NCC Unplugged

John begins his Gospel not with Jesus' birth, but by declaring that Jesus is the eternal Word who existed before creation. The Greek concept of Logos represented the organizing force of the universe, while Jewish understanding saw God's Word as powerful and creative. John's revolutionary claim is that this Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, making God accessible to humanity. Though many rejected Jesus because His light exposed thei...

John's Gospel was written with a specific purpose: to help readers believe that Jesus is the Messiah and experience true life through Him. Unlike other Gospel writers, John begins by revealing Jesus as the eternal Word who existed before creation. Through seven carefully chosen miracles, John shows that Jesus is the promised Anointed One who offers a preview of God's kingdom. These signs point to eternal celebration, complete heali...

The Last Supper stands as history's most significant meal, where Jesus demonstrated profound love through humble service. Despite knowing betrayal and suffering awaited Him, Jesus eagerly desired this time with his disciples. He washed their feet, showing that true greatness comes through serving others. When Jesus established communion with bread and the cup, He created a new covenant that delivers us from sin and death. Even as t...

Jesus chose the title Son of Man to describe himself, connecting to Daniel's prophecy of one who would overthrow earthly kingdoms. However, instead of coming with armies, Jesus revolutionized the world through sharing meals and building relationships. His three purpose statements reveal that he came to serve, save the lost, and eat and drink with people. The story of Levi the tax collector demonstrates how Jesus calls the unlikely ...

Hey NCC family,

Just a quick update on NCC Unplugged. The podcast isn’t going away—it’s just taking a short break.

We’re in a busy season and want to be thoughtful about how we care for what we’re producing. During the hiatus, we’ll be sharing our weekly sermons here instead.

We’re already looking forward to coming back to the podcast with fresh energy.

Thanks for your understanding and continued support. — The NC...

Welcome back to Part 2 of Ask Us Anything on NCC Unplugged. In this episode, the NCC staff continues answering real questions submitted by our church family—ranging from fun and lighthearted to deeply thoughtful and personal. 

The conversation kicks off with a fan-favorite question: If you weren’t in ministry, what would your dream job be? 

From there, the team shifts to practical questions about church growth—specifically the ...

In this special Ask Us Anything edition of NCC Unplugged, Matt sits down with Jeff Terpstra (Preaching Minister), Joshua Persall (Executive Minister), Alison Murray (Children’s Director), and Jonathan Slatt (Youth Minister) to answer real, anonymous questions straight from our congregation. This is part one of a multi-episode series because you sent in so many thoughtful, vulnerable questions.

The team starts by pulling back the cu...

In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff sits down with Joshua and Allison to talk about gratitude — not just the kind we share around a holiday table, but the deep, internal thankfulness that grows from what God has done in us. From the misunderstood history of Thanksgiving to David’s powerful song in 2 Samuel 22, the team digs into how Christians can cultivate a thankful heart in every circumstance.

If this epis...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff Terpstra sits down with Joshua and Allison, to reflect on their time at the 2025 Spire Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The team unpacks what it means to “Catch the Wind” — the conference theme centered around the Holy Spirit — and shares how it rejuvenated their hearts and ministries. From practical leadership insights to personal spiritual renewal, this conversation explores how the Holy ...

Join the staff of Norwin Christian Church for a special Roundtable Edition of NCC Unplugged, where conversations, community, and culture come together.

In this episode, Jeff, Matt, Jonathan, Allison, and Brion sit down to share stories from the summer—mission trips, skydiving, family milestones, ministry growth, and more.

You’ll hear everything from Allison’s reflections on sending her daughter off to college, to Jonathan’s student...

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...

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

  ...

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...

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 ex...

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 mean...