NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper – He Knows Everything—And Still Likes You

David Griffith on July 15, 2025

²⁴Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. ²⁶Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

John 20:24-27

HE KNOWS EVERYTHING – AND STILL LIKES YOU

Cause #1 for Our Doubts: We Question God’s Omniscience

Basically—and not so basically—we question whether God knows everything. Specifically, I question whether God knows everything about my life at this moment in time. And if He does, does He even care?

Now, I would never admit this out loud, because I know that He cares for me. He tells me He does in 1 Peter 5:7:
“…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (Personalized by me.)

But do I always live out my known doctrine? Does my knowledge manifest itself in my life on a daily basis—on a moment-to-moment basis? To get right down to it:
Do I feel His hand upon my angst, or is it just head knowledge?

(I just read back over that last line, and I’m humbled—and not just a little ashamed—that I wrote it, or even thought it in the first place. After all, what is wrong with head knowledge? If you’re like me, there have been numerous times on life’s journey when I have not felt Jesus—but I knew He was right there in the midst of my anxiety, my doubt, my pain. And in most every case, knowing He was there was the anchor that held my faith through the storm until my heart could catch up.)

Does God know everything about me—and you?
ABSOLUTELY.
And He proves it to Thomas in verses 25 and 27. Jesus wasn’t in the room when Thomas stated his ultimatum:

“Unless I can touch His nail-scarred hands and spear-pierced side, I will not believe!” (Dave’s interpretation)

Yet eight days later, when Thomas and Jesus are together in the room, Jesus cashes the ultimatum check by saying:

“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side.”
THOMAS, I KNOW EVERYTHING. YOU CAN TRUST IN ME.

And you know what? Jesus knows everything about you and me as well.
And we can trust Him—because He is omniscient.

We can trust the One who is not bound by time, or space, or even our doubts.
He is all-knowing.
And, as my friend Steve Brown used to say,

“…and He likes you anyway.”

After all, Jesus died knowing everything about me—before I was even born.
Check off Cause #1 for doubting Him.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at Cause #2!

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!

Digging Deeper – Meet Doubting Dave

David Griffith on July 14, 2025

John 20:24-25

MEET DOUBTING DAVE

Is it just me, or has Thomas gotten a bad rap over the last 2,000+ years? I mean, which of the other disciples had to take the others at their word when they said, “We have seen the Lord,” and then act on that testimony? None—that’s how many! All the other disciples actually saw the Lord after His resurrection.

I don’t know about you, but I believe I would have been in Thomas’ camp. I would have forever carried the nickname “Doubting Dave.” (It actually has a better ring than “Doubting Thomas,” doesn’t it?) And rightfully so, because my life has been riddled with doubt.

So I ask myself (and by association, you): “Self, what is doubt, really?”
The American Heritage Dictionary defines doubt as:

To be undecided or skeptical about.
To tend to disbelieve; distrust.
To regard as unlikely.
To suspect; fear.
A lack of certainty that leads to irresolution. A lack of trust. The condition of being uncertain or unresolved.

That’s pretty descriptive of my thoughts and meditations when it comes to trusting the Lord in all things, Dave!

What doubt—and by association, faith—comes down to is this:
Do I trust God with my life?
Do I trust Him with the diagnosis?
Do I trust Him with my businesses?
Do I trust God with my finances, my family, my children, and grandchildren?

Do I? Do you?
Have you heard the testimony of a trusted advisor and still failed to trust Him fully? I have.
Have you had your Heavenly Father come through for you before, yet this time you’re just not sure He’s up for the task? Me too.

So this week, please walk with me as we explore the causes of our doubts. I promise—the journey will be unsettling, but worth it!

Digging Deeper: Grace Alone

Lee Wilson on July 11, 2025

³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[^a^] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

GRACE ALONE

We started attending NorthStar in early 2011. Some good friends of ours, who have since moved away, recommended it to us after the pastor of our old church had moved on.

