NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper – You Can’t Outrun the Storm of Disobedience

C.A. Phillips on May 20, 2025

But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.

Jonah 1:4 (NLT)

YOU CAN’T OUTRUN THE STORM OF DISOBEDIENCE

So, Jonah hops on a boat headed in the opposite direction from where God had instructed him to go. Instead of taking a camel to Nineveh, he purchases a one-way ticket to Tarshish. Honestly, we don’t know for sure where Tarshish was located—many historians believe it was in the western Mediterranean. But we do know he was “moving away from the Lord” (or at least he thought he was). And a powerful storm was brewing.

Let’s pause for a moment here. You know, there’s always that interlude between the disobedient act and the punishment being doled out. Many times, we don’t realize we are in for a hurting—we’re just enjoying sowing our wild oats, as they used to say.

I remember one day as a nine- or ten-year-old kid doing something really stupid. My friend and I found a couple of old gallons of paint lying around his house. We had nothing better to do, so we decided to take the paint with us into the wooded lot next door—an area where we would often ride our bikes and hike. But on this day, we decided to add some color to the landscape. We began to paint the trunks of the trees—orange and blue. We didn’t just do one or two; we did dozens of them!

When his mom came home, she didn’t take kindly to this. And she felt obliged to share this with my mom (tattletale).

When I got home, my mom had some choice words for me. She then said she would discuss it with my dad. When he got home from work, she informed him of my artwork and asked what my punishment should be. He said he would have a talk with me and hand down the sentence. So, my dad came into my room to have a chat. He made sure I understood that what I had done was unacceptable. Then he said, “Your mom wants me to punish you. So, you have to stop smoking for a month.”

While the Lord was ultimately loving and compassionate with Jonah, he wasn’t getting away that easily. He sent a violent storm—one so intense that it seemed as though the ship was going to break apart! And as we’ll discuss tomorrow, he wasn’t just bringing these circumstances on himself—others’ lives were now at risk!

Jonah was about to learn an important lesson: when it comes to obedience, God means business!

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.

Digging Deeper – The Painful Consequences of Ignoring Instructions

C.A. Phillips on May 19, 2025

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: ²“Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”

³But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.

Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT)

THE PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING INSTRUCTIONS

Exasperation and frustration—that is what I felt, and that is what I caused my wife early in our marriage. Long before IKEA, other retail establishments offered the good old DIY furniture assembly. I can recall purchasing desks, side tables, and chairs from a variety of stores—the kind that also happened to sell groceries, household cleaners, and school supplies.

I’d get home from the store, tear open the box, and begin tackling the project. But no matter what the item was or where it was purchased, it always seemed to end the same way: me, angry and sweaty, with extra washers or bolts in my hand that hadn’t been used. “Why?” you ask. Because I failed to read the instructions!

It’s one thing to ignore the instructions included in a box filled with particleboard, hex screws, and wing nuts. It’s altogether different when God Himself tells you to do something, and you defiantly go in the opposite direction. This is precisely what Jonah did after God told him to go to Nineveh.

Jonah served as “God’s man”—His messenger. As a prophet, he certainly would have known the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). He also would have known that you can’t hide from God (remember Adam and Eve?). But fear and uncertainty drive us to do some outrageous things, clouding our ability to see and think clearly.

Sometimes I think to myself, They had it much easier back in the Old Testament. God spoke directly to them, and He was present with them much of the time. But clearly, it wasn’t easy. Time and again, we see God’s chosen leaders making grave errors in judgment—or completely disregarding His instructions.

Because we all have doubts. We all get a bit anxious over the unknown. We all like to be comfortable. But, as we’ll see throughout the week, God’s plan will come to fruition. And we’ll have to face the painful consequences of our decisions when we defy Him.

Digging Deeper – Steward the Blessing with Gratitude

Steve Roach on May 16, 2025

“So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.”

2 Kings 4:5 (NLT)

STEWARD THE BLESSING WITH GRATITUDE

After the widow gave Elisha a report on all the oil that God had provided, she received new instructions. Elisha told her what to do with it: pay off the debts, provide for her family, and use it wisely. The oil didn’t just solve her immediate crisis—it created a hopeful future for her and her sons.

