Digging Deeper – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Every Knee Will Bow

Curt Bowen on October 13, 2025

⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)

EVERY KNEE WILL BOW

“We are lost.”

I struggled to maintain my lane on the Queen’s Highway — a right-handed vehicle on a left-handed road full of potholes. There was no internet, much to our surprise, to guide us to our rental on an island that stretched five hours from tip to tip.

“I found a map!”
“Great, what does it say?”
“Well… it’s plastic, and has a bunch of red flags with white stripes.”

I slowed down as we entered another small town. Local Bahamians, dressed in pressed suits and Sunday dresses, crossed from the turquoise Gulf to the deep-blue Atlantic side of the island. As I stopped to let them pass, I realized I didn’t just lack directions to our house — I lacked directions for much of anything here.

Before the trip, I had checked Google Maps. There were pins but no details — stores with no names, churches with no photos, reviews, or websites. It was different here.

We eventually found our way with nothing more than inaccurate VRBO directions and a plastic snorkel map — and we got a flavor of the island. Honking means “hello,” not what it means in Atlanta. Gas is almost always pumped for you, and $7.49 a gallon is a deal. There are two sides to the island: the Gulf side is white, warm, and shallow — think small yellowtail snapper. The Atlantic side is deep, cold, and dark blue — think huge blue marlin. And the dialect has certain unique features, like “three,” which I always heard as “tree.”

But one thing was the same: there were people at many churches, worshiping the same God I knew back home. Not everyone, but there were knees bowed to the name of Jesus.

As you embark on this new week, remember that all over the Earth, people are worshiping the same awesome God that you do. And more importantly, He is everywhere you go. No matter the cell service, God is always “full bars” wherever you are — and one day, every knee will bow to Him.

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.

Digging Deeper: Thankful for What’s to Come

Lee Wilson on October 10, 2025

“I thank my God in all my remeberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of you partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)

THANKFUL FOR WHAT’S TO COME

As I began to grow more deeply curious about the things of faith and sought a deeper understanding of Scripture and its meaning in my life, I turned to pastors of note who could help simplify the complex things of God and make them digestible for my mind.

Recently, two of the men I grew to admire deeply have gone home to be with the Lord: John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham. My heart ached each time I read the news of their passing, but I immediately thought of how neither would want lament at such news—for they have gone to the very place we all seek to be!

Baucham even said exactly how he wanted people to respond to the news of his death in a message he once delivered:
“You are going to hear a rumor one day that Voddie Baucham is no more. Don’t you believe it! Don’t you believe it! Don’t you believe it—because though I die, I will rise with Christ. It will not be the end of me, because Christ is raised, and I too will be raised with Christ.”

I am thankful for the ministry and lives of these men. I am also thankful for NorthStar. For while men like Baucham and MacArthur helped guide a curious mind, it has been people like Mike Linch who have walked with me in other ways.

This past Friday, October 3, would’ve been my daughter Roselyn’s 12th birthday. Our firstborn, she was diagnosed late in the pregnancy with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and lived for 22 days, all under the care of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The night she passed was the hardest day of my life. As Deanna and I left the hospital, my phone rang—it was Mike Linch. We spoke briefly, but the phrase he said that I will never forget was: “You aren’t going to go through this alone.”

Those words proved true. As a grateful member of this congregation, I can say they have helped shape the last 12 years in so many positive ways for us. Today we have two healthy boys, and both are so excited about the future opportunities that await with the changes on our church campus.

So let us give thanks for all the new and exciting opportunities ahead, and pray for our church leaders as they aim to grow our influence in the community. We are thankful for all God has done, and we wait in eager anticipation for all He will do!

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: Disappointments Have to Be

Lee Wilson on October 9, 2025

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)

DISAPPOINTMENTS HAVE TO BE

I have a wide range of musical interests. I originally started playing the bass guitar when I was 15 years old because my buddies and I were going to be rock stars. I still have a penchant for loud and fast music, but over time I developed an array of other interests including folk, country, jazz, funk—you name it.

