Stay Connected

Have you see the new Northwest website? Check it out! It's been designed with YOU in mind. Not only does it have all the info you will need for things like Christmas Eve in a Barn, it's also the place to get free resources including our weekly podcast, message slides, and connect sheets designed to help you grow and multiply your leadership. 

In 2019 we will phase out this blog site and previous website, issue new email addresses to our staff, and begin to focus all communication through our new website and social media platforms. Our prayer is that God would use EVERYTHING we do to lead people to experience a new life in Christ! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

 

Win, Coach, Release

Have you ever felt completely inadequate or unprepared? If you a parent, you might answer that question by shouting, "EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE!" The fact is raising a family is one of the most rewarding and yet challenging experiences in all of life. It's easy to become overwhelmed in the process and to loose sight of the things that are most important on the journey. Thankfully, God reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

On Father's Day, Northwest Community Church will launch our summer teaching series called Win, Coach, & Release. We will dive into Scripture to discover God's principles for healthy relationships in the home and see how those same lessons transfer into all the other relationships in our life too. We will discover that the goal of parenting is not simply to survive. Rather God wants to see parents win, coach, and release the heart of their children into a world that stands in need of their leadership and influence.

Northwest Community Church
June 17 - July 29

Our prayer during Win, Coach & Release is that God will show us His perspective on parenting so that all the families connected to Northwest would learn how to thrive and display God's goodness in their community. These next 7 weeks could easily change the path of your entire family's future. Invite a friend or neighbor to come with you and don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!

The Wisdom Flywheel

"What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" Imagine if God asked you that question. How would you answer? Would you ask God for wealth? Better looks? More influence or popularity? Maybe true love?

In 1 Kings 3:5-15 God asks that same question to a man named Solomon. We are privileged to see the way Solomon responded because he answered the question exactly right! And as a result, God allowed Solomon to experience the momentum of the wisdom flywheel as a young leader. 

The Wisdom Flywheel
1 Kings 1-10

Instead of being motivated by selfish desires, Solomon asked God for an understanding heart, for wisdom, and for discernment in leadership. It was a request God was thrilled to answer! Then in 1 Kings 4-10 Solomon serves as one of the greatest examples of godly wisdom and effectiveness in human history as the wisdom flywheel began to turn.

This week reflect on Solomon, the Wisdom Flywheel, and 1 Kings. Download the connect sheet, and experience God-fueled wisdom and effectiveness. To learn more about the Wisdom Flywheel and how you can experience it in your own life be sure to listen to this week's podcast and make plans to join us this Sunday at Northwest for week 2 of the Way of Wisdom.   

The Way of Wisdom

Have you ever felt like you were in over your head? I can definitely recall a few times in my life. Seeing Sarah walk down the aisle towards me at our wedding, holding each of our 3 daughters for the very first time, and deciding to launch Northwest Community Church would all be near the top of my list. In those types of situations, your next move is critical. In fact, your next move will often determine your path for years to come. When you are in over your head, do you rely on blind luck? Or do you pursue true wisdom?

On Sunday, April 15th Northwest will begin a new teaching series on the book of Proverbs. For the next 8 weeks we will study the way of wisdom and the path it takes us down in the major areas of life. 

New Series Begins Sunday April 15th 

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to prepare for the next time you encounter a situation where it feels like you are in over your head! In fact, invite a friend or family member to come experience the way of wisdom with you.

Remember Northwest Community Church meets in Cooper Elementary in Bella Vista every Sunday morning at 10am. Throw on a pair of jeans and come get a taste of what life is like at Northwest.

Living In Light of God's Faithfulness

Happy Birthday Northwest!

Northwest is gonna throw a party and we want you and your family to be there. On Sunday, February 18th Northwest Community Church will celebrate our 8th birthday with worship, stories of life change, baptisms, and of course BBQ! As we celebrate God's faithfulness we are also going to look to the future and the vision God has given us for leading people to experience a new life in Christ.

Living in light of God's faithfulness over the past 8 years, the Leadership Team has prayerfully developed  some strategic facility goals for Northwest's future designed to better serve the needs of our church and community. The strategic aim for the future Northwest campus is best summed up in the 4 P's of the Serve the City Center.    

The strategic facility goals for Northwest over the next 5 years are broken down into 3 broad categories: Short Range, Mid Range, and Long Range Plans.

In order to pursue these strategic goals, the Leadership Team has initially asked the members of Northwest to generously and sacrificially give $100,000 to the Northwest Facility Fund in order to cover projected first-year costs for operating in our own facility. In light of God's faithfulness we trust that God will provide through the generosity of His people. There is a beautiful, biblical example of this type of process in Exodus 35 and 36 where Moses comes to the people of Israel with plans to construct the Tabernacle and asks the people to sacrificially give to the project. 

