NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Called Out of Darkness

Minda Seagraves on September 26, 2024

…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS

A few years ago, a friend introduced me to the world of backpacking. She had just begun section-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and her plan didn’t involve camping out, but rather hiking to different cabins each night. Intrigued and excited, I decided to join her. It was far more challenging than I had anticipated, but I loved it so much that I soon invested in all the necessary gear to continue on my own.

Day hiking, where you return to a cabin with running water and electricity, is quite different from backpacking. Backpacking means carrying everything you need, including your sleeping arrangements, on your back. I thought I was well-prepared for my first overnight trip on the trail. Common sense told me it would be dark at night, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer depth of darkness. Out there, with only a headlamp or a few stars to light the way, the darkness is profound.

During those first hours on the trail, I could think only of the moment when dawn would break. There’s a precious hour in the morning when the first hints of light begin to emerge over the landscape. It’s in those moments that fear subsides and hope is renewed.

We are naturally drawn to the light.

This verse reminds us of the profound transformation that comes with God’s call. We have been called out of spiritual darkness into His marvelous light, signifying a radical change in our lives. Our new position in this light brings with it the responsibility to declare God’s praises and share the hope we’ve found in Him with others.

Father, thank You for calling me out of darkness and into Your light. Help me to live in a way that reflects Your light and to boldly share the story of Your grace and salvation with those around me. May my life stand as a testimony to Your goodness.

Reflect on your personal journey from darkness to light. How can you be a beacon of light to others? In what ways can you share the transformative power of God’s grace in your daily interactions?

Minda Seagraves has been married to her best friend, Russell, for 17 years and is mom to Carson and Maddie. She is also a full-time missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a chaplain to local female high school teams and supports 380 staff across four states in the U.S. and 20 countries in East Africa as the Regional Director of Talent Advancement with FCA. Minda and her family live in Acworth and have been attending NorthStar Church since 2020.

Digging Deeper: Living Stones in God’s House

Minda Seagraves on September 25, 2024

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…

1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

LIVING STONES IN GOD’S HOUSE

Building a house from the ground up is a significant task. We’ve done it twice, and each time taught me valuable lessons. During our first build, I made plenty of mistakes—mostly with picking colors, tiles, and countertops. The options were overwhelming, and my choices reflected that. The second time, I enlisted help from a brilliant designer friend. I created a few Pinterest boards to share my vision, and she transformed those ideas into a beautifully designed home. Despite the differences in style and size between the two homes, one thing remained consistent: neither could truly take shape until the foundation was laid.

Christ is our firm foundation. Peter describes us as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, highlighting our role within God’s community. Just as a house needs a strong foundation, the Church needs each of us to contribute to its structure. Every living stone plays a vital role, adding to the strength and beauty of this spiritual house. Our actions and lives impact the collective witness of the Church. By living out our faith, we help build and strengthen God’s spiritual house.

Lord, help me recognize my role as a living stone in Your spiritual house. Guide me to use my gifts and talents to contribute positively to Your Church. May my life reflect Your glory and strengthen the community of believers.

Reflect on how you can actively contribute to the spiritual growth and unity of your church community. What unique qualities or gifts has God given you that you can offer to build up His house?

Keep the Peace

Kevin Burrell on September 25, 2024

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18

KEEP THE PEACE

A couple, married for 15 years, began having more frequent disagreements in their relationship. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife suggested. For one month, they planned to drop a slip of paper in a “Fault” box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: “leaving the jelly top off the jar,” “wet towels on the shower floor,” “dirty socks not put in the hamper,” “toilet paper placed on the holder the wrong way”—on and on it went until the end of the month.

After dinner, at the end of the month, the couple exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same; the message on each slip read, “I love you!”

It’s a fact: relationships can be messy! Whether it’s with a spouse, child, parent, family member, friend, coach, teammate, work colleague, or neighbor, we all face relational tensions and challenges in our lives. No age, gender, religion, church, occupation, or country is immune to this. Often, it’s a love-hate relationship. However, as Christians, we have a responsibility to be good stewards and managers of the relationships in our lives.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:18:
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone.”

Listen closely: don’t skim over that first sentence. “If possible, as far as it depends on you.” Christ-dependent, Christ-exalting humility thinks about what honors others. It rejoices with those who rejoice. It weeps with those who weep. It hurts with those who hurt. It doesn’t repay evil for evil. It blesses those who persecute. It loves peace! However, we can’t guarantee that there will always be peace. That’s okay. You’re not held accountable for the other person’s response—whether they forgive or not—but you are held accountable for obeying God and His word.

Always remember: great doors of opportunity often swing on the hinges of obedience.

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone.”

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: The Living Stone and Our Identity

Minda Seagraves on September 24, 2024

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him…

1 Peter 2:4 (NIV)

THE LIVING STONE AND OUR IDENTITY

Nobody likes rejection. I vividly remember my own experience with it from when I was a young girl. I was awkward and desperately wanted to fit in. Unfortunately, my stature and style did me no favors. Add a bad perm and braces to the mix, and you get a clearer picture of my struggles. Despite my efforts, I never quite made it into the “in crowd” throughout elementary and middle school.

