Northside Church - Sydney

Northside's Good Friday Service 2017

As we conclude this series, we now ask: is Christian hope merely a personal experience or something far greater? God not only wants His people to experience hope personally – but to share it globally. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Romans 5:1-5 (TNIV)

Uncertainty seems to be God’s favourite environment to work in… why? It seems to be the place where it unseats our deepest source of security. So the question comes – how can we have peace and certainty when these things come undone? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Phil 4:4-9 (TNIV)

When things get uncertain, people often get wobbly. They may not want or mean to, but at the end of the day it’s like the ground has come out from underneath you. Christians were different. Some Christians today are different. How is it the Christian hope produces stability in the context of uncertainty? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (TNIV)

We as families and people, as a nation and a culture, face uncertainty like never before. Yet, uncertainty is nothing new. The Bible is full of stories and narratives taking place in the midst of extraordinary uncertainty. The question for us today is: is it possible that God is still active and still accomplishing his purposes when there seems to be no indication of his activity? How can you be certain in uncertainty?

Matt is the Director of Soul Survivor NSW/ACT, a ministry to churches that equips youth and young adults to live out a heart of worship in word, spirit and action.

What if you want to Encounter God and he doesn’t seem to be there? What if you have previously encountered God and He doesn’t seem to be turning up now? As we finish this series, Sam will bring an overview message looking at this: “what you do if even after looking at the examples of God encounters you still happen to find yourself in a place of spiritual darkness or dryness”? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Psalm 42:1-11

What if the methods of God’s transformation of people is far less dramatic than you realise? In this message we’ll see Elijah encountered a God capable of mind blowing acts, yet chooses to change people with discreet intentionality. Speaker: Sam Haddon

We live in an era and society where in spite of the hang ups about church, the desire for spiritual experience seems to be growing. But what does it mean to have a Christian experience? What does it mean to actually experience God? This week we’ll look at the biblical Character of Isaiah who was someone who came face to face with God.

Many people whether Christian or not say ” I want to encounter God”. The natural inclination is to think it happens through prayer, or solitude or a mystical experience and yet we see that quite often God gets face to face with you through suffering. In this message we’ll look at how the biblical character Job encountered God and what it teaches us about really knowing Him. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Job 42:1-10

It’s one thing to know of the concept of God, but how do you know you have encountered Him? Is it possible? What does that feel like? In this new series, we’ll look at 4 different people who actually encountered God and draw the lesson as to what it means for us today. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Genesis 32:22-32

If you think about it, we serve what we worship. It doesn’t have to be God. There are many things in life that can grab our attention. When it comes to finding God – why is it so essential to worship God with others around and not just by yourself? Reading: Psalms 95:1-9

There is an increasing trend for people to say “My relationship with God is personal”. Dig deeper and more often than not it’s because of a bad experience with a Christian somewhere at sometime. However, what if we were to say the ONLY way to truly know yourself and God is to be around other Christians? Reading: Romans 12:9-16

Many people at any point in time, are coming to grips with God and Christianity. Yet to do so, you have to come to grips with who Jesus is, and what He and his followers said about The Church. Wherever you may be sitting on the spectrum of faith, this series will look at how “The Church” is meant to be, and for those in it, a calling to fulfil God’s vision for it. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Acts 2:40-47

As we move forward into the new year, is there a way to experience real hope rather than living in last year’s disappointments or straining for a fresh start through new year’s resolutions?

We’re analog beings in a digital world. 2017 flicks over in a second, but we carry 2016 with us as we shift into the fresh start of a new year. We find ourselves in the space between what was and what will be, carrying joys and disappointments at the same time as yearning for the newness of hope. How do we set ourselves up for real transformation in God and avoid the traps of both despair and striving?

Week 3 – To be searching Yes, the lead up to Christmas can be stressful but at it's core Christmas is a message that God has come to earth. If we take Christmas on it's real meaning - how might it comfort those looking for more than the realities of this life? Reading: John 1:14

Is it really the season to be jolly? If we are real, many of us head towards Christmas with anxieties, fractured relationships and stress. How do we deal with the natural anxieties around financial and life concerns? Speaker: Emily Hopkins Reading: Matthew 6:25-33

How do I deal with strained relationships at Christmas? Is it really the season to be jolly? If we are real, many of us head towards Christmas with anxieties, fractured relationships and stress. How do we find the joy and peace with that going on in the background? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Matthew 18:23-25

It’s time to hear the experiences of our team’s recent trip to Madagascar. Join Rachael Kearns as we hear about their experience and glimpses of God at work on “the forgotten island”. The panel of Richard Grey, Shaun Royston Chia and Amelia Watts share in the morning service.

