NorthWoods Church Matters

In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters, Matt, Bobby, and the gang continue our discussion on the church in Thyatira and Christ's stern warning against tolerating false teaching. What does it mean for a church to remain faithful when surrounded by corruption? We explore Jesus' call to repentance, the reality of spiritual warfare, and how sound doctrine serves as a foundation for endurance. Th...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, we dive into the message to the church in Thyatira from Revelation. Join Pastor Matt, Ivan, Carey, and Pastor Bobby as they explore the tension between growth in love and faithfulness and the dangerous tolerance of sin. What does it mean when Jesus, with eyes like fire and feet like bronze, confronts a church for tolerating Jezebel? How doe...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast , we continue our discussion on the Church of Sardis, a congregation that had a reputation for being alive but was, in reality, spiritually dead. What does it truly mean for a church to be "alive" in Jesus' eyes? Join Matt, Bobby, Ivan, and Carey as they unpack the historical context of Sardis, challenge modern misconceptions about church vi...

In the book of Revelation, the church at Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was, in reality, spiritually dead. What does that mean for churches today? Could we be more like Sardis than we'd like to admit? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters , Matt and Bobby, joined by Ivan and Carey, explore the historical and biblical context of Sardis, discussing its "impregnable" city walls th...

Join Bobby, Matt, and the NorthWoods Church Matters team for part two of our deep dive into the church of Philadelphia from Revelation. What does it really mean to endure when everything feels like an uphill battle? How can Jesus' promise to "see our works" inspire us to press on with hope? Discover how to fix your eyes on Jesus as your ultimate treasure, prioritize heavenly rewards over temporary...

In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Matt, Bobby, and the guys dive into the message to the church in Philadelphia from Revelation 3. Despite their small size and lack of worldly power, this church earned Jesus' commendation for their faithfulness, perseverance, and patient endurance amidst persecution.  Plus, don't miss our Philly cheesesteak talk. Got a favorite cheesesteak spot...

In Part 2 of our discussion on "Lukewarm Christianity," Matt, Bobby, and the team unpack what it means to live a life truly connected to Christ. They explore the dangers of a works-based faith, the challenge of abiding in Jesus, and the hope found in God's unchanging love, even when we fall short.

Welcome to the kickoff of our podcast series on the seven churches of Revelation! In this episode, we dive into the church at Laodicea—you know, the one with the infamous "lukewarm" label. What does that actually mean, though? Is Jesus really saying lukewarm Christians make Him sick? (Spoiler: probably not how you've heard it preached.) Pastors Bobby, Matt, and the crew break it all down. Whether...

In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters, Matt and Ryan sit down with Ed and Ruta Bacevicius, church planters from Lithuania, to discuss their remarkable journey to Christ, their passion for church planting, and their vision for a faithful gospel community in their homeland. From rebellious atheism to spiritual renewal, Ed and Ruta share their testimony of grace, perseverance, and the power of...

Ho ho ho! In this festive episode of NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast , Matt, Lexi, Rachel, Kyle, Ryan, Darin, and Bobby gather for a lighthearted and laughter-filled Christmas special. We share funny yuletide stories, debate the merits of caroling, and reflect on the most bizarre gifts we've ever given or received. Plus, hear how we keep our families focused on the gospel amidst the holiday rush...

In this episode, Matt and Ryan welcome Paddy and Charlotte Hayes from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Paddy and Charlotte share their journey of faith, the challenges of ministry in a post-troubles Belfast, and their vision for reaching both local and international communities with the love of Christ. Whether you're passionate about missions, church planting, or personal evangelism, this conversation i...

In this episode, we're thrilled to talk to Steven and Mandy Love , church planters in South Bend, Indiana. Hear how Steven and Mandy came to faith in Christ and their journey to planting  Redemption City Church . Plus they share personal stories about their family, fun traditions, and how they balance their passions—like mountain biking, golf, and skiing—with their mission for Christ.

Randall and Angel Davis have 14 years of marriage, six kids (you heard that right), and a big mission to plant Mission City Church in South Bend. In this episode we hear a lot of interesting things about them, including Randall's testimony (a powerful reminder of how a simple invitation can change lives), Angel's love of action-packed games, and God's undeniable (but totally surprising) call for t...

 What do you do if you forgive someone and they repeat the behavior time and time again? How do you forgive someone who is no longer alive? If you forgive someone does that mean you're allowing injustice? Is it okay to leave a church that has people you consider difficult? We continue to discuss the ins and outs of dealing with difficuult people in this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters!

How do Christians love our enemies? How do we love worldly people? What do we do if we can't find solutions or compromises with difficult people? What does it look like when the church gets involved? Matt, Bobby, Ivan, and Carey discuss it in this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast. Books mentioned: The Peacemaker: Handling Conflict without Fighting Back or Running Away Paperback by Ken...

How do you know if God is calling you to quit a job or change professions? Should you go for a promotion? How do you know if you should go into Christian ministry? Matt, Bobby, Ivan and Carey continue to discuss all things work on this epsiode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast.

How does work glorify God? Will there be work in heaven? How does work help us grow in holiness? What if your workplace is unhealthy or lacks Christian ethics? Pastors Bobby and Matt are joined by Ivan and Carey to discuss it all in this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast.

What are the signs we're too busy? Why is it so hard to say no? How can stop being so busy? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Pastor Matt has the answers to those questions and more as we finish our series on busyness!

What does the Bible say about rest? Is busyness sinful? How did Jesus handle rest and busyness? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Pastor Matt is joined by co-hosts Ivan McDonald and Carey Bockting to provide some much needed perspective on a topic we can all relate to: being busy.

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, we meet Brad and Jen McOwen, who are planting a church in the Indianapolis area. You'll hear about Brad's background as a "minivan Mennonite," their journey into foster care, and much more!

In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters, we have fun getting to know Chris and Kayla McCormick, who are church planting in the Indianapolis area. They have some fun stories, including how Chris come to the Lord while trying to impress Kayla's dad!

Pastors Bobby and Matt have the update on all things NorthWoods, including what is going on with the building project! Plus they answer lots of good, practical questions about how it works when NorthWoods partners with a missionary or church planter.    

Meet Peter and Payton Carrigan, two of our church planting friends from Cork, Ireland. Find out how an Idaho gal married an Irish guy, and the specal challenges of witnessing in an Irish Catholic context.

Join us as we get to know church planters, Nathan and Jesse Brock, who serve in Kaysville, Utah! Nathan and Jesse talk about their fun (and exhausting) hobbies, the difficulty of ministry in a Mormon community, Nathan's not-so-secret desire to go to space, and more!

Today on NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, we're getting to know Kelly Benefield, one of our incredible biblical counselors here at NorthWoods. We hear the story of how she used to think the world revolved around her, but guess what? It was about God all along. You'll also hear some spicy opinions on Mexican food, why Kelly loves Ireland, and much more.