I love to listen to the music itself, always gauging how I might approach playing the bass to a song, often paying less attention to the lyrics. In the early 2000s, I discovered a band called The Avett Brothers that writes beautiful music—but even better lyrics. Their down-to-earth yet poetic approach forced me to truly hear the words.

They have one song called “Living of Love” where they sing about all aspects of love, and even about the importance of love in the uncertainties of life. One of the verses goes like this:

Say, yes, we live uncertainty, and disappointments have to be
And every day, we might be facing more
And, yes, we live in desperate times, with faded words and shaky rhymes
There’s only one thing worth hoping for
With Lucifer beneath you, and God above, if either one of them asks you what you’re living of,
Say Love. Say, for me, Love.

We all experience disappointments in life, and in those moments it is harder to be grateful for the things we do have. Sometimes we get unpleasant or scary news from a doctor, or we find out our position has been eliminated, or we face any number of trials in a given day. Perhaps in those moments we can shift our thoughts toward love and gratitude, remembering the things we have before us because of God.

We read the beginning of Philippians this past Sunday, where the apostle Paul demonstrates how to be gracious from a prison cell, facing tremendous uncertainty about his earthly future. In chapter 4, Paul famously says:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:4–7)

The key for the Christian is the persistent discipline of remembering our loving Creator and seeking His guidance above all else. Paul exemplifies courageous faith in the face of danger, writing: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

So yes, disappointments have to be. But don’t forget where your help comes from in your times of need.

Digging Deeper: Letter 310

Lee Wilson on October 8, 2025

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)

LETTER 310

Rayner Unwin was an English publisher, serving as the chairman of the publishing company George Allen & Unwin, founded by his father, Sir Stanley Unwin.

In 1936, the company was considering a manuscript written for a youthful audience. The senior Unwin believed in allowing children to read manuscripts before agreeing to publish them, as a way to gauge their potential for success. In this instance, he decided that his 10-year-old son Rayner was the man for the job and asked him to read it.

This manuscript in particular was from an unknown author, but Rayner immediately fell in love with it. In his written review to his father, Rayner highlighted the mythical landscape built by the author—featuring goblins, dragons, and wizards—saying, “With the help of maps, this book needs no illustrations and should appeal to all children aged 5 to 9.”

So, with the encouragement of his son, Stanley published the book, titled The Hobbit, which became a success and brought author J. R. R. Tolkien his first major recognition. Tolkien and the younger Unwin went on to develop a unique friendship, with Rayner eventually becoming a primary source of feedback for Tolkien’s later series, The Lord of the Rings.

Years later, Rayner, now the chairman of the company, had a daughter named Camilla who came home with an interesting school assignment. She ended up writing a letter to her father’s friend, Tolkien, seeking an answer to the question: “What is the purpose of life?”

A weighty question for anyone to answer, Tolkien took his time to respond to young Camilla but ultimately produced a beautifully written letter, known as “Letter 310” in the published Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, which highlights his correspondence with various people over the years. In that response, Tolkien posed deeply rich philosophical ideas around God and expressed his belief that true purpose can only exist through faith in Him.

Tolkien then wrote:
“So it may be said that the chief purpose of life, for any one of us, is to increase, according to our capacity, our knowledge of God by all means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.”

We discussed thankfulness on different levels this past Sunday, and according to the famed author, our purpose for living is to be in constant praise and worship of our Creator, devoting everything we have to showing praise and thanks. What a beautifully humbling sentiment!

We each have much to be thankful for, so let us show it in praise to the only One worthy of it—making it our chief purpose today.

