New City Church: Recent Episodes

New City Church

We invite people to love God, find freedom, discover purpose and make a difference. We are called to share a message of new life in Jesus, and to mobilize God's people to be living examples of hope, family, prayer, action, generosity, creativity and celebration.

Why do counterfeits capture our hearts? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin continued our MOSES series with a message about counterfeit gods, why we build them, and how God calls us back to Himself.

Exodus 32:4

And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

Israel’s greatest problem didn’t begin with a golden calf; it began long before that. Before they ever built an idol, they drifted from God’s presence. In the waiting, their hearts were exposed, and they took the very evidence of God’s faithfulness and turned it into a substitute for God Himself.

1) Reject God’s presence, and you’ll replace it with something else.

James 2:19

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

God desires more than our belief; He desires our relationship. Before Israel ever built a golden calf, they first chose distance over God’s invitation to draw near. When we stop pursuing God’s presence, our hearts don’t stay empty; they begin searching for substitutes.

2) Waiting reveals what you worship.

Exodus 32:1

“When the people saw that Moses delayed…”

Waiting reveals us. It exposes what is really in our hearts. The people of God grew impatient, which opened the door for their idolatry. Every idol begins as an attempt to solve a problem we think God hasn’t solved fast enough. God isn't late; He's right on time. The question is whether we'll trust him enough to wait.

3) We all worship something.

Exodus 32:4 “And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf…”

The very gold God had provided as evidence of His faithfulness became the material they used to build a substitute. God’s gifts were never meant to replace His presence; they were meant to point us back to Him. Every gift He places in our hands has an assignment: to build His Kingdom, not our own.

4) Return to the God you replaced.

Romans 1:25 “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie…”

The answer to idolatry isn’t simply tearing down the idol, because apart from Christ we’ll just build another one. Our hearts were created to worship, and if Jesus isn’t on the throne, something else will be. The good news of the gospel is that when we replaced God, He didn’t replace us. Through Jesus, He faithfully pursued us and still invites us to return to the One who alone can satisfy our hearts.

Counterfeits lose their power when you’ve spent time with the real thing. This week, don’t settle for a substitute. Draw near to the God who is still inviting you into relationship with Him!

Where do justice and mercy meet? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about the Law of God.

Exodus 20:1-3

Then God gave the people all these instructions: I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me.

This is the moment when God gives Israel the law, and yet the people are terrified. If the Law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul (Psalm 19:7), why do we hide from it?

1) You can’t understand the law of God without knowing the person of God.

The first words from God are not about what Israel must do, but about who God is and what he has already done for them. To truly understand God’s law, we have to first understand God’s heart.

2) God’s laws are rooted in his unchanging nature.

Before sin was ever called sin by the Law, it was still sin and it was still deadly. God’s laws are descriptions of reality. He draws lines around sin because he knows that it leads to death!

3) The Law is meant to point us to Christ.

The Law is not able to save. It is designed to clarify our deep need for saving.

Galatians 3:24

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

When we feel conviction or guilt because of the law, it is the pain that is designed to get our attention and cause us to address the problem.

4) The Holy Spirit is the presence of God to his people today.

When Israel sees God’s presence at Mt. Sinai, they are terrified because they realize that God’s presence will not keep company with sin. And yet the miracle of the New Testament is the gift of God’s presence to every believer. How?

5) Jesus came to fulfill the law.

When Jesus preached his Sermon On the Mount, he clarified the heart of God’s Law. In doing so, he made it perfectly clear how high God’s standard truly is.

Matthew 5:17

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

There are two ways to fulfill a law: obey it perfectly, or pay the penalty for breaking it. Jesus did both! He lived a sinless life that met God’s standard, and then he paid the penalty for all of us lawbreakers who deserved punishment. The cross is the place where God’s justice and mercy met, and the reason we can now live with daily access to the presence and promises of God!

How has God prepared you to be a blessing? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about servant-leadership.

Exodus 18:1

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the Lord had rescued them from Egypt.

After the miracle of the Red Sea, after the waters of Marah and Elim, after the battle with the Amalekites, Moses is taking a crash-course on leadership. Jethro comes to give him a lesson that will save his life.

1) Kindred spirits nurture rejoicing. Familiar spirits nurture resentments.

Pay attention to how people tell their story. If God‘s goodness and redemption don’t take center stage, be careful. Like Jethro, good friends and family nurture a spirit of gratitude and hope.

2) Sin complicates your life in all the worst ways. God’s blessings complicate your life in all the best ways.