The widow didn’t just receive a blessing; she stewarded it. That’s what gratitude looks like in action. Every blessing from God is a chance to demonstrate our trust in Him again. We’re not called to hoard what God gives us; we’re called to manage it in a way that honors Him and blesses others. We are blessed to be a blessing.

After receiving a large inheritance, a couple sat down and prayed before touching any of it. They didn’t rush to upgrade their lifestyle. Instead, they quietly helped cover the adoption fees for a family in their church, started a college fund for a niece, and generously gave to a ministry that had shaped their own marriage years before. They still took a vacation, but they saw the money not as a reward, but as a responsibility.

Has God recently provided for you in some way—whether financially, relationally, or spiritually? Take time today to ask how you can use that blessing to help others or advance His kingdom.

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity 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.

Digging Deeper – Let the Next Generation Witness Your Faith

Steve Roach on May 15, 2025

“So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.”

2 Kings 4:5 (NLT)

LET THE NEXT GENERATION WITNESS YOUR FAITH

This moment wasn’t just for the widow—it was for her sons. They didn’t hear about the miracle secondhand; they lived it. They helped collect the jars. They watched their mother obey and trust God in the middle of uncertainty. Their understanding of God was shaped by what they saw, not just what they heard.

Faith is never just about us. It leaves a trail for others to follow. When we live out our faith in front of others—especially our children and younger believers—we’re building their foundation as well as our own.

During the 2008 recession, a father of four unexpectedly lost his job. Instead of hiding his fear, he gathered his family each night and led simple prayers at the dinner table. He said, “We don’t know what’s coming, but we trust the God who’s already there.”

Months later, one of his teenage sons wrote him a note that said, “When I think about trusting God, I think about how you prayed even when we didn’t have enough.”

Who is learning from the way you respond to challenges? Let someone join you in your faith journey this week. Let them see your obedience, even when the outcome isn’t clear.

Digging Deeper – Prepare in Faith for What You Can’t Yet See

Steve Roach on May 14, 2025

“Elisha said, ‘Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors… Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars…’”

2 Kings 4:3-4 (NLT)

PREPARE IN FAITH FOR WHAT YOU CAN’T YET SEE

This was a test of obedience and faith for the widow. The oil hadn’t multiplied yet, but the prophet told her to collect jars as if it would. The miracle didn’t come until after she made space for it. That’s how faith works—it acts before the answer arrives. It moves forward confidently, even when there’s no visible reason to do so.

This widow’s story shows us that God often fills our jars of faith and obedience when we have no visible proof that He is working. We learn from her story that the oil would have stopped sooner if the widow had borrowed only a few jars. The size of her expectation shaped the size of the miracle.

A young woman dreamed of becoming a counselor but couldn’t afford graduate school. Still, she felt led to start the application process. She didn’t have the money or even a laptop. But she filled out every form by hand and prayed over each envelope before mailing it. She even cleared out a corner of her apartment and called it her “study space.”

Three weeks later, a scholarship offer arrived from a school she thought had already rejected her.

What jars do you need to gather in your own life? Where do you need to prepare even before you see the provision? Take one bold step today that says, “I believe God is going to move.”

The Power of Invitation

Kevin Burrell on May 14, 2025

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they spent that day with Him.

1 John 1:39

THE POWER OF INVITATION

When Billy Sunday was 18, he was recruited to play for a fire brigade baseball team in Marshalltown, Iowa. Within three years, he was playing professional baseball with the Chicago White Stockings. Then, in 1886, Billy was invited by a friend to a Chicago street corner to listen to an evangelist share the Good News about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. That invitation made a profound impact on his life. After some time, Billy submitted his life to following Christ. Just three years later, he turned down a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Phillies to accept a full-time ministry position with the YMCA. From that time on, Billy Sunday committed his life to inviting people to “Come and See” how Jesus could change their lives.

In John, chapter 1, Jesus did the very same thing. He reached out to a group of fishermen with no formal education and invited them to “Come and See.”

