10.06.2020 + Encourage One Another + No. 6

 

Hello, My Family,

I first came to Northpoint roughly seven years ago. The church I left had been my home for over 20 years and was the only other church I had ever known. Suffice to say, leaving that church was a daunting decision. I still remember lying on my bed one night, pleading that God would lead me to a church that would help me to grow in my faith. A church where I could find new and lasting friendships. A church filled with people who genuinely love God and who long to see His purposes fulfilled on this earth. To say that God heard and answered my prayers is an understatement. In fact, God’s response to this prayer helps me to grasp the meaning of Ephesians 3:20 when Paul says that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” Amen Paul, amen. God has blessed me far more abundantly than I could have ever asked by leading me to Northpoint.

Now, I am even more blessed to share with you five things I love about Northpoint.

 

 

1. Bible-centered theology
I sincerely love that the Bible is the center of all the things we seek to accomplish here at Northpoint. I never understood how utterly critical it is that the church and its leadership be grounded on the firm foundation that is the Word of God. Northpoint taught me how to approach the Word with reverence. I learned how the Bible should guide how you think about everything. There is no other guide. It is with great sadness that I say there are churches that do not insist upon the centrality of the Word of God. They rely on other means and let their thinking be guided by other things. As a result, there are many Christians who are starving for the Word to be taught faithfully. I say this not to sadden you, but that I may refresh your thankfulness to God for what He has allowed us to have. We are abundantly blessed. Let us continue to learn well so that if any of those starving Christians come across our path, we may lead them also to the firm foundation of the Word of God.

2. The discipleship of peers
While at Northpoint, I have had several men come alongside me and disciple me in the faith. They have taught me, been an example to me, and loved me. I had not known this sort of friendship until I came to Northpoint. To have people look past my weaknesses, be patient with my mistakes, and work for my good, has deepened my understanding of the love Jesus Christ showed when He spent three long years of ministry with sinful human beings. What is even more amazing is that my experience is not the only one. I have witnessed this sort of love being displayed in so many other people at our church. Northpoint is filled with people who are willing to bear the burdens of another in order that we all may grow in Christ! I cannot help but love Northpoint because of this.

3. The opportunity to serve
My last one leads directly to this one. After being so loved by my friends, I am encouraged to go out and do the same for others. I have had the pleasure of serving in various ministries throughout Northpoint including Student Ministries, the Revolve College Group, and the music/tech side of things. After God, working through His people, shows me His love, I get to turn around and do the same where there is a need. What a remarkable thing! I wish I could say that my service is always filled with that attitude. Sadly, I’m only a man and fall short. However, I do seek to remind myself that service is the opportunity for us to show God’s love to others, and I am so thankful that God has provided me a place to serve my church family.

4. The blessing of belonging
In Christ, we are all part of the family of God. He has brought us together by His death on the cross. However, even though we are already one people, the fullness of that will not come to fruition until the next life. The fourth thing I love about Northpoint is that I am already beginning to taste and see what we will become: a people full of love toward each other. We are far from perfect, but after being loved by my friends and then being able to serve and love them in return, we are knit together. We are united in that love, and we begin to feel what it means to truly belong to one another. The more I attend Northpoint, the more I experience what Christ died to create: a community where no one is an outcast, and we all belong. May Christ come soon and complete this work in us.

5. Fortitude in suffering
The last thing I’ve come to love about Northpoint has come at the cost of personal and communal suffering. Our church has been tried in more ways than one. We have lost quite a lot. Despite all this, it has been incredibly encouraging to see what a group of people can withstand when they are united in Christ. I’ve seen people who are in the worst times of their lives, lift up their hands and cry out, “All I have is Christ!” Worship in the midst of suffering; what a bittersweet thing to see. I love that God has used our trials to display the power of His Spirit working in us so that we may know the gates of hell will not prevail against His people. He is with us. He will never leave us; He will never forsake us. Let us give thanks that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

These are my five things. Thanks for reading.

Craig Mulari
Member of Northpoint Church