North Way Christian Community

Are we parenting God’s way or following the patterns of culture? Parenting is filled with challenges and requires spiritual grit. Our goal isn’t just our children’s short-term happiness but it’s their long-term faithfulness in a complex world. To help them develop spiritual resilience, we must resist the urge to rescue them too quickly and model a genuine faith of our own. Who and what influences our children will shape who they become.

How do you know your faith is being tested? What about those moments when you start to question God's goodness? The trial of brokenness in marriage produces a testing of our faith. In marriage, we don’t fix brokenness by fixing the other person. We fix brokenness by fighting for oneness. True oneness in marriage is a daily choice built through grace, honesty, and healing words. This pursuit of unity reflects a greater love story, our oneness with Christ.

God calls every man to be a spiritual father. Like Abraham, we’re called to be faithful followers, loving leaders, and humble warriors. That means walking in obedience, laying our lives down for others, and trusting God deeply, even when the path is unclear. Spiritual fatherhood isn't about perfection; it's about surrender, courage, and letting God build something lasting through us.

Control is our defense mechanism. It’s a natural response when life feels out of control. Who or what are you trying to control? What if, instead of returning to your natural response you turned to something supernatural: trust over control? When we learn to trust God instead of leaning on our own understanding we find joy. We see this in the life of Joseph. Full surrender allows us to experience forgiveness, gratitude, and an eternal perspective. 

We all face failure, but what if our failures could be the starting point of something redemptive? In this message, we explore how to respond when failure threatens to derail our lives. Whether it’s failure by comparison, risk, poor choices, or sin, God can redeem it all. As we confess, turn to Him, receive His grace, and walk in freedom, our story becomes a testimony of His power to redeem anything.  

We all have experienced loneliness in our lives. We long to be known, accepted, and truly connected. But loneliness isn’t the absence of people, it’s the absence of connection. We often separate our desires from our faith, our identity from our worth, and our trials from our purpose. We chase fulfillment apart from God, hoping that something or someone will satisfy us. But not only do we have a God who sees our loneliness, we have a Savior who understands. The cure for loneliness isn’t more people, it’s a deeper connection with God and with others who draw us closer to Him.  

Darkness and suffering can trap us in a draining loop of “what if,” but hope and the radical acceptance of “what is” offers the way out. Hope is not a fixed point we will reach, but a living force that propels us forward. Through hardship we are formed anew, and in our suffering, Jesus brings forth a new creation. Good things are happening even in the darkness.

Happy Mother’s Day! Today we celebrate all the women in our lives, those who have nurtured, led, and loved us deeply. We honor the heart of a mother, a heart that reflects Jesus. Whether biological or spiritual, moms carry superpowers of love. They see the unseen, make space for the lost, and take risks for the defenseless. Many mothers battle mom guilt, feeling they fall short. But true freedom comes when we receive Jesus’ love. We aren’t empowered by expectations from the world, but by the spirit of God.

Anxiety and fear are real responses, but they are meant to counsel us, not imprison us. In His own suffering, Jesus showed that surrender brings strength and that anxious thoughts can point us to our deepest longings to feel significant, accepted, and secure. But these needs are fully met in Christ. When we reframe our life’s telos around Him, anxiety becomes a doorway to deeper trust, joy, and freedom.

Is something currently testing your faith? Are you struggling with difficult relationships? Being offended and angry with difficult people is inevitable but living offended and angered by difficult people is a choice. This sermon introduces our study on trials and how they test our faith, especially through difficult relationships. Pastor Scott reminds us that trials are normal, can be a source of joy, and can transform us by building steadfastness in our lives.  

Responses have consequences. This is true in all areas of life but especially true as we consider the resurrection. When we look at Scripture we see a variety of responses to the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. Some people said, "no way," viewing the resurrection of Jesus as an idle tale. Others marveled that Jesus was alive and went back to their old way of life. Some allowed this truth to change them and responded, "now what." When the truth of the resurrection changes us we have a living hope that will transform every area of our lives. Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life." Do you believe that true life is found in Jesus?  

Hospitality isn’t just about opening our homes, it’s about opening our hearts. It’s a spiritual practice that reflects the gospel by welcoming and pursuing the stranger. God calls us to see and move toward those who are different. Just as we were once strangers and God welcomed us, we are now invited to extend that same love to others.

Prayer can sometimes feel confusing or uncertain. Is God really listening? We often treat prayer as something we do only in desperation or celebration, but is it truly our way of life? Prayer is not a transaction to get something from God, it’s an invitation to keep company with God. Let’s seek to respond to God’s invitation by being present with Him.

In a world suffering from an epidemic of loneliness, community is the remedy. We were created for relationships and God designed us to thrive in meaningful connection. Community is more than just a place of belonging; it’s also a place of becoming, where we grow into who God created us to be. Community brings us to Jesus.

We all long to be unrushed and present in the moment. The Sabbath is God’s gift to rest and refocus our hearts on Him. It’s not about rules or striving for perfection but resting in His perfection. Jesus redeems the Sabbath, making it a time to reorient our lives around Him. True Sabbath isn’t just about rest but also worshipping, joy, and being present with God.

Jesus made solitude a regular part of His life, retreating to desolate places to be with His Father. Stepping into solitude transforms us, allowing us to hear God’s voice, reveal hidden rebellion in our hearts, and invites us into true rest. This week, we are challenged not just to find time but to make time, resisting the urge to fill the silence, and allow God to do what only He can do.

Have you shared your faith with a non-believer recently? Are you letting others see your hope in Christ? In this message, we explore how to change our mindset, step out in faith, and share the gospel with urgency. Our feet bring peace, happiness, salvation, and good news when we walk into the world as a witness of the gospel.

When was the last time you had a fresh encounter with the gospel? Fasting isn’t just about giving something up but drawing closer to Jesus. In God’s Kingdom, the dependent version of you is the best version of you. Jesus fasted and expects His followers to do the same, not for show but to expose our weaknesses, reveal our idols, and stir compassion. This Lent, challenge yourself to fast and experience the gospel in a fresh way.

Jesus spoke frequently about money and possessions, not just in words but through His generous life. We live in a world today that often defines success by wealth and upward mobility. True abundance isn’t found in possessions but in being rich toward God. Generosity requires a shift in thinking and begins with a step of faith.

Jesus calls us to a life of service. Transformation happens when we set aside our ego, empty words, and displays of power, and instead embrace humility, living faith, and small acts of love. When we are empowered by His Spirit and step into the greater works He has prepared, transformation spreads everywhere, through our willingness to kneel down and serve others.