NorthernLife Sermons

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23). In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 4:20-27 on how we get wisdom into the heart. This message will prompt you to consider THE FEED; THE HEART; and THE FLOW.

In this message, Jonathan Shanks kicks off our March 2025 sermon series through the Book of Proverbs with an epic message introducing the concept of wisdom and its foundation in the fear of the Lord. This message will challenge you to approach God with AWE, ADMIRATION and AMAZEMENT.

Jonathan Shanks wraps up our Everlasting series in the Psalms with a message on Psalm 121. 1) GOD WATCHES OVER US IN EVERY PLACE; 2) GOD WATCHES OVER US AT EVERY TIME; 3) GOD WATCHES OVER IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” says A.W. Toser. This is, fundamentally, theology  — the study of who God is, revealed to us in the story of the Bible. In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores Psalm 103 and the stories within which reveal the character of God: 
1) THE STORY OF ME; 2) THE STORY OF ISRAEL; 3) THE STORY OF US; 4) THE STORY OF...

In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores Psalm 145 and the theme of "Everlasting Praise." 1) PERSONAL EVERLASTING PRAISE; 2) COMMUNAL EVERLASTING PRAISE; 3) UNIVERSAL EVERLASTING PRAISE.

Jonathan Shanks begins our 2025 vision series, "Everlasting," with a message from Psalm 90. OUR GOD IS EVERLASTING; HUMANITY IS NOT EVERLASTING; THE PROBLEM OF SIN; TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS.

Jonathan Shanks wraps up our 4-week Colossians series with a message on Colossians 4:2-6.

“What God gets out of our lives—and, indeed, what we get out of our lives—is simply the person we become.” (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy)
. In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the question of what person we are becoming, and highlights from Colossians 3:1-17 a vision of personhood in the way of Jesus in which we: 1) SET THE HEART; 2) RENEW THE MIND; 3) TAKE OFF THE OLD AND PUT ON TH...

Jack Long presents a sermon based on his Bible college thesis paper research on "glory" in the Book of Exodus. This message will stir in you the fear of God and wonder at His grace revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

Abigail Markey presents a sermon based on her Bible college thesis paper research on the meaning of personal names in 1 Samuel 25. This message will encourage you to look for the beauty in the literary artistry of Scripture.

Jonathan Shanks unpacks the supremacy of Christ in Colossians 1:15-20.

Jonathan Shanks kicks off the year and our Colossians series with a sermon on Colossians 1:1-14 focusing on the everlasting hope we have in Christ.

In 1543, Nicholas Copernicus discovered that the Sun doesn't revolve around the Earth, but the other way round — The Copernican Revolution. In this final message of the 1 John series, Benjamin Shanks reflects on a Copernican Revolution that we need — a life orbiting around the Son of God in LIGHT, LIFE, and LOVE.

In this Christmas Day message, Jonathan Shanks explores the question of who God is—love.

In this fourth message of the Christmas Light series through 1 John, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the opposite of light—darkness. THE DARKNESS IS REAL; THE DARKNESS HAS WORKS; THE LIGHT HAS OVERCOME THE DARKNESS.

Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; love your neighbour as yourself; love your enemies; love one another... but do not love the world. What is the disciple of Jesus' relationship to the world? In this message, Benjamin Shanks unpacks 1 John 2:15-17, defining the key terms of what John means by 'world', 'love', and 'passing away/living forever'.

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the meaning of our God being light, not law.

Jonathan Shanks kicks off our Christmas 2024 sermon series reflecting on 1 John and the Christmas story. In this message, he unpacks 1 John 1:1-4 around the theme "incarnate." CHRISTMAS LIGHT CREATED; CHRISTMAS LIGHT INCARNATED; CHRISTMAS LIGHT STATED.

In this message, Benjamin Shanks gives a 30,000ft overview of the history of the kings of Israel and Judah before landing on the story of King Hezekiah, a good king who was faithful to God. This message will encourage you to make 3 commitments with Hezekiah. On my watch: I WILL REMOVE THE HIGH PLACES; I WILL KEEP THE LORD'S COMMANDS; I WILL SERVE NO OTHER KING.

In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores the story of Elijah passing on the mantle to Elisha as a central kingdom image of what it means for us to be a coaching community. 1) GIVE IT AWAY; 2) GROW IN AUTHORITY; 3) LISTEN TO THE KEYS.

In this message, Jonathan Shanks surveys King Solomon's temple dedication prayer, highlighting 10 things Solomon got right: THERE IS NO GOD LIKE OUR GOD; OUR GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES; OUR GOD IS IN INCOMPREHENSIBLY HUMBLE; OUR GOD SEES AND HEARS; OUR GOD JUDGES WITH TRUTH AND JUSTICE; OUR GOD FORGIVES; OUR GOD RESCUES; OUR GOD HEARS FROM HEAVEN; OUR GOD WELCOMES ALL NATIONS; OUR GOD GIVES REST TO HI...

Followers of Jesus don't walk alone—we're meant to do life together as a community of faith. A crucial part of our life together is helping each other see what they can't see. Call it a rebuke, correction, or just speaking life. In this message, Benjamin Shanks unpacks the story of Nathan confronting David about his sin in 2 Samuel 12. Using the framework of the Johari Window, this message will eq...

Jonathan Shanks continues this morning's sermon on the story of Jonathan and the armour-bearer in a more interactive style.

In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores the story of Jonathan and the armour-bearer in 1 Samuel 14:1-6 encouraging us to "seize our divine moment." 1) Moments have power to change destinies; 2) spiritual authority is to be used, not protected; 3) first-dimension faith requires second-dimension faith.

Jonathan Shanks kicks off season 2 of the Kings & Characters series looking at Samuel's last words. 1) CHOOSE YOUR KING WISELY; 2) REMEMBER ABOUT FORGETTING; 3) ACCESS GRACE DAILY.