New Hope Christian Church Sermons: Recent Episodes
New Hope Christian Church
Rob preaches on Ephesians 3:1-13, and walks us through Paul's message regarding discouragement. We all face seasons of discouragement, and moments when it seems impossible to move forward. Through the message of Paul's testimony, and the...
David walks us through the the final verses of Ephesians 2 and discusses Paul's message to Ephesus about its church. The implications of this message help us recognize the work being done in our own hearts and in the heart of the church. Jesus...
Ephesians 2:14-18 - Sin has created a "dividing wall of hostility" between us and God but has also created one between each of us as people. As he continues his letter, Paul emphasizes the importance of the local church in the life of the...
Ephesians 2:11-13 - One of the most common commands in the Bible is to remember. Twice in this passage Paul implores his readers to continually remember what the sacrifice of Jesus means for their lives.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - Dallas Willard once said, "Grace is opposed to earning but it is not opposed to effort." Meaning, we do not work to earn our salvation but we do work in grateful response to the salvation that is freely given to us. In...
Ephesians 2:6-7 - The Bible offers people an invitation to imagine themselves in the story of God. For Paul, this was important because he wanted his readers to understand the importance of being united to Christ. Union with Christ changes everything...
Ephesians 2:1-5 - To truly appreciate the light we have to understand the darkness. This is true in the physical world and in our spiritual lives as well. The Bible is honest when it describes our need for salvation. We are all guilty of sinning. Not...
Ephesians 1:17-23 - The most important thing for Paul was helping people get closer to God. When he prays he prays for his friends to know God at a deeper level than they did before. He wanted them to pursue God's wisdom for their lives and live...
Ephesians 1:15-16 - Our words, both spoken and unspoken, are powerful. And our time is not guaranteed so it is important to say the unspoken things to the people in our lives. In just two short verses Paul uses his words to encourage and uplift the...
Ephesians 1:13 - Who or what you belong to is essential to understanding your purpose in life. In Ephesians 1:13 Paul reminds the church that when they became Christians they were marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit and now belong to the Lord. So...
Ephesians 1:3-14 - It is easy to get distracted and even discouraged by the brokenness that surrounds us in the world. We can feel trapped and begin to take on shame and guilt that prevent us from seeing who we really are. In the beginning of his...
Ephesians 1:3-7 - Psalm 115:3 says that God is in heaven, and He does whatever pleases Him. So the question is, what has God chosen to do? In Ephesians 1 Paul begins his letter by explaining that in His sovereignty God has chosen to predestine us for...
Ephesians 1:1-2 - Paul begins his letter to the Ephesian church with a reminder for his readers. He wants them to remember who they are in Christ before he explains to them how to live in response to this truth.
Revelation 2:1-7 - Before we begin our study of Ephesians we look at the important warning that Jesus had for this church to remember their first love.
Celebrating 50 years of ministry at New Hope. David and Rob look back at the last 50 years and look to where the Lord is leading us into the next 50 years of ministry.
Matthew 25 - God has given each of us the gift of life. And that gift is not to be taken for granted. We are called to be intentional and invest our lives in His Kingdom. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25 is a reminder that God does expect His people...
Luke 11:1 - One of the most important requests that the disciples made of Jesus was to teach them how to pray. As we bring 2021 to an end and look to 2022 one of the best things we can do is ask the same question and lean in as Jesus teaches on the...
Luke 1 - The Holy Spirit's role is to put the spotlight on Jesus. In the Christmas story we see this truth play out in the lives of three key characters; Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist. As apprentices of Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps us to...
Matthew 1 - The Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit is a person. A divine person. He is God. And when He works with and in us He always works in a personal way. This made all the difference in the world for Joseph as the Christmas story unfolded. And...
2 Corinthians 12 - The Bible offers the best instruction in the world on what it means to suffer with hope. For Paul, suffering and hope were rooted in the truth of the Gospel and he writes to the church to instruct them on the importance of staying...
2 Corinthians 11 - Being humble and empathetic toward the needs of other people is very difficult in a culture like ours. Paul writes to ensure that believers everywhere know that to follow Jesus is to live an "others first" life of...
2 Corinthians 10 - The things that we focus on, the voices we listen to, have the potential to shape and mold how we live. Paul's instruction for the church is to be intentional about what exposure yourself to. To take every thought captive and...
2 Corinthians 9 - Generosity is an uncomfortable subject in church. Many are skeptical of the church when it comes to finances...and in many cases that skepticism is warranted. But what did Jesus call his followers to? How is it different than we...
2 Corinthians 8 - Generosity can be inspiring. It's even more inspiring when people sacrificially give. The churches in Macedonia served as an inspiring example of giving in the midst of difficulty.
2 Corinthians 7 - Godly sorrow leads us to repentance and a life with no regrets. Worldly sorrow will strip us of our ability to experience the life God wants to give to us. As apprentices of Jesus, we must continually examine our motives and actions...
