Ep 232 | Christ and Technology - Smart Phones, Part 2
Release Date: 04/14/2025
Ep 248 | Healing And Deliverance Ministry, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
Can demons cause physical ailments? What about deliverance ministries—are they biblical, or do they risk becoming spectacle? Bobby, Matt, and Rache explore these questions in part 2 of our conversation on healing. Along the way, they caution against turning suffering into a guessing game, highlight the hope believers have in Christ’s victory, and stress the importance of humility and community when walking through illness. Whether you’re wrestling with your own suffering or seeking to minister to others, this episode offers both truth and encouragement rooted in the gospel.
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Ep 247 | Healing and Deliverance Ministry, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
What does the Bible really say about the spiritual gift of healing? Is it still around today? And why do some ministries make handkerchiefs sound like magic wands? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters, Bobby, Matt, and Rachel dive into one of the least-discussed (and most misunderstood) spiritual gifts: healing. From 1 Corinthians 12 to James 5, from mud in the eyes to mailed-out prayer cloths, we sort through what’s biblical, what’s questionable, and what’s just plain strange. The conversation explores why “gifts of healing” is written in the plural, whether healing in Acts...
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Ep 246 | Wholehearted: Living Fully For Christ
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Lexi sits down with Rachel and Bobby to reflect on the Wholehearted Women’s Summer Bible Study on Deuteronomy 6:4–9, the Shema. Together, they unpack the timeless call to love God with all our heart, soul, and might, exploring what it means to listen with intent, live with visible faith, and pass on God’s Word to the next generation. Along the way, they tackle common excuses that hold us back, share practical memorization tips, and challenge listeners to daily evaluate whether God truly has their ear, and their heart.
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Ep 245 | Energy Healing and Splankna, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters, Matt, Bobby, and Rachel dive deeper into the allure and evils of New Age spirituality. They tackle tough questions like: is there a biblical connection between soul and body? Has God promised to heal emotional pain? What’s the difference between walking in the Spirit and continuing revelation? Can Christians expect direct messages from God today? Whether you’re skeptical of the New Age or tempted by its promises, this episode invites you to anchor your faith in God’s Word and the slow, sanctifying work of the Spirit.
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Ep 244 | Energy Healing and Splankna, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Pastor Matt, Pastor Bobby, and Rachel discuss the growing trend of New Age practices within the Christian community. They explore the roots of New Age philosophy and its modern expressions—like energy healing, chakras, and especially Splankna, a so-called “Christian energy healing” method. Can believers participate in these practices if they remove the spiritual elements? Is it possible to mix Christianity with New Age thinking? With biblical clarity and pastoral insight, the team answers these questions and reminds us why true...
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Ep 243 | Darin Garton's Sabbatical
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, Executive Pastor Darin Garton sits down with Pastor Matt to share the heart and purpose behind his upcoming sabbatical. You’ll hear why sabbaticals matter for long-term pastoral health, the emotional and spiritual challenges Darin anticipates, and how time away can benefit not just the pastor, but the whole church.
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Ep 242 | Understanding the Southern Baptist Convention
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Pastor Bobby Pell joins the conversation to unpack the structure, purpose, and often confusing world of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Whether you’re a long-time Southern Baptist or brand new to Northwoods, this episode is designed to help you make sense of the acronyms, agencies, and hot topics that shape the SBC. We break down how the SBC is not a top-down denomination but a cooperative group of independent churches focused primarily on missions. Pastor Bobby and Pastor Matt discuss everything from the Cooperative Program...
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Ep 241 | Worship and Tech, Part 3
NorthWoods Church Matters
In Part 3 of our worship and tech series, we dive deep into the tension between authenticity and excellence in modern worship. What does it mean to worship from the heart when surrounded by lights, screens, and backing tracks? Pastor Matt and the gang discuss the pitfalls of backing tracks and over-planned service, how tech teams can help (or hinder) real-time spiritual responsiveness, why flexibility is essential on Sunday mornings, how AI and future technologies might enhance or endanger the soul of worship, and more.
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Ep 240 | Worship and Tech, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
Does your LED wall actually help people worship—or just look cool on Instagram? When does excellence turn into performance? Is your countdown clock helping people focus—or killing the Holy Spirit’s timing? In this episode, Pastor Matt is joined by Carey and Ivan for a lively, no-holds-barred conversation on the highs and hazards of tech in worship. From Sunday morning tech meltdowns and boom camera distractions to heartfelt reflections on simplicity, the trio shares real stories and real talk about what it takes to create a meaningful worship experience—both in-person and online.
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Ep 239 | Worship and Tech, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
Join Pastor Matt Higgins and elders‑in‑training Carey Bockting and Ivan McDonald on NorthWoods Church Matters as they examine how technology—from hymnals and overhead projectors to LED walls, livestreaming, and AI‑powered translation—is reshaping church. They discuss Northwood’s recent tech upgrades, spotlight multilingual worship through live translation and ASL, and explore why people turn to online services—for illness, travel, distance or convenience. But the heart of the episode is deeper: can digital attendance truly replace in‑person community? Our hosts grapple with...
info_outlineIn this second installment of our deep dive into smartphone use, we tackle the hard truths behind our digital habits—how our phones are subtly reshaping everything from parenting and marriage to spiritual life and mental health.
We explore “phubbing” – the silent killer of intimacy in marriage, the illusion of connection versus true relationships in the age of social media, the rise of chronic loneliness, especially among Gen Z, how smartphones disrupt sleep, erode empathy, and stoke anxiety and depression, and more. Plus, we share real-life screen time stats, practical tips to break the addiction, and biblical strategies for putting on Christ and putting down distraction.