When God blesses your life, it will always require a leveling up. Moses is experiencing a whole new set of challenges that require greater wisdom and greater character.

3) Other people can see beyond what you say.

Moses gives a report on what is happening, but the next day, Jethro sees what Moses didn’t say, and he challenges Moses to change. Who have you invited into your life to SEE beyond what you SAY?

4) Gifting won't take you any farther than your character can sustain.

Jethro tells Moses to select capable leaders who are honest. One of the worst things that can happen to a person is to have gifting that outpaces their character.

1 Timothy 4:16

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Skill and integrity go hand in hand. Don’t do so much working that you stop watching your own life and character.

5) The Spirit gives gifts to everyone. Love activates those gifts.

Everyone has been given gifts to build up the body of Christ. The only two reasons those gifts aren’t in operation is because people are disqualified by sin or because they are withholding because of a lack of love.

How has God graced you to be a blessing to those around you? Consider a few things:

YOUR PASSION. What professional skills have you developed? What excites you about the church’s mission?

YOUR PEOPLE. Who do you know that you would enjoy serving with? Often this is a great first step to find your fit. Who are you interested in serving?

YOUR PAST. Where did you first experience the grace of God? What challenges has God helped you overcome? What past pain has equipped you to encourage someone today?

YOUR PACE. What time does this season of life allow for you to wisely commit? What does a healthy balance look like with your family, work and other commitments?

God is able to use everyone to encourage and build up the body of Christ. Remember, it’s not the instrument that matters most, but whose hand it is in!

What are you fighting under? This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our MOSES: Live No Lies series with a message about how God’s people fight spiritual battles.

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

Exodus 17:11-13

Israel had already been delivered from Egypt, but their journey still included opposition. They were no longer fighting for freedom, they were fighting from freedom.

The same is true for us. Jesus has already won the decisive victory over sin and death, but every believer still faces spiritual opposition.

1) You have to fight.

Joshua didn’t get to choose whether Amalek showed up. His decision was whether he would engage in the battle. Similarly, we don't choose whether spiritual warfare is real. We cannot experience victory while refusing to fight. We must stop allowing fear, shame, temptation, bitterness, and compromise to bully us into accepting a life God never intended for us. We must decide in our hearts that the enemy does not get another inch.

2) Fight faithfully. Fight prayerfully.

Joshua fought in the valley, but the battle's outcome was connected to what Moses was doing on the mountain. The sword mattered, but the sword was not the source of victory. Connecting the Lord to the battle was. We do the same today through prayer. Prayer does not make God powerful. Prayer reminds us who is powerful. You cannot win spiritual battles using only physical strategies. Practical obedience matters, but spiritual battles require spiritual dependence.

3) Your fight is my fight.

When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur noticed and moved toward him. They did not wait for Moses to ask for help. They lifted the hands he could no longer lift himself. Victory in the Kingdom of God is never meant to be experienced alone. The church should be filled with people who notice the hurting, the weary, the lonely, and the discouraged and then move into action.

4) Fight with The Lord as your banner.

When the battle was over, Joshua didn’t take the credit. Moses didn’t take the credit. Aaron and Hur didn’t take the credit. Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-Nissi —The Lord Is My Banner.

A banner gave soldiers identity, direction, courage, and hope in the confusion of battle. When they became afraid or disoriented, they looked toward the banner and remembered that they were not fighting alone.

Our Banner is Jesus. Our Banner was lifted up on a cross. He bled, died, rose again, and now reigns in victory. The battle may still be real tomorrow, but don’t spend your life staring at Amalek.

Lift your eyes to your Banner. The Lord is our Banner.

Who is your source? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our MOSES series with a message about trusting God for provision.

Exodus 16:17-18

So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot of manna, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

After God led the people to the wilderness, he provided food for them daily. Why daily? Because Israel wanted security, but God wanted relationship.

1) God will empty what you used to depend on.

God brought them to the wilderness to grow them. Growth happens in seasons of discomfort, as you learn the difference between your RESOURCES and your SOURCE.

2) God will give you just as much as you need.

God could have given Israel a forty-year supply, but instead he taught them to look each morning for his provision.

Dependence is not a weakness, it is discipleship.

If God had given them more than a daily supply, they would have trusted in their storehouse, not their Provider.

3) God cares more about your formation than your provision.

Israel needed to learn a new way because the Egypt living in them was worse than the Egypt they had been living in. The goal wasn’t food, the goal was formation.

The real miracle in the desert wasn’t the bread, it was God staying faithful to a people who weren’t faithful to him! The miracle of God’s love and mercy is still a daily reality for all of us in Christ!