We gave it a shot one weekend and have belonged ever since, considering it our church home. In the 14 years since, we’ve been part of several small groups, attended and participated in various volunteer events, and tried to serve in a manner worthy of a churchgoing believer.

When we become believers, there are often many discussions about what should follow. Is it baptism? Church membership? Small groups? Counseling? Some combination of all of these? There’s no debate that belonging to a church and a community of believers is vital to a healthy understanding of Scripture—and also to navigating the ups and downs of life.

However, there is an important distinction to remember: none of these things are required for your salvation. Not a single one.

Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Grace alone gets you into heaven.

Pastor Alistair Begg once spoke about grace, imploring his congregation to “preach the cross to yourself daily” so that we don’t forget it is grace alone that saves us. In that message, he references the passage we studied this week in Luke, referring to the thief on the cross. Begg wonders aloud what it must have been like that day when the thief showed up in heaven. This is what follows:

“Think about the thief on the cross… I can’t wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, ‘How did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend. You’ve never been in a Bible study. You never got baptized… You didn’t know a thing about church membership, and yet… you made it. How did you make it?’ That’s what the angel must have said, you know:

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘What do you mean, you don’t know?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Excuse me, let me get my supervisor.’ They go get their supervisor angel:

‘So, just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?’

The guy says, ‘I’ve never heard of it in my life.’

‘And what about the doctrine of Scripture?’

He just stares… and eventually, in frustration, [the supervisor] says, ‘On what basis are you here?’

And he says, ‘The Man on the middle cross said I can come.’”

This is one of my favorite pastoral musings of all time, and I don’t know if there’s a simpler or more beautiful way to express the hope we all have who trust in Jesus.

Nothing we do will ever be good enough to get us into heaven. It is by His grace alone that we can one day say the same thing:

“The Man on the middle cross said I could come.”

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

Digging Deeper: The Urgency of Salvation

Lee Wilson on July 10, 2025

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

THE URGENCY OF SALVATION

I was watching a video of two pastors—who you may know—having a discussion with each other. They were talking about all aspects of being a pastor, from the boring logistics that only a church employee would find interesting to deep theological questions they posed to one another.

One mutual commonality between them was their experience meeting people in public and gauging their reactions when they explain their profession. The scenario they discussed was this: “How do you respond if you’re on an airplane and someone next to you—whom you do not know—asks what you do for a living?”

Both pastors shared similar stories about how most people tend to go quiet after finding out they are pastors, suddenly preferring to read Delta’s safety pamphlet rather than have a conversation about God. After that, both men spoke of an interesting conviction that arose as they reflected on these experiences.

If the Bible is true, shouldn’t we be diving headfirst into uncomfortable conversations? I mean, let’s say you’re sitting on a plane, and a stranger next to you asks a few questions. The subject of faith comes up, and you discern they are not a believer. Normal conversational norms would suggest being a polite, non-confrontational passenger—but what if the plane goes down? And what if that person wasn’t a believer?

You might be sitting in that very seat to talk about Jesus with a complete stranger just moments before their impending death. You could be their last hope. As the pastors wrestled with that thought, they acknowledged that if they truly believe the Bible, there should be a measure of desperation in their conversations. We believers should care so much about the person next to us that we want to make sure they have the opportunity to meet Jesus. Scripture is very clear on the consequences that await those who do not know Him, and that should propel us full speed into those moments of faithful discussion.

The thief on the cross was moments away from death, and—lo and behold—the Savior of humanity happened to be on the cross next to him. With a penitent heart, he asked for and received mercy from Jesus.

The thief knew his time was near, but many people don’t have that luxury. So be bold enough to get uncomfortable. Be brave enough to talk about your Savior and the glorious hope you have in Jesus. Someone’s eternity might just depend on it.

Doors No One Can Shut

Kevin Burrell on July 9, 2025

God will open the right doors for you at the right time.

Revelation 3:8

DOORS NO ONE CAN SHUT

There are seasons in life when the weight of waiting feels unbearable.
Ever been there? I certainly have.

