Northern Roads by Jeremy Norton

Bible

Bible, Books, Gospels, Leadership

How Christmas Reminds Us that Jesus Enters Our Mess

I have a love-hate relationship with Nativity sets. I love that Nativity sets help us remember the first Christmas, adding a Biblical touchpoint to our Christmas decor. And yet, I struggle with how traditional Nativity Sets paint an idealized, pristine picture of the first Christmas. Let’s take a moment to peel back the layers and explore the messy reality that commercial Nativity sets overlook before I move to my main point.

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Bible, Church, Gospels

The Love of God Revealed

The unfolding drama of the Christmas story is more than just a historical account—it’s a revelation of God’s immense love for humanity. The angel Gabriel’s message to Mary serves as a pivotal moment in this divine narrative, demonstrating the connection between God’s love and His choice. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Luke 1:30

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Bible, Gospels, OT

Have You Ever Wondered, “Why Shepherds?”

An Advent Journey through Psalm 23: Have you ever wondered, “Why shepherds?” What’s the shepherds’ role in the Christmas narrative? Why did God choose these humble caretakers to witness the birth of the Messiah? In seeking out answers, we’ll find them today in an ancient, potentially unlikely source. We’ll explore the timeless wisdom found in Psalm 23, written by the shepherd David. From that text, we’ll widen our focus to discover the peace offered by our Good Shepherd, Jesus.

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Bible, OT

Unwrapping Prophetic Gifts of Hope

The placement of presents under the tree adds a distinct layer. As each gift is wrapped and placed, Christmas draws closer, building anticipation, and creating a visual countdown for Christmas morning. Although the Christmas tree has no origins in the original Christmas story; a tradition that was taken over by Christianity years ago, it can still serve as a pointer. How so? Bear with me.

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Bible, Books, Discipleship, Leadership

How to Become a Biblical Leader

Are you ready to become a more effective and spiritually grounded leader? If so, I’m excited to introduce my new book, “Becoming a Biblical Leader: 30 Days of Scriptural Principle and Spiritual Growth” published by Ambassador International. In a world where leadership often emphasizes power, influence, and ambition, this book takes a different approach. It invites you to explore leadership through the lens of faith, humility, and a commitment to aligning your life with the principles found in the Bible.

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Bible, Discipleship, Leadership, NT

How Do People Change After Receiving the Gospel?

Five outcomes of a transformed heart. In chapter 12 of Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, there are some unique outcomes that he lays out, on how an individual responds once they have received the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These responses or perhaps, better clarified as behavioural outcomes, are spurred on by the Holy Spirit and then lived out by the individual.

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Bible, Church, Gospels, Movies

More Than a Religious Holiday

Our family has been enjoying the new Disney+ series titled, The Santa Clauses; a sequel TV series to the three Santa Claus films with actor, Tim Allen. During the writing of this series, a bit of discord between Allen and the Disney writers surfaced.

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Bible, Church, Discipleship, Leadership, OT

When God Gives Direction, We’re Challenged To Take Action

Congregations are still struggling to reach their pre-COVID numbers for physical gatherings. Some remain online or continue to meet in small groups at home. Congregations are dispersed in a way that we haven’t seen in centuries…or millennia. Church leaders are looking for direction. Will God provide direction? He will, in His time for His purpose.

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Bible, Family, Gospels, OT

The Challenging But Promising Road Ahead; Choosing Faith Over Fear

Our family was hitting up Florida theme parks in February 2020. The greatest fear at that time? Upside-down roller coasters! Not COVID. People had coughs and colds, kids had runny noses, and touched everything, but there were no safety precautions. Lines were tight, no one wearing masks, and no hand-sanitizer stations. Simply put, there was no fear. Will we ever get back there?

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Bible, Church, Discipleship, Gospels, OT

How to Pursue a Promising Future of Faith Over Fear

We’ve been in a wilderness over the past two years. Our wilderness has been social, societal, phycological and political. It’s been very exhausting, like walking through the wilderness. We have been bombarded with fear through confusion, isolation and polarization.

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Bible, Family, OT

The 10 Commandments and The Questions Parents Should Be Asking

Most people try their best, but a careful look at the intent behind the commandments proves a little more difficult. We might follow the rule, but our heart condition may be jaded. And that is really the purpose of today’s post; to get to the heart of the 10 commandments.

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Bible, Discipleship, OT

Is Life After Sorrow Possible?

Maybe you’ve just entered a time of sorrow? Maybe you’re just coming out of one? I can’t promise it won’t hurt, but joy is coming. Hope is on the way. Don’t stop praying; don’t stop crying out to God. He sees you. He is faithful. He has a plan.

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