Northgate Christian Fellowship

Tom Eggum, founder of Hope 4 Kids International, shares his vision for helping children all over the world for Jesus Christ.

(2 Corinthians 9:6-15) Generosity grows out of a grateful heart. And when those who have been recipients of another’s generosity are truly grateful they find a way to “pay it forward”.

(2 Corinthians 8:1-15 ) The early church members were dedicated to giving to one another in the church. It was out of their struggling that they continued to give which gave them joy and generosity. Generosity continues even when things are difficult that is what Jesus modeled with his life.

(1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-21) Anyone who earns more than $37,000 a year is in the top 4% of wage earners world-wide. We may not feel rich but we are. That is both good news and bad news. We are pretty much aware of the benefits of wealth but blind to it’s dangers.

(Ecclesiastes 1:1-9, 5:10-15, 12:13&14) “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Sings Mick Jagger. The song lyrics only echo the words of King Solomon, the wisest man who every lived. No matter how much we have we always seem to want more.

(Psalm 39:4-7; Colossians 3:1-17 and Matt. 6:19-21) Bumper sticker: “He who dies with the most toys wins”. If the doctor told you that you only had one month to live you would probably change many of the things you do to reflect that news. But if you learned that a friend only had one month to live, would you tell him/her about heaven? The important thing to remember is that you never know if you even have one month!

(Luke 16:19-31; Romans 1:18-21, 2:1-4) Hell is a reality, created by God in righteousness and holiness. We may not like to think or talk about it, but it’s not our invention, it’s God’s.

(1Thessalonians4:13;Rev. 21:1-5) Do you think the Bible has a lot, or only limited, specific information about heaven? Do you think it is important? The Bible does say a lot about heaven and our lives there, but much of what we understand comes from many small references rather than long, detailed treatises. Some understanding comes by comparison to what the Bible says about the first paradise, the Garden of Eden, before sin and the curse. People have come to different conclusions on some of these issues, depending on how they interpret Scripture. Most of these differences are not essential beliefs and there is room within the united body of believers for some alternatives.

(Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Cor 5:1-10; Rev. 20:11-15) Can you conceive of heaven and hell as real places, or are they just abstract concepts beyond your ability to picture? What basis do St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, baby-faced cherubs floating on clouds with harps, or ghosts and haunted houses have in the Bible? "The Moment After" is the first message for the October 2009 Series "If I Should Die Before I Wake"

(1 John 1:1-9) We are recipients of grace. We have experienced the power of grace in our own lives. In our own way we have “heard”, “seen” and felt the “touch” of Jesus on our lives. The full joy of this is experienced when we share it with others who experience His grace with us.

(John 13:1-17) Jesus was not one to just tell people what to do. He showed them. He spoke of love and then loved people, he taught Kingdom truth and He lived it. And he spoke of the greatness of serving and then he served.

(John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-21) Jesus said that the mark of his followers is love. The apostle John expounded on this truth years later in his first letter to the church. This is a remarkable message from one once called one of the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). It was a message he learned from The Master.

Next: Unstoppable (Matthew 16:13-20, 28:18-20) Jesus said that he would build his church. The church is Jesus’ labor of love. He is the one at work but he has also called us to partner in his work. We are the one’s who have been commissioned to share the Gospel.

(Acts 20:17-30) None of us fully knows the future. We sometimes think, “If God would just lay it out plainly before me, just end me an email, then my decisions about the future would be much easier.

(2 Peter 1:1-11) Our calling is never static, it is always on the move. Our choice to follow Jesus Christ puts us on a path. And to follow that path is to constantly learn where God is leading and to follow Him closely.

(Matthew 25:14-30) All that we have comes as gift from God. But what He has given us is not for ourselves. A biblical understanding of our gifts, resources and finances is that they are never really ours.

(Colossians 3:1-4, 22-25) God has designed each of us uniquely. Everyone is a distinct combination of talents, abilities and gifts. Our choice of vocation should be a recognition of God’s call to simply “do what you are” and to do it with all our heart.

(Luke 5:1-11) When Jesus called the twelve disciples it changed their lives. He called for a whole-hearted commitment to follow him. For each of them their way of living was changed drastically. What should that call look like for us? How do we follow him with the rest of our lives?

(The Ends of the Earth) We are called to reach out to the ends of the earth with the message of Jesus Christ. How are you able to make a difference for Christ in a place far from home?

(Samaria) In Jesus' day, Samaria was the place that was considered off-limits. But Jesus called his disciples to reach out to that area. Where is your "Samaria," and how is God prompting you to make a difference there?

