Northside Church of Christ

10/12/2025

A Lovely Song
Scripture reading: Rom 2:11-13

Introduction – we gladly listen to musicians and artists who play instruments and sing masterfully.

We like taking a few moments to listen to sounds that make us feel good.

Birds singing, children playing and laughing, surf coming ashore or a babbling brook.

However more often than not when the moment is over the effect is then lost until the next time.

We find an interesting comparison of people listening to a lovely song but not letting it change their hearts in Ezek 33:30-33.

God identified for Ezekiel a very sad condition of the hearts of the people. They were all encouraging one another to come hear Ezekiel declare the word of God. One would think that this would be great. Just what a preacher and prophet of God would want. However God identifies a grave problem with the hearts of many people.

They came to hear the word of God proclaimed and for them the effect of the preaching is the same effect one might have to hearing a lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument.

They came to be entertained; they enjoyed coming and feeling religious. They did not take it to heart. They did not take it personally and did not allow it to affect their conscience. The word of God that was spoken was received as a lovely song of joy, good feelings and comfort. Yet the words spoken were to convict them of sin and bring them to deep remorse and hopefully repentance.

The act of hearing for them was good enough there was not need to do anything. Jesus many years later quoted from Isaiah about the people even during his day as being the same, Matt 13:13-16.

A similar idea is also taught by James but with a new illustration, James 1:23-25. It is one who looks in the mirror and sees the problem but walks away doing nothing about it.

When the song is over life goes on and the song is not lived each day by the listener. We would rather remain entertained rather than energized to action, Heb 5:11-14.

Conclusion – Likewise the word of God does not continue within the life of one who is a hearer only and not a doer. Our very spiritual beginning depends upon hearing, Rom 10:17.

10/11/2025

WHERE IS THE AWE?
Scripture reading: Ex 19:14-18

Today we live in a society that sets very little aside to hold in respect, to honor or consider sacred, especially concerning God and spiritual matters.
a. It is okay to lie, be deliberately biased or prejudiced and to deceive others.
b. Nothing is above ridicule or mockery, little if anything is trustworthy.
c. Everything done seems to be for some self-serving reason.

For all their faults, flaws, and failures, Old Testament Israel at times did hold God in awe. A sense of that awe can be found in their journey to Jerusalem three times a year by their words in the singing of psalms.
D. Deuteronomy 16:16-17:
a. All of the adult men of Old Testament Israel were commanded to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for national sacrificial worship threes times each year.
b. At the time of the feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
c. Families could accompany them.

In the book of Psalms there is a collection of psalms (Psalm 120 to Psalm 134) that are known as the songs of ascents.
a. These are probably the words they sang on their pilgrimage.
b. Here are some of those Psalms. Listen to these verses in their songs as they gathered to praise and honor God. Listen to the awe.
Psalm 122
Psalm 125
Psalm 128
Psalm 131
Psalm 134
People often talk about God. But in what ways do we consider God as awesome?
a. Mine is that in many places today men and women are worshipping God through Christ as they sit on wooden benches or even dirt floors. But God has zero problems understanding them, knowing them, or making it possible for all of them to be His sons and daughters.
b. Because of Jesus Christ all persons can be children of God. No one is too small for God to hear, understand, and help. He is awesome/
Conclusion – Psalm 4:1-4, let us stand in awe of God.

07/06/2025

09/11/2022

RESCUED BY GENTLE HANDS
SCRIPTURE READING: PSA. 37:7

Introduction - If asked, what is the first thing that you would share with a person about Jesus? There are many appropriate things to share about Jesus. Jesus is the head of the church, Jesus possesses all authority, Jesus is our eternal judge. All of those are good things but maybe a better place would be to stress the patience of God and Christ.

