Help for the Hurting in Ukraine
War has hit Ukraine and as it rages on, many people suffer. When a world crisis happens, Christians are often the first on the scene. Christians move toward the crisis to help those who are suffering the most. There are many Christian organizations that are mobilizing to offer compassion and care for hurting Ukrainians. As you think about financially supporting their work, it's important to know that you can trust the organizations to which you are giving to effectively use your donation to help those who need it most. Below are a few links to Christian relief organizations that we, North Wake Church, have a
Meditation for Preparation for March 13
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.” (John 13:33) I imagine the disciples’ faces. Sorrow. Disbelief. Fear. Jesus had been everything for them. He was the provider of food, the commander of storms, worker of miracles. He was teacher and friend. He knew their very hearts. How was it possible to live without Him? Then, in the next breath, Jesus offered hope. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you
Church as Temple: Diving Deeper
If you're eager to hear a bit more about the biblical theme of "The Church as Temple", here's a couple of resources that were helpful to me! The Bible Project "Temple" theme video. With their trademark creative animation, The Bible Project guys explore the temple theme in a short video. Their study notes are also insightful. "God Dwells Among Us" by G.K. Beale and Mitchell Kim. This book takes a much deeper dive into the biblical details and implications of what it means for the church to be God's temple. (Based on a more academic/technical work by G.K. Beale called "The Temple and the Church's
By Our Love
Read: John 13:31-35 When I was in college, I took an acting class where the instructor took us through an improvisational exercise. We had to sit facing another student who would say a word and within two seconds, we were to react with the first word that came to our mind. I didn't like the exercise all that much. I highly value people who choose their words wisely, so this exercise seemed to be counter-productive. However, it was an excellent way to expose my own personal biases and depravity. I also think this exercise can serve us in thinking about Jesus' command to us from our passage this week. So let's play a quick game. What is the first
The People of God Are a Temple. What is a Temple?
Artwork by Alex Levin. Ephesians 2:19-22 describes the people of God, the church, as a temple. So what does Scripture tell us about the proper role of the temple in the worship of God? God chooses where and how He will be worshiped. In contrast to pagan worship, which could be established on every hill and under every tree, God chose where and how He would be worshipped corporately (Deuteronomy 12:5). Families would regularly travel to the place where God made His name known as they lived a life of worship to their God. The Old Testament teaches
One Last Word
We’ve come to the end of Titus. Paul gives his final words and, in keeping with Larry’s labeling of Titus “a book of lists,” here we have: Titus 3:9-14 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. Do everything
Two Kinds of People
Read: Titus 3:1-8 We’ve all heard the saying, “There are two kinds of people in the world.” The speaker using this statement begins to categorize people by saying something like this: “There are two kinds of people in the world: people who love chocolate and people who don’t have taste buds.” Or they may say, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love to sleep and those who see sleep as simply an interruption to their busy life.” No matter who or what is being compared, the two types are always polar opposites of one another,
Titus 2: Women Mentoring Women Resources
For the past 10+ years the Women's Ministry team has been posting on the Women’s Facebook page (North Wake-Women) articles on all kinds of topics that focus on women and their roles as Christ followers, marriage, parenting, singleness, etc. Below are just a few. If you would like more information or have questions, please contact the Women's Ministry team at womensministry@northwake.com. Resources: For the woman seeking a picture of spiritual maturity — Aging Doesn't Make You Faithful. Jesus Does. For the woman wanting counsel on mentoring others — When Mentoring Gets Messy For the woman seeking to grow in contentment — The Danger
Rejoice And Simmer
READ: Titus 2:11-14 I love microwaves. Seriously, what did people do before microwaves? Of all the appliances in my house, there are two that get used everyday: the coffee maker and the microwave. The microwave has revolutionized the convenience and speed at which we can heat up our food and drinks. It has saved humanity billions and trillions of hours of cooking time. The microwave is not alone in the proliferation of technologies that have expedited tasks. The internet has saved us from having to go to the store for groceries, movie rentals, video games, duct tape, shoes, clothes, music, medicine, and more. The list is endless! We have the world
Making Christianity Beautiful, Monday Through Friday
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a
