NorthStar Church Blog

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

WORDS MATTER

Do you remember this children’s rhyme? “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  A quick Google search dates its origin back to the 1800’s. That is a long time for something not true to still be so easy to roll off the tongue! Hopefully, we all agree that words can indeed hurt us. Even if we are not personally experiencing it, we see it all around us every day.

Anger, strife, anxiety, apathy, aggression, and even physical attacks are the common themes crossing our news feeds today. You can find verbal wars on social media, often between people who do not even know each other. It is an interesting time to be alive for sure. Gentleness is rarely the way we see people engaging and interacting these days.

Recently, while I was waiting in line to check out at a local store, a baby started to cry loudly. The mom was desperately trying to console the child and get them to quiet down, but nothing was working. Then out of nowhere an older man across the store yells, “Good thing we are not on an airplane!”  There was an audible gasp from those of us close by. It was such a cringeworthy moment that no one moved. My heart ached for this young mom who was already stressed and now embarrassed by the outburst of a stranger. His words, most assuredly, hurt her.

Proverbs 15:1 & 4 (NLT) says,

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

One of the sermons points this week was “Will my response benefit or hurt the other person?” Proverbs teaches us that gentle responses deflect anger and are a tree of life. On the other hand, it tells us that harsh words make tempers flare, and a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. We often talk about arguments or difficult discussions this way at NorthStar: you can enter a heated discussion like gasoline and add to the flames, or you can be like water and douse them. It is a choice.

Today, let us remember that words do matter and ask God to help us bring life, confidence, and encouragement to those He allows us to engage with.

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

Have you ever taken a personality test, like the DISC profile, Strengthsfinder or the Enneagram? Relatively speaking, they all come to the same descriptions for my personality – competitive, leader, strategic, assertive, decisive, and fear of being vulnerable are the most frequent results. The word gentle does not show up! Regardless of what these profiles express about me (or you), it is not an excuse to not be gentle. In Colossians 3:12 it says to “…clothe yourselves” with gentleness. The Message version says “…dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you.”  This idea of clothing is about an outward expression no matter our temperaments or natural feelings on a matter. What it does not mean is to be passive or apathetic; we can be firm but gracious. The greatest example we have of this is Jesus.  

In John 8 we find Jesus seated and teaching in the Temple. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman to the center of the crowd. She was an adulterer, and they ask Jesus what He would say, reminding Him that the law requires she be stoned. They are trying to trap Him and have more evidence that He is not who He says He is. Jesus stoops down and starts writing in the sand with His finger as the scribes and Pharisees keep questioning Him. Then Jesus stands up and says to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” He stoops back down again and continues writing in the sand. Scripture says one by one the men all leave, oldest to youngest, and just the woman and Jesus remain. Jesus stands up again and says, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Note the posture of Jesus throughout this story. When the scribes and Pharisees address Him regarding the law, He does not respond but stoops down to write in the sand. He stands up, addresses them and then stoops back down, while they decide to leave. When He addresses the woman, he stands up again. Every time Jesus speaks it is with all authority, firm and direct. Then He quietly allows them to respond. It is a gentle, loving way giving them the dignity to acknowledge their sin – the scribes, the Pharisees, and the adulterous woman.

If you find yourself in tough situations today, I pray that you ask God to give you the boldness to be firm and the power to be gentle like Jesus.

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Growing up, my siblings, cousins and I were up early during the summer months helping our grandparents in the garden. On most days, the sun had barely risen, and this girl enjoyed her sleep! My grandfather was the one to wake us up, and I was the most rebellious. He often got sarcasm and anger instead of respect from me. The work was tiring and dirty and, frankly, none of us wanted to spend our summers this way. As you can imagine we had little tolerance for each other and there were lots of arguments and fighting among us. My grandmother would gently remind us that if we did not keep working, we would be in the fields later and the day would just get hotter. Not to mention there would be no fruit and vegetables to eat. Eventually we would all settle down and get to work.

