The North Church Women

Hope in God Through Community | Panel Discussion | MOMS

Three of our North Church women share about their experience in a Titus 2 multigenerational community, encouraging one another to hope in God through many different seasons and circumstances.

Finding Joy in and Intimacy with Jesus Through Suffering | Dawn Onufrock | MOMS

Suffering is hard and fear is real, but suffering also brings surprising gifts to those who know Jesus.

Romans Pt. 1 Week 10: Grace Over the Power of the Law | Romans 7 | Pam Larson

We have been set free from the law and walk in the new way of the Spirit. The law is holy, righteous, and good, but it can’t make us holy, righteous, or good. Even though we struggle in the fight against sin (which is powerful), thanks to Jesus, his grace is stronger.

The focus shifts from the power of sin (Romans 6) to the powerlessness of the law. (Romans 7)

1–Romans 7:1–6 | Two husbands 

2–Romans 7:7–11 | Story #1: Is the law sin?

3–Romans 7:12-13 | The law and sin 

4–Romans 7:14–25 | Story #2: The Struggle and the Deliverer

Romans Pt. 1 Week 9: Grace Over the Power of Sin | Romans 6:12–23 | Kïrsten Christianson

This week in Romans 6:12–23, Paul reminds us that because of what Christ did, we are not slaves to sin and our passions anymore. Instead, we have a new master, a master Paul calls Obedience, Righteousness, and finally, God. And what a gracious master God is! 

Under this new master, we have become obedient from the heart, we devote ourselves to righteousness, and we bear the fruit of sanctification by living unto God—for eternity. When we believe God, this is our reality, and Paul entreats us to live out of that reality. Sinclair Ferguson says it this way, “This is how we want to grasp Roman 6, not so that we understand it up here (gestures to head), and it is a challenge to grasp it up here, but so that it will create in (us) gospel instincts, affections, and emotions that are driven by the fact that we live the whole of our lives in union with Jesus Christ.”

Romans Pt. 1 Week 8: Grace: New Life In Christ | Romans 6:1–11 | Charisse Compton

Paul offers a sustained argument debunking the outrageous idea that by saying that “when sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” he was suggesting that we should “continue in sin that grace may abound.” His chief argument is that the old, sinning, self has died giving rise to a new righteous life. Sinning is incompatible with this new life. It’s actually the transformation of sinners into righteous people that really highlights God’s grace. 

Such is God’s grace. Not only did he declare you righteous in Jesus, his amazing grace daily transforms you from the sin-ravaged, fearful of death old self into the image of Jesus. This grace is yours if you come to Jesus in faith; his grace is great enough to transform you no matter how great your sins.

Romans Pt. 1 Week 7: Grace: Abundant and Abounding | Romans 5:12–21 | Kristin Tabb

YouTube & Podbean DESCRIPTION:

 

Paul uses a “how much more” logic to show us how much better the free gift of righteousness is than the sin that necessitated it. 

 

• We have a better Man than ourselves. We are not saved by our understanding of the law or our ability to keep it, but by Christ’s act of obedience at the cross.  
• In Christ we have a better work than Adam’s. It is not our work of righteousness, or Adam’s work of sin, that defines us. It is Christ’s work alone that defines the believer in Jesus.
• We have a better gift. The gift of grace given to us in Christ’s righteous obedience reaps for us an eternal reward, impacting our future forever!
• Salvation has a better scope than we originally realized. It is for every tribe, tongue and nation on the earth—everyone who believes in Christ. Embrace the scope of this gift by offering it to those outside the church doors (as well as those inside).  

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Please note that at about 5:20 in the video, Kristin accidentally misspeaks, saying that some liberal scholars suggest that Paul was a mythical figure. She intended to follow up her previous correct statement that “Paul regards Adam as a historical person,” with the contrast of some liberal scholars who suggest that *Adam* was a mythical figure. 

 

Romans Pt. 1 Week 6: Grace: Peace With God & Assurance of Hope | Romans 5:1–11 | Pam Larson

In Romans 5:1–11, we learned that justification leads to a restored personal relationship with God. In Jesus, we are reconciled and can rejoice in our past redemption, even our present sufferings and our future in glory. Our past is redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Our present is increasingly becoming more like Jesus, and our future is secure.

* Remember and rejoice in all that Jesus has done for you. He died for you while you were still a sinner, declared you righteous, has given you peace with God. Reconciliation leads to rejoicing!

* Recognize and relish your present position: once his enemies, now his friends, given access to grace, joy even in suffering. Reconciliation leads to hope and rejoicing!

* Rest in grace and be reassured in your hope for future joy and glory. Reconciliation leads to eternal rejoicing!

Romans Pt. 1 Week 5: the Promise Rests On Grace | Romans 4 | Kïrsten Christianson

This week Paul offered Father Abraham as an example of how to obtain righteousness with God—through Christ by faith alone. We learned that Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness BEFORE he was circumcised. God made a promise to and covenant with Abraham to redeem the world—both the circumcised AND the uncircumcised—and it would be carried out by Abraham believing God and his promises, not by his own keeping the law. When we are under grace, believing God, then our sin is forgiven and our faith is counted to us as righteousness. Abraham’s faith was/is the model and the pointer to God’s plan for his people.

Romans Pt.1 Week 4: God's Saving Grace in the Death of Jesus | Romans 3:21–31 | Pam Larson

A jeweler puts a diamond on a black velvet background in order to highlight the stunning beauty of the diamond shining all the more brightly against the dark background. The gospel is the same way—it shines at its brightest when seen against the backdrop of the condemnation of sin and death that we deserve. Knowing our desperate condition—that we are under God’s wrath and hopeless without a Rescuer— makes God’s saving grace in the death of Jesus the sweetest news ever.

This week in Romans 3:21-31, we encountered the heart of the gospel. Because Jesus died in our place, those who trust in him are counted as righteous. And God, the Just and the Justifier, is satisfied. He can pardon us completely, so that when he looks at us, he sees the beautiful robe of righteousness that Jesus purchased for us (Isaiah 61:10). 

 

Hoping in God as He Writes Our Kids' Stories | Reid & Nikki Jilek | MOMS

The Jileks share some of the observations they’ve made over the years as college student ministers, providing some helpful considerations for parenting kids through the college transition, as well as how this impacts the parenting of little ones — all while keeping our eyes on Jesus, knowing that He holds our kids and is the author and sustainer of their faith.