2 Corinthians 6 - Audio sermon from our outdoor service. What does it look like to live a life of integrity as we represent the Kingdom of God?
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 - Many followers of Jesus reduce being a disciple to a one time decision they made. While this is important, following Jesus is about so much more. It is about experiencing the fullness of life that only He can provide. If we...
2 Corinthians 4 - Life is full of unexpected experiences that do not alway work out the way we plan. How do we live in the midst of these moments with hope that God is working? In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul reminds the church that "this light momentary...
2 Corinthians 3 - Legalism is one of the greatest threats to ministry and healthy discipleship. As Paul defends his ministry to the church at Corinth he teaches on the danger of letting legalism set in and risk compromising the work that God wants to...
2 Corinthians 2 - One of the core practices of discipleship or apprenticeship to Jesus is forgiveness. How do we forgive when we have been hurt? What does it look like to be a forgiving people? How does forgiveness fit into our apprenticeship to Jesus?
2 Corinthians 1 - Suffering is unavoidable in life. We will all experience suffering at varying levels throughout our life. The question is, will this suffering change us for the better or for the worse? The key difference in answering this is how one...
1 Cor 16 - Reference points are moments in our lives where things change. Our focus becomes a little more clear as the fog is lifted. As Paul closes out 1 Corinthians he covers some "housekeeping" items with the Corinthian church and sneaks...
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 - As our lives get difficult it is easy to take our eyes off the two fixed realities that can give us purpose and hope: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul wants the church to understand what this truth means for their...
1 Corinthians 14:26-40 - As Paul continues to instruct the church in Corinth on their gatherings he reminds them of the purpose and importance of having orderly worship. The goal being to eliminate distractions and focus completely on Jesus.
1 Corinthians 14:1-25 - Does what we do when we gather as a church really matter? God has given every Christian access to a spiritual gift. One of the temptations we have is to make those gifts all about us. This is the same issue the Christians in...
Psalm 34 - How can we, with all of our sin and brokenness, stand in the presence of a Holy God? After all, if true purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction come from God, how do we draw near to Him when we struggle with our own brokenness and sin? The...
Genesis 18:1-15 - We have all been at a place where we have made a complete mess of our lives. Though we may have had good intentions we find ourselves overwhelmed and expecting to be punished by the God whom we are certain we have disappointed. It is...
1 Samuel 5:1-4 - When you really understand who is standing nearby, it makes all the difference in the world. Drawing near to God is about understanding and knowing the God we are drawing near to. And knowing He is near to us, and present in our...
Isaiah 6:1-8 - What does it mean for God to go from being a concept or attachment in our lives to becoming the ultimate purpose of our lives? It is easy to include God in our lives as a concept. But when we are faced with the holiness and glory of...
1Kings 19:9-18 - How do you draw near to God when the pain you are experiencing makes it hard to see Him? Elijah's encounter with King Ahab and Jezebel show that God draws near to us even when we find it hard to see Him.
Joshua 5:13-15 - We live in one of the most distracted and fast moving generations in history. So, how do we slow down and focus enough to draw near to the Lord? In Joshua 5, we learn that there are times when God intentionally gets our attention so...
Job 42:1-6 - Life can be hard and painful. We go through seasons of difficulty and face painful circumstances. So, what happens when all you have left to hold onto is God? Is He really all that we need? Job's life teaches us that in the midst of...
Genesis 32:22-32 - There are places that we will remember all of our lives. We remember these places not only because of the physical location but because of the transformation that took place there. Looking at the life of Jacob we learn there are...
1 Cor 13:1-13 - Often referred to as "The Love Chapter" 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most beautiful descriptions of love ever written. But what is this chapter really describing? One of the most important tools for studying the Bible is to...
1 Cor 12:12-20 - Being a part of a church body is like being a part of a family. Paul uses the imagery of the physical body to help us understand that in the church each person has an important role to play if the church is going to remain healthy.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 - Spiritual gifts have been an area of division in the church from the beginning. The Apostle Paul saw how pride had worked its way into how the church in Corinth saw their spiritual gifts and wants to put an end to it. He writes...
1 Cor 11:17-34 - Gratitude is one the greatest gifts that God has given to us. One of the places where gratitude is experienced most is around a table with good food and good friends...and the table where the greatest gift was given and the deepest...
1 Cor 11:2-16 - While the topic of gender roles in the church has been a divisive topic that has caused pain, when it is understood within the created order that God has established it is a beautiful picture of giving Glory back to God. Understanding...
1 Cor 10:23-11:1 - There is a lot of freedom in how someone chooses to build their life. Paul knew this was true for the church in Corinth and it is still true now. That freedom is a blessing but it requires wisdom as we seek to build a life that...
1 Cor 10:1-13 - Just because you start strong doesn't guarantee you will finish strong. This principle is true in many areas of life and none more important than the way someone pursues Jesus. Paul reminds the Corinthian church that it is vitally...
