This Week at Northbrook
Discontentment always starts small, but it never stays small. It eats away at your joy, blinds you to God’s provision, and leaves you chasing what will never satisfy. So here’s the question: what have you been craving lately that may be an indicator you don’t really believe God is enough?
We all like to know where we’re going and how long it will take to get there. But what if God cares more about shaping you on the journey than getting you to the destination? How willing are you to let Him set the pace?
This Sunday we begin a new series called Forged, walking through Israel’s wilderness years in Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Numbers 9, God leads His people with a cloud by day and fire by night—a visible reminder that His presence, His path, and His pace are what matter most. For Israel, and for us, the joy of God’s promises begins with daily dependence.
Alarms are meant to wake us up. They remind us something urgent is happening that can’t be ignored. So here’s the question, if eternity really is at stake, what is it going to take for you to start living like it?
This Sunday, we’ll wrap up our Threads series in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, where Paul shows us how eternity changes everything about how we see ourselves and others. In Christ, we are made new, reconciled to God, and sent out as his ambassadors. Eternity isn’t a distant thought, but it's God’s call to live with urgency right now, pleading with others to be reconciled to him.
We’re not "basically good people who just need a little help." The Bible paints a far more sobering picture. So here’s the question: when God says no one is righteous, do you believe him, or do you quietly make yourself the exception?
This Sunday, we continue our THREADS series by looking at the second thread of the gospel—our complete sinfulness—through Romans 3:9-20. Paul doesn’t leave any wiggle room. The damage is done. The ruin is real. Our words and our walk expose the truth: we’re all guilty before a holy God. But here’s the good news, Jesus offers his perfect righteousness, not as a reward for your effort, but as a gift to be received by faith.
We’re kicking off a brand-new series this week called Threads, where we’ll trace the core truths of the gospel—truths that connect every part of our faith and transform the way we live.
Holiness is where it all begins. God’s holiness is a reality that exposes our hearts and changes our lives. So here’s the question, have you ever truly considered what would happen if you stood in the presence of a perfectly holy God?
What if the pain you rushed through was actually a place where God was quietly pulling you closer to himself? Sometimes clarity doesn’t come in the moment but in the looking back. Like we often say, hindsight is 20/20.
This Sunday in Psalm 18, we’ll join David as he reflects on the darkest chapters of his life. At the time, it felt like chaos. But now, with age and perspective, he sees God’s steady hand at work. This passage helps us reframe our past, not just as something to survive, but as something God can use to grow trust, shape character, and stir gratitude. Psalm 18 invites us to reexamine our own story with fresh eyes and renewed trust.
Every throne on earth eventually crumbles, but not the Lord's. So, if Jesus is already reigning as King, what space in your life still resists his authority and rule? And if you really believed he’s already won, how does that change the way you live today?
This Sunday, we’ll walk through Psalm 110, a powerful prophecy that pulls back the curtain on Jesus as our ruling, priestly, and victorious King. He’s not waiting to reign someday. He’s reigning right now. And he deserves our full allegiance, not just in eternity, but in every square inch of our lives today.
What you remember will shape what you pursue. When did you last feel deeply drawn to God, not just out of duty, but out of desire?
This Sunday, we’ll walk through Psalm 132, a song of remembrance that calls us to rekindle our passion for God’s presence. Just as David refused to rest until the ark returned to its rightful place, we’re invited to live with that same kind of holy urgency—to make God central, not just symbolic. His presence isn’t just a concept; it’s our peace, our joy, and our power to keep going.
We sing loudest about what we love most. So what’s your heart actually singing about these days? And if the joy has gone quiet, what might that be telling you about what’s at the center of your life?
This Sunday in Psalm 96, we’ll be reminded that the presence of God is what truly awakens our hearts to sing. Not circumstances, not success, not fleeting moments of happiness, but the living God, rightly placed at the center of our lives. His glory stirs lasting joy, and his nearness brings songs out of dry places.
We crave clarity. But we often ignore the voice that’s been speaking all along.
Have you ever felt like God is silent, only to realize you’ve been too distracted to hear him? What if the distance you feel from God isn’t because he stopped speaking, but because you stopped listening?
This Sunday, we’ll explore Psalm 19, where David reminds us that God is always speaking, through the beauty of creation, the truth of his Word, and the gracious correction of his Spirit. But God doesn’t speak to impress us; he speaks to transform us.
We become what we're rooted in. What does that look like for you? What’s really shaping who you’re becoming; is it God’s Word or something else you’ve let take root?
This Sunday, we’re launching our summer series Soulprints with Psalm 1, a powerful opening to the Psalms that lays out two distinct ways to live: one that flourishes and one that fades. Enjoying the good life isn’t about avoiding hardship or chasing worldly success; it’s about planting yourself deeply in God’s Word, walking in his ways, and connecting to his people.
If you really believed Jesus could return today... would anything you’re planning to do tomorrow still matter?
This Sunday, we’ll be in 2 Peter 3:8-18, where Peter reminds us that Christ’s return isn’t delayed; it’s purposeful and will be right on time. God’s timing is mercy, not hesitation. And while we wait for the Lord's return, we’re called to live with urgency, holiness, purpose, and a deepening love for Jesus and others.
How do you know if what you’re hearing, even from someone “spiritual," is really true? What’s your filter?
This Sunday, we’ll look at 2 Peter 2 and Jude 17-25, where both Peter and Jude warn us about the danger of spiritual counterfeits—voices that sound close to truth but quietly lead us away from Jesus. In a world full of noise, we need a life that’s filtered through Christ: grounded in His Word, alert to deception, and surrounded by faithful believers.
This Week at Northbrook: May 9, 2025
If someone took a look at your life right now… would they see a faith that’s built to last—or something starting to lean and crack under pressure?
This Sunday, we’ll open 2 Peter 1:3–11, where Peter calls us to build a life that’s anchored in Christ and designed for spiritual growth, not spiritual drift. God has already given us everything we need—his power, his promises, and his presence. But it’s our daily pursuit of Christ that builds a life of purpose, endurance, and joy.
This Week at Northbrook: May 2, 2025
Consider this with me, when life feels uncertain, overwhelming, or just plain heavy…where do you go with all of that? And maybe more importantly: who are you becoming in the middle of it?
This Sunday, we’ll close out 1 Peter in 1 Peter 5:6–11, where Peter gives us a powerful strategy for not just surviving hardship—but thriving in it. It all begins with humility. When we kneel under God’s mighty hand, we can cast our anxieties on Him, stand firm against the enemy, and rest in the unshakable rule of our good and sovereign God.
