Lee Wilson – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Be Different

Lee Wilson on August 29, 2025

³²This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:32-38 (NLT)

BE DIFFERENT

We have examined the passage from last Sunday in Acts, where the Holy Spirit descends and Peter addresses the group at Pentecost. What followed was the rapid growth of the first church as the group of believers began to multiply.

Answering the call to follow Jesus means setting every other desire aside and prioritizing Him. A tall order, to be sure—but a life-changing decision that can have a meaningful impact on us and everyone we come into contact with. Sometimes, our obedience is the very method through which God accomplishes incredible things.

The point is this: following Jesus makes you different.

In December of 1944, the world was at war. In the midst of it was a small town called Sommocolonia, Italy. It was a hilltop village overlooking the Serchio Valley. Its location was strategic, offering wide views of the surrounding terrain and enemy positions.

Army First Lieutenant John R. Fox served in the 92nd Infantry Division, a segregated unit known as the Buffalo Soldiers. They were assigned to support the 366th Infantry Regiment and were sent to Sommocolonia to maintain U.S. control of the town.

On Christmas night, German troops infiltrated the town in civilian disguise and launched a surprise attack the following morning. They overwhelmed Allied forces and pushed the Americans to retreat.

Fox and several others volunteered to stay behind in the face of danger to serve as a forward observer party. From the second floor of a house on the hilltop, Fox began calling in defensive artillery fire, aiming to deter the Germans. But the enemy did not relent. As they continued their attack, Fox made the unthinkable decision: he called in an artillery barrage on his own exact coordinates.

The soldier on the other end of the call was Fox’s close friend, Lieutenant Otis Zachary. Stunned at the order, he hesitated, knowing his friend would have little to no chance of survival. Sensing his reluctance, Fox shouted, “FIRE IT! There’s more of them than there are of us! Give ’em hell!”

The barrage was called in. Fox and his team perished, but over 100 German soldiers were killed in the strike. His selfless sacrifice allowed U.S. forces to regroup and counterattack, and five days later they retook control of the village.

Lt. Zachary had to answer an impossible call, knowing it would cost his friend’s life, but failure to do so would have resulted in devastating enemy gains. Zachary later recalled that the entire group wept for three minutes after the strike, mourning the fate of Fox. One author reflected, “God let him become the great man that he was, that he might save many.”

We may not face situations as dramatic as this—at least, I hope not—but there is a common link. If we fail to answer God’s call, it can result in enemy gains. We have a real enemy in this world, and our Lord uses willing hearts to advance His Kingdom and thwart the enemy.

In 1997, Lt. Fox and six other men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their selfless bravery. In addition, the Italian government commemorated the soldiers who died at Sommocolonia and erected a statue honoring Fox in the village.

May we all act with such boldness—standing out, living differently, and answering the call as believers in Christ. We serve the God who sent His Son to earth to be punished for sins He did not commit, so that He might be the one to die in order to save many.

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: Playing with Fire

Lee Wilson on August 28, 2025

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 2:32-38 (NLT)

PLAYING WITH FIRE

Over the last couple of years, wildfires have become a very real danger for certain locations in our country. Wildfires are characterized by their uncontrollable nature and ability to spread rapidly across vegetation and combustible materials. They can be devastating and present numerous challenges for firefighters in their attempts to contain and extinguish them.

A controlled burn, or prescribed burn, on the other hand, has quite the opposite effect. It is a specific and strategically managed fire aimed at controlling vegetation and minimizing the risk of wildfire. It can restore ecosystems and, in that sense, be life-giving. For any fire to burn, there must be three things, known as the “fire triangle”: fuel (something to burn), heat (an ignition source), and oxygen.

When Peter addresses the crowd at Pentecost and passionately explains the preceding events and their significance in this week’s passage, he provides the divine nudge for many listening to accept Jesus and become the first Christians.

It did not stop there. The chapter continues to describe how this new group of believers were selling their possessions to care for one another’s needs, attending the temple together daily, breaking bread, and praising God (Acts 2:42–46).

The Holy Spirit had made a dwelling place among these new believers, just as Jesus had promised (Acts 1:4–5). The fruits of the Spirit were already evident in this group of believers. They were living selflessly and generously, and they were continually praising God.

When we heed God’s call on our lives, we can live with this kind of irrevocable joy because our joy rests in something we cannot lose—Jesus. The ultimate source of joy resides in all who believe in Him.

The Spirit took hold in this early church and, just like a fire, it began to spread. The believers were so convicted and passionate that they were selling possessions and attending the temple daily. The unbridled joy they had in Jesus surpassed any other aspect of life they had known before Him.

In their fervor, they created their own version of the fire triangle: they had fuel (the call to the cross), an ignition source (Jesus), and oxygen (the very breath in their lungs!). As long as they were living on this side of heaven, they were focused on serving Jesus. And through them, it says, “The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

What an incredible testimony to the commitment of the early church. Let us all find such unshakable joy in Jesus!

Digging Deeper: Lost (and Found) in Space

Lee Wilson on August 27, 2025

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 2:32-38 (NLT)

LOST (AND FOUND) IN SPACE

When we find Peter and the disciples this week, they are speaking on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has just arrived in the form of “tongues as of fire” (Acts 2:3), and those on whom it rested began to speak in tongues.

The behavior was alarming and unusual, causing those present to ponder its meaning. Was it something of significance, or were they just filled with “new wine”? (v. 13). It is in this moment that Peter takes hold and addresses the crowd, citing prophecies about this event and pointing everything back to Jesus.