These days were far from gentle, but they taught me great lessons. As an adult I realize that the hard workdays were preparing the soil to produce a harvest. Food would not just appear on the dinner table, if we did not work the fields and plant the seeds.

We can often think of the Fruit of the Spirit, which includes gentleness, in a comparable manner to gardening.  We work, prepare the soil, plant seeds, and then harvest it when it is ripe. Then we store everything up and pull it out when we want or need it. The problem with this thinking is that it all depends on us.

Galatians 5 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the one who produces the fruit within us. As we live by the Spirit and crucify the sinful desires of our flesh, the Holy Spirit is creating the fruit within us. The possibility to respond with gentleness is always readily available. It is the very character of God residing within us and empowering us to respond as He would. The choice is ours to yield our lives to it and reflect the nature of Christ to the world.

Today I pray that you know gentleness dwells within you and that it would be the first response others experience as they interact with you.

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

He (Jesus) humbled himself …and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8 (NLT)

SACRIFICING FOR OTHERS

A young woman was arrested for breaking the law. She knew she’d been caught red-handed and she couldn’t deny her guilt. Later, she stood in front of the judge’s bench and admitted what she had done. The man wearing the robe was a kind man, but he was also a just judge, and knew he couldn’t let her off the hook. She had broken the law. So he gave her the penalty prescribed by the law, which meant the girl was required to pay a steep fine – one that she couldn’t afford – or else end up in jail.

But, then the man did an amazing thing. He stood up, took off his judge’s robe, walked around to the front of the bench where the girl was standing, pulled out his wallet, and lovingly looked in her eyes as he handed her all the money she needed to pay her fine.

Why did he do this? Because the woman was his own daughter! Being a good judge, he had to honor the law and impose the penalty. But being a loving father, he was willing to leave His seat as judge and come to her side, to pay the price on her behalf. Jesus humbled Himself by leaving Heaven and coming by our side to pay the penalty for our sins that we couldn’t pay.

Are you willing to humbly give up your position, pride, or possessions to help others?

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.

He (Jesus) humbled himself in obedience to God…

Philippians 2:8 (NLT)

OBEYING GOD

When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he ran hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch), he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon, and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”

“But I’m starved,” the governor said.

“Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that he would throw a little weight around this time. “Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state.”

“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

Obeying God when we want our way requires humility. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus searched for another way to accomplish our redemption than Him going on the cross. But, after anguish and prayer, in humility, He obeyed God and went to the cross to secure our salvation.

In what area of your life do you need to humble yourself and obey God 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.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form…

Philippians 2:6-7 (NLT)

REFUSING PRIVILEGES

Bible commentator and theologian Warren Wiersbe explains that Jesus did not consider His equality with God as “something selfishly to be held on to.” Jesus did not think of Himself; He thought of others. His outlook (or attitude) was that of unselfish concern for others. This is “the mind of Christ,” an attitude that says, “I cannot keep my privileges for myself, I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.”

A reporter was interviewing a successful job counselor who had placed hundreds of workers in their vocations quite happily. When asked the secret of his success, the man replied, “If you want to find out what a worker is really like, don’t give him responsibilities—give him privileges. Most people can handle responsibilities if you pay them enough, but it takes a real leader to handle privileges. A leader will use his privileges to help others and build the organization; a lesser man will use privileges to promote himself.”

Jesus used His heavenly privileges for the sake of others—for our sake. Are you willing to humbly lay down your privileges, rights, and comfort for the sake of others? That is the attitude that Jesus had. That is the attitude that He wants His followers to have.

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.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Philippians 2:4 (NLT)

HELPING OTHERS WIN

On December 2, 2012, Spanish athlete Iván Fernández Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. He was running second, some distance behind race leader, Abel Mutai – bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics. As they entered the finishing straight, he saw the Kenyan runner – the certain winner of the race – mistakenly pull up about 10 meters before the finish, thinking he had already crossed the line. Fernández Anaya quickly caught up with him, but instead of exploiting Mutai’s mistake to speed past and claim an unlikely victory, he stayed behind and, using gestures, guided the Kenyan to the line and let him cross first.

