The NorthWord
NorthWord is a daily Christian podcast from St. John's Fort Smith in collaboration with the Anglican Family. Hosted by Father Aaron from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.
Here's how it works: Every Sunday we release the full sermon preached that morning. Then Monday through Saturday, you get 3-5 minute daily reflections based on that sermon - one thought you can actually use each day. Every Wednesday we explore the rhythm of Jesus' life and how his followers have lived it out for 2,000 years.
Whether you're Pentecostal, Orthodox, Baptist, Catholic, or just curious about faith - this is for you. Ancient faith. Real life. No fluff.
The Word. The North. Your Week.
Follow @StJohnsFortSmith and @TheAnglicanFamily
The NorthWord
More Than Survival
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We want to hear from You! Send us a Text!
Jesus didn't come so you could just get through the week. He came that you might have life, and have it abundantly. Today we ask where we've quietly settled for surviving when the shepherd is offering something fuller.
Good morning. This is Northword. You weren't made for survival mode. You were made for something fuller than that. Good morning, this is Northword, the word, the North your Week, a daily podcast from St. John's Fort Smith in collaboration with the Anglican family. I'm your host, Father Aaron, and today I want to talk about a word Jesus uses the most of us. Skip right over. Abundance. In John chapter 10, Jesus says, There's a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. And then he says this I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. Not survival, not managing, not coping with the chaos, abundance. Now be careful with that word. It doesn't mean a bigger house or an easier week. The abundance Jesus is talking about isn't a lifestyle upgrade. It's a quality of life that holds even when the circumstances don't cooperate. Think about how most of us are actually living. We're getting through. We're making it to Friday. We're keeping the plates spinning. And if you asked us how we're doing, we'd say busy or tired or fine. Fine is the word we use when we don't want to admit we're running on empty. Jesus is not interested in fine. He's not asking you to white knuckle your way to the weekend. He's offering something the thief cannot offer. Life that actually fills you. So here's the question for Tuesday. Where have you settled for survival? Where have you quietly decided that just getting through is the best you can hope for in your marriage, in your work, in your faith, in your own heart. Because if Jesus is telling the truth, and he is, then survival isn't the ceiling. There's something on offer that you haven't been reaching for. You don't have to manufacture it. You can't. The shepherd provides it. But you do have to stop pretending that fine is good enough. Today ask him for more. Not more stuff, more of him. Tell him where you've been settling, and then leave some room for him to show up. Thank you for having joined us this morning. This has been Northward, the Word, the North, your week. I hope you've enjoyed your time with us. Please feel free to reach out using the text us link in the description. And until tomorrow, God be with you. Amen.