In the Know

Digging Deeper Thurs. 02/23: Are you light in a dark world?

Read 1 Peter 3:16 and Matthew 5:14. Is your “good behavior in Christ” shining in the darkness of the moral culture in which you live? Being light in a dark world is not being proud or arrogant. It’s not being confrontational and condemning. Light is warm. Light brings clarity. Light is attractive. What will it mean for us to be light in a dark world? We must out-love, out-live, out-give, and out-pray the people of this world. You should be different all the time. You should stand out all the time. Ask yourself, “Am I blending in to my surroundings or am I standing out with the light of Christ?" Ask God to help you be light in a dark world so others might be drawn to Him.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/pray to watch the video of Sunday's sermon "Friends & Community: Step into the Circle," part three of the Pray series. Or go to www.northstarchurch.org/sermons to listen to the audio-only version.

Digging Deeper Wed. 02/22: Are you kind?

Read 1 Peter 3:15. Not only does Peter tell us that it’s important to share “what” our hope-filled life is attributed to, but “how” we do it is also important. Peter had already said Christians should be sympathetic, tender, loving, and humble (1 Peter 3:8); he had explained that we should not return insult for insult (1 Peter 3:9). Here, Peter says that if we are asked to explain our faith, we must do so with gentleness and respect. Believers were not to be arrogant, rude, or overly aggressive. They were to trust God for the outcome of any hostile situation (where they were being challenged), and they were to trust the Holy Spirit to work quietly in the hearts of their listeners. Ask God to help you respond with kindness to the negative and derogatory words and actions from others because of your faith.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/pray to watch the video of Sunday's sermon "Friends & Community: Step into the Circle," part three of the Pray series. Or go to www.northstarchurch.org/sermons to listen to the audio-only version.

Digging Deeper Tues. 02/21: Are you ready?

Read 1 Peter 3:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. What if someone came up out of the blue and said, "What is the reason for your hope?" Would you be ready to talk about the influence of Jesus Christ in your life? The truth is that if we are showing a changed life in front others, they are going to be curious at some point. They will ask because they see something in your life that is unexplainable. Is there something about you that is not explainable in human terms? Can they explain the life of (insert your name here) apart from Jesus Christ? Ask God to help you live a life that can only be explained by the life change that Jesus Christ is bringing to your life.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/pray to watch the video of Sunday's sermon "Friends & Community: Step into the Circle," part three of the Pray series. Or go to www.northstarchurch.org/sermons to listen to the audio-only version.

Digging Deeper Mon. 02/20: Who wears the crown?

Read 1 Peter 3:15 and James 4:7. When Peter uses the words “set apart,” he means that we should put Christ above all else in our lives. To set aside Christ as Lord means that we don’t merely admit that He is Lord in a generic sense. Rather, remove the crown off your head and put it upon His head. This is something we do not only once when we first meet Christ but it should be a conscious act of our will each morning. There is only one crown in your life today. Who is wearing it? Ask God to help you keep the crown off your head and on Christ’s head today and every day.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. This week's sermon, "Friends & Community: Step into the Circle," part three of the Pray series, will be posted online soon.

Pray for our India mission team

Pray for our India mission team as they depart today; they will return February 26. Pray for the salons that they are setting up for the women of the Red Light District that the business they bring will help them get out of the life of poverty and prostitution. Here's a guide for the next few days:

Wednesday, February 15-Friday, February 17: We are traveling and then arriving and touring Mumbai.   We’ll be 17 hours on the plane and going over several time zones.

Saturday, February 18: Taking Koyana Express, a ten hour trip by train.  We will arrive in Miraj at night.

Sunday, February 19: Mike will preach at the Miraj Christian Church and Marsha will preach to the women and children in Red Light District.  Possible service for nurses at night.

Monday, February 20: Marsha will give a devotion to the nurses at 7:00am.  Group will sing songs for the nurses led by Melissa. We will meet the doctors and staff at Wanless hospital and tour the hospital. We will then go to the Home of Hope and meet the girls who are orphans and have been saved from the sex trade. We will also go to the Hospice and pray for the sick.  We will do VBS for the girls. Each member of the team has a part that they will do for the VBS. Next we will tour the Red Light District while prayer walking. We will begin teaching hair cutting and manicures to the women. Each member will help teach.  Big day!