(Judea) God has placed you in the perfect community to fulfill His mission - your community! How can you reach out to your surrounding community?

Northgate campus has a fantastic location. It is situated on top of a hill overlooking the water, and has a great view. What we don't often realize is that our sphere of influence as a church is literally as far as the eye can see. As far as our "view" is, so is our mission field in our surrounding communities. So the question is, how do we turn our view into a vision to reach our communities? In Acts 1:8, Jesus says that his disciples will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the Ends of the Earth. It is also a metaphor for our mission as Christ followers... (Jerusalem) Open House: Some of the best outreach starts at home. How can you use your home to reach people for Christ?

Have you experienced a life-changing moment? Has there been a turning point in your life? How can God use these moments to draw attention to Him?

Is there a difference between gifts and talents? How can God turn your gifts and talents into purpose and passion for His Kingdom?

Do your friends help you grow in your faith, or do they pull you away from God? How can you find and build friendships that help you grow closer to God?

How much time do you spend with God? Is He your focus, or just an afterthought? Can spending time with God be more than just praying and reading your Bible?

Matthew 5:38-48 Revenge is an endless cycle. Every hurt that is returned with a hurt continues to escalate the problem. Is there any way to break the cycle?

Matthew 5:31-37 There is nothing more important than integrity. We are to speak and live truthfully, we are to be faithful to our promises and true to our word.

Matthew 5:21-26 Anger is a powerful emotion. You can learn to control angry outbursts and divert aggressive behavior but the real change needs to take place within because anger has to do with our thoughts and words as much as our actions.

(Mother’s Day) - Matthew 5:17-20 Every life comes as a gift and every life holds a deep longing for fulfillment. The fulfilled life is one that fully becomes what they were created to be. Jesus taught such a life is not determined by external conformity but by a transformation of the soul.

A New You - Matthew 5:1-16 Like it or not we are being evaluated by our behavior. More than that, Christianity itself is being appraised by our actions and attitudes toward those around us. What are people looking for and how can we best display it in our lives?

Ephesians 4:1-16, John 15:1-17 Many claim to believe in God but have rejected the church. They want to enjoy a relationship with God without a commitment to a church family. Is that an option? Can you be a Christian without belonging to a church?

Phil. 2:5-11, John 8:48-58 For centuries there has been debate over Jesus. Who was He really? What did his early followers believe about him? What did he say about himself? Do his teachings really make sense if he made the claim to be God?

1 Cor. 5:1-22, John 11:17-27: Many people spend their lives trying to be a “good enough” person to get into heaven but how do you know what’s “good enough?” The answer to our “good enough’ problem is grace. In Jesus, God did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. His resurrection assures us, what he did was more than “good enough”.

Acts 17:16-31, John 14:1-7 It’s an amicable notion but any honest examination of world religions makes it clear they are very different and Christianity stands out uniquely. What is it that makes Christianity different?

1Kings 2:1-4; 1Chron 22:11-16 Solomon and David Being successful husband and father today requires clear focus and a desire to keep going no matter what. Sometimes you just need some encouragement from those closest to you. Knowing what natural abilities God blessed you with can help give you a direction for your life that will let you be successful in your endeavors. This is the final message in the Man vs Wild series delivered in March 2009.

John 21: 1 - 22 (Peter's challenge) We have all made mistakes. We have all said or done something that caused problems in our lives. But we have to remember that where we finish is way more important than where we start. Together, we’ll look at a story in the bible where a man is given a second chance. Do you believe in second chances?

Matthew 3: 1 - 12 (John the Baptist) When a man takes a stand as a follower of Christ, it sometimes means that you stand out from the crowd. This can make you feel uncomfortable, and that you are on your own. John the Baptist had to deal with the same leadership issues. We are going to take a look at his story, and see what his life shows us about leading in our own wilderness. Are you ready to be a leader? Are you ready to stand out?

“Time to Stop Running!” 2 Samuel 23: 11 - 12 (Shammah) There comes a point in every man’s life where he says, “No More!” It’s a moment when he decides he is not going to commit the sins of his father, he is not going to be a failure as a husband or dad, and he is not going to live a life of fear in his relationships. Today is the day that we see what God wants for us in this area, and we say, “No More!” Where are you when it comes to the relationships in your life?

2 Samuel 23: 20 - 23 (Benaiah) We’ve made having a relationship with Christ simple and sanitary, but it should be the exact opposite. When it comes to being a follower of Christ, we need men that are going to rush into the fight, and not sit and wait on the sidelines anymore. What is keeping you from getting into the fight?

