March 19, 2023 Message Big Idea Even amongst those who agree that heaven awaits us after death, there exists disagreement and perhaps malaise at what is next for God’s people. Will we have to wait? Will it be exciting or boring? Well, Christ, as one who has actually been there, paints a compelling picture for the thief on the cross. Immediately after death, …
“BIO” comes from the original Greek word, “bios” which is synonymous with “life”. For the duration of this message series, Touch of Heaven, we will use those three letters as guideposts in our spiritual practice of the week. B = “Before God” Meet with Him personally through prayer and His word to enjoy His presence, receive His direction, and follow …
March 12, 2023 Message Big Idea There are many ways to conceive of heaven, past and present. But God provides a clear picture in how He designed the Garden of Eden. Heaven is meant to be a physical place, sensuously delightful and eternally sacred, in which humanity and God can commune in perfect relationship. Sin corrupted this design. Yet, God is …
March 5, 2023 Message Big Idea Ordinary daily habits are like liturgies. “They are little routines of worship, and worship changes what we love” (Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms (p.11). Our guest speaker, Justin Earley, contends that God works through habits to change parents, children, and families in conformity with Christ’s love. …
This week we will intentionally be aware of two conversations: Our conversations with God Our conversations with another Our Conversations with God (journaling) Journaling is the perfect place to start a conversation with God. When we journal, we can ask him questions, prayerfully listen, and write down what He communicates to us. Start by choosing one question a day from …
February 26, 2023 Message Big Idea Tables are places to eat, connect, laugh, cry, pray, and be human. Most of all, tables are a place to belong and feel included. “Table fellowship” doesn’t often make the list of the classical spiritual disciplines. But in the midst of a world that increasingly seems to have lost its way with regard to matters …
5 Habits for Mealtimes There are plenty of things a healthy, vibrant local church should be doing. But let’s not overlook one of the simplest and most enjoyable of them all: eating! Try one or more of the following habits this week and let us know about your experience (bill@northbridgechurch.org). Start with a Candle Hold Hands and Pray Find a …
February 19, 2023 Message Big Idea Often work is seen as a necessary evil, something to be begrudgingly done and completed as soon as possible. Yet, what if God intended something different for humanity? What if, in fact, humanity was meant for good labor and the fall corrupted our relationship to work? This yields a more robust theology of work in which any …
Practicing Self-Examination This week, commit to a process of self-examination about your work. This is a practice of submitting yourself to the Holy Spirit and asking him to make you aware of ways that you engage work in a way that dishonors God, others, and yourself. This could involve a brief reflection on the day before you head home and/or …
February 12, 2023 Message Big Idea What is the first thing you do upon waking? How does that shape your view of the day? Of yourself? Of God? What we do first thing in the morning says a lot about our true priorities. To what or to whom will we give the first fruits of each day’s time and attention? …