You’ve prayed.
You’ve hoped.
You’ve obeyed.
You’ve tried to stay strong.

And yet, the breakthrough hasn’t come. The door remains closed—or worse, invisible.

But here’s an amazing truth tucked into Revelation 3:8:

“God sees you.”

He sees the quiet obedience.
He sees the tears no one else notices.
He sees the moments when you wanted to give up, but chose to trust Him instead.

He knows you’re tired.
He knows your strength is waning.
And He honors your faithfulness—even when all you could do was whisper a prayer or lift your eyes toward Him in weary hope.

God doesn’t ask for perfection.
He asks for trust.

And in your trusting—even when you feel weak and unseen—God is working. He is sovereign. He is directing your steps, even through the confusion and the ache of delay (Proverbs 16:9).

The waiting isn’t wasted.
It’s a refining fire, shaping your heart, building endurance, developing your character, and preparing you for what’s next.

But through it all, you work while you wait.
Don’t miss that.

Then, in His perfect timing, God says, “Now see what I’ve done.”
He opens a door—not just any door, but one that no person, no system, and no setback can shut.

That’s the kind of door only God can open.
It’s not earned; it’s given.
It’s not forced; it’s revealed.

Listen closely:
If you’re in the waiting today, God is working. Do not lose heart.
He sees your faithfulness.
He honors your endurance.
He delights in your trust.

Your waiting is not the end of your story—because He is the One writing it.

It’s the setup for a door you can’t open on your own—a door that no one will be able to shut.

So lean into this truth today:

God is rarely early.
He is never late.
But He is always right on time.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

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: Getting Answers from the Right Person

Lee Wilson on July 9, 2025

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

GETTING ANSWERS FROM THE RIGHT PERSON

Recently, my wife had a scary encounter at work. She was setting up a display at a retail store when one of the metal crossing bars on the display came loose and fell on her arm. She’s far tougher than me and despises any kind of pity or attention, so she initially tried to push through the mishap.

After a few minutes—and some immediate swelling—it became clear that pressing on wasn’t an option. She called me, and I left to go with her to urgent care. Since this was a workplace incident, there’s a specific protocol for treatment, including which doctor to visit and how to appropriately seek care.

My poor, injured wife was mistakenly given two incorrect addresses for care and was turned away both times! A frustrating experience, to say the least. After one more phone call, we were finally connected with someone who helped update us on the correct care options. Eventually, we found the right person who could help, and thankfully, what was initially feared to be a fracture turned out to be just a contusion.

It’s important to find the right person to ask for help. As we studied Luke 23 this week and focused on the thief on the cross, we see that the penitent thief asked for help from the right person. After acknowledging his guilt, he asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom.

Sometimes, we can find the answers to life’s questions right in front of us. The nature of our daily problems may be solvable with our own intellect and resources. But this can breed an unhealthy sense of self-sufficiency that will falter when the problem grows beyond our ability to manage. Some problems are simply too big for us to solve.

So what do you do when you face life’s biggest problems? It is a universal truth that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33), so are you trusting in the One who overcame the world to solve them?

The thief on the cross was saved—in part because he asked the right person for help. Jesus, battered and bloodied on the cross next to him, assured him that his faith had brought him to paradise.

Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). We will always face problems bigger than ourselves, questions we can’t answer, and situations that don’t make sense. In those moments, it’s crucial that we seek help from the right person.

Digging Deeper: Hope in Him

Lee Wilson on July 8, 2025

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

HOPE IN HIM

In my general life, I’m a pretty optimistic person. I’m normally positive and enjoy trying to be a source of encouragement for other people. I do have kryptonite, though, and there’s one aspect of my life that can cause me to be more cynical and pessimistic than I usually am—the fact that I’m an Atlanta sports fan.

Whether it’s “28-3,” Leyritz taking Wohlers deep, or even the recent slew of injuries to the Braves’ rotation, it seems I’ve developed a negative reflex when it comes to my sports fandom. This drives my wife—the eternal sports optimist—crazy. She will sit and watch until the last out or until the clock hits zero, believing her team can still win. She has a hopefulness I envy—and one we should all seek to maintain.