“I didn’t deserve to win it,” says 24-year-old Fernández Anaya. “I did what I had to do. He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn’t have closed if he hadn’t made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn’t going to pass him.”

This is a great picture of what it looks like to look out for the interests of others! Humility is resisting the urge to always finish first. Rather, it is helping others win their race even when they make mistakes. Who can you help win their race 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.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 (NLT)

LIFTING OTHERS UP

What is humility? Is humility thinking less of ourselves than we actually are? Is it thinking that we are worthless, invaluable, and untalented? Not at all. The well-known preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards observed,

“True humility is not putting ourselves down but rather lifting up others. If we concentrate on lifting up others, putting down ourselves will take care of itself. As we go through life exalting Christ and others, then genuine humility will be inevitable.”

You may want to read that quote again and let it soak into your heart. True humility is seeking to honor others and to make much of them. To maintain humility, instead of saying, “Woe is me,” make a habit of lifting others up. Jesus is the best example of humility there ever was. Jesus demonstrated humility, not by wrongly assessing His worth, but rather by thinking of our needs more than His own. In humility, will you seek to serve the needs of others? Who can you lift up 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.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)

MORE THAN SORRY

Every Friday night, my family gets pizza and ice cream and watches a movie together. As people “from the 1900s” as my 8 year old says, we have a fondness for 90s and early 2000s movies and we try to share those with our boys when we can.

One of the movies I remember watching with Deanna when we were dating was an old Ryan Reynolds movie called Just Friends. It’s a comedy in which Reynolds plays an executive at a record label and is charged with the care of a top client and prima donna (played by Anna Farris).

In spite of her immense success and fame, Farris’ character is a terrible singer and songwriter. She writes this short song where she sings “Forgiveness….is more than saying sorry.” The song shows up repeatedly and comically throughout the movie and we still reference it with humor to one another today.

When we started this new series at NorthStar, we examined Paul’s letter to the Colossians in which he calls us to “forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you.” (3:13) So, essentially, she’s right…It IS more than saying sorry! In fact it is a call to persistence for any believer, a relentless pursuit to forgive.

The call to forgiveness is echoed throughout the New Testament (Matthew 6:14, Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 5:38-48) and is ultimately modeled in Jesus’ death on the cross.

While we see it embodied, it is not easy to put into practice. Jesus discusses the nature of wrongdoing, repentance and forgiveness and it prompted questions with his disciples. In Matthew, He was asked by Peter how many times he should be willing to forgive someone if they repent. “As many as seven times?” Peter asked, to which Jesus responded, “I do not say to you seven times, I say to you seventy-seven times.”

This was Jesus’ way of saying to stop counting and limiting your willingness to forgive someone. Where there is contrition or repentance, we are to offer forgiveness. That means when you do battle with kids or have a world-class argument with your spouse, at the end of the day we still have to meet repentance with forgiveness.

When you harbor resentment or anger against someone, it can actually be clinically bad for you. According to John Hopkins Medicine, lingering or “chronic” anger can put your body into fight or flight mode, elevating your stress levels, while “forgiveness calms stress levels and leads to improved health.”

This should come as no surprise, given the creator of our bodies embodies forgiveness himself. As Mike Linch says, the cup of bitterness is meant for someone else and yet you drink it yourself.

The examples in the scripture are numerous, including Joseph’s forgiveness for his brothers (Gen 45:4-8), David’s forgiveness of Saul (1 Samuel 24:1-15) and Jesus’ prayer for those that tortured him (John 23:33-34).

Exploring  the boundless nature of God’s love for his people does not make it easier to forgive when we have been hurt, but it does make it necessary.

So be kind, show love and remember, forgiveness is more than saying sorry!

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.