Bethlehem Lakeville Weekly Podcast

It can sometimes be difficult to forgive the people around you, but what does it mean if you are unable to forgive yourself? In another one of his hard sayings, Jesus gets to the heart of why self-forgiveness is so difficult. NorthCrossMN.org/messages NorthCrossMN.org

One of the biggest factors for joy in the present is how you handle hurts from the past. Jesus says to do something that doesn't seem to be fair: forgive someone over and over and over again. Through a simple story, Jesus shows both how and why to put forgiveness on repeat. NorthCrossMN.org/messages

Acting like a child is not usually encouraged, and yet Jesus taught that only those who become like a child will enter the kingdom of heaven. This message explores the way you should view yourself in relation to God. NorthCrossMN.org NorthCrossMN.org/messages

Jesus said that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. But in the context of that quote, the implications go much deeper than being rich or poor. NorthCrossMN.org/messages

Angels welcomed Jesus into the world with songs promising peace on earth. But Jesus warned his disciples that he did not come to bring peace, but a sword. In this message you'll see how the peace Jesus offers will guarantee conflict in this world.

There are certain things that can transform a house into a home, and it is less about location and more about a relationship. In this message we consider what kind of a home you'll find at NorthCross.

I will be happy when... How you finish that sentence does more than reveal your hopes and dreams. It reveals an area in your life where you've given up on finding joy or peace, at least for the foreseeable future. The God of all comfort wants to change that. NorthCrossMN.org/messages

Many of us live as if happiness has always been just beyond our grasp. All we need is more money, more stuff, more room, more financial margin. In this message you'll see why the idea that "more" makes you happy is nothing more than a myth.

It can make you happy when people approve of you, but living for other people's approval will make you anything but happy. There is an alternative to people-pleasing that will let you experience a peace and happiness that maybe you've never felt before. For message notes and more, go to NorthCrossMN.org/messages.

You will never find peace in the present until you are able to address the guilt from your past. Maybe today is the day you will stop dragging around the guilt that Jesus has already taken away. NorthCrossMN.org NorthCrossMN.org/messages

Happiness is something that we all want and desire. We pursue it. We search for it. Very few can find it and keep it. This is a series that's going to encourage you to get out of the hamster wheel. You see, happiness is possible. But maybe what you've been running after was never intended to bring what you've been looking for.

"Anguish" is a word that pops up quite often in the psalms. At the heart of anguish is a fear over things that you cannot control. Psalm 34 is a must-have for your playlist. In it, David navigates you through his experience with anguish and what will deliver you from yours.

Good song lyrics are powerful. They can change your mood and direct your thoughts. In fact, there are certain songs you listen to over and over again because they share a message your heart needs to hear. The Bible has a playlist just like that called the Psalms.

Why should you go to church when you can stay listen to music and a preacher online? It's because God's design for his church is that it isn't just something you go to. It's something that requires you to be all in.

You would think that following Jesus would mean your life is transformed in every way, but quite often those who follow Jesus don't see the transformation that they want. A parable that Jesus taught shows the dirty work that's required in order for our church to be a place where transformation happens.

What most influences your direction and purpose in life? If we're not careful, we can become too influenced by personal feelings and opinions. There is something better! Direction and purpose are best influenced by a clear mission and vision. When you know where you're going, you'll better be able to determine the steps to get there. NorthCrossMN.org/messages

Building a church is one thing, but the heart of a church runs much deeper. Jesus himself set the foundation for would establish his church.

As a church we're now in the third week of waiting for our facility to be complete so that we can hold regular services again. Wouldn't it be nice if that was the worst thing you had to wait for? Pastor Ben takes to the camera to share a special message about what God can do when there's nothing you can do but wait.

Here's another throwback message from two years ago. Bethlehem/NorthCross was on the verge of selling the old property so that we would be positioned to build on the new one. In this message, Ben shares what church should be all about.

There are no services on June 23 or June 30, so we're giving you a couple of throwback messages to fill in! The "I Love My Church" series was from July of 2017 and was setting the scene for the sale of our Iberia property and move to Lakeville North High School. The DNA that propelled our church forward then is the same DNA that we're taking with us into NorthCross.