NORTHAMPTON BIBLE CHURCH

06/01/2025 Words of Worship | TOWDAH“An extension of the hand in thanksgiving; a sacrifice of praise offered in faith - often before the outcome is seen.”Do you praise and thank God from the darkness? Are you grateful for the darkness?See Psalm 56: 10-12JONAH & TOWDAH - Jonah 2Even in the midst of Jonah's disobedience, God leveraged the circumstances for His glory. As a result, Jonah repented and cried out to God from the pit of his despair.God is always worthy of our praise and trust, even in our darkest times when things are at their absolute worst.What might it look like for you to TOWDAH in your circumstances?Psalm 50:23 “Whoever offers a thanksgiving sacrifice honors me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God.”

05/25/2025 Words of Worship | HALALHALAL: “An exuberant expression of celebration, a word that connotes boasting, raving, or celebrating.”HALAL is the primary Hebrew word for praise, from which we get the word: “Halleu” = praise and “yah” = YAHWEH. Literally, it means “Praise God”.Read 2 Samuel 6Is there a desperation in our hearts for the LORD? 1. We're more framed by culture than we are by Christ.      Passion follows formation.  2. We treat God as familiar instead of Holy. 3. We underestimate what we've been saved from. A low  view of sin leads to a low view of grace. 4. We want a God who serves us, not a God whom we serve. We talk a lot ABOUT God, but do we KNOW God?5. We've forgotten that worship is Spiritual warfare. When we look at how we live, do we conclude that we actually need God?We need to slow down and just spend time in God' presence. Psalm 46: 10 “Be still and know that I am God”.God is not looking for us to perform for Him, He's looking for us to surrender ourselves to Him in our worship.

05/18/2025 | Vision SundayElders - Lead MinistryDeacons/Directors - Facilitate MinistryPartners - Do MinistrySYSTEMS - PROCESSES - STRUCTURE Deepening Discipleship Scorecard for Spiritual Health (Church-wide) What's Next? ( Looking Ahead)Ephesians 3:20-21

05/11/2025 | Words of Worship | YADAHWorship is not about the position of your body, it's about the posture of your heart.YADAH: “ To revere or worship with extended hands. To hold out the hands. To throw a stone around arrow.”YADAH is about a posture of trust.When is the last time you praised God for the thing He hasn't given you yet?What battle are you facing right now? What situation feels overwhelming or impossible right now that, instead of fighting in your own strength you can surrender in YADAH?What if it isn't about fighting harder, but about surrendering more?“…we do not know what do do, but our eyes are on You.”          2 Chronicles 20:12b - see also 2 Chronicles 20: 15b, 21b, 22

05/04/2025 | Words of Worship | Music & SongsWhat is Worship?ZAMAR is used 45 times in 41 verses in the Old Testament, 37 of which are in the Book of Psalms.It means to sing, sing praise, make music in order to glorify God.Zamar prepares our hearts to hear from God.TEHILLAH is a Hebrew word that encourages us to sing praise to God. It means praise, song or hymn of praise. It is used 57 times in the Old Testament, over ½ of those times in  the Book of Psalms. It is used to teach a story about God.Tehillah teaches our hearts to trust God, even when our minds do not.

04-27-2025 Genesis 12:1-20   Famine in the CallingCalling: Self-calling vs God-Calling God calls us where we are, to use us as we are…For His purpose.  We are to be God's ambassadors, to always be ready, in and out of season, to preach His Gospel. (John 15: 18-20)Self-calling: self focused; self powered; self gloryGod calling: God focused; God powered; God's gloryFamine - our response (Genesis 12: 1-13) 1. God is toying with me                                                                 2. God has abandoned me                                                       3. God is punishing me 4. This isn't God's call                                                            5. There is a problem, I'll fix it 6. Turn to God and trust HimFamine - God's response (Genesis 12: 14-20) God removes all possible responses so that we recognize His response and learn to trust HimTakeaways: What is God calling you to do? How do you respond to the famines in your life? Don't forget that God is ALWAYS with you, in every circumstance and famine.