What do you do when your back is against the sea? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin continued our MOSES: Live No Lies series by examining one of the most famous miracles in Scripture: the crossing of the Red Sea.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Exodus 14:21- 22

After 400 years of slavery, God’s people were finally free. Yet, instead of taking the shortest route to the Promised Land, God led them toward what appeared to be a dead end. With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army behind them, Israel found themselves trapped, afraid, and questioning God’s plan.

1) Trust his route.

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”

Exodus 13:17

God did not lead Israel by the shortest route because He knew they were not ready for what was ahead. The route that looked better to God’s people wasn’t actually better for God’s people.

Sometimes what feels like a delay is actually God’s protection. What feels like a detour may actually be God’s grace. God sees what we cannot see, knows what we do not know, and leads His children according to what they need, not simply what they want.

2) When we forget, we fear.

“They did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.”

Psalm 106:7

Psalm 106 reveals something surprising about the Red Sea story. The real issue wasn’t Israel’s fear; it was their forgetfulness. They forgot God’s power, God’s provision, God’s promises, and God’s steadfast love. Their forgetfulness opened the door for fear. Yet even after they complained, doubted, and rebelled, God remained faithful.

The miracle of the Red Sea is not ultimately about Israel’s faith. It’s about God’s faithfulness despite their forgetfulness.

3) Faith moves forward.

When the Israelites found themselves trapped, God gave Moses a surprising response:

The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.”

Exodus 14:15

There are moments in life when prayer must lead to obedience.

“There are times when prayer is not enough—when prayer itself is out of season. When we have prayed over a matter to a certain degree, it then becomes sinful to tarry any longer; our plain duty is to carry our desires into action.”

Charles Spurgeon

The miracle belonged to God but the movement belonged to his people. Faith doesn’t just believe God can make a way. Faith moves forward when He makes that way.

What happens when pain gets so loud that it affects your ability to hear God? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin continued our MOSES series with a message reminding us that even when pain is present, God is still speaking, still faithful, and still moving towards broken and hurting people.

Exodus 6:9

Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

Israel had reached a breaking point. Their suffering intensified, their hope faded, and the Bible says they could not listen “because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”

1) Pain can affect your ability to hear God’s promises.

Pain has a way of distorting perspective, shrinking faith, and making God feel distant. But the good news is that God does not abandon people simply because they are struggling to hear Him clearly. Even in weakness, discouragement, and exhaustion, God continues pursuing His people.

2) God speaks in the middle of suffering.

While Israel focused on bricks, bondage, and survival, God was already speaking liberation, redemption, and promises over their future. God did not begin by explaining everything; He began by revealing Himself: “I am the LORD.” Their suffering was loud, but God was still in control, still faithful, and still working even when they could not see it clearly.

3) Jesus is God’s loudest Word.

All throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself through His Word. And when God wanted to speak most clearly to humanity, He sent Jesus. The Word became flesh. Jesus is the greater Deliverer who stepped into our bondage to bring us freedom by grace. He did not come merely to inspire broken people, but to rescue enslaved people who could never save themselves. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus breaks the power of sin and brings people into true freedom and new life!

Disappointment, anxiety, exhaustion, grief, or sin may have made it difficult to hear God clearly.

But the good news of the gospel is this: God still speaks. God still pursues. And through Jesus Christ, freedom is still possible.

Have you ever failed on your first day of obedience? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about being faithful even when it feels fruitless.

Exodus 5:1-2

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”

The first day of Moses’ mission to rescue God’s people begins with a resounding thud. Instead of setting the Israelites free, Pharaoh makes their work even harder. What do you need to remember when your first day of obedience is a failure?

1) Failure isn’t final, but it might be a part of the plan.

God needed to wrestle Moses from all things a leader loves to hear from his people. And God needed the people to see that their own efforts, even their own leaders, could not save them.

It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.

A.W. Tozer

It might seem unkind, but only because we don’t always understand God’s wisdom, even in our wounds.

2) Sometimes obedience creates opposition before open doors.

Obedience doesn’t always yield the result we were imagining. We are confused when our obedience “doesn’t work,” But our obedience is not doing the work, God is. We obey because we trust that he is working even when we can’t see it.

3) Complaining is contagious.

Behaviors spread through networks of family, friends and coworkers like a virus. When you complain you are infecting the people around you with a distorted view of God, a small view of his purposes and plan.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

When we are grateful, we are eyes-open to God’s gifts and God’s will. When we grumble, we don’t just become bitter, we become blind to God’s plan.