Raised outside the church, I didn’t understand then what I know now: that my worth, value, and acceptance come not from others but from the Lord. A wise life coach once told me that no one else gets to determine my worth—and neither do I. Only Christ has the authority to define it. Those words were a sweet reminder that, despite what the world or even I might think or say about myself, there is One who created me and considers me amazing. He loves me not for what I do, have done, or could do in the future, but simply because I am His creation.

Jesus is described as the “living Stone”—foundational and essential to our faith, even though He was rejected by the world. Our identity is deeply connected to this living Stone. Just as Jesus is chosen and precious to God, we too are chosen and valued. Our true meaning and stability come from our relationship with Christ, the cornerstone of our faith.

Jesus, thank You for being the living Stone upon which my faith is built. Help me to remember my worth and identity in You, even in the face of rejection or challenges. May I find my strength and stability in You alone.

Reflect on how your identity is shaped by your relationship with Jesus. How does being built on the living Stone influence the way you see yourself and understand your life’s purpose?

Digging Deeper: Desiring Pure Spiritual Milk

Minda Seagraves on September 23, 2024

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation…

1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)

DESIRING PURE SPIRITUAL MILK

Last month, I had the joy of visiting my sister just a week after the birth of my precious baby niece, Elliana. I spent the entire weekend marveling at her tiny, sleeping face, holding her close, and watching the regular routine of feeding. Every two hours, little Ellie, weighing just 5.5 pounds, would remind us it was time for her next meal. This brought back memories of when my own son was a newborn. I recalled those long days and nights of feeding him every two hours, with each feeding sometimes taking over an hour to get just a few small ounces of milk.

Watching Ellie, I was struck by how a newborn’s needs are so small yet so frequent. She would eagerly drink her milk, and despite consuming just two ounces, she was completely satisfied. Now, a month later, she’s drinking much more as she grows, which contrasts sharply with my teenage son. Starting from those same small beginnings, he now has an insatiable appetite, consuming more calories in a day than I do in a week!

Peter uses the imagery of a newborn’s craving for milk to illustrate our need for spiritual nourishment. Just as infants depend on milk for their growth, we need the Word of God for our spiritual development. Regular engagement with Scripture, prayer, and worship is crucial for our growth and maturity in Christ. Just as my son’s appetite grew from those early feedings to a voracious hunger, our desire for God’s Word should also deepen as we mature in our faith.

In our early days as believers, we might find it challenging to consume and fully understand large portions of Scripture. But as we grow, our spiritual appetite should expand, allowing us to digest more of God’s Word and find greater nourishment for our souls.

May our hunger for God’s Word continue to grow as we are daily fed by Him!

Lord, cultivate in me a deep hunger for Your Word and a thirst for spiritual nourishment. Help me to crave the truth of Scripture with the same eagerness as a newborn craves milk. May Your Word guide and sustain me as I grow in my relationship with You.

Reflect on your current spiritual habits. How can you develop a deeper desire for God’s Word? What steps can you take to ensure that you are regularly feeding on the spiritual milk that sustains your faith?

Digging Deeper – According to Your Deeds

Ryan Hoffer on September 20, 2024

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Peter 1:17-19 (ESV)

ACCORDING TO YOUR DEEDS

Perhaps as a byproduct of the Reformers’ reclamation of the biblical truth that we are saved by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9), there tends to be wariness around the discussion of deeds. To oversimplify, this stems largely from a Protestant overreaction to Catholic practice, both past and present. But let this not be the case, for deeds are not only a significant subject of Scripture, they are also the very means by which we demonstrate our allegiance to the Savior. Peter reminds us of this in verse 17, acknowledging that “[the] Father… judges according to each one’s deeds.” Indeed (pun intended), there will be a judgment after death, in which believers will be examined and rewarded for their actions in this life.

A brief survey of the Scriptures makes this fact apparent. Most of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation begin, “I know your works…” James, the brother of our Lord, declares, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). And the apostle Paul informs the Corinthians, “all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body…” (2 Cor. 5:10). There are countless other passages in the Bible that describe not only the value of works but also the judgment of works.

That being said, we would be remiss not to read the remainder of Peter’s thought, where he assures believers that their eternal status is a matter of identification with Christ: “knowing that you were ransomed… with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Our eternal security, then, lies not in our deeds, but in having been ransomed by the blood of Christ. Today, let us heed Peter’s call to conduct ourselves in fear during our time on Earth, not for the sake of salvation, but out of love for our Master.

Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.

Digging Deeper – The Word of the Lord Remains Forever

Ryan Hoffer on September 19, 2024

…for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:24-25 (ESV)

THE WORD OF THE LORD REMAINS FOREVER

The student of history knows these words to be demonstrably true. Throughout the ages, there have been many attempts to extinguish the Word of God—all of them in vain. In 1776, the French philosopher Voltaire said, “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker.” Yet, less than sixty years after his death, the philosopher’s former residence in Geneva was being used as a repository for Bibles and religious tracts. In 1829, a minister who visited the residence exclaimed, “I know that Voltaire said he was living ‘in the twilight of Christianity,’ but blessed be God! It was the twilight of the morning, which will bring on the day of universal illumination.” Even during the Age of Enlightenment (c. 1685–1815)—a period marked by self-exploration and resistance to established institutions—the Word of God remained fixed as a historical reality. As one author put it, “No skeptic’s scoffing hammer has ever made a dent in the Eternal Anvil of God’s Word.”