There is power in an invitation! Deep within every human heart is a longing for relationship, meaning, purpose, value, and truth. The disciples who followed Jesus weren’t just looking for a teacher; they were searching for meaning. They were simple fishermen but had a desire to be known. In the same way, people today are seeking. Some may not realize it, but their hearts are drawn toward something far greater than themselves. They are searching for a right relationship with God—even if they don’t know it.

People Are Seeking an Invitation!

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they spent that day with Him. (John 1:39)

A simple invitation can change a life for eternity. Jesus didn’t overwhelm these fishermen with arguments or doctrines; He simply invited them to “Come and See.” A word of kindness, a gesture of welcome, or a simple “Come and See” can open the door for someone to encounter Jesus and move from spiritual death to spiritual life.

Listen Closely: It’s easy to think that inviting others to “Come and See” is only reserved for the outgoing, for pastors, priests, or bold personalities. It isn’t! The truth is that obedience to God and love for others are far more powerful than personality traits. Jesus calls each of us to share His love—not based on our ability, but on His authority and our willingness to be faithful.

Who in your life is seeking today? Who is waiting for an invitation from you? Like Andrew and Philip, I encourage you to be bold and loving enough to simply say…

“Come and See.”

Be Worth Being.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Kevin

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 44 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper – Surrender the Little You Have

Steve Roach on May 13, 2025

“Elisha asked her, ‘What do you have in the house?’ ‘Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,’ she replied.”

2 Kings 4:2 (NLT)

SURRENDER THE LITTLE YOU HAVE

We tend to think God needs something big from us to do something big. But all throughout Scripture, God starts with what looks like almost nothing—a boy’s lunch, a shepherd’s staff, a mustard seed.

The widow thought she had nothing. Then she remembered a single flask of oil. It wasn’t much, but it was something. That’s what God uses. It’s not about what we wish we had; it’s about what we’re willing to surrender. You don’t have to have a lot—you just have to give what you have. Miracles don’t begin with abundance; they begin with availability.

An older man named Ben had retired after decades in construction. He physically couldn’t get around like he used to. He lived on a fixed income, just enough to pay the bills and meet his basic needs. At church, he heard about a single mom who needed basic home repairs and had been quoted prices she couldn’t afford. Ben offered to help. He spent a few Saturdays fixing broken windows and repairing steps.

A few months later, that young mother gave her life to Christ. She said, “I had stopped believing people cared. But someone I didn’t even know showed up with a hammer and proved me wrong.”

Ask God today, “What do I have that I can surrender?” Offer it to Him and trust that He can use even your smallest gift for something greater than you imagine.

Digging Deeper – When You Feel Desperate, Cry Out

Steve Roach on May 12, 2025

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead… and now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

2 Kings 4:1 (NLT)

WHEN YOU FEEL DESPERATE, CRY OUT

Desperation can be the very place where we meet God. It doesn’t feel holy in the moment. It feels like panic, grief, and pressure. Yet, desperation often clears away the noise and reveals the truth: we cannot fix this on our own.

The widow had nothing left. Her husband was gone, and her sons were about to be taken as slaves. And yet, she still had a voice. She used it to cry out. Crying out to God doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you believe He is strong enough to help. Sometimes the most courageous prayer is the most honest one. This woman’s cry was not the end of her faith; it was the beginning of her miracle.

Late one night, a nurse sat alone in her car after a long shift. Her marriage was falling apart, her mother was sick, and her son had started acting out in school. She couldn’t hold it together anymore. She slammed her hands against the steering wheel and shouted, “God, I can’t do this!” It wasn’t rehearsed or reverent—it was real. She cried for fifteen minutes in the hospital parking lot. Later, she said, “That night changed me. Nothing outside me changed immediately, but something inside me shifted. I knew God was with me in the chaos.”

What have you been holding in that needs to be lifted up? Pray out loud today—honestly and simply. God meets us at our most vulnerable.

Digging Deeper: Be a Humble Servant

Phil Meade on May 9, 2025

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses”

Exodus 14:31 (ESV)

BE A HUMBLE SERVANT

The Israelites are safely on dry land, and the Egyptians lie dead on the shore. The story concludes with:

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses” (Ex. 14:31, NLT).