04/20/2025 Matthew 28: 1-9     The Empty TombThe Resurrection isn't just a story to believe in, it's a Savior to respond to.The defining moment of an empty tomb: The empty tomb changed everything. The Resurrection was not a surprise, Jesus foretold it many times during His ministry.When we come face-to-face with the empty tomb, we come face-to-face with the risen Savior.Roman 3:23; 6:23 (Reality vs Hope)How do you need to respond to the empty tomb? Come and see…then go and tell!2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

04/13/2025 Luke 22: 39-46       Choosing SurrenderThe defining moment of surrender comes in choosing God's will over our will.Two Gardens and the Battle of Surrender The First Garden: Eden (Genesis 2-3) Surrender point: Not Your will, but mine be done. The Second Garden: Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46) Surrender point: Not my will, but Your will be done.Everyday Garden Moments What are you willing to surrender? What are you not willing to surrender?

04/06/2025 2 Samuel 11, 12  Facing FailureThe defining moment in your failure is found in responding in repentance and surrender.Remember, failure is an event, not a destination. Failure is not fatal.Steps to getting stuck in the trap of sin:Think it -> want it -> do it -> pay for it. (Psalm 32; 2 Cor 10:5)David's Defining Moment (read 2 Samuel 11, 12)1 Cor 10:12 “if you think you are standing strong, be careful no to fall.”Remember: You are free to make choices, BUT, you are not free to choose the consequences for your choices.When you're facing failure:1. Get real - with God, with yourself, with others. Own it!     Psalm 51:3-4. (See also Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, you people, pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.)2. Get help (Psalm 51: 7-10; Ecc 4:9-12)3. Get up & face your failure (Psalm 51: 12-13)Failure is not final, unless you don't get up.

03/30/2025 Genesis 39        Joseph's Defining MomentTitus 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions & pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.Winning the War Against Temptation: 1 Cor 10:13 Temptation is not a sin. You can choose your sin, but you cannot choose the consequences.1. Surrender your life completely to Jesus. (Matt4:19; Lk 9:23-24; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 2:20) Start at the Cross.2. Identify your weak spots. (Jer 17:9; 1 Cor 10:12; Phil 4:19) Self-examination - every day. Talk to people about your struggles.3. Act in the face of temptation.  Stand firm ( 1 Pet 5;8-9; Eph 6:10-18; James 4:7) Flee: Run towards God! (Proverbs 22:3; 2 Tim 2:22)4. Repent when you give in to temptation. (1 John 1:9) 

03/23/2025 Genesis 45;50 Choosing to forgiveForgiveness is a defining moment that frees us from bitterness and aligns our hearts with God's grace.Unforgiveness traps us in the past, while forgiveness frees us for the future. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was yourself. Living with unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.Joseph's Defining Moment (Genesis 50)Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. (Col 3:13) (Titus 3:3-5a)Forgiveness is a releasing (better), not excusing (bitter).Forgiveness and ReconciliationWhat if God forgave you like you forgive others?Reconciliation and Healthy BoundariesWhat stops you from forgiving others?THE GUIDE TO GODLY FORGIVENESS When I need to be forgiven: 1. Face it 2. Own it. 3. Ask for it.When I need to forgive: 1. Face it. 2. Point it. 3. Release it.

03/16/2025 Genesis 12 Abram's Defining MomentWhen faced with the defining moment of the unknown, trust God's promises and walk in obedience.God called Abram to step into the unknown. (Gen 12:1)Abram was chosen by God, not because of who Abram was, but because of who God is.God gave Abram a command, “Go”, and a promise.Abram's response was to surrender to God's call. (Heb 11:8) 1. Trust requires surrender 2. Trust holds onto God's promises (Rom 8:28; Matt.                28:19-20)Blessing follows obedience (Luke 11:28; James 1:22)When faced with the unknown? What is God calling you to let go of to embrace Him and   His plan? What step of faith do you need to take even when you don't see the outcome? What promises has God given you that you need to trust in by living according to them?