1 Corinthians 9:19-27 - Self control is the ability to choose the important over the urgent. There are times when we feel torn between what we want to do...what we have the freedom to do...and what we should do. In these moments it is important to...
EASTER 2021 - Sam Allberry writes, "Many Christians, while believing in the resurrection and rehearsing that belief every Easter Sunday, then effectively stick in back in a drawer for the rest of the year because they are at a loss to know what...
1 Cor 8 - Freedom is much more than the absence of restrictions. Much like the other gifts we receive from following Jesus, our freedom in Christ has a purpose...and that purpose is serving others.
1 Cor 7:7-9 and 25-40 - Singleness is often times seen as a weakness or a season of waiting for what is next. In the ancient world singleness could even be seen as a curse. It isn't a lot different in our culture today. But the Bible has a much...
1 Cor 7:1-17 - Marriage is both a beautiful gift and a difficult journey. In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul reminds his readers of the importance of seeing marriage how God created it and not how the culture tells them to see it.
1 Cor 6:15-20 - The culture in Corinth, much like our culture, was saturated with sex. It had potential to devastate the church so Paul wrote to them to warn them of the danger. His words, written almost 2000 years ago are still a vivid reminder and...
1 Cor 6:12-14 - Freedom can often times be understood as the absence of any and all restrictions. Many Christians see freedom as a way to behave and do whatever one wants. In 1 Cor 6 Paul explains that true freedom is not the absence of restrictions...
1 Cor 6:1-11 - As followers of Jesus the standards that we choose to live by are very important. The work that the Lord is doing in the heart of his people must continue and not be neglected.
1 Cor 5 - When a church refuses to see the sin within its own walls they take the holiness of God for granted. They lose sight of His holiness and the destructive nature of their own sin.
1 Corinthians 4:14-17 - Paul pauses between the opening sections in his letter to explain why he is addressing the issues he is writing about.
1 Cor 4:1-13 - Ego and pride have always created problems for people. Surrounded by every opportunity imaginable to build ourselves up and create a reputation and image, it is hard to embrace contentment and humility. As he continues his letter, Paul...
1 Cor 3 - When a baby looks like a baby and acts like a baby it is a source of joy. When an adult acts looks like a baby and acts like a baby it is a tragedy. Paul narrows his discussion on unity to point out to the Christians in Corinth that refusing...
1 Corinthians 2:6-16 - Conversion is not the touchdown of the Christian life, it is the kickoff. Paul stresses to the church in Corinth that they must allow the Spirit to mature them as they grow in their faith.
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 - Paul teaches the church in Corinth that the cross is where God satisfied both his wrath and love. It is a stumbling block to some but to those who align with Jesus it is saving power.
As we close out 2020 we consider how Jesus has invited us to be intentional about how we follow Him and how we lead others to follow Him.
John 1:6-8 - Everybody is a witness to someone or something. What we talk about and how we live is a testimony to our understanding of our purpose. John the Baptist's life teaches Christians what they should be a witness to with their lives.
In John 1, Jesus is described as the Word. What does this mean? How does this change the way we see and experience the promise of Christmas?
What is it that drives you? What causes you to keep going? After learning much about the life of the Apostle Paul it becomes evident that he was driven by a hope for heaven. This hope influenced every part of his life and he would teach that this same...
Acts 28 -- Cliffhangers can make us pretty anxious as we wonder about what comes next. Many shows and books leave us wanting to know how the story will continue. As Acts comes to a close, Luke finishes with a cliffhanger that makes the reader look at...
Missions Sunday 2020 - Looking at the story of Jonah we learn about how God has always called His people to live on mission. He called Jonah to go to Nineveh and He has called every believer to go and make disciples wherever we find ourselves.
Acts 27 - Suffering and difficult situations reveal the strength and source of our faith. During a shipwreck Paul is able to show the prisoners around him how faith in Jesus provides calm in the midst of life's most difficult moments.
Acts 26 - What is it that causes someone to change their mind? In Pauls encounter with King Agrippa we see that it is far more complicated than simply reasoning someone to make a decision. The Holy Spirit actively works in and through His people to...
Acts 25 - One of the harder lessons we learn as we journey with Jesus is that there are no shortcuts in the Kingdom of God. Growing can be hard and challenging but it is always worth it.
Acts 24 - Guest Preacher, Scott Witt, continues our series in the book of Acts teaching what we can learn about living in challenging times.
Acts 22 - Faith is easy when it is comfortable and consists of everything that we want and nothing that requires much from us. But this “Build-A-Bear” approach to Christianity cannot be sustained when times get tough.
Acts 21 - Each person has a role to play in the story of what God is doing in the world. Even when it seems insignificant, God is working in and through people for His purposes.
Acts 20 - There is something unique and beautiful about the connection that is made between friends. To be united to friends who share the same purpose is a powerful experience in life. In Acts 20 Paul gathers his friends from Ephesus together to...