4) Thorns are better than thrones.

When Moses complains to God about his suffering, God reminds him that he had shown himself to Moses in a way his ancestors never knew. Just like the Apostle Paul boasted about the thorn in his flesh more than his vision of the throne of God, Moses could see purpose even in this moment of failure.

Hebrews 5:8-9

Although Jesus was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.

Jesus was tested in every way we are, and he learned perfect obedience. When he went to the cross, the first day of his obedience looked like utter failure. It wasn’t until the third day that he was victorious, delivering his people from sin and death and into the promise of eternal life!

Are you trying to bear up the burden of proof? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about identity.

Exodus 3:14

God replied to Moses, “I AM who I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”

Moses has a confusing upbringing, born from an oppressed people, but raised in privilege. In a moment of recklessness, he kills a man who is mistreating his fellow Hebrews, and he is forced to flee Egypt.

1) Your behavior follows your sense of identity.

Our actions can be traced back to our sense of who we are, for better and for worse. Our lives are an outworking of our beliefs about ourselves.

2) What makes you awkward in one season might make you relevant in the next.

Moses was not like any other Hebrew, which was isolating. He was trained in the most advanced society of the day, and he was uniquely prepared to lead a nation.

From the place of your deepest wound will come your most significant gift to others.

Moses spent forty years learning from the best of Egypt, then he spent the next forty years learning humility and faithfulness in the desert.

3) An encounter with God raises questions before it offers answers.

When God appeared to Moses, it was unsettling, and it provoked even more questions about his identity and adequacy.

Finding WHO GOD IS is the surest way to understand WHO YOU ARE.

Moses asks God, “Who am I?” The answer Moses gets is about who God is.

4) You are the person that God says you are.

God tells us who we are, but the miracle is that he commits to prove it for us. Our identity in Christ is a work of God’s grace from start to finish!

2 Corinthians 5:17

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Are you a critic or do you call out the beauty from others? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about the birth of Moses.

Exodus 2:2

The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was beautiful and kept him hidden for three months.

In the middle of great suffering and fear, a child of promise was born. God’s work doesn’t happen in a sterile environment, removed from the ugly uncertainties of the real world. How did the love of Moses’ mother open the door for God’s saving work?

1) Love sees and speaks to the beauty in others.

At a time when criticism and cynicism has been elevated to virtue, we should develop the skill of speaking to and nurturing what is good in others.

Colossians 3:13

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

It’s not hard to point out where people are wrong. It is hard to patiently, wisely and lovingly make room for others to grow.

2) Love risks when others won’t.

Moses’ mother couldn’t control her situation. But she was thoughtful and strategic, and in the end she trusted God with what she valued the most.

3) When you love, God picks up the tab.

Because she risked enough to love Moses, God made sure her needs were met.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Moses was born from a people who were enslaved, and he was elevated to become Prince of Egypt. Jesus was the Prince of Heaven, and he laid aside his title to become a servant so that we could become sons and daughters of our King!

Don’t forget what God has done! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began a new series called MOSES. What is the setting for the story of Moses?

Genesis 1:8

Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.

The background for the story of Moses is forgetfulness and fear. What does this story remind us about how to remain faithful in the face of adversity?

1) Spiritual decline happens gradually, then suddenly.

Forgetting, like falling asleep, is a process that happens gradually, but then suddenly and without notice. God’s word is clear that we are to be intentional about keeping the memory of God’s faithfulness alive.

Psalm 78:4

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord,

about his power and his mighty wonders.

Our job is to be diligent in declaring the faithfulness and power of God, or, like in Egypt, it will be lost to later generations.

2) If God has led you to it, He will lead you through it.

Trust in God’s purpose and plan will help us stay steady in difficulty or disappointment. God brought his people to Egypt for a purpose, and he would bring them out in his time.

3) We may not have control, but we still have a choice.

As Egypt’s oppression became more severe, the Hebrew midwives chose to peacefully resist. Maturity is accepting and adapting to the areas where I don’t have control, but choosing to honor God with whatever decisions I do own.

4) If it isn’t fixed, God isn’t finished.

The Israelites were enduring great suffering, but God wasn’t finished working. Their situation was a setup for God’s glory and miraculous delivery of his promises.

Romans 5:6

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Jesus was a deliverer greater than Moses, one who would set us free from bondage to sin and death, and lead us into God’s promise of eternal life!

Why did you stop? This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo closed the year out with a message reminding us not to quit too early.