03/09/2025 | Revelation 21:3 “Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: ‘Look, God's dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them and will be their God'. “Responding  to the Gospel involves:Genuine confession (Rom 3:23, 6:23).                             Genuine repentance                                                         Genuine faith (Hebrews 11)                                              Genuine obedience ( 1John 1:6; Rom 10:9)Four discoveries about our future that will change the way we live today: 1. We're going to receive new, imperishable bodies (1 For      15:52, 58; Col 3:1-4)                                                        2. Our final destination isn't up there, it's down here (Rev     21:1; Gen 1:1, Gen 1:31a)                                              3. God is coming to live with us! (Rev 21:3-4)                    4. God will form a new city beyond our imagination (Rev 21:2; Rev 22:1-5)

03/02/2025 John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live…”.God's perfect timing fulfills His purpose for His glory and reveals His love for us.What we expect God to do is not always what God actually does.Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life —> John 11 Every difficulty is an opportunity The difficulties may not be something we would choose, but they are something God will use. God's purposes for His glory were fulfilled because Jesus showed up late.Don't miss the lesson that God is trying to teach you through the waiting.Ultimately, when there's a gap between what I think God should do, and what He actually does, I need to (by His power) trust.1. Know that he knows; God will use your pain to draw you closer to Himself.2. Know that He cares; God cares more about your holiness than He cares about your happiness.3. Trust Him in the process; Your timetable and God's timetable are probably not the same.Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

02/23/2025 Hebrews 4:15   For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.Jesus is the Great High Priest who has made the way for us to be with the Father.The role of the High Priest in the Old Testament:Three primary responsibilities: 1. Mediation - Our representative to God 2. Sacrifice - Blood offering for sin 3. Intercession - Acts on our behalfJesus, our High Priest through Faith 1. Jesus is our Great High Priest Heb 4:14; Rom 8:34; Heb 1:3; 1 Tim 2:5 2. Jesus is our sympathetic High Priest Heb 4:15; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Tim 2:22 3. Jesus is our approachable High Priest Heb 4:16

02/16/2025 Matthew 9: 12-13 “Now when He heard this, He said ‘It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”Jesus specializes in choosing people the world overlooks.Who are the outcast in your life? How have you responded to them?Jesus and outcasts:1. Jesus calls the unexpected. Matt 4:19 Have you believed the lie that you have to clean yourself up before following Jesus? God' Kingdom isn't for those who think they have it all together, it's for those who know they need Him. Titus 3: 4-72. Jesus touches the untouchable Matt 8: 1-3 Who in your world feels untouchable? Do you feel like there's something about you that makes you “too far gone” for Jesus?3. Jesus lifts up the rejected. Matt 15: 21-28 Are there barriers in your own heart that keep you from seeing people the way Jesus sees them? Jesus consistently moves toward the people the world moves away from.How does Jesus want you to respond to the outcasts in your life?

02/09/20252 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”What if we spend our whole lives running hard, only to realize we were in the wrong race?What race are you running in life? Mk 8:36; 1 Tim 1:15To run the right race…1. Start by trusting Jesus as Savior. Rom 3:23; 6;23; 10:9; 1 Jn 1:8,10 The Gospel: a. Keeps us humble b. Reminds us that we are sinners c. Evokes praise d. Motivates us to do good works2. Continue by following Jesus as Lord. Col 2:63. Run with endurance. Heb 12: 1b-2a4. Finish well. 1 Jn 1:9What's your next step?

02-02-2025 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Euphony: a pleasing or sweet sound; harmony Cacophony: an incongruous or chaotic mixture or sound Romans 16 - Paul took time to develop and nurture relationships during his travels. Euphony is God's desire for His church; Euphony happens through diversity (see Galatians 3:28) A euphonious church; 1. Walks in sync with God's Word (2 Tim 3:16) 2. Lives in obedience to Jesus (John 14:15) 3. Stands united in mission (Phil 1;27) What is your next step?