“The Courage Of Convictions” Numbers 13,14; Joshua 14 (Caleb) Courage isn’t something that you muster up all at once. Most often it is the result of every experience through which we have faced our fears in the past. Every step we take to rely on God’s faithfulness gives us the ability to trust him for even greater things. Courage is the product of faith.

“It’s All About Timing” - Luke 10 (Martha) Using your gifts and talents to serve others can be very rewarding. But it’s possible to get so wrapped up in our work that we miss the things that are truly important. People who want to make a difference need to learn to do the right thing in the right way at the right time to keep themselves from burning out.

Acts 4,11,15 (Barnabas) Champions are admired for their success. There are few things more exhilarating than to stand on the top of the podium and claim the trophy. But there is another type of champion –the champion who supports, defends and promotes the success of another. How can we be like Barnabas?

2 Samuel 9 (Mephibosheth) Grace is an amazing word. It holds so much promise and comfort, it offers hope and transformation to a broken world. It is God’s love for the undeserving and it is at the heart of the Christian faith. But what does it look like in action and, having received it, how do we now live in it?

Nehemiah 8,13 One of the greatest pitfalls of success is complacency. When we’ve experienced a measure of success it is tempting to rest on our past and lose sight of our future. But God’s vision for our lives is eternal and while we are still on this earth there will always be room to grow and expand with God. The Big Idea: Under Nehemiah’s leadership the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was completed. But God had a greater purpose. He wasn’t as interested in rebuilding walls as he was in rebuilding His people.

Nehemiah 4,5&6 A vision worth pursuing will demand leaving what is comfortable and taking on challenges that will make us uncomfortable. To fulfill God’s will for our lives we will often have to deal with all kinds of obstacles in our way. But through them God builds our character, refines our vision and stretches our faith. The Big Idea: Nehemiah had to deal with all kinds of distractions. He had to deal with outside opposition, internal conflicts and personal attacks. As he dealt with each of these his vision and resolve grew even stronger. Knowing how to handle discouragement and distractions is key for living out our calling.

“Enlisting The Help Of Others” – Nehemiah 2:11-4:6 Life-transformation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens with the help of others who care and encourage us along the way. It happens when we share our hopes with those who are willing to invest in our lives.

Many fail at their New Year’s Resolutions because it’s a piece-meal approach to change. Patching up minor character flaws or making little behavioral adjustments tend to fail because they don’t see the bigger picture. What’s needed is a personal vision of what God can do in and through our lives. The Big Idea: Nehemiah was moved by a need. His concern moved him to prayer and through prayer to a conviction that God had called him to be part of the solution. God used his circumstances and position to prepare Nehemiah for the work He had for him.

When eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left behind while his family flies off on vacation he has to fend for himself. At first he enjoys being home alone but soon discovers it’s a dangerous place to be. For some, Christmas with family is a wonderful celebration, for others it brings some pain. But something inside all of us aches for that sense of belonging and safety that ought to be “home”.

One Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin suddenly inherits the job of Santa Claus. At first he thinks it’s just a dream but when he begins to take on all of the characteristics of Santa he begins to accept his new assignment. When angels announced the coming of a new king there was nothing special about his appearance. But in his humble beginnings Jesus was fulfilling the promise.

Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker has only one thing on his Christmas list -an official Red Ryder, 200-shot, BB rifle with a compass in the stock. That one desire occupies his every waking thought, it influences his behavior, it determines his choices. What one thing in our lives has that kind of power? Is there anything or anyone worth that kind of devotion?

In the modern remake of Charles Dicken’s classic, a cynically selfish TV executive comes to grips with the realization that he needs to change. And the change needed is a complete turn-around. With the coming of Jesus, God has begun the great reversal. All because a young peasant woman was willing to say, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”

Impacting the lives of kids around the world has never been a job for Tom Eggum; it has been a lifestyle. Thirty years ago, Tom sat in a college classroom reading about the struggles in the Soviet Union who suffered silently behind the Iron Curtain. Tom took matters into his own hands and began to smuggle suitcases full of aid into the Soviet Union. He had eight successful trips into the Soviet Union until 1981 when he was caught, arrested and blacklisted by the KGB. He had his visa revoked and was forbidden to enter the Soviet Union for five years. Instead of standing on the sidelines, he took six trips into China. He brought medicine, vitamins, antibiotics, clothes and shoes. From these life-altering experiences, he founded Hope 4 Kids International. Currently, Hope 4 Kids International has been in over 94 countries bringing hope and necessary care to kids.