NorthStar Church Blog

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.

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?

1. It was shelter from the storms of life—“a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord” (v. 21).

2. It was a place to be encouraged to keep Jesus the main thing (v. 23).

3. It was a place to be taught and to grow as disciples (v. 26).

4. It was a place to gain an identity that set them apart from the world (v. 26b).

5. 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.

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.

North Star is experiencing some pretty impressive growth at the moment. In many ways, NSC mirrors the church at Antioch we just read about. For a church to grow—and not just numerically—it must have several key elements fueling that growth. This week, let’s take a look at what, and who, it takes to sustain a healthy “Antioch-like” church.

These elements include: Persecution (or trials), People, Place, Perspective, and Partnership.

Today’s Focus: Persecution

In the NW Cobb area of Atlanta, we do not experience the kind of persecution described in Acts 11—at least not yet. There has not been an all-out attack on Christians like the one that followed Stephen’s stoning. But that doesn’t mean our neighbors aren’t feeling the weight of life in ways that can feel like persecution.

Whether it’s job difficulties, marriage stress, physical infirmities, or psychological struggles, we live in a world filled with detours and difficulties. In reality, many in our own church family are walking through these very trials.

What did the believers who fled persecution do? They fled—and they shared. They sought safety, but they also shared the good news of Jesus wherever they went.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet we know it’s not always possible—or even biblical—to escape the heat of a fiery trial. More often than not, God’s will is for us to walk through the fire so our souls may be purified. Jesus promised we would have peace in trials because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Even so, we can flee spiritually. We can run to Jesus, our refuge, who offers rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28–30). But that rest is not an escape from mission. Those who fled Jerusalem went on to share the message of Christ. Some even crossed cultural lines, speaking to the Greeks—and revival broke out.

These persecuted believers didn’t hunker down in safety. They shared the hope within them—and God showed up.

So, when trials come, when persecution persists:

• Flee to the One who is our peace.

• Persevere through the storm.

• When you see others suffering, come alongside them and point them to Jesus.

That is why we are in our own “Antioch” today.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at the second necessary element: People!