Hey Northgate,
As I shared at the beginning of the message last weekend, we recently finished putting together our 2027 Message Series Calendar. I’m always excited to see this come together, and it gets me excited about the year ahead for our church!
As part of that process, I asked you to send in any ideas you had. Several of those ideas became either entire message series or topics we’ll address as part of a series. Others felt more like individual questions that deserved their own attention. I figure that if one person is asking a question, there are probably others wondering about the same thing. So, I wanted to use this space to address a few of those questions and hopefully generate some additional thought and discussion in the process.
What happened on the second day after Jesus died? What does the Bible say?
The Bible tells us that Jesus died on Friday and rose on the third day, but it doesn't give us many details about what happened on Saturday. Matthew 27:62–66 tells us that the religious leaders asked Pilate to secure Jesus' tomb, fearing that His disciples might steal His body. Meanwhile, Jesus' followers were observing the Sabbath and grieving His death. First Peter 3:18–20 is sometimes used to suggest that Jesus did something specific between His death and resurrection, but many Christians interpret that passage differently. The important thing is to distinguish what Scripture clearly says from what we might speculate about. We know Jesus truly died, His body was buried, and He rose on the third day. Saturday may seem like a day of silence, but Sunday proved that God was not finished!
How do I live as a Christian in a non-Christian family, especially when my spouse or children aren't saved?
This can be one of the most difficult places to live out your faith because the people you love most may not share your beliefs. 1 Peter 3:1–2 and Colossians 4:5–6 encourage us to let our lives and words reflect the character of Jesus. You cannot force someone to believe, and trying to win every argument rarely wins someone's heart. I often tell people, “Pray but don’t push.” Because you can’t push someone into a relationship with Jesus, but you can definitely push them further away from one.
Instead, be patient, pray faithfully, love consistently, and let your faith make you a better spouse, parent, and family member. Be willing to talk about Jesus when opportunities arise, but remember that your family needs to experience His love through you, too. Trust the Holy Spirit to work in hearts in ways that you cannot. You are responsible for being faithful, but you are not responsible for controlling someone else's response to God.
What do we know about Jesus' love for people with disabilities?
We see throughout the Gospels that Jesus treated people with disabilities with dignity, compassion, and personal attention. He healed people who were blind, deaf, unable to walk, and living with other physical challenges. But His love went far beyond healing. He welcomed people others overlooked and challenged the assumption that a person's disability was evidence of personal sin (John 9:1–3). Every person is created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and has inherent worth, regardless of physical or intellectual ability. The church should reflect that same heart by welcoming people with disabilities, removing barriers to participation, and recognizing their gifts and contributions. Jesus does not measure someone's value by their abilities, and neither should we.
How do we comfort someone who is dying but hasn't trusted Jesus as their Savior?
This is an incredibly difficult and tender situation. We want to offer genuine comfort without minimizing the importance of a person's relationship with Jesus. We should never presume to know someone's eternal destiny, but we can lovingly and clearly share the hope of the gospel. Remind them that God's love for them is real, that Jesus died for their sins, and that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). We don't need to approach this conversation with fear or pressure. We can ask if they would be willing to talk about Jesus, listen to their questions, and offer to pray with them. If they express a desire to trust Jesus, help them understand that they can call on Him in faith (Romans 10:9–13). Our role is to speak the truth with love, trust God's mercy and justice, and entrust that person to Him. Even in life's final moments, we can point people toward the hope found in Jesus.
How do we balance forgiveness with healthy boundaries?
Forgiveness and boundaries are not opposites. Forgiveness means releasing our desire for revenge and entrusting justice to God (Romans 12:19). It does not mean pretending the hurt never happened, excusing harmful behavior, or automatically restoring the same level of trust. Reconciliation requires the involvement of both people, and rebuilding trust takes time and demonstrated change. Jesus calls us to forgive, but Scripture also encourages wisdom, discernment, and healthy relationships. You can forgive someone and still limit their access to your life if their behavior continues to be harmful. You can love someone without enabling destructive choices. Healthy boundaries aren't necessarily a sign of bitterness. Sometimes they are necessary to protect people and create space for genuine change. The goal isn't to punish someone but to respond with both grace and wisdom, reflecting the character of Jesus.
These are important questions, and while we may not always have all the answers we’d like, the Bible gives us wisdom and direction.
As always, I’m open to feedback, dialogue, and discussion!
See you this weekend,
Pastor John
Lead Pastor
As I shared at the beginning of the message last weekend, we recently finished putting together our 2027 Message Series Calendar. I’m always excited to see this come together, and it gets me excited about the year ahead for our church!
As part of that process, I asked you to send in any ideas you had. Several of those ideas became either entire message series or topics we’ll address as part of a series. Others felt more like individual questions that deserved their own attention. I figure that if one person is asking a question, there are probably others wondering about the same thing. So, I wanted to use this space to address a few of those questions and hopefully generate some additional thought and discussion in the process.
What happened on the second day after Jesus died? What does the Bible say?
