Digging Deeper – A Place of Healing

Avatar photo Courtney Miller on August 15, 2024

 

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 

John 13:12-15 (NLT)


A PLACE OF HEALING

 

Some of my most spiritually significant healing and growth has come from small groups. Back when my husband and I first started at NorthStar, we were in the throes of infertility. We had been praying and waiting for three years to have a child. It was by far one of the most difficult seasons of life I have walked through. Up to that point, we were walking the journey of infertility alone. We did not have any friends in our circle who understood.

One of the first things we did when moving to NorthStar was to find a small group. At our previous church, we had found our greatest and deepest friendships through small groups. We knew it was important. The Lord was so gracious to us as He led us to a very specific group that felt handpicked for us. In the group we joined, every couple was currently experiencing some form of infertility. Even our group leaders had gone through it on their journey to children. We felt so surrounded and understood. Throughout the months of being in that group, I moved from a hardened, strained heart to one that was prepared to wait in peace for what the Lord had in store. Walking through life together, learning from others’ experiences, mourning with each other, and dreaming with each other—these are all things we found in our small group.

In small groups, we share each other’s burdens, as my husband and I did. We can connect on a more meaningful level. We encourage one another and pray with one another. Sharing our burdens and allowing others to bear them with us is one of the many ways that the Church grows. It draws us closer to each other by growing our love for each other, just as Jesus called us to do in John 13. We were created to be interdependent. We see this from the very beginning in Genesis when God created Adam; it was very good, but it was not good that he was alone. We were not made to hold our burdens alone. We were made to be with others. This is why we see Jesus throughout the Gospels with an inner circle. He needed others to share His burdens, just as we do, and He modeled it for us perfectly.

 

Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

Live the Life

Kevin Burrell on August 14, 2024

 

Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.

2 Timothy 4:2

 

LIVE THE LIFE

 

The 2024 Summer Olympics just wrapped up this past weekend. After a damp start during the opening ceremonies, the Paris Olympic games recovered nicely and were an incredible hit among worldwide viewers. For most spectators, the Olympics is a display of the highest level of athletic skill and competition. For many Christian athletes, they also provide an opportunity to express their faith to each other and to the world. One such athlete is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who has made her Christian testimony widely known through numerous interviews and in her book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith.

“I credit all that I do to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He’s given me a gift, a drive, and a platform to glorify Him, so whenever I step on the track, I pray that God will allow me to be the vessel through which He is glorified, no matter the result. It’s about how I conduct myself and how I carry myself, not just how I perform. There is freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens, the Lord is going to get the praise through me. That’s why I do what I do.”

Sydney gets it! She clearly understands her “Why.” We get one shot in our life on earth to live in a way that brings honor and glory to Jesus Christ. As Rick Warren famously said, “It’s not about you!”

If you’re a coach, then you’re a minister in disguise as a coach. If you’re a scout, then you’re a minister in disguise as a scout. If you’re an athlete, then you’re a minister in disguise as an athlete. Whatever you do, whatever profession you work in, never forget: you’re a minister in disguise as a (fill in your blank) _________!

Paul admonished Timothy, and he is admonishing you and me as well: “Preach the word! Be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.”

Live the life! Let your life shine for Christ. But even more importantly, step up, speak up, and tell your story about how Jesus intersected your life for eternity. Know your “Why.”

Remember:

“You’re a minister in disguise as a ________!”

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 43 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 – A Respite for the Soul

Avatar photo Courtney Miller on August 14, 2024

 

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Psalm 133 (ESV)


A RESPITE FOR THE SOUL

 

When we dwell with others, we find rest. God created us to be with others. He created us to seek relationships, which recharge our souls. In Mark 6:30-31, Jesus takes the disciples to a quiet place to rest together, away from the many people coming and going. He seeks a quiet place with His small circle, needing to recharge, and this is how He does it—a place away from the hustle of life.

Small groups provide us the opportunity to surrender our busy week, focusing on Scripture and faith with like-minded friends. When we are with our friends, we can surrender our need for control or the need to perform. We can relax, knowing that we are loved and accepted by those who surround us, as we walk through life together, supporting one another. We can share our burdens, pains, and frustrations. We can truly rest together as we grow deeper in our understanding of grace and truth.

 

Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

Digging Deeper – Fellowship

Avatar photo Courtney Miller on August 13, 2024

 

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity

Acts 2:46 (NLT)


FELLOWSHIP

 

Fellowship is defined as a friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests. In other definitions, it is described as an association with those who share one’s activities, feelings, or experiences. The early church gathered in fellowship often, eating together in their homes—one of the most meaningful ways of getting to know someone.

