Northbridge Community Church

Today we worshiped at Northbridge Community Church, 216 Mystic Pine Trail, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, 724.371.1180, www.northbridge.org, Jame Price, Lead Pastor.

Scripture – NIV

1 Timothy 4:14-16 –

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

2 Timothy 1:6 –

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Bob’s thoughts:

We were welcomed in the parking lot, by the greeter, and by the usher. Only one non-staff person said hello.

There is still no cross and I’ve given up on finding out why.

I have never been to any kind of a concert but I imagine it must be like this: loud with flashing lights and roving spotlights. I thought if I turned my hearing aids off it would be bearable…I start to feel ill with the spotlight wandering. I guess my age is showing.

I enjoyed hearing a little of the female lead’s voice.

For me the message didn’t seem to fit the rock and roll atmosphere. I don’t know where it is recorded or what kind of venue, but it was well thought out and presented. Often biblical sermons lack application and this was well supported. I look forward to hearing the other parts.

The format is not my favorite but we share this: we are all hopeless sinners but for the saving grace of Christ.

Jan’s thoughts:

This is our first return visit in nearly four years, so we were curious what might have changed. We were among the first to arrive for the early service, so we had to wait for a few minutes until guests were permitted to enter the worship area.

We had some conversation with the person who handed us the cards with information about the message. Upon entering the worship space, greeters stand between the doorways and the seats. In anticipation of the volume, we sat against the back wall. The greeter nearest us was kind enough to let us know the coffee had been made available in the outer area since we sat down.

This being National Ice Cream Day, the pastor announced that free ice cream would be available following the service courtesy of Meadows, a local ice cream shop.

The singers’ voices blended well but I found the volume distracting. We stayed though and covered our eyes while the lights flashed.

The message was presented by Jeff Henderson from the Gwinnett campus of Northpoint Church. I found him engaging as he spoke on a topic near and dear to my heart: discerning one’s life purpose. He said that last week, in part one of this series, he taught that work was God’s idea. This week he mentioned some statistics: more than 1/3 of our lives are spent at work and approximately 80% of us are dissatisfied with our job. That’s a big number.

He stated there is no such thing as a job without purpose when viewed from God’s perspective. But the question remains for so many of us: How do I discover God’s will for my life? He said the most important thing he would say was: God’s thumbprints on you are clues about His plans for you.

(I will use personal pronouns here, as I felt he was speaking directly to me.) Stressing the importance of knowing my gifts and leveraging opportunities to use those gifts, he encouraged me to pay attention and do the work to discover how I am gifted because I will be held accountable by God for my failure to use His gifts. (As if it didn’t seem important enough before, now it feels imperative.)

He suggested to start the way he did: by emailing seven people who know me well and ask “what do you think I’m good at?” And pay attention to what people tell me, don’t be falsely humble and say it’s nothing, because it isn’t nothing, it’s important.

The church has developed a website with (mostly free) resources to help discern God’s thumbprints: www.northbridge.org/messages/dream-job. (I have bookmarked it for future use and can’t wait get started.)

Then he said that if I’m not willing to put in the time it takes to find out what God’s purpose is for my life, I forfeit the right to complain about it in the future. Fair enough…let’s go.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your church serves in Your Holy Name according to Your desires. Amen.

Northbridge Community Church

Today we worshiped at Northbridge Community Church, 216 Mystic Pine Trail, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.371.1180, www.northbridge.org, Jame Price, Lead Pastor.

Scripture – NIV

Romans 3:21-25

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:27

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

Bob’s thoughts:

There seemed to be far fewer people in worship here than I remembered; for many maybe a last vacation before back-to-school.

The music overpowered my earplugs so I stepped out of the sanctuary; I thought if I acted like a visitor someone might say hello. I was greeted by the parking attendant and the woman who held the door.

Andy Stanley’s message was a post script to some recent messages we have heard. We have been reminded that all sorts of people will be in heaven, and Andy’s message today talked about a church of reconciliation.

Every church has a church culture designed for church people, but the real truth is the common denominator: “for all have sinned”… none of us are better than others or closer to God than others, only that we are all justified by Christ.

It came to me with this that a lot of churches might want to rethink their membership classes; many are pre-occupied with “we’ve always done it this way.”