Tuesday, February 21: Devotions for nurses- Debra will give devotion.  Dental camp at Red Light District. All members will help.  More teaching of hair cutting and manicures.  More time with girls at Home of Hope and VBS.

Wednesday, February 22: Same except we will also be feeding the poor and changing to Boy’s home. Jessica will do devotion.

Thursday, February 23: Same except we visit school and talk to the students.  Melissa will do devotion.

Friday, February 24: Home of Hope visit and VBS, special evening party and meal with them.

Saturday, February 25: Still up in air and being planned. Plans include prayer with those at the Leprosy Hospital and touring the Miraj village.

I think with these plans you have lots of opportunity to pray!!

Your to know list for 02/10: Cookies & juice Big Give!

Hi NorthStar! Card? Check. Flowers? Check. Chocolates? Check. Prayer? Prayer?! Valentine’s Day is just a few days away. And remember what Mike said last Sunday: Prayer saves marriages! It’s hard to fight when you pray together. Here’s your to know list for this weekend from NorthStar's In The Know:

• PRAY SERIES CONTINUES SUNDAY: Mike continues our new five-week series on prayer with part 2, “Church: Step into the Circle,” this Sunday, February 12. Services are at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the Kennesaw campus (in Compass and True North venues) and at 10:00 a.m. at the Dallas campus (at Abney Elementary School). Send a free Pray evite and invite a friend at www.northstarchurch.org/evites.
• FEBRUARY BIG GIVE THIS SUNDAY: COOKIES & JUICE BOXES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS DANCE: Once again we are supplying cookies and juice boxes for 400-500 special needs kids from all over Cobb County at the Kennesaw Mountain High special needs dance. Bring in cookies of any kind, store-bought or homemade (no peanut products please), and juice boxes. You can bring them all in this Sunday morning, February 12. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/biggive for more info.
• STARTING POINT BEGINS SUNDAY: NorthStar will be offering a Group this semester called Starting Point on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. If you are new in your faith, are searching for truth, or have recently returned to church, this group is perfect for you! It starts on February 12 in the True North Conference Room. Please register at www.northstarchurch.org/groups.
• MEMBERSHIP CLASS THIS SUNDAY: Ready to join forces with your new NorthStar family and become a member? Find out what membership is all about in this no-pressure session. This Sunday, February 12, 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m., Conference Room, Compass building. Register at www.northstarchurch.org/firststeps.
• BAPTISM THIS SUNDAY AT NORTHSTAR DALLAS: Is it time for you to take the plunge? You’ve given your heart to Christ and become His follower. Now it’s time to take that next step of obedience. Sunday, February 12, 11:00 a.m. Register at www.northstarchurch.org/firststeps.
• AXIS 4:15 STARTS BACK AT NORTHSTAR DALLAS SUNDAY: Axis 4:15 returns this Sunday afternoon, February 12. Students in grades 6-12, join us for Axis 4:15, small groups located at the Seven Hills Club House every Sunday from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.! Any questions contact Clay Davis at clay.davis@northstarchurch.org.
• WINGS ‘N’ JESUS SUNDAY EVENING: Guys in grades 8-12 are invited to join us for the next Wings ‘n’ Jesus to eat some great wings and share the Word together. This Sunday evening, February 12, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Buddy Harris’s house. More: nick.person@northstarchurch.org.

More to know beyond this weekend:

• THE TREASURE PRINCIPLE: Beginning Monday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the True North Auditorium. In Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle, you'll unearth a radical teaching of Jesus--a secret wrapped up in giving. Once you discover this secret, life will never look the same. And you won't want it to! Register at www.northstarchurch.org/groups. For more info contact stewardship pastor Jamie Maddox at jamie.maddox@northstarchurch.org.
• PRAY FOR OUR INDIA MISSION TEAM: Pray for our India mission team as they depart this Wednesday, February 15; they will return February 26. Pray for the salons that we are setting up for the women of the Red Light District that the business they bring will help them get out of the life of poverty and prostitution.
• NORTHSTAR DALLAS 1ST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: We’re making some great plans now to celebrate our first birthday here at NorthStar Dallas on Sunday morning, March 4. Stay tuned for more details!
• SPIRITUAL GROWTH SEMINAR: FOUNDATIONS OF THE BIBLE: By what process has God revealed His character and nature to mankind? How has God spoken to us through the writers of the Bible? If you are new to church, a new Christian, or want to learn deeper theological truths in a simplified manner, then this class is for you. Led by spiritual growth pastor Steve Roach, the class will be held for one hour only at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, March 4, in Center Court, adjacent to the Compass Center lobby. Register at www.northstarchurch.org/spiritualgrowthseminars.