The Bible tells us that Jesus died on Friday and rose on the third day, but it doesn't give us many details about what happened on Saturday. Matthew 27:62–66 tells us that the religious leaders asked Pilate to secure Jesus' tomb, fearing that His disciples might steal His body. Meanwhile, Jesus' followers were observing the Sabbath and grieving His death. First Peter 3:18–20 is sometimes used to suggest that Jesus did something specific between His death and resurrection, but many Christians interpret that passage differently. The important thing is to distinguish what Scripture clearly says from what we might speculate about. We know Jesus truly died, His body was buried, and He rose on the third day. Saturday may seem like a day of silence, but Sunday proved that God was not finished!
How do I live as a Christian in a non-Christian family, especially when my spouse or children aren't saved?
This can be one of the most difficult places to live out your faith because the people you love most may not share your beliefs. 1 Peter 3:1–2 and Colossians 4:5–6 encourage us to let our lives and words reflect the character of Jesus. You cannot force someone to believe, and trying to win every argument rarely wins someone's heart. I often tell people, “Pray but don’t push.” Because you can’t push someone into a relationship with Jesus, but you can definitely push them further away from one.
Instead, be patient, pray faithfully, love consistently, and let your faith make you a better spouse, parent, and family member. Be willing to talk about Jesus when opportunities arise, but remember that your family needs to experience His love through you, too. Trust the Holy Spirit to work in hearts in ways that you cannot. You are responsible for being faithful, but you are not responsible for controlling someone else's response to God.
What do we know about Jesus' love for people with disabilities?
We see throughout the Gospels that Jesus treated people with disabilities with dignity, compassion, and personal attention. He healed people who were blind, deaf, unable to walk, and living with other physical challenges. But His love went far beyond healing. He welcomed people others overlooked and challenged the assumption that a person's disability was evidence of personal sin (John 9:1–3). Every person is created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and has inherent worth, regardless of physical or intellectual ability. The church should reflect that same heart by welcoming people with disabilities, removing barriers to participation, and recognizing their gifts and contributions. Jesus does not measure someone's value by their abilities, and neither should we.
How do we comfort someone who is dying but hasn't trusted Jesus as their Savior?
This is an incredibly difficult and tender situation. We want to offer genuine comfort without minimizing the importance of a person's relationship with Jesus. We should never presume to know someone's eternal destiny, but we can lovingly and clearly share the hope of the gospel. Remind them that God's love for them is real, that Jesus died for their sins, and that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). We don't need to approach this conversation with fear or pressure. We can ask if they would be willing to talk about Jesus, listen to their questions, and offer to pray with them. If they express a desire to trust Jesus, help them understand that they can call on Him in faith (Romans 10:9–13). Our role is to speak the truth with love, trust God's mercy and justice, and entrust that person to Him. Even in life's final moments, we can point people toward the hope found in Jesus.
How do we balance forgiveness with healthy boundaries?
Forgiveness and boundaries are not opposites. Forgiveness means releasing our desire for revenge and entrusting justice to God (Romans 12:19). It does not mean pretending the hurt never happened, excusing harmful behavior, or automatically restoring the same level of trust. Reconciliation requires the involvement of both people, and rebuilding trust takes time and demonstrated change. Jesus calls us to forgive, but Scripture also encourages wisdom, discernment, and healthy relationships. You can forgive someone and still limit their access to your life if their behavior continues to be harmful. You can love someone without enabling destructive choices. Healthy boundaries aren't necessarily a sign of bitterness. Sometimes they are necessary to protect people and create space for genuine change. The goal isn't to punish someone but to respond with both grace and wisdom, reflecting the character of Jesus.
These are important questions, and while we may not always have all the answers we’d like, the Bible gives us wisdom and direction.
As always, I’m open to feedback, dialogue, and discussion!
See you this weekend,
Pastor John
Lead Pastor
NEED TO KNOWS
- BASE Parents’ Meeting — Wednesday, October 21: We are having a parents’ meeting at Main Campus while your students are at Base at the Youth & Community Center. This is for both Base 4–6 and Base 7–12 parents.
- BASE Fall Retreat — November 13–15 at Camp LeTourneau! Throughout the weekend, students in grades 7–12 will unplug, have fun, build friendships, and grow closer to Jesus. Learn more & sign up at northgatefmc.com/events.
- Great Day Of Giving — November 19 & 22. Every year, it’s incredible to see how God uses the generosity of our church to bless people both near and far. The offering is divided into three parts: Free Methodist World Missions partners, a capital project here at Northgate, and local nonprofit organizations. Between now and then, take time to pray about how God might be inviting you to join this special offering.
- Gratitude | Night of Worship — Tuesday, November 24 | 6:30 PM. Join us for the Night of Worship during Thanksgiving week. We’ll gather together to slow down, worship, & give thanks to God for all He has done.
Baptism Sunday — Sunday, December 27. What a great way to end 2026. We'll celebrate what God has done in people's lives all year, and we'll celebrate with those taking this important step of faith. Is baptism the next step in your faith journey? Learn more & sign up: NORTHGATEFMC.COM/NEXT-STEPS