01/26/2025 The Church is birthed and spreading like a wildfire. The Holy Spirit is God; The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. The Trinity: see Gal 1:26; Lk3:21; Acts 5; Debt 6; 1 Tim 2 1. God exists in three distinct Persons 2. Each Person is fully God 3. There is ONE God The Holy Spirit is God's acting agent in our lives to seal us, convict us, and transform us. The Church changed the fabric of every city they entered. God's dream for us; 1. We would spread the Gospel like wildfire 2. We would change the very fabric of our sphere of influence 3. We would make a clean break from our old life and step into our new life.

01/19/2025 | A Great Plot Twist “ This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45 Plot Twists Cleopas experienced a huge plot twist.  Possible storylines: Jesus was dead, Jesus was missing, Jesus was alive. What storyline are you believing right now? Cleopas' personal storyline: Failure Cleopas' experience is your experience also! Jesus is the ultimate plot twist to our story! Jesus is still working out the big story. Jesus has a great twist for your story also!

01-12-2025 | Two Critical Truths About The New Testament: 1. The NT reveals who Jesus is. a. Jesus' humanity: the Gospel shows us His life. John 1:1 b. Jesus' mission: He came to save us. John 10:10 & Rom 5:8 c. Jesus' on-going works: the early church. Acts 1:8 d. Jesus' future: The Book of Revelation. Rev 22:13 2. The NT offers life in His Name. Eph 2:1_10 John 20:31 “…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name. The NT was written so that we may know Jesus. Read Colossians 1:15-20

01/05/2025 God's Word changes us because: 1. The Bible is powerful. Isaiah 55:10-11   Psalm 27 2. The Bible has penetrating power that exposes us.  Jer 17:9 3. The Bible has examining power that transforms us. The Bible changes us through 1. Conviction 2 Timothy 3:16-17 2. Comfort Psalm 119: 50 3. Clarity Psalm 119: 105 4. Character formation Romans 12: 1-2

12/29/2024 I can trust the Bible because: 1. It's historically accurate; 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 6:18 2. It's scientifically accurate 3. It's prophetically accurate 4. It's thematically unified; John 5:39-40 5. It's confirmed by Jesus; Matt 5:17-19; Lk 11:28; Matt 24:37-39; Matt 12:40-41 6. It has survived all attacks; 1 Peter 1:24-25 7. It has transforming power; 2 Tim 3:16-17

12/24/2024 John 1:4-5 John 8:12 John 14:6 Romans 10:9 Matthew 5:14

12/22/2024 1 John 4:7-12 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Titus 3:4-7, John 3:16-18 Real love is experienced in Jesus. God's love for us is not based on our performance, God's love is unconditional. Love comes from God because God is love. God's love for us is undeserved. Love is evidence that we have been born again. God loves us because He chooses to love us. We are not good enough, we are not worthy of His love, but He chooses to love us as we are. 1. Receive God's love. Sin separates, Jesus unites. 2. Live God's love. Make it practicable in our daily walk. Our love for others is an expression, an outpouring, of our love for God.

12/15/2024 Luke 2:4-20

12/08/2024 Mark 4: 35-41     James 1: 2.  Jesus is our Peace! God may not calm the storm around you, but He can calm the storm within you. Storms are not something to get through, they're something to grow through. Finding peace in Jesus means spending time with Jesus. This is not something we would choose, but it's something God will use for our good and for His glory. The pursuit of peace is not a sprint, it's a marathon. The lesson in the storm is to realize that we need to focus on Jesus, not the storm. We need to be concerned with how we conduct ourselves during the tough times in our lives.

12/01/2024 Isaiah 9:2 & John 1:1-5 Jesus' arrival brings hope - a Light into our darkest circumstances. By faith in Jesus, we can have 1. Hope in the waiting 2. Hope in the darkness 3. Hope in our future in Christ

11-10-2024 Giving God Our First Fruits Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:2-10 We tend to give the Lord our leftovers and not our first fruits. We are stewards of what God blesses us with, not owners.