Acts 19 - A lie about Jesus is a lie about life. How should Christians live in a world that is consistently lying about where we should find purpose and security? In Acts 19 we see how the entire culture of Ephesus was changed by clarifying the truth...
Acts 18 - Some of our most important relationships and events happen in the everyday moments of our lives. Nothing fancy, big, or dramatic. It is the simple, real, and consistent relationships that oftentimes change us the most. In Acts 18 we are...
Acts 17 - Living for Jesus is about much more than a one time decision. As Christians we are called to put everything to the test and examine what is true and what is not. We live differently by inviting Jesus into the everyday parts of our lives. In...
Acts 16 - Does God really care about the details of our lives? If so, what is His will for our lives? Many of us have wrestled with questions like these. As our series in Acts continues, we learn the answer to these questions as Paul and his...
Acts 15 - Conflict is unavoidable in life. Even Christians have disagreements and struggle to see eye to eye on every issue. So, how do we manage our conflict in an honorable way? in Acts 15 Luke offers some insight into how the church should approach...
Acts 14:8-20 - Everyone serves a master. There are many things in life that over promise and under deliver. So, why do we continue to turn to them? How do we identify the idols in our hearts and replace them with worshipping Jesus?
Acts 13 - What difference does the resurrection really make? In Acts 13 Paul preaches to a skeptical crowd about the power the resurrection of Jesus has to transform every part of the believer's life.
God has invited us to share in a special relationship with Him. To relate to Him and be shaped by Him. As we spend time with Him we are forever changed.
Would Jesus be comfortable in your home? Would he feel welcomed or would it be uncomfortable and awkward? Proverbs calls us to see the wisdom that is offered to us on a daily basis as we live our lives.
Who is your shepherd? There are many things that pull for our attention but will they help us when we are exhausted or have to walk through difficulty? Psalm 23 is a reminder that we have a good shepherd who will lead us to rest, through valleys, and...
The peace we experience in life is only as strong as the source of that peace. And the peace that will see us through all of life's difficulties is one that is freely available to us in Jesus.
A picture is worth a thousands words. In the Bible God uses multiple pictures to point us to Jesus. We see one of these images in Isaiah 42.
The story of David and Goliath has been used in many ways to motivate people to overcome their obstacles...but what is it really about? David and Goliath is really a story about God and it points us to Jesus.
What does it mean to be in Christ? Among other things, according to Deuteronomy, it means that we have a sanctuary city...a protection from condemnation. All the way back in Deuteronomy the story of God was pointing to Jesus.
Every story whispers His name. As we start our summer series "Jesus on Every Page" we will see how Jesus is the better Abraham.
Acts 12:20-13:3 - Leadership and life in God's kingdom often times looks different than we think it will. Acts 12 contrasts the leadership of Herod with the leadership of the early church and teaches what Godly leadership looks like.
Acts 12:1-4 - Perspective is important as we make sense of all that God is doing around us. In Acts 12 we learn that God is always working, even when it is hard for us to understand.
Acts 11:19-30 - Discipleship starts with seeing the Lord. Lessons, programs, books, and events are important but none are as important as seeing and cultivating a relationship with Jesus. The church in Antioch had a tremendous Kingdom impact because...
Acts 10:1-8 , 27-43 - There is always more grace in God than there is sin in man. As Peter meets with Cornelius the Gospel is now made available to all people.
Acts 10:9-20 - Peter is challenged to lean into some difficult changes and learn from what God is leading him into. Likewise, as we navigate the changes we are walking through we can learn from the leading of the Holy Spirit as we choose to lean in.
Acts 9:36-42 - A life lived in service to others will leave a lasting impact. In Acts 9 we see a disciple named Tabitha live her everyday life in service to Jesus and the impact she makes is felt to this day. Our challenge is to have a similar impact...
Acts 9:26-31 - Maturity takes time in every area of life and it is no different in our spiritual lives. The next chapter in Saul's life describes three areas of importance when growing spiritually.
Matthew 21:1-11 - As Jesus entered Jerusalem he ushered in what is commonly known as "Holy Week" which was the week leading up to the resurrection. What does this special entrance mean for us? How do we fit into this story?
Acts 8 - Living in the aftermath of Stephen's death taught the early church a lot about perseverance and overcoming for the mission of Jesus. Leaning on our faith in Jesus is where we find the strength to press on during difficult times.
Acts 7 - During such a difficult time in our world there is much we can learn from the example of Stephen in Acts 7.
Acts 6:1-7 - There are times in life when God blesses you with someone who is a kind of smoke detector in your life. They can help prevent burnout. But making the necessary changes is anything but easy. As the church continues to grow the Apostles are...
Acts 5:12-42 - The boldness and courage of the early church is inspiring as we seek to align our lives with the unstoppable movement of God's kingdom. Our call is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading in our everyday lives.