This idea of being together in our homes is very significant. Conversation and friendship outside of quality time together can only maintain a surface level. We can never truly know each other from quick ten-minute conversations once a week. When we get together regularly for longer periods with focused conversation, we get to know each other on a deeper level. We learn how to encourage each other, challenge each other, pray for each other, and hold each other accountable.

Fellowship, in the context of small groups, builds stronger connections with each other as well as deeper connections with God.

In college, I went on a summer-long mission to Miami with other college students from around the Southeast. I did not know anyone there. One of the first things the leaders did was assign us to small groups that would meet weekly to study Scripture, discuss a book we were all reading, and debrief our week. In the beginning, everyone was a little timid about speaking up and truly opening up with each other, but that quickly changed. As we continued to meet as a group, we were able to dig deeply into each other’s lives. We shared very personal stories and experiences, growing together in our understanding of the Gospel. By the end of the trip, while I had made friendships and connections with everyone there, it was my small group of girls with whom I remained in touch. We had formed a deeper connection and bond, creating fellowship with each other through our shared faith in a small group.

 

Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

Digging Deeper – Circles and Rows

Avatar photo Courtney Miller on August 12, 2024

 

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.

Matthew 5:1-2 (NLT)


CIRCLES AND ROWS

 

As Sunday morning rolls around each week, we wake up, head to church, greet our friends, and sit in a row to receive the Word of God from our pastor. Being part of a church family is an important aspect of our lives as believers. We hear the Word of God every Sunday, enabling us to start the week with “cups” full to overflowing as we go out and live as sent people in the world around us. Rows are important. Our pastor has spent time in prayer and study to deliver a message that the Lord has laid on his heart for our congregation to hear.

Circles are important too. As we see in Matthew 5 and throughout the Gospels, Jesus had a circle around him wherever he went. While Jesus preached to many crowds, he always had his circle of disciples with him. Why are circles so important? They allow us to encourage each other, challenge each other, learn from each other, and even correct each other—all for God’s glory.

In circles, we encounter other people’s perspectives and life experiences. We can gain new insights and truths from the Scriptures and faith that God reveals in different ways to each of us. We can hold each other accountable and encourage one another. We are not meant to learn the Word of God alone; we are meant to grow in our knowledge of Christ together. Is our alone time in communion with the Lord important? Yes! But we must also spend time growing in Christ together, just as Jesus modeled for us.

Reflection: This morning, reflect on who has impacted your life for Christ by coming alongside you and living with you in a circle—someone who truly knows you, not just sits next to you in a row. What would your life look like without them? If you can’t think of anyone, I highly encourage you to consider joining a small group. Being a believer in life alone is not easy; we need like-minded others to walk beside us through our ups and downs so that we may learn and grow together.

 

Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

Digging Deeper – Diversity and Unity

Avatar photo Steve Roach on August 9, 2024

 

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)

 

DIVERSITY AND UNITY

 

In Romans 12:6-8, Paul describes the church as being highly diverse in talents and gifts yet unified in purpose and Spirit. We are all different. We have different strengths. At the same time, there is unity. We all work together to bring glory to Christ and make His gospel known to others. If you aren’t good at public speaking or playing in a worship band, this just means that your gifts lie elsewhere. Your value is the same as anyone else in the body of Christ. I need your gift, and you need mine to become the person God desires. No one else in the world has your exact DNA. God uniquely created you to be unlike anyone else. He wants you to contribute out of your uniqueness and giftedness.

Think about it this way. When you stand in your kitchen, you’re surrounded by appliances. A refrigerator, an oven, a stove, a microwave, a toaster, a coffee maker, and others. The manufacturer uniquely designed all these appliances to fulfill a designated purpose. The refrigerator will not heat our food, the oven won’t wash the dishes, and the toaster can’t make the coffee in the morning. That’s not what they were made to do. And if these appliances fail to accomplish the task they were designed to accomplish, they have failed. Each of these appliances are designed with different functions but with one purpose – to help you eat. If people can do that with machines—design them to fulfill a designated purpose—God can surely craft people for unique gifts and strengths that will bring Him glory.