Now you're caught up and In The Know about what's happening at NorthStar. See you Sunday!

More ways to stay In The Know!

• SUNDAY'S IN THE KNOW TO GO HANDOUT (now also online at www.northstarchurch.org/itktg)
• WEBSITE: www.northstarchurch.org
• BLOG: www.northstarintheknow.org
• FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/northstar.church.kennesaw
• TWITTER: twitter.com/nsckennesaw
• EMAIL: info@northstarchurch.org
• PHONE: 770-420-9808 (NorthStar's offices are normally open 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, closed every Friday)

Digging Deeper Fri. 02/10: Grow love

Read Luke 18:1-8. Persistent prayer involves love. To be concerned primarily about yourself, your needs, and your problems is normal. To care about someone other than yourself contradicts your instincts. Prayer has a way of taking the focus off of ourselves and onto others. When we pray for others, God will grow our love for them in our hearts. We can’t pray for a person without developing a love for them over time. We can’t truly love a person without going to the Father on their behalf. Do you have someone in your sphere of influence that you honestly don’t have a great love for? Begin asking God to work on their behalf and watch your concern and compassion for that person begin to grow.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/pray to watch the video of Sunday's sermon "Step into the Circle," part one of the Pray series. Or go to www.northstarchurch.org/sermons to listen to the audio-only version.

Digging Deeper Mon. 02/06: The persistent widow

Read Luke 18:1-8. This parable, unique to Luke, illustrates the importance of prayer for Christians (a theme of Luke’s, see 5:16; 6:12; 11:1-13). In the same way as the widow, Christians should not give up praying to God even when the obstacles seem overwhelming. If an unjust judge will eventually give justice to a painfully persistent widow, then the Lord will surely answer his people’s prayers. This short parable concludes the preceding section, which addresses the coming of the kingdom of God. The appropriate response to the delay of Jesus’ coming is to not give up on prayer. Instead believers need to place their hopes even more in light of Jesus’ eventual return. When have you shown the persistence of the widow as it relates to your prayers? Ask God to help you be more persistent in your prayers.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. This week's sermon, "Step into the Circle," part one of the Pray series, will be posted online soon.

February Big Give this Sunday!

Our February Big Give is this Sunday, February 12, 2012. This month's Big Give is all about supplying cookies and juice boxes for the Cobb County Schools special needs dance. Are you going to help make it the best yet?

Each year Kennesaw Mountain High School hosts a dance for over 400 special needs middle and high school students from all over Cobb County. And each year NorthStar supplies the dance with cookies and juice boxes. We need for you to bring in cookies of any kind, store-bought or homemade. We just ask that you avoid anything with peanut products in the ingredients due to allergies. And we also need juice boxes, any kind. You can bring them all in this Sunday morning, February 12. Leave your donations at the tables in the lobbies of each venue.

You can view photos of last year's dance here at the Kennesaw Patch site.

For the March Big Give, we'll be providing Easter toiletry bags for those in need. Find out more at www.northstarchurch.org/biggive.

Digging Deeper Thurs. 02/09: Give hope

Read Luke 18:1-8. Persistent prayer involves hope. When we pray, we are banking on God’s promises for our future. His ultimate promise is eternal life with Him beyond this world. This life often snatches hope from people in many ways. We don’t have to live this life without hope. We can pray for better days ahead, knowing that God will right all wrongs and restore His creation. Let’s keep praying and keep our hope centered on Jesus Christ and His promises for our future. Ask God to keep your heart full of hope as you pray persistently.

Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/pray to watch the video of Sunday's sermon "Step into the Circle," part one of the Pray series. Or go to www.northstarchurch.org/sermons to listen to the audio-only version.