Acts 5:1-11 - We are only as healthy as our secrets. All of scripture calls Christians to a life of integrity and honesty...but that is easier said than done. Acts 5 reminds us of our need for a personal relationship with God as we seek to live lives...
Acts 4:23-31 - As persecution sets in the disciples gather to pray that they might be bold and courageous in the face of opposition. What would it look like for us to approach our prayer lives with the same intentionality?
Acts 4:1-12 - As Peter and John are put on trial, Luke explains that the religious leaders could tell that they had been with Jesus. Common, ordinary, uneducated men who lived as though every word from Jesus was like the air they breathed were used to...
Acts 3 - Often times in life, "more is caught than taught." Exposure to certain influences over a period of time will have an effect on our development. In Acts 3 we see that all the time spent with Jesus has influenced how the Apostles...
Acts 2:42-47 - If someone were to do a journalistic research project on your life, what would they conclude you are devoted to? At the end of Acts 2, Luke points out that this new community of believers learned that in our walk with the Lord we...
Acts 2:14-41 - After Peter preaches the Gospel at Pentecost he explains how those who hear the Gospel should respond so that their sins are forgiven and they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-13 - At Pentecost the promised Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples and empowers them to be Jesus' witnesses. The implications of this momentous event changed the course of history.
Acts 1:12-26 - While waiting on the Holy Spirit the Apostles are faced with making a crucial decision. Peter walks through a process in making this decision that we can learn from in our own lives. Discernment is vitally important for Christians as we...
Acts 1:1-11 - The beginning of our series in Acts. In chapter one we see the birth of the church as Jesus leaves His disciples with a mission and a purpose.
As we bring 2019 to a close and look ahead to 2020 we prepare by learning a valuable lesson from Ezekiel about God's plan for each of our lives.
In week 3 of Advent we look at the gift of joy and the difference that joy makes in the life of Christians.
Week 3 of our Christmas series on the gifts of advent. On week 2 of Advent we look at the gift of peace that comes with the birth of Jesus.
Advent is a time for reflection and anticipation. We reflect on the first coming of Jesus that brought about a relief of sin and we anticipate the final coming that will bring about a relief from suffering.
Every person has felt the desire for contentment but it seems like a secret that we can't figure out. As Paul closes out his letter to the Philippian church he reminds them that contentment will come from their weakness and not their strength. It...
Many people struggle to develop their prayer life. It could be due to life situations and circumstances, poor teaching, over complication, etc. What if prayer had a simpler purpose? In Philippians 4 Paul teaches the Philippian church that prayer is...
Citizenship effects how we live. Knowing where our real home is will have a profound effect on the decisions we make and the direction our lives head. This is why the Apostle Paul makes it very clear to the Philippian church that followers of Jesus...
Guest preacher Mark Bourne preaches from Daniel 2, emphasizing the importance of Christians maintaining a Kingdom mindset.
What does it look like to have a vibrant and fulfilling relationship with Christ? Paul uses strong language to communicate to the Philippian church how important it is for Jesus to outshine every other part of our lives. To desire knowing Him above...
Whenever we are supposed to learn and grow it helps to have an example to look to for help and inspiration. Paul continues his letter to the Philippians reminding them that they have a responsibility to live their lives as a "picture of the...
As we mature and work out our salvation God will continue to work in our lives and mature us into who He is calling us to be. But that doesn't mean it is easy. Maturity takes intentionality and commitment.
Something changes in each person when they respond to the message of the cross. We are new creations in Christ...but what does that really mean? What difference does the Gospel make in our everyday lives? Philippians 2:5-11 is a call to adopt the...
Others first. It's a value we try to teach to our children and one we wish everyone around us lived by. The difficulty with the value is applying it to our own lives. As Paul continues his letter to the Philippian church he shifts his focus to...
Your conduct will always reveal your character. As Paul shifts gears from updating the Philippian church on his situation to teaching them he begins by making it clear that their conduct should be a reflection of their character.
Growth and maturity in the life of the Christian is vital to thriving in your walk with the Lord. Paul continues his letter to the Philippians by encouraging them to lean on the work of the Holy Spirit that lives in them to help them grow into full...
Having a "Kingdom Mindset" is not easy when life gets difficult. As Paul updates the Philippians on his current situation he chooses to focus on the good that God has brought out of his difficulty. In doing so, he challenges us to focus our...
It is spiritually hard to live in a world that has been polluted by sin. We were not created for a world that is spiritually sick with sin. This is why Paul reminds the Philippian church of how important it is to stay connected to God in a personal...
Paul opens his letter to the church in Philippi expressing his gratitude for this church and their partnership with him in the Gospel. Our challenge is to slow down enough in our daily life to reflect on our own gratitude for the people God has placed...
Faithfulness is easy when life is going well. When our finances, relationships, and plans are firing on all cylinders it is easy to focus on the goodness of God. But what about the times when life is difficult, frustrating, and even tragic? One of the...
