North Point Community Church

From an early age, we learn quickly to look for loopholes in the rules. We try to figure out what we can get away with and still be okay. We tend to take this same mindset into our relationship with God, but it doesn’t work. When we opt for loopholes and workarounds, we find ourselves in a category no one wants to be in: hypocrites. Jesus calls us to move beyond loophole religion.

Whether it’s school, sports, or religion, when we focus only on the rules, it can be difficult to remember the overall purpose of something. Jesus reminds us that when we focus so much on the letter of the law, we may forget why the law was written in the first place.

Jesus ignored certain religious protocols. He claimed to have authority to forgive sin. He was uncomfortably comfortable with unrepentant sinners. In this message, we hear about three encounters that showed Jesus came to reverse the order of things.

We often read the Bible for application, inspiration, or direction. However, there are times when the author wants to simply point the reader to a big idea—an idea that fits with God's grand story. In the Gospel of Mark, we read about Peter's experience with Jesus that led Peter to believe in one big idea: the kingdom of God is near, and everyone is invited to participate.

It’s easy to want the outcomes that make our lives better, but it’s hard to make some of the decisions that will get us there. Whether it’s pride, lack of follow-through, or failing to trust the process, the change you need to make could come down to one simple word.

We all want to be the best versions of ourselves. To do that, we steer clear of things we know will bring us down. There’s one thing we all need to steer clear of, but it just may be that you’re already knee-deep in something without even knowing it.

The unity and diversity of the early church shocked and intrigued the ancient world. Ours should as well.

Our political views are shaped by a number of variables: our backgrounds, education, and personal experiences to name a few. It’s easy to feel like our view is the right one, but the person beside you is more precious to God than your political view.

Your favorite candidate will win or lose based on how our country votes this November. However, the church will win or lose based on our behavior between now and then.

There are a lot of things you need to do this year. There are a lot of things you can and will do. But what’s one thing you must do? Maybe just as importantly—what might keep you from doing it?