Those present knew they were witnessing something incredible, and perhaps even frightening. Those feelings of trepidation and amazement helped convict their hearts and point them to Jesus. Sometimes we also encounter things that have a profound impact on us.

In the 1960s, the United States was in the throes of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. One element of that conflict was the “space race,” as each nation sought to assert dominance among the stars. After successfully landing on the moon in 1969, the U.S. had a significant interest in learning as much as possible about the lunar surface—quite literally at ground level.

On July 26, 1971, Apollo 15 launched. It was the first mission to feature the lunar roving vehicle (LRV), which allowed for longer excursions than had previously been possible. Among the crew was Colonel Jim Irwin, who helped collect over 170 pounds of moon rock samples with the LRV.

While on the lunar surface, Col. Irwin had a unique, deeply spiritual encounter—described in a documentary about the moon landings as a “Damascus road” type of experience. In his book To Rule the Night, Irwin reflected on what happened:

“I felt an overwhelming sense of the presence of God on the moon. The ultimate effect was to deepen and strengthen all the religious insight I ever had. It remade my faith. I had become a skeptic about getting guidance from God, and I know I had lost the feeling of His nearness. On the moon the total picture of the power of God and His Son Jesus Christ became abundantly clear to me. I felt His Spirit more closely than I have ever felt it on earth, right there beside me…it was amazing.”

Far from the routines and worries of everyday life, Col. Irwin was standing where few had ever ventured before. Out among the stars, he observed the vastness of creation and felt closer to God than ever. After his experience, Irwin often said, “I believe Jesus Christ walking on the earth is more important than man walking on the moon.”

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” At night, we can gaze up at the vast, star-scattered canopy that stretches overhead. When we notice the beauty and the miracles in the creation that surrounds us, perhaps we too can glimpse what compelled those believers at Pentecost all those years ago.

Digging Deeper: Answering the Call

Lee Wilson on August 26, 2025

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 2:32-38 (NLT)

ANSWERING THE CALL

This past Sunday, we discussed Peter speaking to the first church after the ascension of Christ into Heaven. In the awestruck wonder of the moment, dozens of souls surrendered to Christ. Compelled by the miracles they had just witnessed, they answered the call to come home.

For the last decade, I have worked at a Chick-fil-A restaurant. I handle all of the HR functions for the restaurant and spend much of my time interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new talent. Given the reputation of the brand, we are often fortunate enough to attract high-performing young people, most of them between 17 and 20 years old.

The most common theme I hear when I spend time with them is this: “What am I going to do when I finish school?” We are overflowing with straight-A students who are searching for a purpose.

Our work is indeed purposeful and can be fulfilling, but our ultimate purpose lies beyond our career or means of paying bills. When Peter spoke to these people and “pierced their hearts,” he was revealing our true purpose in this life—to answer the call to follow Jesus and to serve Him above all else.

Reverend Billy Graham was once asked why he chose the profession he did. The questioner implied that Graham might have made a successful politician and almost certainly possessed the skills to become a successful businessman. Graham responded by saying, “The only thing I can tell you is that God called me to be an evangelist, and I could do nothing else but respond to His call.”

Answering Jesus’ call on our hearts and our lives is more important than any other call we receive. Moreover, it is not only important—it is ultimately our true path to fulfillment and purpose. According to Graham:

“The question I would ask you, however, is this: What is your priority in life? Is it money, or prestige, or security, or comfort? Or is it Christ and His will? Don’t settle for anything less…Make sure of your commitment to Christ. Only He can give you the satisfaction and fulfillment we all seek. Then ask God to help you live for Christ in all you do. The Bible says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23).”

We have many responsibilities in this life. Each of us is uniquely filled with aspirations, hopes, and dreams, and many of those are good things. Let us, however, always remember to pursue God above all of them.

Digging Deeper: Joyful and Obedient

Lee Wilson on August 25, 2025

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 2:32-38 (NLT)

JOYFUL AND OBEDIENT

This week, as we finished up our Training Camp series, we focused on the second chapter of Acts in a powerful passage. We hear a proclamation of who Jesus is and a very convicting series of descriptors of the events that had preceded this.

It says, “We are all witnesses” in verse 32, meaning the audience had the incredible experience of witnessing Jesus ascend to heaven. After that miraculous series of events, we have Peter proclaiming his Savior to the crowd—who were likely still in awe—and then we get a very honest response in verse 37: “Brothers, what shall we do?”

What do we do now? Peter’s words had “cut to the heart” of his audience (v. 37), and they were sincerely asking for guidance on what to do next. Peter responds very directly, saying, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit” (v. 38).

The Holy Spirit is a unique and personal connection directly to our Creator, and that connection changes us forever. Pastor and author John Piper mentions two things in particular that mark the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit:

A heart of praise: In Acts 10:46, the disciples knew the Holy Spirit had fallen because “they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling (or magnifying) God.” Speaking in tongues is one particular way of releasing the heart of praise. It may be present or may not. But one thing is sure: the heart in which the Holy Spirit has been poured out will stop magnifying self and start magnifying God. Heartfelt praise and worship are the marks of a real experience of the Holy Spirit.
Obedience: The other mark is obedience. In Acts 5:29, Peter and the apostles say to the Sadducees who had arrested them, “We must obey God rather than men.” Then, in verse 32, he says, “We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God gave to those who are obeying him.” (“Gave” is past tense; “obey” is present, ongoing tense.)

Let us never forget what it felt like when His words first cut to our hearts. In those moments, we were touched by an eternal joy from our Creator. That feeling of awe and wonder, followed by the humble question “What shall we do?” serves as a great motivation to obey His commands. May we forever be joyful and obedient in Him!

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.”

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.

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!