I. What should we share?
A. Let’s start by sharing the following:
a. Peter told us that God is patient because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but for all to come to repentance, II Peter 3:9.
b. Jesus was repeatedly presented in the gospels as the Savior of the world who wanted to give rest to all who were burdened and weary, Matt 11:28-30.
B. Today, people who are struggling and seeking should be attracted to Jesus for his love for all, spiritual comfort and encouragement.
C. What about us? What is it that bonds us to our Savior?
a. What is the powerful attraction that makes us willing every day to surrender our life in love and devotion to Jesus?
b. What draws our heart as well as our mind to the Son of God?
c. As we mature as Christians our minds and hearts should be continually opening to new and deeper understandings.
D. We begin to understand that Jesus did not come to obligate us; he came to help us.
1. He did not come to suppress us; he came to free us.
2. He did not come to diminish life; he came to give us life in all its fullness.
God’s genuine love is never indifferent or selfish in the caring it extends.
Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God promised that a loving Savior would come who would be gentle, compassionate, and caring. 1.Isaiah 9:1-7 talked about this promised Savior, it is evident that people will find peace through him.
2. Isaiah 53:1-12 gives a striking description of Jesus hundreds of years before he was born. It declares how he will suffer, how he endured abuse for us, how he refused to retaliate or defend himself, and how God used him for our sin offering to pay for the evil that we have done.
Hundreds of years before his birth, God said Jesus would be so loving and caring toward the burdened, the distressed, and the guilty that he would not throw away a person who was as weak and worthless as a bend reed, someone in whom only a spark glowed.

Conclusion - With this Savior, no one would be automatically rejected because of his or her weakness One of the earliest messages God wanted people to understand about the Savior is this: no one is so weak that he or she is worthless to Jesus.

08/13/2022

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08/07/2022

Commit Your Soul to God

Scripture reading: I Peter 4:18-19

Introduction – I Peter 4:12-19, New Testament Christians were in danger, suffering for doing God’s will, I Peter 1:6, 2:12, 19, 3:13-17. They were commanded to commit (deposit) their souls to God for safe keeping. We deposit valuables into the trusted care of others to prevent exposure to danger and loss (safe deposit box, security sys, etc.). What are we committing to God for safe-keeping, II Tim 1:12?
I. Commit our souls to God.
A. By becoming a Christian, it means total surrender and complete rearranging of our lives, Phil 3:5-8.
1. By being a faithful Christian, we commit our body, mind and heart, Rom 12:1-2.
a. By doing good we may “put to silence” ignorance of the foolish, I Peter 2:15 (12).
2. By committing our possessions. Do not trust in money, use it to do good, be ready to give, willing to share and store up treasures in heaven, I Tim 6:18-19.
3. By committing our talents, Eccl 9:10. Do it with passion, fervor, enthusiasm, zeal. Do not be a lukewarm Christian.

II. Commit our future to God, Matt 6:33-34.
A. Have faith in God’s committed control of all things.
B. Live a life that continues to do God’s will, Heb 10:36-39.

Conclusion - The God of all grace has called us to His eternal glory, will you follow His call?
Will you trust the purposes of God in Christ? Will you stay with God through your trials?
God’s judgment compels us to give our souls to God.

07/23/2022

Where are the Nine?
Scripture reading: Psa 103:2-5

A lesson in gratitude:

A. The “me” first generation – a very negative characteristic of this “me-first” generation is the problem of ingratitude. It seems most are not thankful for anything. This is typical of entitlement mentality. You owe me is the sentiment of the day.

1. Jesus taught a very important lesson on the subject of gratitude in an account of his meeting and healing ten lepers – Luke 17:11-19.
a. He encountered the lepers on the road going to Jerusalem. They pleaded with him to have mercy on them.
b. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they went they were cleansed. What a wonderful thing.
c. They were now free of a loathsome disease that was deadly and made them outcasts in society. If that had been you would you have been thankful?

2. Only one person demonstrated gratitude and at that, he was not a Jew, he was a Samaritan.
a. What is ingratitude? It is a lack of appreciation or a failure to be thankful.
Ingratitude is characterized by selfishness and a complaining spirit.
b. It is sad to note that to some no matter how much they are given or one may have sacrificed for them, they always want more.
c. Remember Pharaoh’s butler and Joseph’s interpretation of his dreams, Gen 40:9-15, 20-23? He did not remember Joseph before Pharaoh.

3. How often do we show ingratitude to our heavenly Father? We may pray for help in time of need but forget to pray and thank God for the good things and many blessings.
a. Gratitude is being thankful and appreciative. Some of the greatest attributes of gratitude are humility, thanksgiving and giving thanks to God in everything.

4. What characterizes our lives, gratitude or ingratitude, Rom 1:20-22?
a. Being thankful is listed among the Christian virtues, Col 3:12-17.

Conclusion: You would be surprised at the change in your life if we are but more grateful to God.