NorthWoods Church Matters

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In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters, we explore Exodus 21–24, a section of Scripture that's often skipped but deeply important. Instead of preaching these chapters, Pastor Bobby Pell and Lexi walk through them in conversation, unpacking how God's covenant laws shaped Israel's life and what they reveal about God's character today. These chapters address justice, responsibility, and human dignity, including difficult topics like servitude, restitution, and the limits of power. The discussion clarifies how God regulated broken systems, restrained vengeance through proportional justice, and consistently showed concern for the vulnerable. As the conversation moves to Exodus 24, Bobby and Lexi focus on the covenant itself, God formally binding Himself to His people and inviting them into a relationship marked by obedience and trust. This episode helps listeners slow down, understand a challenging passage, and see how these laws ultimately point forward to Christ and a Spirit-filled life of grace.

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Lexi sits down with Larry Riley, who will be joining the NorthWoods staff in January as Ministry Director. Larry shares about growing up in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, coming to faith as a teenager, and discovering a lifelong calling to ministry. Along the way, he reflects on God's faithfulness, the importance of relationships, and what it means to join God where He is already at work. You'll also hear why NorthWoods stood out to him, what excites him most about the Ministry Director role, and how the church can pray for him as he steps into this new season.

In this special "Get to Know the Staff" episode, Pastor Bobby sits down with Lexi Bruner, the NorthWoods Communications Director and the new voice of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast. Lexi shares about her small-town upbringing, her journey to USI, and how a shift from long-term care to marketing set her on a path she never expected. She describes growing up a "Christmas and Easter" churchgoer, how God woke her up from that, and the big part that NorthWoods has played in her testimony. Lexi and Bobby also look ahead to the future of the podcast: why it matters for discipleship in a growing church, how it creates space for conversations that Sunday mornings can't hold, and what's coming when the new building opens, including the launch of a full vodcast. Lexi even shares her dream guest list (and Bobby doesn't shoot any of them down!).

Can a believer lose their salvation? What if I don't feel saved? Why do I still struggle with sin? What are the real signs of a changed heart? Many Christians wrestle with the question: How can I be sure I'm really saved? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, the crew digs into the doctrine of assurance of salvation: what it means to be saved, how God initiates and completes our salvation, and why we can rest in His unchanging grace. Listen for a down-to-earth, theologically rich discussion on finding assurance in a world full of doubt.

On this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Matt is joined by Ivan and Carey to tackle a subject the church often avoids—cussing and profanity. Together, they explore how culture's shifting standards on language compare with God's unchanging Word. The conversation highlights how generational views on profanity differ and why Gen Z Christians often have looser tongues, the influence of the internet and media on what society considers "acceptable speech," and what the Bible says about the power of words, especially from James 3. They discuss why careless or corrupting talk reveals the heart, how Christians are called to use speech to build up rather than tear down, and practical wisdom for watching our words, guarding our hearts, and teaching children about godly speech.