The beginning of the church in Philippi involves an unexpected encounter between the Apostle Paul and a business woman named Lydia. In this passage we learn that God's plans for us sometimes lead us where we are not expecting to end up.
The story of Naaman teaches us that it is impossible to heal our own heart apart from the work of God. Our financial, social, or political status cannot earn from God what He freely offers us in Jesus.
Following a leader like Elijah in ministry is a great call. With great intentionality, God prepares Elisha for his ministry assignment of following Elijah. This transition of leadership is a call to allow God to work in and through our lives.
As Elijah comes to the end of his ministry he calls Elisha to come and learn from his as an apprentice. Elisha's approach to his calling teaches models what it means to do everything as though you are working for the Lord.
As Elijah makes his way to Mt.Carmel, God has prepared a time of refreshing and a change of perspective. As we see in Elijah's life, sometimes our perspective needs to be changed so that our souls can be refreshed.
As we continue to study the life of Elijah we learn the importance of allowing God to meet our physical and spiritual needs. Coming off of Mount Carmel he finds himself walking through a deep valley. As we look at Elijah's experience we are drawn...
Throughout history, God has worked through big, exciting, and impactful events and people. However, he has equally worked through quiet, faithful, and sometimes seemingly insignificant events and people as well. 1 Kings 18 teaches us that the point of...
Choosing to do the right thing over what is convenient is one of the most difficult things we do in life. However, the promise of God in scripture is that as we follow his lead, he will go before us and make out paths straight.
It is an inescapable truth that whatever rules your heart will direct your life. God's concern is that we learn to depend on him in our moments of weakness, so that he can be the source of our strength.
What does it look like to live with a confidence that Jesus is coming back? What difference does this promise make in our everyday lives?
Guest preacher Dr. Daniel Overdorf walks through Psalm 27 and how to pray when you are at the end of your rope.
Jesus modeled an others first approach to leadership. Every decision was about serving and not being served.
The Bible calls Jesus a Wonderful Counselor because He gets real and calls us to deal with the idols in our hearts. The things that are keeping us from following Him.
There is always more at stake with temptation than we think there is. The bait of temptation hangs on a hook that will rip through our lives and relationships. So, how do we handle this? How can we see the bait and hook for what they really are?
The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in human history. The implications of the resurrection can change our lives. Followers of Jesus gain a confidence in life and a hope that death will not have the final word.
Mountain top experiences are moments in our lives when things begin to change. When we come down from the mountain we are different. The same is true of mountain top experiences in the Bible. Things change. In Mark 9 the disciples have a mountain top...
It's easy to create a version of Jesus based on our own expectations, preferences, and opinions, but how does Jesus want us to see Him? What difference does it make?
Pride is much easier to see in others than it is to see in ourselves. But if left unchecked it can destroy our lives and distance us from the heart of God. So, what's the solution? We learn how we can overcome our pride problem from an...
An encounter in his hometown of Nazareth offers a difficult reminder about what it means to truly follow Jesus.
Waiting is often times the hardest part of living. Why does God have us wait? What can we learn about waiting from God's perspective? Jesus' encounter with a man names Jairus reveals a lot about God's approach to waiting.
Fear means you are living in awe of something. There is something in your life that has your complete attention. Following Jesus means that we are to live in awe of Him. To trust him when life is difficult.
Jesus was a master storyteller. He drew crowds and taught unlike anyone in his day. His teachings were about far more than entertainment. His teachings helped redefine all of life for the listener. But why exactly did he use parables in his teaching?...
Being a part of the family of God is about seeing Jesus for who He is, trusting Jesus with our lives, and obeying what Jesus calls us to.
Legalism is one of the leading causes of burnout among Christians. We too often attach our behavior to God's ability to love us. Jesus flips this upside down and reminds us that walking with Jesus is about heart transformation and not behavior...
Getting a look into a day in the life of a person can tell us a lot about them. In Mark 1 we are given a rare glimpse of a full 24 hour period in Jesus' life. Mark clearly communicates the importance of knowing your purpose, connecting to God...
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He was inviting them to live a life that was more than the life they were living. Following Jesus is not always about leaving the bad for the good. It can also be leaving the good for better.
Jesus' ministry did not start in a booming city with lots of attention but instead in a barren wilderness with a baptism and a battle. This baptism and battle would begin the journey that would change everything for us.
As Mark begins his biography of the life of Jesus he reminds us that our lives should be used to prepare the way for Jesus in the lives of other people.
Every moment in every day matters. As we finish 2018 and look to 2019 we want to ask the Lord to help us to number our days. To make every moment count for His glory.
Our choices have consequences. Every decision we make will contribute to how our life turns out. This is true of every part of life and especially true of what we do with the gift that was offered to us on Christmas morning.
The Christmas story teaches us that even when we feel like we are trapped and unable to move forward, God is working. David Bourne, continues our Christmas series in Colossians.