What if the aim of our Church was primarily to get people in front of people, rather than trying to get people in front of our ideas? If you’re going to be a contributor to the WikiChurch, then what are the practices of good neighbouring? Speaker: Emily Hopkins Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-7 & 8-10

Someone who lives “open source Christianity” is someone who sees themselves as the primary contributor of God’s love into someone’s life. Not the church or its Ministers. Nor the Theologians. If that’s the case, what does it look like to be a primary contributor? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Mark 12:28-31 (TNIV)

Wikipedia. A phenomenon that has swept the world since 2001. It may not be the perfect source of information, but it makes good information widely available by being “Open Source”. Rather than relying on experts, it empowers everyone to contribute. Is that not the call of the Church today? In an era where people expect much less out of our ideas as Christians, and much more out of us as people, how do we become the sort of Church that is developing “Open-Source Christianity”? Speaker: Sam Haddon Readings: Isaiah 43:18-19, Matthew 9:9-17

Join us for the return of John North as he takes the platform for a special message challenging you to rethink your purpose in your part of the world. Speaker: John North

Hear from guest speaker, and past Northside Senior Pastor Graham Agnew, as he presents this "random" but insighful message.

In the multitude of life choices that we face, how do we know when making the right one? For the Christian, how do we know this is what God wants for us? In this one off sermon, Sam addresses one of the most asked questions of the Christian life. Speaker: Sam Haddon Bible Reading: Proverbs 16:1-4,9 (TNIV)

Someone once wrote “We become what we worship”. What we elevate in our lives can lead us to ruin or restoration. What does Jesus’ habit of elevating God in His life look like and what does that mean for us? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: John 4: 34-39

Someone once wrote “We become what we worship”. What we elevate in our lives can lead us to ruin or restoration. What does Jesus’ habit of elevating God in His life look like and what does that mean for us? Speaker: Emily Hopkins Reading: John 17: 6-9

Finding your way through life can be tricky enough. Where do we find the appropriate guidance? The Word of God (or Bible) has been more than a set of sound principles to pick at. What does it say to us when we see Jesus standing under its authority and working it into His own life? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Matthew 5:17-20

How could your life change if each morning you woke up and asked – Lord what are you up to today? Can I be a part of it? That’s Jesus’ habit of Obedience to a Kingdom Agenda. Speaker: Emily Hopkins Reading: John 5:16-19

When we get busier, we tend to turn up the pace. On the other hand, the busier Jesus got, the more he slipped away to pray. What can we learn from this core habit? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Luke 5.12-14

Holy Spirit Dependance Many ask themselves, how do I find peace, stability, poise amidst the stresses and business of life? If ever there was an example of a human that managed this, it was Jesus. In this new series, we'll identify 6 clear habits that powered Jesus' life and explore how they could become your "Engine Room". Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: John 16: 5-16

God has a marvellous purpose for our lives but we often end up stuck on a never-ending ladder of comparison, measuring ourselves by whether we’re on a higher or lower rung to others. We’re going to discover how the God who has a purpose for your life also has a way to overcome comparison and set you free to live your life for him. Reading: Romans 12:3-8

Do Justice. Love Kindess. Walk Humbly. If ever there was a simple definition of Christianity it would be this passage from the Bible. But it’s a simplicity on the other side of complexity. What does this mean for us as we move forward in doing social justice? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Micah 6:6-8 (TNIV)

Is it a matter of joining an organisation? Do you need to go on a mission overseas? Is it the responsibility of a department of the church? You only have to look at this clever story from Jesus, to understand some simple and practical components to start “putting things right” in your part of the world. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Luke 10:25-37 (TNIV)

The world we live in screams in pain at every turn, and the Scripture is clear that God’s people are called to engage by living justly. But is Christian social justice simply doing good things, rallying and protesting, and giving our money to good causes? Or could it be something broader and deeper and wider – participating in an eternal project of restoration that finds its genesis in the heart of God? Speaker: Emily Hopkins Reading: Isaiah 58:6-9 (TNIV)

In an increasingly globalised world, the realities of disparity and injustice have become ever clearer. At the same time, the scale of humanity’s inequities can seem too big for a person to exert a significant influence. In this new series, we ask what if you saw social justice as the opportunity to simply “Put Things Right - Where you are”? Reading: James 2:15-17 (TNIV)

Guest Speaker: Graeme Innes, former Australian Human Rights & Disability Discrimination Commissioner.

