North Avenue Church Podcast

Breaking Down a Conversation with Two Mormon (LDS) Missionaries

Here Mark breaks down a conversation he had with two Mormon "missionaries" over nine years ago.

You can watch this video here.

Ezra a Man of God | Ezra 7-8

Here is Greg's outline for the message:

1. Ezra’s godly heritage (7:1-5)
2. Ezra’s devotion to God’s Word (7:6, 10-11)
3. Ezra’s favor with God and man (7:6, 9, 11-28; 8:31)
4. Ezra’s zeal for God’s temple (7:7-8; 8:1-20, 24-36)

5. Ezra’s trust in God’s power and protection (8:21-23)

You can watch this message here.

God is Love | 1 John 4:7-12

The team discusses God's love which is so richly described in this passage.

What Do Mormons ('Latter Day Saints') Believe?

Why is it incorrect to list Mormonism ('Latter Day Saints') within the Christian faith?

You can watch this message here.

Discernment Needed: Test the Spirits | 1 John 4:1-6

The team picks the 1 John series back up after an extended break. Here we are exhorted to have biblical discernment as Christians.

Put on the Whole Armor of God | Ephesians 6:10-20

Greg and Zach Hutzell do a great job walking us through this fantastic passage on spiritual warfare and the armor of God.

How God's Word Creates Obedient Worship Despite Opposition | Ezra 3-6

As we overview four chapters of Ezra, here is the outline:

1. Two Kinds of Opposition: a) Compromise from within (4:1-3); b) Pressure from without (4:4-5, 24; 5:3-4)
2. God Providentially works through Political Leaders (5:5-6:13)
3. God Providentially works through His Word (5:1-2; 6:14-22 Haggai 1-2)

You can watch this message here.

How Suffering Gives Us an Opportunity to Proclaim God's Goodness and Gospel to the Watching World

Picking up from the first eight points of the last message, here we cover two more reasons God prunes us:

(9) To give us new opportunities to proclaim the gospel! [Philippians 1:12-14]

(10) To show the world we have a different kind of hope [1 Peter 3:14-17]

Eight Reasons God Prunes Us Through Suffering | John 15:2

John 15:2 | God's Good and Painful Pruning

• How does God prune us? Through trials, difficulties, discipline, and suffering
• Why does God prune us? Because He loves us and wants us to bear more fruit

John 15:2b, "...every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

• God’s pruning is never meaningless. It is always wise, every bit is necessary, nothing is wasted. It is always and only ever for our good.

What kind of "fruit" does God seek by pruning us?

EIGHT REASONS GOD PRUNES US:

1. To purify our faith like gold [1 Peter 1:3-7]
2. To help us grow in obedience [Hebrews 12:11]
3. To increase our assurance [John 15:8]
4. To make us more humble [2 Corinthians 12:7-10]
5. To give us full, otherwordly joy [John 15:11]
6. To enable us to comfort others [2 Corinthians 1:3-4]
7. To prepare for us an eternal weight of glory [2 Corinthians 4:16-18]
8. To give us deeper fellowship with Jesus [Philippians 3:10-11]

Charlie Kirk's Christ-Centered Memorial Service: Highlights and Reflections

Yesterday, approximately 200,000 people came to the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizon, to celebrate Charlie Kirk's life. Listen in with us to some of the highlights as so many speakers pointed to Jesus Christ and the gospel explicitly. Let's pray that the Lord uses this great for the salvation of many!

You can watch this message here.

God's Promise-Keeping Providence in a Pagan World | Ezra 1:1-3:6

Main idea: God's providence ensures that God's promises to His people are fulfilled. And the final result is His glory!

1. God brings Nebuchadnezzar against his people
2. God stirs Cyrus to action
3. God stirs his people to action

You can watch this message here.

Six Pastoral Reflections on Charlie Kirk's Assassination

You can watch this excerpt here and the full message here.

Unashamed Courage to Speak the Truth without Fear | 2 Timothy 1:6-14

In this message, we delayed our series in Ezra for a week to address the events regarding Charlie Kirk's assassination this past Wednesday. How are Christians supposed to think and act biblically in response to a tragedy like this?

You can wath this message here.

Lessons From Paul's Friends: Aristarchus, Luke, Mark, & Demas | Philemon 15-16, 23-24

In this final message in the book of Philemon, we glean several lessons from the friends Paul mentions in this letter, especially in the conclusion.

1. Philemon and Onesimus: Slavery Transformed (vv. 15-16)
2. Aristarchus and Luke: Faithfulness Modeled (v. 24)
3. Mark and Demas: Perseverance Needed (v. 24)

You can watch this message here.

Tears on Jesus' Feet: Those Who are Forgiven Much, Love Much | Luke 7:36-50

Here are the four points of Scott's message:

1. A sinful woman (vv. 36-38)
2. An angry Pharisee (v. 39)
3. A powerful parable (vv. 40-43)
4. A gracious Savior (vv. 44-50)

You can watch this message here.