Countless other stories could be given to make the case. One might call it an ironic twist of fate, but in reality, it is the simple testimony of Scripture—that God’s Word is true and accomplishes His purpose. The very fact that Peter is quoting from Isaiah 40:8, a text written around 800 years before him, should not be overlooked either. It only adds to the evidence of the veracity of the statement that the Word of God endures forever. Invest in your relationship with God today by placing this verse in the repository of your heart and committing it to memory.

Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.

The Yard Sale

Kevin Burrell on September 18, 2024

But I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14

THE YARD SALE

One afternoon, Satan was having a yard sale. On several tables, he spread out all of his favorite tools and placed prices on each one of them. The first buyer purchased a sparkling, well-kept tool labeled “anger” for $200. The second buyer bought a slightly worn “jealousy” tool for $350. The third buyer purchased the well-used “lust” tool for $1,000. All day long, people came and went.

Near the end of the day, a man saw an old tool lying on a table in the back row all by itself. It was rusted and worn, the hinges squeaked, and the handle was partly broken, but the price tag was exorbitant. The asking price was $1 million.

The prospective buyer asked Satan, “Why is this tool so costly?”

“Ahh,” replied Satan, “that is my most effective, powerful, and often-used weapon—and I hesitate to let it go. I’ve learned that Christians can eventually get over almost all of my other tools. They can recover from lust, greed, anger, jealousy, and envy. However, this tool works quietly, without them being aware I am using it. I can slip it in and keep them defeated for a lifetime.”

“What is the name of the tool?” the buyer asked.

“The tool is ‘Discouragement,'” Satan hissed. “I remind them of their sins, their past, and their failures. I remind them how weak they truly are, and they never even know what I am doing.”

Listen closely: do not allow Satan to continue using this tool against you. Rather, we must have the same attitude as Paul: “I press on!” Your sins and failures have been forgiven. You’ve been bought with a price. The power of sin no longer reigns over you. Christ is your strength where you are weak! If you have received Jesus by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, then you are a child of the living God. No weapon formed against you will prosper. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Your old life has been nailed to the cross, and all of your past, present, and future sins have been “Paid in Full.” It is finished!

When Satan reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things here below.” Lock eyes with Jesus and walk towards Him.

Live in victory today!

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being,

Kevin

Digging Deeper – The Imitation of Christ

Ryan Hoffer on September 18, 2024

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:16 (ESV)

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Sometime in the 1420s, the German-Dutch monk Thomas à Kempis wrote The Imitation of Christ. It was immediately popular, with over 250 manuscript copies appearing before 1450. With the rise of the Gutenberg press, copies quickly began to circulate in new editions and translations. It became the cherished devotional of the Middle Ages and, for many years, was second only to the Bible as the most translated and distributed book of all time.

What is it about The Imitation that has allowed it to endure the ages with such universal appeal? For starters, the book is founded on the biblical text. In contemplating virtue and the ascetic practices of monastic life, à Kempis constantly draws from the Scriptures. The opening words are those of Jesus in John 8:12: “He that followeth Me, walketh not in darkness.” Another reason the book remains an ageless classic is its emphasis on one of the main principles of Christian practice—imitation. Following the opening Scripture, the author adds, “These are the words of Christ, by which we are taught how we ought to imitate His life and manners.” In the following pages, Thomas à Kempis details what this imitation looks like, addressing topics ranging from bearing with the defects of others to resisting temptation.

This idea of imitation is central to the Christian faith; indeed, it has been said that true religion is imitation. Peter reminds us in his epistle: “You also be holy in all your conduct, for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). We are followers of Christ, and as such, we imitate the perfect example set forth by Him.

Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.

Digging Deeper – Since it is Written

Ryan Hoffer on September 17, 2024

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:16 (ESV)

SINCE IT IS WRITTEN

Peter strengthens the force of his exhortation by employing Scripture (something he does frequently throughout his epistle). Here, he quotes the book of Leviticus, where the phrase “you shall be holy, for I am holy” is used five times to conclude various laws and prohibitions given to the Israelites. The frequency of this phrase alone highlights its importance, as it is repeatedly brought to the reader’s attention. Moreover, it sets the tone for every command in the Levitical code—these ordinances are rooted in the character of God and will distinguish His people as belonging to Him.

Let’s look, for example, at Leviticus 19:1-2: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’” This functions as a sort of preamble to the following laws. On one hand, the statement provides a simple rationale, answering the “why” as succinctly as possible. On the other hand, it is replete with authority, offering the “because.” No further explanation is needed; the reason is sufficient. This is what Peter is conveying when he echoes these words in verse 16: We are to imitate His holiness because we belong to Him. Therefore, we, “like obedient children,” ought to show ourselves as His followers by our conduct. It was true when God spoke it through Moses long ago, it was true when Peter repeated it in his epistle, and it is true for us today.

Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.