Many of us have had days when we just cant seem to catch a break. Everything we touch and say just doesn't go our way. So, coming to the season of Christmas feels much more like chaos than it does like peace. The promise that started even before...
The Christmas season is supposed to leave us with a sense of hope. So, why is it so hard to grasp and maintain that hope? Maybe it is because our deepest hope is revealed in what or whom we place our faith.
The conclusion of our Hebrews series looks at what it means for the Christian to live in response to a proper view of God in their lives. Following Jesus is more than a religious to-do list. It is about seeing God and then responding to His grace in...
Following Jesus is not always easy. The Christian life can have some very difficult and painful season. But God is always working to shape and mold His children as we seek to follow Him.
What does it mean to truly consider something? It seems easy enough but it can be a challenge to eliminate distractions and truly consider if something is worthy of giving ourselves to. When we truly consider Jesus we find that He is worthy of...
Grace changes everything but accepting grace can be so difficult. It has been said that satan knows our name and calls us by our sin but God knows our sin and calls us by our name. The freedom that comes from being known by God can transform every...
Of all the emotions that humans experience there is not one as heavy as guilt. How we sort through and deal with our guilt has a profound impact on our lives. David Bourne preaches on Hebrews 9 and the beauty of how God deals with the problem of guilt.
It is easy to get distracted by everything around us and lose sight of what is most important. Sometimes we can even make following Jesus about everything we learn and accomplish. Hebrews 8 is a call to live in response to the Gospel and not in an...
One of the most mysterious characters in the Bible can help us to understand better what it means for Jesus to be our High Priest and king. David Bourne preaches on Hebrews 7 and what it means for Jesus to be the better Melchizedek.
One of the hardest struggles in life is learning where to anchor yourself. We all need to be able to anchor ourselves to something that will steady us when life gets hard. Hebrews 6 concludes by pointing us to the only anchor that will not fail us...
We have all been tempted to ask, “What is the least amount of effort I have to put into this in order to succeed?” The problem with this question is that it prevents real depth and maturity. Jesus calls us to a maturity that will require commitment...
Jesus made it possible for us to approach God with confidence. But what exactly does this mean? David Bourne continues our series with Hebrews 4:14-16.
When we think of rest we usually picture sleeping, laying on a hammock, or sitting by a fire with a good book. While these are all great activities, Biblical rest is more about living life the way it was intended to be lived. We look at chapter 4 of...
Everyone looks at life through a particular lens. This lens is how we interpret our experiences, come to our conclusions, and form our decisions. It is also how we protect and guard our hearts. The call of Hebrews 3:7-19 is to ensure that lens is...
Slowing down to consider some of life's more important questions can be difficult and might even feel unnecessary at times. However, taking time to consider the details can often times change every other part of our lives. In the first part of...
It is hard to imagine that the God of the universe can possibly understand how we feel when we are tempted, hurt, betrayed, or tired. Hebrews 2 tells us that Jesus became like us so He could relate to us. Rob Jankowski continues our series in Hebrews.
It's easy to drift from where we know we need to be. Days turn into weeks, then months, until we look up one day and wonder "how did I get this far?" Hebrews 2 addresses drifting spiritually and calls us to watch ourselves carefully.
What is it that holds your life together? Is it your job? Your family? Your marriage? The opening chapter of Hebrews explains why Jesus is what everything in scripture points to and calls us to make sure Jesus is what everything in our lives point to.
How is your heart? It is a tough question to answer because we can so easily go through the motions. This week David Bourne challenges us from the book of Malachi to continually examine our hearts as we worship God.
In a culture of fake news, it can be hard to recognize and trust when something is good news but this is exactly what the Gospel is...Good News! This week David Bourne continues our series in the Minor Prophets helping us make the good news, good news...
God's love is a redeeming, second chance kind of love. David Bourne continues our series on the Minor Prophets by exploring the message of God's love through the life of Jonah.
The love that God shows us through His continual pursuit of us is sometimes hard to believe. Hosea was called not only to preach this message but model it with his life. Rob Jankowski continues our series looking at the life and message of Hosea.
Being present is difficult in a world of distractions. Often times our desire for more can cloud our ability to see clearly what God is doing around us. Rob Jankowski continues our series preaching on the book of Amos.
If you have ever faced a situation or circumstance where you wondered, "how in the world will we get through this?" then you will relate to the book of Habakkuk. Rob Jankowski continues our series through the minor prophets with the message...
Fake it till you make it can easily become the way we describe our Christian lives. But God wants so much more for us. Rob Jankowski unpacks the story of Zephaniah and the call to get honest in our pursuit of Jesus.
Jesus wants us to 'have life abundantly.' This is a promise for heaven but it is also a promise for the here and now. So, how do we live fully alive? Rob Jankowski explores our main theme for VBS from John 10 where Jesus teaches why He is...
We all have desires and pursuits that compete for our attention and allegiance. Trying to live a Godly life with all of the distractions can be difficult but the Holy Spirit wants to lead us to a life of self-control and true fulfillment. David Bourne...