2 Kings 13:18-19

And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

The tragedy of this passage isn’t disobedience, it’s partial obedience. The king striked three times but he stopped too soon. And often, the difference between partial victory and complete breakthrough isn’t that we didn’t try. It’s that we aren't willing to try again.

1) You’re not done yet.

Elisha was on his deathbed. He was weak, tired, and nearing the end, yet God still sends him someone in need of his help. Our usefulness to God has never been tied to our energy, age, weaknesses or specific season, but to our obedience. If you’re still breathing, there is still a purpose for your life. You’re still on assignment!

2) Aim at the target.

Elisha told the king to open the eastern window, the direction of the enemy. Victory requires direction. We don’t overcome what we refuse to face, and we won’t see change if we keep aiming at the wrong things. Prayer and fasting help us face God first, so we can face our fears with clarity and power. Be specific. Be bold. Aim your prayers at what God has put on your heart.

3) Use ALL of your arrows.

Partial obedience is still disobedience.

The king struck the ground three times and stopped. Elisha was angry because he could see something the king ignored — the arrows still left in his hands. God had already supplied more, but the king didn’t use all that was given to him. Partial obedience led to partial victory.

In the same way, God has entrusted each of us with arrows, passions, gifts, resources, opportunities, relationships, and desires meant to be used for His glory.

As we step into the new year, may we be a church that doesn’t stop early, pull back in doubt, or settle for partial breakthrough. Instead, use everything God has given you to pursue all He has promised.

Keep striking. God isn’t done yet.

Do you have faith that won’t quit? This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo shared a message about persevering through faith.

Mark 5:36

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’

1) Desperation is the catalyst to humility. Humility is the catalyst to faith.

In this passage we see two desperate people: A respected leader and a rejected woman. One lived high. The other lived low. But both ended up in the same place, at the feet of Jesus. That’s the beauty of desperation. It levels the playing field. Because desperation humbles us and humility opens the door for faith.

2) Faith that won’t quit.

The woman with the issue of blood wasn't just desperate, but determined. The woman didn’t just believe Jesus could heal her; she acted on it. A faith that won’t quit always puts action behind what it says it believes.

3) Do not fear, only believe.

When Jairus heard, “Your daughter is dead,” fear could have paralyzed him. But Jesus said, “Do not fear, only believe.” He ignored what others said and reminded Jairus that the final word belongs to Him.

Faith doesn’t stop when bad news comes. It ignores the voices that tell you to quit, refuses to stop believing, and keeps pressing on because Jesus can still make dead things live again!

Growth isn’t about me, it’s about we! This weekend Pastor Devin Gough shared a message about the blessing of remaining connected to the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:16

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through connection. How can we do our part in the body of Christ?

1) Grow by being joined.

Hebrews 10:24

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

The church is not an organization, it is a living organism. Each part helps the other grow.

2) Grow by serving in your place.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Every part of the body of Christ has a place. When one part is disconnected, the whole body hurts!

3) Grow by building in love.

Colossians 3:14

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Love is the cement that holds each brick of God’s house together. God’s rescuing love for each one of us is the reason we can remain united as one body!

Experiencing true grace produces deep change! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres concluded our NAAMAN series with a message called SIGNS OF LIFE.

2 Kings 5:15

Naaman stood before Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”

Naaman is showing signs of new life as he responds to the work God is doing in him. What do we see in his story of transformation?

1) Pain is the symptom, pride is the sickness.

Every step forward that Naaman takes toward his healing is a step of humility. Why does this matter?

James 4:6

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Naaman’s affliction is the very thing that saves him by creating humility and hunger for change.

2) Self-pity is self-sabotage.

Naaman’s pain magnifies his already self-centered way of living. The self-pity that results almost causes him to miss his miracle!

3) A new heart creates a new way.

The evidence of a new heart is clear by how differently Naaman is operating. This conquering warrior who took whatever he wanted is now humbly asking for dirt to carry with him.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

And I will give you a new heart—I will give you new and right desires—and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love. And I will put my Spirit within you so that you will obey my laws.

Naaman did not deserve his healing, but God showed him grace, and that grace changed his heart! It is this same grace that we experience in Christ which produces transformation in all who receive Him!

Simple can be scary! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our NAAMAN series with a message about trust and gratitude.

2 Kings 5:15-16

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

When Naaman arrives at the house of Elisha, he expects a reception befitting his status and wealth. Instead, he is given simple instructions to bathe in the Jordan River, and he is enraged. Why?

1) Anger is an indicator of something deeper.

Anger is a secondary emotion. When something we value is threatened, we experience anger. For Naaman, this was his sense of control, his ability to manipulate the situation.