I liked the restroom signs that were timelines of coming events, not just church events but secular also.

Jan’s thoughts:

There is much that is welcoming about Northbridge such as friendly people who direct the parking efforts outside, friendly folks who hold the door open when you approach, and more friendly individuals who extend greetings between the entry door and the door to the sanctuary, and even inside the sanctuary. I was glad some members of our family were there to talk to though, because as much friendliness as we encountered, there was still no one to talk to.

The music was high-volume and well done, as always, and a spotlight of encouragement was pointed on volunteers.

I very much enjoy Andy Stanley’s messages. He is comfortable, animated, talks fast and sometimes stutters, but he comes across as genuine, humble, and honest.

Today’s message is hard to put into just a few words because it was about a lot of things: the culture in churches, the fact that every person who ever walked the earth – with the exception of Jesus Christ – has been unable to live up to God’s standard, and that God did something about it by sending His Son to die in our place. Andy called this “God’s buy-back program” and pointed out that it leveled the playing field.

He noted that “if the message of the church is for everybody, the culture of the church shouldn’t exclude anybody.”

He followed with a personal story about an exceptional friend whom he attempted to guide to faith in Christ and how in the process he himself became aware of the culture of the church in which he grew up.

I believe he is right on the money about church cultures being designed for church people, and I think most church people are oblivious to it. I know I was. I belonged to the same church for 30+ years, and I thought it was a friendly church that anyone could walk into and feel right at home. And I thought the same about the second church I belonged to. But after visiting churches for nearly 6 years now, I would say that every church has a culture whether they know it or not, and no church culture will “fit” everyone no matter how hard they try. Not in this world at least.

Is it good for a church culture to be so flexible that change is constant? I don’t know the answer to that, but it looks like this church may be aiming to find out.

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray we remember that our common denominator with all mankind is our sinfulness. Thanks be to God for our justification through faith in Christ. Amen.

Northbridge Community Church

Today we worshiped at Northbridge Community Church, 216 Mystic Pine Trail, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.371.1180, www.northbridge.org, Jame Price, Lead Pastor.

Scripture – 1 Samuel 16:6-13

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.”

So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Bob’s thoughts:

I thought it odd to revisit a church that we had worshiped at a few times. The purpose was to help our grandchildren feel more comfortable in their respective child care areas. I don’t know what support we might have been, seeing them before and after the service (children are not present in the sanctuary), but we went. We both got a lot from the sermon and didn’t doubt God’s leading us there.

Some random observations:

• We have been welcomed, but even when identified as visitors we were not engaged in conversation. I thought that conversation with visitors might come easier at a church that valued small groups.
• I am not sure of the purpose of the parking attendants. For me they seem like one more distraction to worry about in a small parking area.
• I don’t know if attendance is kept, but it looked like there are fewer people each time we visit. Perhaps the early service is more sparsely attended.

The church is presented as an alternative for those not comfortable with traditional church, so I can see where a cross or other symbolism might not be welcoming. I hear all the references (“We raise our cross,” etc.) and wonder if the symbols should be there.

The offering is taken up very efficiently, passing a small bucket down each row and someone retrieving at the other end of the row.

The message was another from a series by Andy Stanley and raised the question what does God think about you? Not does God think what I think about me? God’s interest is not what we have done in the past but where our hearts are today.

He talked about peoples’ excuses for discerning God’s will for them. I have said that I lament God waiting 50 years to call me, and now realize maybe I wasn’t listening so well. The parts of my life that I thought were such a detriment to serving Christ are frequently the very things He uses for His glory.

When Northbridge moved in one of the major improvements for me was a sign on Freedom Crider Road identifying where to turn; I hope they bring it back.

Jan’s thoughts:

In an effort to help the grandchildren adjust to their new surroundings, we again visited Northbridge.

Truth be told, I was happy to do so; partly for the grandchildren, of course, but partly because I wanted to hear the conclusion of the message series, “Game Plan,” about finding God’s will for my life. The one previous message for which I had been present started me on a journey of self-discovery that has continued for the last three weeks and which shows no signs of ending soon. In short, I was hooked.

More people spoke with us than in the past, possibly because we arrived earlier than usual before things got very busy.

Andy Stanley preached the final installment in this message series, and I do appreciate his preaching style. He is relaxed, conversational, and well-grounded in Scripture.

