NCC Unplugged

Summer stories unfold as the team shares thrilling tales, like skydiving jumps and a Hawaii trip interrupted by a tsunami evacuation. Emotions run high with reflections on sending kids to college and youth ministry adventures at CIY. A new dad explores his role and community growth in worship. They dive into exciting updates on small groups, upcoming retreats, and seasonal programming while addressing challenges in kids' ministries. Genuine conversations highlight the heart of faith and connection, leaving listeners inspired.

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Joshua Persall (Executive Minister), Allison Murray (Children’s Ministries Director), and Jonathan Slatt (Youth Minister) conclude our six-part discipleship series. Together, they reflect on what it truly means to live as a disciple of Jesus and how to naturally share our faith in everyday life. From sharing your story—whether it’s dramatic or quiet—to seeing people with Christlike compassion, this conversation highlights how discipleship is less about programs and more about relationships. You’ll hear practical ways to integrate disciple-making into daily rhythms, whether with family, co-workers, or friends. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from simply “knowing” about discipleship to actually living it out, this episode will encourage and challenge you to take the next step. 📝 Show Notes Episode Highlights: Looking in the mirror: Why being a disciple comes before making disciples. Everyone has a story—big or small—that God can use. Discipleship happens best in relationships, not programs. Deuteronomy 6 and living discipleship in the everyday rhythms of life. Practical next steps: start with just two people already in your life. The importance of patience, compassion, and prayer in disciple-making. Encouragement to keep the conversation going, even though the series is ending. Key Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 18:21–35 (The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant) Deuteronomy 6 (Discipleship woven into daily life) 2 Timothy 2:2 (Passing faith to the next generation) The Parable of the Lost Sheep Takeaway: Discipleship is not about adding more to your schedule—it’s about shifting your focus and living intentionally with the people God has already placed in your path.

In this week’s episode of NCC Unplugged, Joshua Persall (Executive Minister), Jeff Terpstra (Preaching Minister), and Allison Murray (Children’s Ministry Director) dive into what it means for a church to truly be a disciple-making church. They explore: The difference between “doing church” and living as disciples Why discipleship is more than a program—it’s an identity How Scripture shapes our approach to measuring growth The tension between numbers, stories, and transformation Practical ways NCC seeks to live out the Great Commission You’ll hear reflections from Colossians, the Great Commission in Matthew 28, and real-life examples of transformation happening in our community. Whether you’re a church leader, a long-time believer, or someone just exploring faith, this episode will challenge and encourage you to see discipleship as a way of life. 👉 Learn more about Norwin Christian Church: www.norwinchristianchurch.com 📅 Join us in person: Sundays at 8:45am & 10:30am, Thursdays at 7pm

This week on NCC Unplugged, Joshua is joined by Allison Murray (Children’s Ministry Director), Jonathan Slatt (Youth Minister), and Richard Seaman (Elder & Forge Team Member) to continue our series on discipleship. We explore what it looks like to follow Jesus in every context of life—from raising children at home, to discipling teenagers and young adults, to walking faithfully as empty nesters, and even living out our faith in the workplace. Key Highlights: What Deuteronomy 6 teaches about discipleship in the home How teenagers and young adults grow through relationships and community The importance of not compartmentalizing our faith Practical encouragement for parents, grandparents, volunteers, and mentors How NCC partners with families through events like Coffee & Conversations Discipleship isn’t a program or a checklist—it’s a way of life. Join us as we talk about living out our faith in ordinary, everyday moments. 👉 Listen now and be encouraged to see your relationships as opportunities to disciple and be discipled.

On this episode of NCC Unplugged, we dive into one of the most important yet often misunderstood aspects of following Jesus—discipleship. More than just a label, being a disciple means walking in intentional relationship with Christ and others. Together with Allison Murray, NCC’s Director of Children’s Ministries, and elder Rich Seaman, we unpack what it looks like to move from being a disciple to becoming a disciple-maker. From exploring the biblical foundation in the Great Commission to sharing practical next steps, we discuss how discipleship is relational, lifelong, and deeply personal. Whether it’s through prayer, investing in one-on-one relationships, navigating family dynamics, or simply being intentional in everyday conversations, this episode offers encouragement for anyone who wants to live out Jesus’ call to “go and make disciples.” Show Notes Episode Highlights What is discipleship really about? Moving beyond titles and labels, discipleship is intentional, relational, and lifelong. The role of elders at NCC Rich explains how NCC’s elder team functions as spiritual shepherds and why a plurality of leadership reflects the biblical model. The Great Commission as our foundation We revisit Matthew 28:18–20 and reflect on how Jesus’ final words are still our mission today. Evangelism vs. Discipleship Evangelism plants the seeds, but discipleship nurtures growth through relationship, prayer, and life together. Practical next steps Begin by being a committed disciple yourself. Pray for God to reveal who He’s placing in your circle. Focus on relationships, not projects. Start small—invest deeply in just one or two people. Use everyday opportunities (like conversations at work, coffee meetups, or family gatherings) to point others to Jesus. Family dynamics in discipleship Discipling family members can be challenging, but Scripture shows us examples of bringing loved ones to Christ with humility and love. How to invite someone into deeper conversation Look for natural openings—sharing how faith impacts your daily life, offering to pray with someone, or inviting them to study Scripture together. Encouraging multiplication True disciple-making doesn’t end with us. As new believers grow, they’re called to bring others along in the journey too. Key Takeaways Discipleship is not about numbers—it’s about people. Relationships are the soil where discipleship grows. Everyone can be part of God’s mission, regardless of personality type or fears. The Great Commission is for all believers, not just church leaders. Scripture References Matthew 28:18–20 – The Great Commission Matthew 9:36 – Jesus’ compassion for the crowds John 1:40–42 – Andrew brings his brother Peter to Jesus John 4:28–30 – The Samaritan woman tells her town about Jesus Next Episode Preview We’ll be talking about the different places discipleship happens—in our homes, workplaces, community, and church—and how to be intentional in each setting.