2) Fear fights for control.

It is not that it is TOO SIMPLE to receive the grace of God, it is TOO SCARY. When we are afraid, we can’t operate in love, generosity or compassion. How would you live if you were certain that you were perfectly safe?

3) Trust and gratitude go hand in hand.

Naaman is healed when he dips in the Jordan, so he offers a gift to the prophet Elisha. In Naaman’s worldview, religion was about maintaining a healthy reciprocal relationship with the gods. But Elisha sees through this. If Elisha had received the gift from Naaman, it would have signaled to Naaman that the God of Israel was like all the other gods: petty, temperamental and able to be bribed. How would you be different if you truly believed that God didn’t need you, but that he simply loved you?

“If you want to be a Christian, all you need is nothing, and very few people have that.”

Timothy Keller

Religion requires that I do “some great thing,” but Christianity is about some great thing that has been done for me!

This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our NAAMAN series with a message about the power of obedience!

2 Kings 5:14

So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Naaman’s story isn’t just about healing— it’s about the process of obedience. It shows us the very places we often struggle when God asks us to trust Him.

1) The obstacles to your obedience.

Naaman showed up with horses, money, and status, but none of those opened the door to healing. Pride and anger were his obstacles. Like Naaman, we too have obstacles to our obedience.

Romans 12:1

“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

The only way to overcome these obstacles is to live fully surrendered to make your whole life your worship unto the Lord.

2) Unmet expectations discourage obedience.

Naaman thought Elisha would come out, wave his hand, and put on a show. Instead, the instructions were ordinary: “Go wash in the Jordan.” Expectation, left unaligned with God’s reality, becomes bitterness. If we’re not careful, what we think should happen may get in the way of us seeing God at work.

3) Obedience requires humility.

It wasn’t Naaman’s status, money, or power that brought healing. It was his willingness to humble himself and follow God’s instructions.

4) Obedience is strengthened by community.

Naaman had people close enough to challenge him when he wanted to give up. We don’t have servants today we have something better: real friends who care for us, see us, and call us higher.

5) Obedience brings you to the place where God’s process meets God’s promise.

Naaman dipped once, twice… six times and nothing changed. Haven’t we all been there? We show up, trust God’s Word, but still see the residue of our brokenness. And we’re tempted to quit. But on the seventh dip God’s number of completion, Naaman came out healed, humbled, and transformed. And the same is true for us: obedience doesn’t just unlock a miracle, it transforms who we are.

What does it mean to be great? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres kicked off our NAAMAN series with a message about the grace and greatness of God.

2 Kings 5:1

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

Sandwiched in these stories about the prophet Elisha and God’s people is the story of God's great mercy toward one of Israel’s enemies.

1) God does not abide by our categories of greatness.

At the beginning of the story we are introduced to both Naaman and a servant girl. Their interaction becomes the engine that drives all of the events that follow, and it causes us to ask, “What does it mean to be great?”

2) God sees us as we truly are.

The story calls us to see that Naaman’s identity as a great man was not his whole story, and the girl's identity as powerless was also not her whole story.

3) God frees us to do for others what he does for us.

Through a miracle of grace, the young girl in the story has concern for Naaman, and so shows that she is actually the hero of the story. She refuses to be defined by her situation, and instead has compassion on the very person responsible for her suffering.

“Christian” is the only identity that's received, not achieved.

Timothy Keller

If who I am in Christ is received, then this identity is to be discovered, nurtured and experienced, not performed. It’s an identity that doesn't exclude others who aren’t on my level, because MY LEVEL was NEVER ACHIEVED in the first place, IT WAS RECEIVED.

Which habits are shaping your house? This weekend, Pastor Steve Andres concluded our TAKE CARE series with a message on how to Take Care of Your House.

Joshua 24:14-15

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth. Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

At the twilight of his life, Joshua addresses the people he has led for a generation. What does Joshua have to say about serving the Lord for the long run?

1) Keep it real. Authenticity has longevity.

Joshua tells the people to serve the Lord with both PASSION and INTEGRITY. Sin thrives in secrecy, so a commitment to honesty and openness is key to a faith that lasts.

2) Prioritize. Every YES in one area means LESS in another.

Joshua tells the people to CHOOSE. We can choose in advance to be committed to certain practices and people, and it will often make the difference in our faith.

3) Be intentional. Habits shape the house.

Children spell love T-I-M-E. Joshua’s commitment is to lead his house in faithfulness to the Lord. This kind of legacy never happens on accident, but through habits practiced for years.

