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.
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The NorthWord
The Four Stages
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Most people don’t lose the fight at the moment of the act — they lose it in the quiet moments just before, when they’re still telling themselves they haven’t decided anything yet. Walk through the four stages from temptation to habit, and discover where grace can actually interrupt the process.
Text us directly by clicking ‘Text Us’ at the top of these show notes to share your journey!
Watch the sermon on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanglicanfamily
Good morning. This is Northword. Most people don't lose the fight at the moment of the act. They lose it in the moments just before. 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. The Christian tradition is careful about something most of us collapse into. The stages between temptation and sin. Understanding them changes how we fight. Stage 1. Temptation. The desire arising from the old sinful nature. This is not sin. Even Christ was tempted. It is often not a dramatic moment, just very fast, very small. Someone asks a question, and the honest answer is uncomfortable. In that split second, the pull arises to not tell the truth. Stage 2. Entertainment. We begin turning it over. We start building a justification. It's only a white lie, a small lie. Telling the truth would hurt someone. This is where most people lose the fight. Not at the moment of the act, but in the quiet moments before, while still telling themselves they haven't decided anything yet. Stage three, transgression. The deed, the word, the choice. And here is a distinction we must hold. Transgression is not yet sin in the full sense. It is part of the struggle of the old nature. Stage four, habit. When the transgression becomes a pattern worn deep. So when we're in our sinful nature, in Adam's condition, this progression through all of these stages moves very quickly. It moves automatically. But when we are in a state of grace, in a in Christ's condition, grace interrupts us at every stage, giving us an opportunity to turn back. And that is great news. Now a quick thank you today to our sponsor, Barros Pizza, a sponsor of our 90th anniversary celebration at St. John's in Fort Smith. Now, friends, I'm from New York. I know a little something about pizza. And I can tell you honestly that Barros is good pizza. Whether you're feeding a family, a crowd, or just want to slice after a long day, Barros is the place to get the best pizza. Thank you, Barros, for being part of this milestone. This has been Northword the Word, the North Your Week, a daily podcast from St. John's Fort Smith in collaboration with the Anglican family. Grace doesn't just cover the fall, it gives you the ability to recognize what is happening before you fall. Pay attention to stage two today. That's where the real work is. And use the text us link in the description to reach out. I would love to hear from you where you are on your journey. And until tomorrow, God be with you. In the name of Flower, Sun and the Holy Spirit. Amen.