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Joshua and Allison dive into the second installment of our discipleship series by exploring a surprising fact: the word Christian only appears three times in the New Testament, while disciple shows up over 250 times. What does that tell us about how Jesus wants us to identify ourselves—and live? They unpack: The historical difference between the words “Christian” and “disciple” What it meant to follow a rabbi in the first century How the early church operated—and how it evolved into what we know today Whether "bigger church" means "better church" How reaching one person at a time may be God's original plan for spreading the Gospel This is an eye-opening, encouraging, and practical conversation for anyone who wants to take the next step in their faith or help someone else do the same. Next episode sneak peek: We’ll explore what it actually looks like to reach your one.

Welcome to the first episode in our brand-new NCC Unplugged series on Discipleship! In this conversation, Jeff Terpstra (Preaching Minister) hands the mic to Executive Minister Joshua Persall as they unpack one of the most important—yet often misunderstood—concepts in the church today: being a disciple of Jesus. Why is “discipleship” making a comeback in church language? What does it actually mean to be a disciple, not just a churchgoer? And how do we live out Jesus’ Great Commission in a modern context? In this episode, Jeff and Joshua dive into: The biblical definition of discipleship (Mark 1:17 + Matthew 28) Why the Church is shifting focus from attendance to transformation The impact of COVID on how we think about church The tension between cultural Christianity and full surrender Why discipleship isn’t about guilt, but about joyful response Whether you’re new to faith, spiritually stuck, or just ready to go deeper, this episode sets the foundation for a life of purpose and growth as a follower of Jesus. Stay tuned as Joshua continues the series with guests and stories that bring discipleship to life in the everyday.

This week on NCC Unplugged, Jeff and Matt dive into one of the most personal and impactful parts of ministry: officiating weddings and funerals. Jeff shares real stories, wisdom, and some behind-the-scenes insight on what it’s like to walk with families through both the joyful highs and the difficult lows of life. From premarital counseling to writing personalized funeral messages, you’ll hear how our church approaches these moments with intentionality, conviction, and grace. Topics include: Why we take weddings seriously (and what premarital counseling looks like) Church policies on who we marry (and why) The evolving role of ministers in weddings today The sacred weight of funerals—and how we offer hope without assumptions Funny moments (yes, even in the rain), awkward slip-ups, and meaningful memories Whether you're planning a wedding, grieving a loss, or just curious about the pastoral side of things, this episode is packed with authenticity and heart.

🎙️ Welcome to the NCC Unplugged Staff Roundtable – Summer 2025 Edition! Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at what summer really looks like for the Norwin Christian Church staff. From VBS chaos (yes, with cardboard bears and custom trading cards) to CIY trips, mission work in Arizona, and even skydiving plans 😳—this episode is full of laughs, ministry insights, and genuine conversation about what it means to serve, grow, and rest well as a church family. 👥 Featuring: Jeff Terpstra, Jonathan Slatt, Joshua Persall & Matt Mastroianni 📍Topics include: What’s new for VBS 2025 (and what nearly broke the stage) Family mission trips & youth group summer events Why one staff member may or may not survive a skydive Bike gangs, dad jokes, and...pogo sticks? 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of NCC Unplugged – where real conversations meet real community. 📌 Learn more about Norwin Christian Church at: https://www.norwinchristianchurch.com   📅 Join us for worship: Sundays at 8:45am & 10:30am Thursdays at 7:00pm   #NCCUnplugged #ChurchPodcast #VBS2025 #CIY #FaithAndFun #ChristianLife #YouthMinistry #ChurchBehindTheScenes #FunnyChurchStories

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff Terpstra and Brion Elliott take a reflective look back at NCC’s recent sermon series on Sacrifice. From heart, mind, and time to money—this series challenged the church to go deeper in surrendering every aspect of life to God. Jeff shares the struggle of writing the final sermon on time and how it unexpectedly shifted direction. Brion opens up about the balance between worship leadership and heartfelt praise. Together, they explore Jesus’ teachings, prayerful moments in service, and the power of preparing both spiritually and practically. They also tease what’s coming next: a new sermon series on Intentional Discipleship—what it means to follow Jesus and help others do the same. 💬 Topics include: The Holy Spirit’s surprising work through feedback Why praising God is meaningless without sacrifice Creating authentic worship moments beyond performance Loving correction in the church family Where NCC is headed this summer 🔗 Scripture Highlights: Matthew 25, Luke 14, Hebrews 13:15-16, Ephesians 5:2 🙏 "There's no praise without sacrifice."