Northside Reformed Baptist Church

06/11/2026

Morning Thoughts

"God will never give you more than you can handle."
Many people have heard that statement. It is often offered with good intentions, but it is not actually what the Bible teaches.
In fact, God will often allow us to face situations that are more than we can handle on our own.
The Apostle Paul described a season of suffering in which he and his companions were "so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself" (2 Corinthians 1:8). Notice Paul's words: beyond our strength.
Why would God allow that?
Paul gives the answer: "But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9).
God often brings us to the end of ourselves so that we will learn to depend upon Him. He allows burdens that exceed our strength so that we discover the sufficiency of His strength. He allows trials that expose our weakness so that we cling more tightly to Christ.
If God only gave us what we could handle, we might be tempted to believe we do not need Him. But the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our own power.
Today, if you are carrying something that feels too heavy, do not assume that God has abandoned you. It may be that He is teaching you the very lesson He taught Paul—that His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9
The good news is not that God will never give you more than you can handle. The good news is that He will never give you more than He can handle. And He is more than enough.

06/10/2026

The Purpose of Congregational Singing

Why do Christians sing when they gather for worship?
The answer is much deeper than simply enjoying music. Congregational singing is one of the ways God has commanded His people to worship Him. Scripture tells us to sing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" while making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
Notice that in Colossians 3:16, singing is connected to the Word of Christ dwelling richly among God's people. When we sing biblically rich songs, we are teaching and admonishing one another with God's truth. In that sense, congregational singing is not merely preparation for worship—it is worship.
This is why the focus of singing should not be on performers, musicians, or those standing on a stage. The congregation is the choir. The gathered church is the instrument God intends to hear. The purpose is not for a few people to sing to the congregation, but for the congregation to sing together to God.
There is something beautiful about hearing the voices of God's people united in praise. Young and old. Strong voices and weak voices. Trained voices and untrained voices. All joining together to proclaim the greatness of God and the truths of His Word.
The goal of church music is not to create a concert atmosphere or to impress people with talent. The goal is to help God's people sing His truth with understanding, joy, reverence, and gratitude.
When the church sings, we are not watching worship happen. We are participating in it.
So sing boldly. Sing joyfully. Sing truthfully. Not because you have a perfect voice, but because you have a worthy Savior.

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

Morning Thoughts

One of the greatest sources of peace in the Christian life is remembering a simple truth: God knows everything, and we do not.
We often struggle because we want answers we do not have. We want to know why certain doors closed. We want to understand why suffering entered our lives. We want to see what tomorrow holds. We want to know how everything will work out.
But we are creatures, not the Creator.
God sees the end from the beginning. He knows every detail of every circumstance. He knows every possibility, every consequence, every hidden danger, and every future blessing. Nothing has ever surprised Him, and nothing ever will.
Sometimes we become frustrated because God's plans do not make sense to us. Yet if we possessed all knowledge, we would be God Himself. The very fact that we do not understand everything is a reminder that we are not called to be sovereign—we are called to trust the One who is.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD." — Isaiah 55:8
Faith does not require us to know everything. Faith requires us to trust the One who does.
Today, rest in the wisdom of God. You do not have to carry the burden of knowing the future. You do not have to understand every providence. Your Father in heaven already knows. He is infinitely wise, perfectly good, and completely trustworthy.
When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart. The God who knows everything is the same God who loves His people.