Because of Jesus, we are received into the house of God, and our sense of identity and belonging is healed. His grace is the foundation for us to take care of our own house!

Dirty feet, ugly toes! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo concluded our SUNDAY BEST series with a message about serving one another.

John 13:5

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

In the final hours before His death, Jesus chose to spend His remaining moments humbly serving His disciples, kneeling to wash their feet.

1) Greatness is spelled S.E.R.V.I.C.E.

The Gospel of Luke gives us a glimpse into the conversations happening at the Last Supper.

Luke 22:24

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

In a moment when Jesus deserved all the attention, all the support, and all the love, His response was unexpected. Instead of demanding to be served, He said, in essence, “Let me show you what true greatness looks like.” And then He showed them—it looks like love.

2) Service is spelled S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.

Jesus sacrificed and served even those who would betray Him. True service means laying down our bitterness, offense, and idols—the things that consume our hearts and blind us to others’ needs. Instead of asking, “What have they done for me?” We follow Jesus by asking, “What can I do for them now?” Sacrifice is giving up what holds us back so we can serve with love.

3) Sacrifice is spelled L.O.V.E.

Jesus washing His disciples’ feet was more than an act of service; it was a powerful picture of the sacrifice He was about to make on the cross. He took on our dirt, shame, and sin to make us clean and free. We sacrifice because we love. As He loved us first, we are called to love others through sacrifice.

Are you growing in grace? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our SUNDAY BEST series with a message about the value of living in community with others.

Ephesians 2:19-22

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

The miracle of God’s grace is experienced personally, but expressed in community. In Christ, God is doing more than rescuing individuals, he is remaking a people for his name!

1) We are saved out of sin, saved into community.

All throughout the New Testament we see that God’s purpose is to place us in his family made of people from all walks of life. The differences that mark this community highlight the creativity and generosity of God’s rescuing love.

2) We are purified through practicing grace.

Everyone comes to this new community wounded and broken in some way. The prescription for our healing is to love one another and bear with the faults and weaknesses of others.

“Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Community is a workshop for forgiveness and grace. How can we become like Jesus if we won’t practice forgiving others who don’t deserve it?

3) We are vessels in a great house.

All kinds of people are welcomed in the great house that God is building (2 Timothy 2:20-21). To serve them, God is preparing vessels that are pure and honorable. You are that vessel!

Is God’s presence a priority? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres kicked off our SUNDAY BEST series with a message about the gift of God’s presence in our lives.

1 Chronicles 13:10

The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

From the beginning, God’s people have been defined by His presence. From Genesis on, one central theme of the scripture is the movement toward a renewal of human experience in the presence of God. King David’s hope was to experience that blessing when he moved the ark of God, but there were lessons to be learned.

1) Revival is a restoration of the presence of God.

From the incarnation to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on every believer, the hope of the Old Testament finds expression in the experience of the Christian who has access to the life-giving presence of God. God has designed us to experience his presence.

2) Revival is not just about what comes to life, it’s also about what dies.

The death of Uzzah was a reminder that God’s uncommon presence should never be treated as common. As believers, we have access to an uncommon grace that gives life, but we are also called to put to death those things belonging to our sinful nature.

3) Revival is a return to fruitfulness.

Obed-Edom was an outsider to God’s people, but God blessed his house and his family because he welcomed the presence of God. Wherever God’s presence is, life and flourishing follow!

Psalm 84:10

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

This Sunday, Pastor Joaquin preached a message out of 1 Samuel 1. We looked at the life of Hannah, a woman who didn’t have a promise to cling to, just a problem she couldn’t control.

1 Samuel 1:18

Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

1) When it’s out of your control, it’s not out of God’s hands.

Hannah had a problem she didn’t choose, a problem she didn’t cause, and a problem she couldn’t control. Her womb was closed, but not by the enemy.

1 Samuel 1:5

'…though the Lord had closed her womb.’”

This wasn’t punishment, it was positioning. Sometimes we rebuke the devil when it’s God allowing the storm not to destroy you, but to direct you.

2) Bitterness doesn’t make it better.

Sometimes the hardest part of waiting is the watching. Watching others receive what you’ve been praying for. Watching someone else’s testimony while you’re still stuck in the middle of your test. That’s when bitterness creeps in. But Hannah didn’t let her pain poison her perspective.

Even though Peninnah mocked her year after year, not just at home, but the house of the LORD. Hannah didn’t retaliate. She didn’t throw shade. She stayed silent and surrendered. Bitterness won’t fix what only God can restore. But pouring it out in His presence will.