11-03 2024 Romans 16 As Christ followers, committed to being the church, together for the glory of God, building the kingdom of God, we must remember; 1. Relationships matter. Your relationship with God matters. How we treat people matters. 2. The Gospel matters. God's good news, promised in the Old Testament, centered on Jesus, designed to bring all people to the obedience of faith for the sake of Christ”s name, transforming everyone who believes. 3. Unity matters.  Have you responded to the life-changing Gospel message by faith?

10/27/2024 Romans 15:14-33 Christ followers are called to live a life on-mission that's surrendered to the Lord, for His glory, building the Kingdom of God. Being Christ followers who live on purpose means: 1. Having clarity of mission (vv14-21). 2. Having a willingness to be interrupted (vv22-29). 3. Having a commitment to community (vv30-33).

10/20/2024 Romans 15: 1-13 When we come together as Christ followers with one voice, we can experience the hope and encouragement that God intends for us. Being Christ followers who choose to live in unity, despite our differences, means bearing burdens with other (vv 1-2), following Christ's example (vv 3-4), choosing unity for God's glory (vv 5-6), accepting one another (vv 7-9), and reflecting hope for all people (vv 10-13).

10-13-2024 Romans 14 Christ followers need to choose love over being ‘ right' in the process of driving unity within the Body of Christ. Biblical commands and principles ALWAYS outweigh our personal convictions and preferences. Love ALWAYS trumps liberty.

10-06-2024 Romans 13:11-14 Christ followers need to recognize the times as live as children of light in a dark world. In order to live as Children of Light, Christ followers need to: Wake Up, Clean Up & Suit Up.

09/29/2024 Romans 13:8-10 The only debt that we will never exhaust is the debt to love people. Christ followers are called to love all people as we have been loved. Luke 10:25-37 Matthew 22:34-40 Galatians 5:22

09/22/2024 Romans 13:1-7 We live in a culture of offense. As a church, we don't want to simply teach you what to think, we want to teach you how to to think. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Daniel chs 1, 3, 6

“Have you ever been so busy doing for God, that you've neglected being with God?" Knowing Jesus and being known by Him are what really matter. Being busy for Jesus instead of being with Jesus does not lead to knowing Jesus. Look at Matt 7:22 and John 15:5b

09-08-2024 Romans 12-17-21 Who is your enemy? Stop blaming other people for their response to your actions. Do you love your enemies enough to want them to come to Jesus?

09/01/2024 Romans 12:9-16 Part 2 In view of God's mercy in our lives, we need to love God and love people for God's glory. A renewed mind leads to a renewed life. Christ followers follow Jesus in the context of community with a Gospel-centered love that's genuine, affectionate & honoring, passionately committed to Jesus, hopeful, hospitable, a blessing to others, filled with empathy, and unified.

08/25/2024 Romans 12:9-16 Part 1 In view of God's mercy in our lives, we need to love God and love people for God's glory. A renewed mind leads to a renewed life.

08/18/2024 Romans 12:3-8 As Christ followers, we love people through humbly serving as we are gifted.

08-11-2024 Romans 12-1-2 What does it mean to be truly in Christ? In view of God's mercy and all that He has done for us in Christ, our response as Christ followers is to love God, love people, and make disciples.

Romans 11: 11-36 God is working to bring about His promises and His purposes for His people and for the world.

Romans 11:1-10 God is always working in the world for the elect, even when we can't recognize it.

Romans 10:13-21 Have we established our own righteousness? God has accomplished everything that was necessary for our salvation.

Romans 9:30-10:13 Our role in salvation to believe. God chooses who is saved, those chosen accept His sovereign choice.

Missionary Jonathan Stone speaks about forgiving those who wrong us and being reconciled to them.

Romans 9:1-29 The promises and words of God have not failed even when things don't align or look like we think they should. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nbchurchcf/message

Romans 8:31-39 God is for us! If you're in Christ, God is for you and nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nbchurchcf/message

Romans 8:26-30 Christ followers have help through the Holy Spirit and God's sovereign plans for this life and the life to come --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nbchurchcf/message

Romans 8:18-25 Christ followers have hope in suffering, looking forward to all things being made new! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nbchurchcf/message