As Andy Dufresne says, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.”

Not being persuaded out of your hope by negativity is a worthy pursuit. But when you find yourself in a perilous situation, staying hopeful becomes much more difficult than simply trying to have faith in the Braves’ bullpen this season.

As we discussed Luke 23 this week, we visited the scene of the two thieves alongside Jesus. Both were condemned to death for crimes that are not fully detailed—both were set to face eternal judgment. As the two men hang there, there’s a stark contrast in how they speak to Jesus.

The first cares only about escape. Both men would likely have had knowledge of who Jesus was and why he was there, and by simply looking at him, they would see that his punishment was far more barbaric and severe than theirs to that point.

The first thief doesn’t seem to care about Jesus but offers a faint, last-minute plea for freedom, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” In his words, there’s a drip of desperation—and maybe even doubt.

Knowing the fate that awaited them, the other thief isn’t persuaded to join in. His initial response is a rebuke: “Do you not fear God?” This tells us two things—he did fear God, and that fear was driving him more than the terror or madness of the moment.

We may not face crucifixion, but we all encounter moments in life that can cause us to doubt. We read tragic headlines, see loved ones walk through dark valleys, or experience depression and sadness like we’ve never known. In those moments, it’s easy to cry out, “Jesus, why aren’t you coming down off that cross to help me?”

It’s a human response—but not a godly one. Instead, we must remain hopeful, full of repentance, and walking in a healthy fear of the Lord.

The last out hasn’t been recorded yet, so never give up the hope you have in Him.

Digging Deeper: Judgment Day

Lee Wilson on July 7, 2025

Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

JUDGMENT DAY

My eldest son just turned 10, and as part of his celebration, he wanted to go to Six Flags because he is finally tall enough to ride everything there. So we went on Batman, the Scorcher (twice), and more—and he ate up every second of it. He loves roller coasters, just like his dad.

Part of the thrill is the initial climb up the track. As you inch closer to the top, you know the rush is coming—that initial drop and those loops are just on the horizon. The anticipation is almost as much fun as the ride itself, because we know something thrilling is about to follow.

This week, as we studied the “thief on the cross” passage in Luke, we find Jesus on the cross with two thieves. We aren’t told much about them, but we can quickly glean a few things: they were not claiming innocence, and neither wanted to be there.

Crucifixion was considered a humiliating and barbaric death in ancient Rome. It was reserved for threats to the state, slaves, and those who committed heinous crimes. Most Roman citizens were spared from it unless they committed treason or rebellion. So we can assume these men had done something significant to draw the ire of Rome.

Hebrews says that immediately after we die, we are judged (Hebrews 9:27). Death and judgment were now inevitable for the thieves. In the midst of their brief moments with Jesus, we get a very clear depiction of the hearts of the two men beside him. One man desperately wants escape and demands that, if Jesus is who he says he is, he should save himself—and them.

The other man, often referred to as “the penitent thief,” took a courageously different stance. He rebukes his fellow thief for his lack of contrition and simply acknowledges that he deserves to be there. We don’t know what he did, but his admission suggests he believed the punishment was justified.

He asks Jesus to remember him in his kingdom, to which Jesus famously replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Hearing those words must have done something profound for his soul. As he hung on the cross in unimaginable pain, he suddenly received the greatest news anyone could ever hear.

While it might be an overstatement to say he was eager to die, the anticipation that must have followed those words from Jesus is incomparable. And it’s an anticipation that can be ours as well.

We are just like the thieves. We are rightly condemned by our sins and deserve the full punishment of God’s law. Will we struggle, fight, and hope for the best? Or will we acknowledge our missteps and look to Jesus for mercy?

If we trust in him, we can wait with eager anticipation—because we know something thrilling is about to follow. We do not need to fear death, because belief in Jesus means we too can be with him in paradise!