Digging Deeper: Intentional Thanks

Lee Wilson on October 7, 2025

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)

INTENTIONAL THANKS

You might not know it from the persistent Southern heat, but fall is upon us—college football, pumpkin-spiced everything, chili—all the things that come with it. It also means Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Thanksgiving is a day in modern times when Americans come together to celebrate the majesty of football and turkey, two things you probably immediately thought of when considering the holiday. It also gives us an opportunity to settle down and intentionally reposition our thoughts to be grateful for the blessings we have, and to reflect on them with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has its roots in colonial feasts in Plymouth, and it is mentioned by George Washington, yet it did not become an official U.S. holiday until 1863, in the throes of the Civil War.

In addition to the emotional and political tumult of the war, it robbed our nation of over 620,000 souls. Those lives were lost on battlefields all over our country, including some just down the road from our church at Kennesaw Mountain.

President Abraham Lincoln was known for his oratory prowess and ability to remain thoughtful and humble even amidst the most dire of circumstances. It was Lincoln, at the urging of editor and author Sarah Josepha Hale, who sought to make the day a permanent mainstay for the country. He did so hoping to encourage a measure of unity in a war-torn nation ravaged by battle.

In the middle of a relentlessly bloody war, our 16th president believed that intentional thankfulness could be a unifying force.

This past Sunday, we discussed Philippians and focused on different aspects of thankfulness. The letter was written by the apostle Paul, a man who—like Lincoln—was intimately familiar with pain and suffering. In fact, the letter was written while he was in a Roman jail cell.

The apostle expresses thanks to the people of Philippi amidst his suffering, setting a clear example for us to follow. If our focus is on Jesus Christ and we have a gracious heart, then we can be nothing short of thankful for every breath that fills our lungs.

Paul goes on to say in verses 12–13:
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”

In the midst of great trial, Paul helps us refocus on what matters most—doing all we do for Christ, even when imprisoned. So, whether today you face joyous sunshine or a perilous storm, do so with a grateful heart, remembering that all we do is for Christ!

Digging Deeper: Gratefully Looking Ahead

Lee Wilson on October 6, 2025

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)

GRATEFULLY LOOKING AHEAD

Truly great athletes often have an aspirational drive that is baffling to regular people. People like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Kobe Bryant all had an insatiable drive to be the best.

In addition to winning countless games and championships, players like this also eventually get selected to the Hall of Fame in their respective sports. I used to love watching the videos of former NFL Hall of Fame CEO David Baker when he would “knock on the door” of former players over Super Bowl weekend. That knock would set off an eruption of joy from those inside as they knew good news was coming.

Baker would address the players in an interesting way—by thanking them not only for all they had done for the game but also for all they were going to do—before officially welcoming them to the Hall of Fame. I always liked the idea behind this: while your achievements up to this point led you here, there is still work to be done now that you are here.

This past Sunday, we got to celebrate as a church family our renovations. The upgrades to the Compass building and the new additions are an answered prayer for many and provide us as a church family with an incredible opportunity to grow NorthStar’s impact and reach in the community.

It would, of course, be appropriate to overflow with gratitude and joy, marveling at what God has done for us! Famed pastor and theologian Charles Spurgeon once put it like this:

“Has the Lord been gracious to you and inclined His ear to the voice of your prayer? Then thank Him as long as you live. Let the ripe fruit fall upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Do not fail to sing in praise of Him who has answered your prayer and has given you the desire of your heart.”

So yes, we should be glad! But in the spirit of David Baker, we have reached a wonderful moment—with more work yet to do. So, absorb this welcome-home party and be grateful for how far the Lord has brought us and all He has accomplished. But as you think and pray about this new physical footprint, be hopeful and intentional about asking the Lord to increase and grow His spiritual footprint in our community!

Digging Deeper – We Need Each Other

David Griffith on October 3, 2025

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. 22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) 27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30 This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

Acts 11:19-30

WE NEED EACH OTHER

God did not intend for us to do life alone. That is why He sent His Son as our example. That is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give us power from on high (Acts 1:8). That is why the Holy Spirit formed us into congregations called churches and encouraged us to meet together often (Hebrews 10:25). That is why the Spirit assigned various gifts to each of us, so that no one person would be responsible for carrying the entire load of the church. We are one body with many parts, all working together to bring about God’s purpose of making Him known to a lost and dying world.