"So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle...Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the Lord their offerings." (Exodus 35:20-22) What happens next is even more amazing. The generosity levels were so great that Moses had to actually go back to the people of Israel and ask them to stop giving! "Men and women, don't prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!...Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project." (Exodus 36:6-7)   

Once again, in light of God's faithfulness we believe God can supply more than enough.

Trusting God in the Silence

For most people, awkward silence in a conversation is painful. It causes us to get nervous, fidgety, and uncomfortable and we begin to look for anything to fill the void. Sometimes we even want to scream, "Just make it stop!" If we feel that way in a conversation, imagine what it feels like when that silence seems to be coming from God. Have you felt that way before? Do you feel that way now? If so, you are not alone.

In the Old Testament book of Genesis almost 2,000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, there lived a man named Joseph whose life shows us how to trust God in seasons of silence. At Northwest Community Church over the next 9 weeks we are studying the life of Joseph in our Sunday morning worship gatherings, through daily quiet times, and with connect sheets in our community groups. In fact this is a perfect opportunity to jump into a community group in 2018! You can sign up and get more info HERE.

As we get to know Joseph and his family's heritage we will discover the damaging effects of passive leadership in the home and the destructive impact it can have on future generations. In contrast we will also see that God is the great promise keeper even when it feels as if He is silent. Be sure to follow along and stay connected to the weekly talks at Northwest by subscribing to the Northwest podcast.

United by Jesus

"All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had." - Acts 4:32

Unity and generosity are produced when the empowering presence of Jesus Christ is at work in the lives of people. We read about it in the book of Acts and we experience it today whenever we are connected to a healthy, local church. 

The Leadership Team at Northwest would like to say THANK YOU to Jesus Christ for both the unity and the generosity He has produced at Northwest Community Church. We remain extremely grateful to God for the sacrificial ways Northwest has invested in people, ministries, and service to others. In 2017 God provided Northwest with the following financial resources:

Giving           $313,678.54

Expenses      $308,208.91

              Net                   $5,469.63

In 2017 God continued to change lives and grow the impact of Northwest Community Church in NWA and around the globe. A few of the significant life-change opportunities included:      

• Weekly worship gatherings inside Cooper Elementary designed to point people to Jesus Christ

• Investing in future generations in Northwest Kids and Northwest Students

• Hosting community groups in homes across NWA

• Hosting an outdoor Adventure Camp for over 50 children at our office property   

• Support and encouragement of our missionaries BJ and Jill Sanders in Papua New Guinea

• Raising up a core group of leaders to prepare for a Celebrate Recovery Ministry in 2018

• Sending emergency financial support to Harvest Point Fellowship during floods in Houston, TX

• Leading over 325 people to worship Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve inside a horse barn

In 2018, the Leadership Team has set an operating budget of $350,000. In addition, we believe God is leading Northwest to locate a facility that we can utilize on a full-time basis for the next 2 – 5 years for worship, ministry, Serve the City partnerships, and the launch of Celebrate Recovery. As we search for potential facility options, we need to initially raise $100,000 to cover anticipated expenses. 

As a result, we ask that each member and partner of Northwest prayerfully consider giving above their normal tithes and offerings to the “Northwest Facility Fund” in 2018. Each of these strategic goals are BIG steps of faith for Northwest and yet we have confidence that God is going to provide and continue to produce unity and generosity. To learn more about the specific vision, needs, and future of Northwest be sure to listen to the United series on the Northwest podcast available on our website and iTunes on Sundays, January 14^th and 21^st. 

Finally, we invite you to begin praying Psalm 67:1 – 2 with us as we ask God to bless Northwest in such a way that we are able to make His saving power known to people EVERYWHERE!

STUFF

Do you ever worry about your stuff? Does money cause friction in your relationships? On Sunday, November 12th Northwest begins a brand new series called STUFF. We will discover what God’s Word has to say about money, possessions, and investments. Rather than cause stress, God wants to use your stuff to bless others and help you experience healthy, life-giving relationships with other people and with Jesus Christ. As you prepare for the worship gathering on Sunday, consider the following questions:

1. What are the greatest needs of your family?
2. What are the greatest needs of a family in your neighborhood?
3. What do you have to give to serve others?

Don't allow stuff to rule your life! Let's put stuff in its place and leverage it for growth. This week be sure to invite someone to join you at Northwest Community Church on Sunday morning at 10am and send them a link to this post so they are prepared too!