One of the major points was that humans tend to think that God thinks about us the way we think about us, that He takes His cue about us from us. But based on the Scripture above, it is clear that “God does not see as man sees.” Andy pointed out that “what you did yesterday is of far less concern to God than where your heart is today. God is in the redemption and restoration business, and He uses the things we consider obstacles to bring about His plans in and through us.”

This afternoon I have begun listening to the messages I missed from this series, and I plan to listen to them all. The messages are accessible from the church’s website, and I highly recommend this series if you, like me, are trying to discern God’s plan for your life.

Our prayer for this church:
Dear Father, We pray for discernment for this congregation, that they may hear Your call. And when they obey Your will may they be amazed at how You use their objections for Your and their good. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Northbridge Community Church

Today we worshiped at Northbridge Community Church, 216 Mystic Pine Trail, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.371.1180, www.northbridge.org, Jame Price, Lead Pastor.

Scripture:

1 Timothy 4:14-15 –
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

2 Timothy 1:6 –

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Bob’s thoughts:

We revisited in part to see how children were handled in the nursery, and I was impressed with the efficiency and the loving care that our grandchildren received. There is a computerized check-in system with name tags printed for the child and adults, including grandparents, authorized to pick up.

It is also possible to register children online the night before a visit. My daughter was given a passcard to scan when they revisit.

There were some goal posts around the projection screens, but still no cross.

During the announcements some photos of a nursery area were projected on the screens which made me think it might be fun to project some real-time shots of the children in the nursery areas. Some churches project the children’s message for all to see and this always seemed well-received.

As we both have experienced a change, we have been investigating our spiritual gifts. Today’s sermon about the thumbprints of God was Christ’s leading. A principle was raised that we should hold ourselves only accountable to God. Many times clergy have stressed using our gifts for God, but this was the first who brought up how that would affect others. God has blessed you with gifts you can use to bless others as He directs. You are part of God’s overall plan…don’t disappoint Him.

Jan’s thoughts:

Now that we have family staying with us temporarily, we pay more attention to the child care facilities and arrangements when we visit a church.

We have attended this church once before, but J & S, our daughter and son-in-law, wanted to visit and we wanted to lend our support, as well as to see it from the perspective of someone with little ones.

From that perspective, it was efficient, caring, colorful, and safe. Children are checked in; parents/guardians receive nametags with numbers linking them to the appropriate child/ren.

One of the grandchildren was anxious about going into the room even though her sister was in the same room. But she joined her sister and afterward said she had lots of fun. And Mom and Dad appreciated the opportunity to worship together for the first time in a good while.

We were privileged to witness an adult baptism, for which the congregation was encouraged to “cheer loudly for a changed life.” What a terrific approach, and very different from the staid Presbyterian style with which I grew up. He was baptized “in the name of the Father Who loves you, the Son Who died for you, and the Holy Spirit Who lives in you.” I liked that.

The current series is entitled “Game Plan” and this, Part 3 called “The Playbook,” was presented by Jeff Henderson.

Today’s visit was another reminder to me that God guides us to the church He wants us to visit.

I have always been interested in spiritual gifts, and for the last several weeks have taken several written and online. This message was centered on our unique gifts, God’s specific plan for each life, and discovering the gifts we have been given and how God expects us to use them.

Paul equates life with a race, so much the same language was used. He stated that a common obstacle is running someone else’s race, i.e., living our life based on someone else’s expectations or lack thereof. He reminded that Scripture tells us to “run with endurance” and that God will not hold us accountable for someone else’s race.

He referred to gifts as “God’s thumbprints,” and said they “are clues to His plan for you. We need to lean into them, not turn away from them.”

Besides knowing our gifts, we need to “leverage opportunities to use our gifts.” In other words, recognize them, acknowledge them, then do something with them, remembering that they were given to us so we could use them for others’ sake. It’s not about us. And at the finish line we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The other point that spoke loudly to me was if we pray for opportunities to use our gifts, God will show up and provide them. Personally this is encouraging, as that’s where I am.

I came home and took the online spiritual gift assessment on the website (www.northpointministries.org/gameplan). The results were much the same as the others I had taken recently, so I think I have a pretty good handle on my gifts; however I have no idea how God wants me to use them. So I will take his advice and pray, trusting God to show up and give me an indication of how He wants me to use His gifts.