In this passage, we see the establishment of a new and dynamic church that was instrumental in sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, giving to the needs of others, and eventually becoming the launching pad for the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. All of this was possible because the church members learned to—and were willing to—work together in partnership.

Evangelists (ordinary people who loved Jesus) spread the gospel. The Jerusalem church noticed and sent help through Barnabas, who in turn brought Paul to instill vision and passion in the church. Then Agabus delivered a word from the Lord about needs that could be met by a sister church. God’s plan does not work as a solo act—it works when everyone uses their spiritual gifts as instruments, playing in harmony with one another, writing songs of praise on the hearts of the lost. God intended us to be a choir, bringing forth worship and service before the throne of grace in love. Alone, we may be effective for a moment, but not for the marathon called life.

If you are a member of NSC and already playing your instrument in the worship band of the saints—bless you! Play on! If you have not yet begun to play (serve) at NorthStar, then discover which “instrument” we are missing (we’ve been waiting for you—we sound a little “tinny” without you) and plug in. You will be welcomed with open arms. I know there is much need in children’s ministry. Go make a kid’s day!

The church is born out of persecution, as it meets the needs around us. It takes people, in a place, with the proper perspective of purpose, working in partnership to accomplish God’s plan of glorifying His Son. We do this by Loving God, Loving People, and Living Sent!

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 – Are You Living on Mission?

David Griffith on October 2, 2025

Acts 11:19-30

ARE YOU LIVING ON MISSION?

PURPOSE! Everyone is searching for their purpose in life. What does God want me to do with my life? What is my purpose?

May I propose a perspective? God only has one purpose for all His children: to know Him and to make Him known. That’s it! Simple, though not always easy. With the demands of life, it can feel complicated, but the truth is clear: grow in your knowledge of God every day, and share Him with those He places in your path.

The believers who made up the church (see Tuesday’s devotional) understood this. They probably had different professions and family dynamics, but they all shared the same purpose: to know Jesus intimately and to make Him known—whether to unbelievers or to those who needed to know Him better.

When we live with clarity of purpose, it attracts both the Spirit and the body of Christ to come alongside us. That’s exactly what happened in Antioch:

“The Lord was with them” (v. 21).
“The news reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch” (v. 22).

The Spirit was present, the church rallied, and Barnabas brought Paul to help. The result? Antioch became one of the most effective congregations of the first century. They strengthened the church in Jerusalem, sent Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys, and later supported both as they went out separately. Antioch thrived because its people knew their purpose.

Have you been wrestling with God’s purpose for your life? Struggle no more! Seasons change. Circumstances shift. But the overarching call remains the same: Know God, and make Him known.

Every decision in life can be viewed through this lens:

Marriage: Will this relationship deepen my walk with Jesus? Will we make Him known together?
Career: Will this job help me know Christ more and create opportunities to share Him?
Education: Will this choice of college or training strengthen my faith and platform for ministry?

Too often, we make decisions based on temporal knowledge rather than eternal outcomes:

“This job offers more money and perks—surely it must be God’s will! Yes, it means constant travel and less time with family, but think of the benefits…”
“He treats me so well. He’s not a believer yet, but maybe one day…”
“All my friends are going to this university—I’ll find a ministry there… eventually.”

God’s call remains steady: PURPOSE—Know Him and make Him known! Simple.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the last essential element: Partnership.

Digging Deeper – The Church is a Place of Refuge

David Griffith on October 1, 2025

Acts 11:19-30

THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF REFUGE

We all know that the church is not a building, but is made up of the body of believers who may gather in that building. I am not even sure whether the church at Antioch had a physical building or whether it met house to house in small groups. What I do know is that in this passage, Luke calls it “the church at Antioch” (v. 26).

What was the significance of the church at Antioch?