Anatomy of a Disciple

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What is the life of a Christ follower supposed to look like? Does Jesus really change people? This week at Northwest we begin a brand new teaching series designed to discover the anatomy of a disciple. Over the next 6 weeks we are going to dive into the Gospel of Matthew to study the life and leadership of Jesus Christ and the ways He develops people into fully devoted followers who are capable of impacting the world around them.

The Anatomy of a Disciple series will focus on the head, heart, and hands of a follower of Jesus Christ. Together we will see that a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ is simply anyone who:

• Knows and follows Jesus (Head)
• Is transformed by Jesus (Heart)
• Is committed to the mission of Jesus (Hands)  

Make plans right now to join Northwest Community Church on Sunday, January 8th at 10am at Cooper Elementary in Bella Vista in order to start 2017 off by growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. And be sure to invite friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to join you! 

Northwest was given the opportunity to lead over 300 people to worship Jesus Christ in a barn on Christmas Eve and we would love to see Cooper Elementary filled with people every Sunday who desire to grow and worship Jesus Christ. Remember...NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED at Northwest! The bottom line is that we are all imperfect people in need of a perfect Savior who is able to transform us from the inside out.

Take A Risk in 2017

Today and tomorrow we focus on the fresh start of a new year. At the very beginning let me ask you to consider the following question:

What risks are you going to take for Jesus Christ in 2017?

In a thrilling exchange in the middle of a storm out on the water, Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 14:27 "Don't be afraid. Take courage. I am here!" Just imagine if you lived every single day with those words ringing in your mind...Don't be afraid! Take courage! Jesus is with you! Think about it. How could those truths impact your life in 2017?

Just consider the following examples of "risks" that could completely transform a person's life in 2017:

• I am going to pursue the truth claims of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
• I am going to examine if Jesus Christ is worthy to be my personal Lord and Savior.
• I am going to be obedient in baptism. 
• I am going to join a local church, get connected to a community group, and serve others.
• I am going to lead a community group and share life with others.  
• I am going to grow in generosity and trust God with my finances.
• I am going to become a servant and student of my spouse. 
• I am going to disciple my children and teach them the ways of Jesus.
• I am going to go on my very first mission trip.
• I am going to allow Jesus to break addiction in my life. 
• I am going to serve my friends and neighbors and show them the crazy love of Jesus. 

Remember, God designed you to trust Him. God is honored when we dream big, trust big, and then depend big. He loves it when we take spiritual risks and then ask for His help to follow through with obedience. In 2017, don't allow yourself to play it safe. Talk to God about the risks you are willing to take for Him, ask for His help, and then share those risks with friends and family who will encourage even more risk-taking for Christ in the new year. 

Happy New Year!

A Big THANK YOU!

A big THANK YOU to the entire Northwest family! Your prayerful support, financial investment, and servant leadership are very much valued and needed in the life of Northwest. As your Leadership Team, we are incredibly grateful to God for the privilege of serving alongside you and sharing in this faith journey together. In addition to saying thank you, the Leadership Team would like to share with you the exciting ways God has been working to prepare Northwest for future service and impact.   

Over the past 6 years, God has established a unique and healthy culture at Northwest characterized by high levels of trust, humility, and generosity. Furthermore, God has raised up servant leaders dedicated to the mission of producing and releasing leaders who are fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  At the close of 2015, the Leadership Team shared with you two strategic goals we believed God was leading Northwest towards over the next 3 years:

1. The support of 4 fully-funded pastors committed to making disciples and releasing leaders.  
2. The Serve the City Center – Our land and building concept designed to partner with other organizations, businesses, and non-profits striving to serve the needs of people in north Benton County in the name of Jesus Christ.  

Through out 2016, God has confirmed these two strategic goals in the hearts of our leaders and given us greater clarity for the future. In addition, God has amazed us with His provision and financial blessings through the generosity of His people. In our current teaching series, James 1:17 has reminded us that every good and perfect gift is given to us by God in order to highlight His goodness. At Northwest we want to use the blessings God has given us to bless others and point people to Jesus Christ. God’s recent provisions for Northwest have emboldened the Leadership Team to take steps towards 4 fully-funded pastors, designate funds for the future Serve the City Center, and explore new partnerships and avenues of service to our community.     

For the remainder of 2016, please join us in asking the Lord to grant Northwest greater levels of spiritual momentum and then consider the specific ways God wants you to invest in the future of Northwest through the use of your time, talents, and treasure. As always, please feel free to reach out to anyone on the Leadership Team if you have questions or comments regarding your past, present or future giving.   

In Christ,

The Leadership Team of Northwest Community Church