve learned:

• God is everywhere.

• He is all good.

• His Word is true.

• And we’re called to imitate Jesus — in humility, unity, obedience, and service.

And that is truly good.

---

Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.

 

 

⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:6-7 (ESV)

---

 

THE DUAL NATURE OF CHRIST

 

We had just finished the hymns, and Kirk had given updates about the happenings of the church for the week. I remember him looking around and asking if anyone in the congregation had anything special occurring, or anything we could pray for. My sons elbowed me.

“It’s his birthday.”

And there, in a tiny church in James Cistern (JC), Eleuthera, I turned forty — serenaded by a congregation that nearly doubled when we arrived. I’m not quite sure how I’ll top that when I turn fifty.

Services at Liberty Baptist were lively. Pastor Kirk would interact with the crowd and, at times, even asked me my opinion on the scripture we were reading.

And one day, he said something familiar — something I’d heard Mike say many times before:

“Jesus is both God and man. He is a man, but not just a man — He is also God.”

Have you ever wondered how that could be? How can a human, limited by time and space, also be the transcendent God described in Genesis 1:1? If you have wondered, you’re not the first! It was such an important topic that the early church called all of the church fathers together to discuss it.

What they came up with is what orthodox Christianity believes today — and it’s why what Mike preaches in Kennesaw is the same thing Pastor Kirk preaches in James Cistern: Jesus is both God and man. He is one person with two natures — a divine nature and a human nature.

There’s an analogy from the movie Avatar by James Cameron. The protagonist, a crippled man named Jake Sully, enters the giant blue body of one of the Na’vi. Suddenly, he can walk and jump. He now has two natures — a human nature and a Na’vi nature.

In the same way, the second person of the Trinity — what theologians call the Logos — took on a human nature by being born to Mary in Bethlehem. He is a divine person who added a human nature, much in the same way Jake Sully is a human person who added a Na’vi nature.

This matters because it means Jesus wasn’t just a wise man — He was (and is) the morally perfect God in human form. So when He calls us to humility, love, and service, it isn’t advice from a teacher — it’s truth from the Creator Himself.

Know that through the wonderful words and example of Jesus, and by applying them through lovingly serving those around you, you are anchored to the truth.

 

---

Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.

 

 

⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

Philippians 2:8 (ESV)

---

 

TO THE POINT OF DEATH

 

We sat in the parking lot at the end of a crushed-shell driveway. I felt nervous — like my first time at NorthStar. Two cars sat in front of a tiny cinderblock building. The sign had blown away in a previous hurricane.

As we went in, two things became apparent. First, we were the only white people there — not a surprise, given that the church was there to serve the local Bahamian population. But more surprising was how tiny it was. I mean, it was about the size of our small group. Our family of four almost doubled the congregation. There were a few fishermen, a doctor, and Mama June, who was the oldest woman in the town.

Later that day, Pastor Kirk and his wife invited us to their home. The entire house was a single room — for the two of them and their daughter — with no AC. Yet they had cooked us an enormous meal: barbecue chicken, peas and rice, mac and cheese, potato salad. They even sent us home with enough leftovers to last a week.

Kirk wanted to show my sons a large boa he had killed that morning. As we walked down the street, he told me that he was aware of how small the church was, but that as long as he was doing the will of God and being obedient, nothing else mattered. He asked me what my church was like back in Atlanta.

“Oh, well, it’s large. There’s a band with drums, and the pastor likes to talk about baseball a lot. I think we have around three thousand members.”

He stopped walking. “Three thousand?”

I stopped as well, worried I had offended him. But he smiled as my boys found the snake and said, “Praise God.”

As we work for the Lord, Christ Himself instructs us to stay humble. When I think of humility, the first person who comes to mind is Pastor Kirk. The size of your mission does not matter. Your reward in heaven does not have a per-person multiplier. The real question is this: Are you being obedient to the unique call Jesus has placed on your life?

And as you follow in obedience, I’d like to add one more thought: you follow an all-good God. If God calls you to the stands before the masses or to the trenches in the remote, His plan for you is good. Not easy. Not convenient. But when we follow our God, we’re following the anchor of goodness — and obedience to a good God is worth it every single time.

 

---

Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.