It was shelter from the storms of life—“a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord” (v. 21).
It was a place to be encouraged to keep Jesus the main thing (v. 23).
It was a place to be taught and to grow as disciples (v. 26).
It was a place to gain an identity that set them apart from the world (v. 26b).
It was a place to learn to give and to meet the needs of others (vv. 29–30).

An “Antioch-style” church is one that becomes a place of refuge when we, and those around us, are battered by the tempests of life. NorthStar Church is used by our community more than 250 times a year for things that have nothing to do with “church.” NorthStar exists to be an answer to people’s problems and needs. We are a refuge in the storms of everyday life.

But let’s remember what the church is—and what it is not. The church is the people. It is you and it is me! It is not just the leadership or staff—it is the congregation who become the refuge.

When we see a couple in our neighborhood struggling with a difficult trial, it is up to us to come alongside them first, and then involve other, more gifted members of the body if necessary to help them secure their boat during the storm. When the church building is made available to the community, we point them to Jesus not only through the facility itself but also through the loving hearts that serve them during their events.

Why? Because the storms of life will come. And when they do, people will remember who stood by them during calm seas. Our hope is that they will turn to our “port” for help and safety when that time arrives. Then, we can continue to serve them in the very purpose for which we were created (see #1–5 above).

The new improvements to our campus are almost complete. On October 5, we will be able to “launch” our newer, more seaworthy vessel into the sea of humanity that surrounds us here in NW Atlanta. It will be ALL HANDS ON DECK as we set sail on our mission of mercy to a lost and dying world. May we man our positions with joy and resolve to do all that God has created us to do (see Ephesians 2:10).

Tomorrow we will look at the 4th necessary element: Perspective.

Digging Deeper – Everyone Has a Role

David Griffith on September 30, 2025

Acts 11:19-30

EVERYONE HAS A ROLE

In this passage, we are introduced to the “characters” in the story of the birth of the church at Antioch. They include:

Christians who were scattered and preached Jesus
Jews and Greeks who received the Lord as a result of that preaching
The church in Jerusalem
Barnabas
A considerable number of new believers
Saul (Paul)
Prophets (specifically Agabus)
The brethren living in Judea

Now that we know the cast, what role did each play in establishing the church?

First, it takes evangelists to share the truth about our Savior! Apart from those saints who are willing to share the love of Christ with a lost and hurting world, there would be no church; there would be no NorthStar.

Second, it takes those who receive the good news and become disciples of Jesus Christ. The word “disciple” in Greek means student. In verse 29, the word “believers” is also translated “disciples” in other versions. These disciples—students of the Word—sent a gift back to Judea.

Third, an established church needs a Barnabas, doesn’t it? Someone who is a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. Someone who can preach and teach, but who also has the wisdom to see what the church needs beyond his own strengths. A servant-leader marked by discernment.

Fourth, the modern-day “Antioch” church needs a Paul. A zealot. A visionary who is undeterred by obstacles, fully committed to the mission God has entrusted to them.

Fifth, the church needs prophets—those who hear from the Lord and help move the body into action on behalf of the church and the world.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of the gifts in the church, but it is a pretty effective one for a Christ-honoring body. So, the question is: Who are you?

Are you an evangelist, passionate about making Jesus known? Amen!
Are you new in your faith, sitting at His feet as a disciple, eager to learn your role in His kingdom? Amen!
Are you a Barnabas, a servant-leader who encourages and strengthens others? Amen!
Are you a Paul, brimming with vision and drive to expand the church’s influence? Amen!
Are you an Agabus, attuned to the needs of the church and calling others to action? Amen!

The primary truth is this: God uses everyone in the church to grow the church. Each of us has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s purpose—to know Him, and to make Him known.

Read 1 Corinthians 12 in its entirety to discern your spiritual gift. You’ll recognize it as the gift that comes most naturally to you. Then, look for ways to exercise that gift within the body of Christ—within NorthStar. The church cannot operate effectively without you!

Tomorrow we will look at the third necessary element: Place.