When studying Romans 12’s list of gifts, you might identify with one or two as your own. Prophets are often bold and articulate as they share Biblical truth. Servers are faithful and loyal. Teachers are clear thinkers. Encouragers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous and trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers. Those who show mercy are caring people who are happy to give their time to others. This list of gifts represents what gifts are and is not meant to be a complete list. Paul’s point is that our gifts, whatever they may be, should be used and not wasted!

How do you know what your gifts are? Simply start serving in areas where you have a passion and desire. Eventually, your spiritual gift(s) will rise to the surface and become evident to those you serve. And, you will begin to see God use you to bolster the faith of other believers. 

 

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 – Saved to Serve

Avatar photo Steve Roach on August 8, 2024

 

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.”

Romans 12:4-6 (NLT)

 

SAVED TO SERVE

 

In Sunday’s message, Mike discussed how God has placed us in the body of Christ at NorthStar to serve one another. Today and tomorrow we will examine what God’s Word tells us about serving and using our Spiritual gifts.

Let’s begin by looking at Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” What is implied here by the writer? When we spend time together with other believers, we sharpen one another. We become more loving as we interact with and serve each other. We are better together! Left to ourselves, we will tend to serve ourselves and our own interests. Even Mother Teresa couldn’t do it alone.  She had her team, the Missionaries of Charity, to work alongside her. Even Jesus called twelve disciples to assist Him in serving the physical and spiritual needs of the people. If they needed others to accomplish their purpose, so do we!

Some of us think that we don’t have anything to offer or aren’t good at anything when it comes to helping at the church. Nothing could be further from the truth if you have the Holy Spirit residing in you!  Once you place your faith in Jesus, you are uniquely equipped with a spiritual gift. The Holy Spirit living in you gives you a special ability to do certain tasks well within the body of Christ, the church. On a scale of 1-10, God made you a “10” at something! If you don’t serve, your contribution to the body of Christ will be missed!

Sir Michael Costa was a great orchestral Conductor of the 19th Century. One day, he was conducting a rehearsal in which a great choir joined the orchestra. Midway through the session, the piccolo player stopped playing. After all, it seemed innocent enough. Who would miss the tiny piccolo amidst the great mass of instruments blazing away? Suddenly, Sir Michael stopped the entire orchestra and choir. “Stop! Stop! Where’s the piccolo? What’s happened to the piccolo?” We may sometimes feel like that piccolo player – that we don’t have much to offer, that if we stopped our ministry, no one would notice anyway. Yet the Great Conductor notices and needs us to complete his orchestral masterpiece! If you’re not already signed up to serve as a volunteer at NorthStar, go on our website and do that right now – CLICK HERE.

 

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.

How are You Planning Your Life?

Kevin Burrell on August 7, 2024

 

“I have brought You glory here on earth by completing the work that You gave me to do.” 

John 17:4

 

HOW ARE YOU PLANNING YOUR LIFE?

 

People plan for everything in life. They plan for weddings, funerals, vacations, trips, retirement, game opponents, exams, etc. However, one area that most people do not plan for is how they want to live their life. They do not live their life with the end in mind. Throughout the years, I’ve observed that talking about death makes people very uncomfortable.

Case in point: many years ago, I was officiating a funeral. I watched many in attendance squirm during the funeral service while I was sharing about the brevity of life. We “pay our respects” and “offer our condolences,” but rarely do we take personal inventory of our spiritual life and where we’ll spend eternity when we die. For the Christian, the “End” is not death but only the beginning. The “End” is the culmination of a lifetime pursuit of intimacy with God. Death simply becomes the conduit into the presence of Almighty God. Living with that “End” in mind, the Christian should daily exercise faith in an unseen, almighty, all-powerful, awesome God.

In my case, I asked myself decades ago, “What do I want my life to look like when I take my final breath on this earth?” “What ripple effect do I want my life to leave on this earth?” Not just as a husband, father, friend, or MLB baseball scout, but what do I want to be true of me as a disciple-making follower of Jesus Christ? To accomplish this, I must have a focused, detailed plan. As a disciple of Christ, I want to know at the end of my life that I demonstrated more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. I want to know that I have belonged, magnified, served, grown, managed, shared, and multiplied my life. I want to know that my life will make an eternal impact that will far outlive me.

Listen closely: If you want to “live your life with the end in mind,” you must develop a plan to help you become the person God wants you to be. It helps you identify what you want to be true of your life—and then work the action steps in your plan to ensure you grow and develop each area of your life. Truthfully, very few people make it a priority to live their life this way. Instead of developing a life plan to hit their target, most people “wing it” or get distracted by the cares of the world that come their way.