Gentleness is hard for so many of us because we have never experienced it. In a culture where debate and disagreement are considered personal attacks, it is hard to imagine people being gentle with one another. Yet, the Holy Spirit wants to produce...
What act of kindness have you left undone? This week Ryan King challenges us to consider how the Holy Spirit is leading us to live out the kindness we see in Jesus.
"Waiting is the hardest work of hope." In a world that is constantly in a hurry from one thing to the next, how can we learn to be patient? Rob Jankowski continues our series on the Fruit of the Spirit as we learn to "ruthlessly...
Peace is difficult to experience in this life. At times it feels like a dream and anything but a description of our reality. Rob Jankowski continues our series on the fruit of the Spirit teaching on Biblical peace from Isaiah 6.
As the Holy Spirit shapes us to be more like Jesus one of the things that He does is change our perspective. He helps us see the big picture. When it comes to joy sometimes what we need is to see things from a new perspective. David Bourne continues...
Love cannot be forced or coerced. It has to be genuine and authentic. This is the relationship God has invited us to be a part of with Him and called us to have with one another. David Bourne continues our series looking at love as a fruit that the...
As Christians, our only job is to stay attached to Jesus. As we connect with Him, He will develop the character qualities (fruit of the Spirit) in us. Rob Jankowski launches our series teaching on the role of the Holy Spirit in our growth and maturity...
Faith does not equal comfort. Sometimes things are difficult. How do we have a faith that endures? We learn from Hebrews 12 that Jesus is not only the author of our faith but also the champion.
What Satan intends for evil God can, through faith, use to save many lives. This is the lesson we learn from the parents of Moses. David Bourne continues our series on Hebrews 11.
What difference does faith make in someone's life? How can being intentional about faith help a person leave a lasting impact. David Linn (Lead Minister at the Heath Church of Christ) preaches on 'What Faith Does' from Hebrews 11.
Your faith is only as strong as the object in which you place it. Rob Jankowski launches our series "Finding Faith" preaching on Hebrews 11:1.
There is a lot of confusion around what the Bible says about heaven and hell. What will heaven be like? Why is there a hell? David Bourne preaches from Mark 12 and shares what we believe about heaven and hell.
In our world, it is easy to recognize that things are not the way they should be. There is evil and darkness all around us. It is important that we understand this evil and who our enemy is as we pursue Jesus together. David Bourne preaches from James...
Whether it is in our stories, movies, music, or in our everyday experiences in life, we feel a deep longing for more. We long to get back to the perfection of Eden but because of our sin we are stuck. What we need is a rescuer. We need to be saved...
Why is Church important? What did Jesus have in mind when He called us to be together? Rob Jankowski preaches from Acts 2 on what we believe about the church.
Why do we trust the Bible? What do we believe about the Bible? Rob Jankowski preaches from Psalm 119 on the importance of having a healthy view of scripture and why we need to read it daily.
What we believe about the Holy Spirit can have a profound impact on our everyday lives. Jesus taught that the Spirit would be another Advocate for us. What does this mean? Rob Jankowski preaches from John 14 on who the Spirit is and what He does.
Historians agree that Jesus was the most influential figure in history. But what does that mean for us today? Why is it so important to understand what we believe about Jesus? David Bourne preaches from Luke 8 and challenges us to take seriously what...
What comes to mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. Rob Jankowski preaches on NHCC's belief in God and how He shapes everything we do as a community.
We are very excited about 2018 and we all have a role to play. God has gifted each of us and called us to be a unified church as we step into the future. Lead Minister Rob Jankowski lays out NHCC's vision for 2018.
How did God uniquely wire you? What gifts has He blessed you with? No two people are exactly alike. What did God have in mind when He uniquely created you? David Bourne walks us through Ephesians 2 and God's unique design for each of us.
Waiting is one of the hardest things we do in life. What hope does Christmas offer to our seasons of waiting? Rob Jankowski finishes our Christmas series from Luke 2.
Jesus came to save us from our sins. What does the Christmas story tell us about our need for a savior? David Bourne preaches on Luke 2:8-16 and Jesus being our Savior.
Why did Jesus come as a baby? What does the humanity of Christ mean for us? Rob Jankowski preaches on Luke 2:1-7 and the implications of Jesus' humanity on our lives.
Are we sleeping through Christmas? How can we stay aware of God's presence in this Christmas season? Rob Jankowski preaches on Luke 1:26-38.
The final message in our This is Us series. What does it look like to live with the end in mind? Rob Jankowski preaches on 2 Timothy 4 and the call for the Christian to finish well.
David Bourne (Teaching and Care Minister) preaches on cultural endurance for the Christian from 2 Timothy 3:1-9
Dan Clymer from Restoration House Ministries joins us to teach on discipleship from Matthew 28. Only the audio version of this sermon is available.