Our prayer for this church:
Father, we pray this church continues to look for ways to praise and honor You. Awaken them to the talents with which You have blessed them that they might use these gifts to glorify You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Northbridge Community Church

Today we worshiped at Northbridge Community Church, 216 Mystic Pine Trail, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.371.1180, www.northbridge.org, Jame Price, Lead Pastor.

Scripture –

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Colossians 4:5-6

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Bob’s thoughts:

It was interesting to visit a church building we have been to with a new church at home. I would have thought there would be little to comment on as far as the physical plant, but there was a glaring change in addition to the name sign: there were directional signs at the two turns to get to the church. We had a long running joke about “the church you can’t get to” which Northbridge addressed right off. The second thing that jumped out was signs cautioning to slow down on the neighborhood streets leading to the church. I would think this is a gracious example of thoughtfulness to the neighborhood.

Another interesting change is a countdown on the screen showing the start time for the service. There was no cross, but hopefully one is still to come as this church is still moving in. The volume is still loud (for us), but I brought ear plugs for the music and liked what I heard with them.

I was blessed to have a young family sit right in front of us: I was playing peek-a-boo with their children then we had a very nice conversation with the parents after the service. Two people noted my Marine shirt and thanked me for my service…always humbling, and appreciated.

The message was presented on the screen by Charles Stanley’s son Andy. I felt Christ used him to speak to me directly (that has happened a lot lately). The sermon was about the church making a difference, not a point. We are embarrassingly quick to judge non-Christians, and invite them to change and be like us. It brought to mind the old comic strip Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

There was a thought toward the end of the message that we as a church should walk toward the messes, another correlation in my mind to the Marines running toward the gunfire. I need to do more of this for Christ.

I thought the next time t-shirts are printed they might consider exchanging “Guest Services” for just “Servant.”

Jan’s thoughts:

This building was formerly occupied by Grace Community Church, which has moved into their newly-built facility, and Northbridge is very excited to be here. Since we had visited this location when it was Grace, we remembered our way around. However, it was easy to know of whom to ask questions: just look for someone wearing a bright yellow t-shirt that read “Guest Services” on the back.

We were greeted at the door, at the visitor desk, and by several others who were not official greeters, including one young family who sat in the row in front of us. Mom and Dad let their 1-year-old play peek-a-boo with us, and then took the time to chat with us after worship.

Although this service contained the usual elements of praise music, prayer, announcements, and offering, there was something that was a first for me: a recorded sermon by someone other than a pastor on staff. And more than that, the preacher was Andy Stanley.

I have known of Andy Stanley for some time, however today was the first time I’ve heard him preach, and I’m very glad his sermons are available online because he is worth listening to. He is knowledgeable, he makes sense, is open and honest, and is incredibly good at engaging the congregation even from the screen.

His sermon was called “The Separation of Church and Hate.” (Love the title!) He began by stating that he grew up as part of a denomination that was against everything, so when he was 28 years old there was much ado when the city’s gay parade was scheduled to be out front of their building just as church was letting out. Everyone was upset, and when the time came and parishioners were confronted with the parade as they exited the church, and what they saw was that the church across the street from them had set up tables containing glasses of water which they were handing out to those in the parade. This made him think. (It makes me think, too…)

He went on to say that as he studied he learned that the only people Jesus or Paul were against were those who were against everything, and he then gave examples of how both Jesus and Paul leaned relationally toward those with whom they disagreed the most.

He pointed out that Jesus and Paul shared other similarities in that they were not concerned about guilt by association and they refused to be dragged into debates that distracted them from primary issues.

There was so much in this message that I can’t outline it and do it justice, but the bottom-line point was that when dealing with people it’s always easier to make a point than to make a difference, but if we live our lives loving others and giving grace, we will have made a point because we made a difference. Making a difference IS the point.

I would like to return to hear a message by the pastor from this church, but today I was incredibly blessed to hear Andy Stanley’s message. It was precisely what I needed to hear.

Our prayer for this church:
Father, we pray You lead this church to get down and dirty to reach those who don’t yet know how much they need You. Keep them from being a “clean hands” church, but let them experience the joy of serving You as they are called, and make a difference. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.