It’s not quite accurate to refer to sin only as a list of the “bad things” people do. It’s far more than that. Under every person is a dynamic that if left unchecked can lead to much of the strife we have been observing in the world around us. What is that dynamic and why does it seem to be more prevalent amongst the religious? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Jonah 2:7–3:5; 3:10–4:11 (TNIV)

There is a bumper sticker floating out there on cars that says “Not perfect, just forgiven”. Of course it’s true of the Christian… but is it slightly misleading. The news of Christianity says we’re not perfect… but the better news is we’re not meant to stay that way. In this final message of the series, we’ll ask “can you overcome what lurks beneath and if so … how?” Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Psalm 51.1-10 (TNIV)

Mass Shootings. Terrorism. Intolerance. Racism. We’re seeking to answer the question “What is going on with the Human Race?” The Bible’s perspective says this thing called Sin sits beneath it all. Yet sin is more than just a list of “bad deeds”. What does it mean to see sin as a Stalker? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Genesis 4:3-12 (TNIV)

Sin. It’s a word that makes everyone flinch. For the non-Christian it’s exactly what’s wrong with Religion…that teaching that says everyone is no good. For the Christian, they are aware of it, yet often misunderstand it. It’s more than just good deeds vs. bad deeds. So, what of our view of sin is way too “2-dimensional”? More importantly what if the Christian understanding of sin provides one of the most powerful answers for the major problems of the world today? Join us for this new series as we uncover and explain “What lurks beneath”. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: 1 Samuel 15:12-23

The life of faith in Jesus is one of ongoing dialogue with him as he draws us to himself, helps us to experience his love, and involves us in his redemptive work so that others might experience the same. In this series we’ll look at the remarkable biblical story of one person’s conversation with Jesus in order that our own might be enriched. Speaker: Emily Hopkins Reading: John 4:27-42 NIV

The life of faith in Jesus is one of ongoing dialogue with him as he draws us to himself, helps us to experience his love, and involves us in his redemptive work so that others might experience the same. In this series we’ll look at the remarkable biblical story of one person’s conversation with Jesus in order that our own might be enriched.

Conversartions with Jesus | Week 1: In Which You Are Seen The life of faith in Jesus is one of ongoing dialogue with him as he draws us to himself, helps us to experience his love, and involves us in his redemptive work so that others might experience the same. In this series we’ll look at the remarkable biblical story of one person’s conversation with Jesus in order that our own might be enriched. Reading: John 4:1-15

Pastor Philip Kua has been the Senior Pastor at Clayton Church of Christ in Victoria for 5 of his 14 years there. Before ministry, Philip worked as a lecturer in Economics at MARA Institute, Malaysia and as a consultant to a multinational Human Resource Development.

Whilst faith begins with thinking, it completes itself with actions. Join us next Sunday as Northsiders Simon & Clare Fish share their Stories of Faith and Sam wraps up this impacting series.

How do we know we’re people of Faith? That is, how can we be sure we’ve become people who are not mastered by our circumstances? One sure sign is that you will live a life that overflows with generosity. Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Hebrews 13:1-6 (TNIV)

What happens if even after the principles and the prayer, life doesn’t seem like it will change and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel? Is it possible to be a person who can simply endure? What does it mean to have a “Patent Faith” Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Hebrews 11:23-29 (TNIV)

No one wants to go through hard times or be pushed out of their comfort zone, yet what if that is a key way in which your faith grows? And what if the only way to master your circumstances is through a big faith? Could it be possible the Bible provides a dynamic whereby, the trials in your life can transform you rather than crush you? How does that work? Speaker: Sam Haddon Reading: Hebrews 11:8-10 (TNIV)