NorthernLife Sermons

"And lead us not into temptation / but deliver us from the evil one." Scientists estimate we make 35,000 choices every day. Life is full of choices, and the choices we make dictate the course of our life. In this message, Benjamin Shanks wraps up the Lord's Prayer series reflecting on the wisdom of Jesus in making good choices. Behind every choice is a voice, the key is to know the Father's voice.

"Give us today our daily bread / And forgive us our debts / as we also have forgiven our debtors." Kingdom Prayer, the way Jesus taught us to pray, is about stepping into the overlap between heaven & earth. In this message, Benjamin Shanks gives an overview of the theology of prayer, focusing on the Father's provision and forgiveness.

"Our Father in heaven / hallowed be your name / your kingdom come / your will be done / on earth as it is in heaven." Jonathan Shanks kicks off our 3-week series through the Lord's Prayer focusing on what it teaches us about (1) PRAYER, about (2) GOD, and (3) about the KINGDOM.

Higher Power. Is this universe a product of blind chance? Or is there an intelligent being behind it all? In this message, the final message of our HUMAN series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks these questions, highlighting the wonder of the person of Jesus as the invisible God made visible.

Destiny. Superstition. Fingers crossed. Touch wood. It's the question of who's really in charge of the future. There's a magnetic point inside every human being that longs to control the future. In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the question of destiny in four steps: ENTER, EXPLORE, EXPOSE and EVANGELISE. This message will encourage you to trust in God the Father who knows the f...

Deliverance. We know something's wrong. The world is not as it should be. There's a magnetic point inside every human being that tells us we need a way out, we need to be delivered. In this message, Benjamin Shanks tells the story of the Bible through the lens of deliverance, culminating in Jesus, in and through whose life, death, resurrection, and ascension, humanity find the deliverance...

Norm. It's about knowing how we're supposed to live, and it's one of the five magnetic points we're exploring in our HUMAN series. In this message, Jonathan Shanks shows how Jesus is both the STANDARD and the SAVIOUR, who shows us the way to live.

Totality. It's about being part of something bigger than us, and it's what all human beings are longing for. In this message, Jonathan Shanks kicks off our new series, HUMAN, showing how the magnetic person of Jesus is the answer to the deep longings of every human heart.

The 40th and final message of our Gospel of New Beginnings series working through Mark in 2024. In tonight's message, Benjamin Shanks brings together 3 threads in the life of our church: The CAPSTONE of the Mark series; The KEYSTONE of our church's mission statement; The CORNERSTONE of the way of Jesus.

Mark 10:46-52 records the story of blind Bartimaeus receiving his sight. Jesus asked him, "what do you want me to do for you?" What if Jesus asked you that question? How would you answer?

In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the request of James and John in Mark 10:35-45, highlighting the servant leadership of Jesus.

In Mark 10:17-31, a man asks Jesus a question: "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responds, saying, "ONE THING YOU LACK." What is that one thing for you? In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the one thing we lack in pursuing eternal life.

In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the story of the Transfiguration — Jesus' appearance in glory atop the mountain and alongside Moses & Elijah. Peter didn't know what to do. This message unpacks the wonder and work of the way.

What does it mean to follow Jesus? In Mark 8:31 Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Following Jesus a CROSS-SHAPED LIFE. In this 35th message of the Gospel of New Beginnings series, Benjamin Shanks explores what the cross-shaped life looks like for us, ending with a super practical and helpful tool for applying the cro...

On the day of our Associate Pastor Benjamin Shanks's ordination, Jonathan preaches a message on 1 Corinthians 15:58, encouraging us to GO BELIEVE; GO PERSEVERE; and GO HOPE.

This week, our Senior Pastor Jonathan was out of action due to a lingering cold. Graciously, Andrew Dawkins stepped in to preach a message on contentment from Philippians 4:10-13. This message will challenge and encourage you to be content by knowing that what you already have in Christ is enough.

Mark 7:24-30 records a story of the unexpected grace of Jesus. In the story, there is an: UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE OF JESUS; UNEXPECTED TRUTH BOMB; UNEXPECTED FAITH; UNEXPECTED REVELATION; UNEXPECTED TRANSFORMATION.

Ever since COVID, we're obsessed with staying clean and pure from that which is bad. It's true sanitarily, and it's true spiritually. This message from Mark 7:1-23 explores the question: "where do you draw the line between good & bad?" Benjamin Shanks offers three options: OUTSIDE ME; AROUND ME; THROUGH ME. This message will draw you back to the heart of the gospel, that...

In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the story of Jesus walking on the water, highlighting the presence of God in unusual places.

Have you found your satisfaction in Yahweh the living God? In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks that very question from the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. This message will beckon you to find your deepest satisfaction in God himself — the One who satisfies.

Christians are called Christians because of Jesus' name. Eternal life begins in Jesus' name. Every prayer ends in Jesus' name, amen. This message from Benjamin Shanks explores what it means to be on mission in Jesus' name.

They say familiarity breeds contempt. How, then, might our familiarity with the gospel breed a kind of contempt, unbelief and apathy? That's the question Jonathan Shanks explores in this 29th message of the Gospel of New Beginnings series. Today's text is Mark 6:1-6a. Familiarity breeds blindness; Familiarity seeds unbelief; Familiarity concedes to apathy.

Jesus has the power to heal. Mark 5:21-43 records the story of Jesus healing the bleeding woman and Jairus’ daughter. In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks all of our need to be saved and healed by Jesus. Jesus has the power to heal; Faith is required for the healing to occur; Everyone needs healing because everyone needs saving.

"We have been entrusted as environment-carers, light-bearers, grace-givers, redemption-tellers, holiness-revealers, gospel-givers and heart-healers." In this message, Jonathan Shanks wraps up our May Mission Month with a message on 2 Timothy 1:9-14 exploring just what we have been entrusted with — proclaiming the gospel to the nations.

This is the fourth and final sermon in Scott Pilgrim's Mending! series for May Mission Month 2024. In this message, Scott explores how we can live with a posture of availability, attentiveness and action as we respond to God's missional leading. But we don't it alone! As we pray, give and act - we partner together in mission across the street, and across the world.