Don’t miss the following truth: “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” I suggest that you plan your life—and then live out your plan. Never forget, if you fail to plan, then plan to fail. If you need help to formulate a plan, I can help you; simply ask. After all, if you are a Christian, your life belongs to Christ, and He should be the One you’re living for every day.

As you go about your everyday life, be thankful that God has revealed in Scripture that the day is coming when Jesus Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords.

There is an appointed time when you will die. Therefore, live your life with the end in mind.

 

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 43 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 – Created to Know God

Avatar photo Steve Roach on August 7, 2024

 

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”

John 17:3 (NLT)

 

CREATED TO KNOW GOD

 

Augustine, an ancient Christian theologian, said this: “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” God designed us so that we would want to know Him—and then He guaranteed we wouldn’t be happy unless He Himself fills the emptiness within. This brings us face-to-face with the famous statement that a “God-shaped vacuum” exists inside each person. We can turn to God, or we can fill the vacuum with idols of our own making. Something in us drives us to seek ultimate meaning. That “something” is put there by God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV) says God “has put eternity into man’s heart.”

The key to knowing God is trusting in Jesus, the eternal Son of God. Jesus is “God incarnate,” that is, God clothed with human flesh. When Jesus walked on the earth, He was the God-man, fully God and fully man simultaneously. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, died a sacrificial death for our sins, and was raised to life, proving that He had accomplished His mission to reconcile us to God.

John 17:3 (NLT) says, “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NLT) says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” Do you know Him, not just about Him? There’s a huge difference!

If you were a big fan of a popular music artist like Taylor Swift, and I asked you where she grew up, the names of her albums, who she is dating, and what kind of pets she has, you could probably answer those questions correctly. You would demonstrate that you know all about her. You might have even attended her concerts and sang along with her so loud that you lost your voice. But here’s a deeper question: Do you know her personally? Does she know you personally? What might happen if you showed up at one of her houses, rang the front gate buzzer, and said your name and that you were there to spend time with Taylor? Her security team would tell you that she doesn’t know you. They would escort you off the property and warn you that if you showed up again, they would have you arrested for trespassing. There’s a huge difference between knowing ABOUT Taylor Swift and KNOWING Taylor Swift.

Here’s the deal. We can know all about God, sing about God, score a 100 on a Bible quiz, attend church regularly, go on a mission trip, walk an aisle, raise a hand, get baptized, and join a church, but NONE of that means that you KNOW God personally. You were created not just to know about God but to KNOW GOD! And knowing God happens when we turn from our sinful self and turn to Jesus in faith to forgive us and make us a new creation. Have you come to know God through a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ? If not, trust Him today!

 

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 – Created for God

Avatar photo Steve Roach on August 6, 2024

 

“For by him (Christ) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

 

CREATED FOR GOD

 

Look at the last two words of Colossians 1:16, “for Him.” You are created for God. God designed us for His purposes. Why were all things created for Jesus? Did he need another waterfall, an extra million stars, or a thundering herd of buffalo storming across an empty continent? No, the purpose of Creation is to point to Jesus. All of it, in its created glory, is a testimony to the power, the wonder, and the incredible beauty of our Savior.

Pastor and Theologian John Piper said, “Our salvation is for God’s sake. He created us to display his glory.” First Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) says: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Our life purpose is not ultimately for us but for God. The problem is that we are all fundamentally bent toward seeking our glory. But here’s the problem: we should seek the glory of the One who is most glorious, in whom is the most joy and who is most worthy, and we are not Him. We are a far cry from Him. The Bible makes it clear that we should do all things to the glory of God because HE is all of these things and more. The bottom line for today is that we should live to make much of God and not ourselves.

During the 1920s, a running back for Notre Dame kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of his highlights and achievements on the football field. He was particularly obnoxious about how great a football player he was and his ability to get free and score. One Monday morning, after a particularly good game, he bragged about how great he was. During the first play of practice, the team lined up to run a play. When the ball was snapped, the offensive line, which typically blocked for him, stood aside and let the defense in. The defense buried him for a loss. His blockers shouted, “They can’t do that! Show them your clippings!” That self-centered player may be why Notre Dame football players don’t have names on the back of their jerseys to this day. The idea is that no player plays for himself but rather for the good and success of the team. It’s not about the player’s name on the back of the jersey but the team’s name on the front.

In the same way, God did not create us to lead self-centered lives that are all about us. That is not why He created us. He created us to make much of His name and to fulfill His purposes.

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.