06/09/2026

Why We Don't Have Children's Church During Worship

One question we are occasionally asked is why we do not dismiss children from our worship service for a separate "children's church."
First, we want to say that many faithful churches approach this differently, and we are not criticizing those who have come to different conclusions. This is simply a matter of our own convictions.
At Northside Reformed Baptist Church, we believe children are a blessing from the Lord and are an important part of the covenant community. For that reason, we encourage families to worship together.
We believe children learn how to worship by worshiping. They learn to sing by hearing the church sing. They learn to pray by hearing the church pray. They learn to listen to the preaching of God's Word by sitting under it week after week. While they may not understand everything at first, they are learning far more than we often realize.
We also believe God has given parents the primary responsibility for the spiritual training of their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4). The worship service provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to help their children learn reverence, attentiveness, and the joy of gathering with God's people.
For generations, Christian families worshiped together, and many of us can remember sitting through services long before we fully understood them. Yet God often uses those ordinary means to shape hearts over time.
Children are not merely the future of the church—they are part of the church family now. We love hearing their voices sing, seeing them grow, and watching them learn alongside the rest of the congregation.
So if you visit Northside and notice children in the service, that's not an accident. It's one of the ways we seek to honor God's design for families and for the gathered worship of His people.

06/09/2026

This Week in the London Baptist Confession of Faith

Chapter 14, Paragraph 2 – Saving Faith
"They respond differently according to the content of each particular passage—obeying the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and the one to come. But the principal acts of saving faith focus directly on Christ—accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace."

Saving faith is more than agreeing that the Bible is true. It is a living faith that responds to God's Word in the way God intends.
When Scripture commands, faith obeys. When Scripture warns of God's judgment, faith takes those warnings seriously and trembles. When Scripture offers God's promises, faith embraces them with confidence and hope. The believer does not approach the Bible as a spectator but as one who hears the voice of God and responds accordingly.
Yet the confession reminds us that the greatest work of saving faith is not simply obeying commands or believing promises. The principal act of faith is looking to Christ Himself.
Saving faith accepts Christ as He is offered in the gospel. It receives Him as Savior and Lord. It rests upon Him alone for salvation. We are not justified by our obedience, our church attendance, our knowledge, or our efforts to improve ourselves. We are justified by Christ alone. We are sanctified through Christ alone. We receive eternal life through Christ alone.
This is good news for weary sinners. Faith is not ultimately resting in our ability to hold on to Christ, but in Christ's ability to hold on to us. The strength of our salvation is not found in the perfection of our faith but in the perfection of the Savior in whom our faith rests.
As you read God's Word this week, obey what He commands. Take His warnings seriously. Rejoice in His promises. Above all, look to Christ. Receive Him. Rest in Him. Trust Him. For He is the object of saving faith and the only Savior of sinners.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, ESV)

06/09/2026

Morning Thoughts

Love is more than a noun—it is a verb.
Our culture often speaks of love primarily as a feeling. When the feelings are strong, people say they are "in love." When the feelings fade, they begin to wonder if the love is gone. But biblical love is far deeper than emotion alone.
Love is something we do.
When a husband chooses to serve his wife after a long day, that is love. When a wife chooses to respect and encourage her husband when it is difficult, that is love. When forgiveness is extended, patience is exercised, and sacrifices are made for another person's good, that is love in action.
This is especially important in marriage. On their wedding day, a husband and wife do not merely express feelings for one another—they enter into a covenant before God. They promise to love one another in sickness and health, in plenty and want, in joy and sorrow. Why? Because covenant love is rooted in commitment, not merely emotion.
The greatest example of this is Christ Himself. Jesus did not merely say He loved His people. He demonstrated His love by giving Himself for them. His love moved Him to the cross.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." — Ephesians 5:25
Today, don't wait to feel loving before you love. Choose to love. Serve. Encourage. Forgive. Sacrifice. Speak kindly. Show grace.
Feelings often follow where faithful actions lead.
Love is not merely something we say. Love is something we do.

06/08/2026

We are thankful to welcome Austin Powers as the newest member of Northside Reformed Baptist Church!

Austin has publicly identified himself with this local body and committed to worship, serve, grow, and walk alongside us in the life of the church. Membership is a blessing from the Lord and a reminder that the Christian life is not meant to be lived alone, but in covenant fellowship with Christ’s people.

Please join us in welcoming Austin, encouraging him in the faith, and praying that God would continue to grow him in grace and use him for His glory.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” — Ephesians 2:19

Welcome, Austin! We are glad to have you as part of the Northside family.