God heard their cries, and they were redeemed. Their faith in the Lord—and in Moses—was restored. Unfortunately, this faith did not last. Because of their sins, the current generation (including Moses) would not live to inhabit the Promised Land.

The phrases “fear the Lord,” “fear God,” and “stand in awe” occur more than fifty times in the Bible (ESV). We, who are His creation, should have a healthy fear of the One who is all-powerful and who spoke the world into existence. Oftentimes, the word “fear” in the Bible is rendered as “awe” or “reverence.” God should be held in awe, and we should be humbled by the chasm that exists between the God of the universe and our helpless selves. Fortunately, as we saw in Part 1 of this series, God provided a way to bridge that chasm through the person of Jesus Christ.

We should be in reverent fear and awe of our powerful God. In love and obedience, we should humbly serve Him. As the writer of Proverbs notes:

“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Prov. 15:33).

Jesus came in the flesh not only to provide a way to salvation and give us a glimpse of the character of God, but also to give us an example of a humble servant. As the apostle Mark wrote:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Webster’s Dictionary defines humble as:

not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive;
a spirit of deference or submission;
ranking low in a hierarchy or scale.

Do you know someone who thinks they are the humblest person they know? (For those of you who know me—no pointing fingers in my direction!) Humility is advanced Christianity. Humble servitude is post-graduate-level stuff. Paul reminds the church in Philippi:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3–4).

Moses is described in the Bible as a “humble” man, a great “prophet,” a “man of God,” and a “friend of God,” who spoke “face to face” with God.

Let the lessons from the life of Moses be:

God will equip you for the task He has at hand;
When God calls, do not waver;
Trust in God—He will provide a way;
Get off the bench and get in the game;
Humbly serve in the role that God has placed you in.

Digging Deeper (er):

John 4:34; 1 Samuel 12:24; Deuteronomy 10:12

Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

Digging Deeper: Get Up and Go

Phil Meade on May 8, 2025

“Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward”

Exodus 14:15 (ESV)

GET UP AND GO

The Israelites are surrounded on both sides. Going backward means slavery. Going forward means drowning—unless a miracle happens. They cry out to Moses to rescue them, and Moses assures them that God will fight for them (Ex. 14:14). God hears the cries of the people and asks Moses,

“Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward” (Ex. 14:15).

God is telling His people to trust in Him—and get up and go! The writer of Hebrews notes,

“By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27).

By faith in the “invisible,” Moses gathered the people and left, trusting God to provide a path.

Our faith in God must be active, and trusting Him should result in taking that first step. Faith believes that God is who He says He is. Trust believes that God acts in the ways He promises. You cannot have one without the other. James wrote, referring to Abraham,

“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works” (Jas. 2:22).

Abraham knew enough about God to trust Him—even to the point of sacrificing his son and heir. Daniel reminds us,

“The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Dan. 11:32b).

The book of James, though relatively short, contains some very powerful messages. My favorite part is the final section of chapter 2, titled “Faith Without Works Is Dead” (Jas. 2:14–26). James notes that faith without works is a “dead faith” (v. 17). When someone asks us about our faith, most of us can find the words to explain why we believe what we believe. However, James takes it a step further, stating,

“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (v. 18b).

In other words, what good is faith if no action is taken on its behalf?

We all know the ending of the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. God protected them until they were safely on the opposite shore. Then He caused the waters to return, drowning their Egyptian pursuers (Ex. 14:21–29). The people trusted God to save them, and their trust was rewarded by a faithful God.

One final question: What is holding you back from moving forward?

I still remember a scene from the final film in the original Indiana Jones saga. Indy must cross a bottomless abyss with no visible bridge to provide a path. He takes a step of faith into the void—and discovers an invisible stone bridge spanning the chasm. Think about the times when God has been faithful to you during your own seasons of indecision. The trust built during those countless encounters should give you the confidence to take that next step of faith—whatever area of life is causing you to waver.

Digging Deeper (er):

Proverbs 16:3; Proverbs 21:5; 1 John 3:18