3) It’s in His presence where the broken are met and the breakthrough begins.

Hannah left the altar with no promise. No guarantee. No son in her arms. But her face was no longer sad. Why? Because a breakthrough doesn’t begin when God gives us what we want. A breakthrough begins when we finally give God all of ourselves.

In his presence, God shifted her heart before ever opening up her womb. In the Presence of God, we are undone and remade. Our will begins to align itself with his, and he even changes the way that we pray.

1 Samuel 1:11

And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life...

Samuel wasn’t just her miracle; Samuel was God’s answer for a nation!

Do you have Kingdom reflexes? This week Pastor Steve concluded our ReFormation series with a message from Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 7:24

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

In Jesus’ closing parable, both men heard his teachings. Both men were building, presumably with the same materials. Both men experienced the same storm. The only difference was the foundation.

1) Foundations are invisible.

Both men are hearing the teaching and building houses that APPEAR SIMILAR. The difference came down to one word: PRACTICE.

“Most Christians are educated way beyond the level of their obedience. We don't need to know more. We need to do more with what we know.”

Pastor Mark Batterson

When we come to Jesus, we have access to a grace that can transform. Spiritual disciplines are the means by which we access that grace on a daily basis.

2) Foundations are deep.

Practice builds a pattern of accessing God’s wisdom and grace that goes so deep it becomes REFLEX.

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.

Not every practice has to be a success. The most important part about practice is showing up.

3) Foundations are revealed in storms.

It’s impossible to work on your foundation in the middle of a storm. But when you practice building on the rock of God’s grace and truth, your house will stand through every storm!

How strong is your connection? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our ReFormation series with a message from the Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 7:16-17

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Jesus addresses his followers, reassuring them that a person’s life will always bear fruit in keeping with who they truly are. If we can discern well, we can trust well.

1) Fruit takes time to form.

In time, most things will become plain to see. It is not our job to rush to judgment, or to point the finger at everyone else. It is a small man or woman whose validation is built on the faults of others.

2) Fruit doesn’t come from effort, it comes from connection.

You can’t speed fruit up or scale it up. Fruit is produced because of a connection to life and nourishment.

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

It is possible to be involved in the WORK (Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophecy in your name?) but not have fruit from CONNECTION (I never knew you).

3) It’s the root that makes the fruit.

Every other religious or cultural approach outside of Christianity is built on the idea that if we try hard enough we can get better. But if the root is bad, the fruit will still be bad. Christianity is built on the grace of God in Christ that transforms us from the inside out, giving us a NEW ROOT to produce GOOD FRUIT!

There are only two options! This week, Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message from Matthew 7, where Jesus presents a clear, powerful challenge!

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

1) Two gates. Two paths.

Jesus makes it clear - there are only two options. One leads to destruction, the other to life. The gate stands at the beginning of the road, not at the end, meaning that this isn't a choice simply between heaven or hell. This isn’t just about what happens after you die. This is about how you live while you’re still breathing. Jesus is saying the decision to follow Him, to walk through the narrow gate, starts now.

2)The wide gate leads to destruction.

The wide gate and easy road is popular, comfortable and convenient. It feels like freedom, but it’s a trap. It promises control, but it delivers bondage. It offers pleasure, but it leads to pain.

The Greek word apōleia (destruction) also means waste. Jesus isn’t just warning us about hell. He’s saying, don’t waste your life going the easy way that leads to waste, not just someday in eternity, but in wasted potential, wasted years, wasted peace, and wasted purpose.

3) The narrow gate leads to life.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus isn’t just one of many options. He boldly says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus IS the gate! The narrow gate is hard because it’s offensive to our pride. It forces us to face hard truths about ourselves. However, at first glance, it seems too small. Too restrictive. Too much. But what looks limiting at the start actually leads to life.

John 8:36

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus is true freedom. Not the kind the world offers. Not freedom to do whatever you want, but freedom from what once had you bound.

Freedom from sin.

Freedom from shame.

Freedom from guilt.

The narrow gate already cost Jesus everything but it leads to the life your soul is searching for.

Don’t give up on prayer! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (Re)Formation series with a message about persistence in prayer.

Matthew 7:7-12

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

As Jesus teaches his followers, he encourages them to approach God with a “shameless audacity.” We can have this kind of boldness because in Christ we receive three important things.

1) POWER to live.

As Jesus preaches his sermon, listeners might wonder how anyone could live up to the impossibly high standard he sets. How might we find the resource to follow through on his teaching? We ASK. We SEEK. We KNOCK.

2) PERSPECTIVE to trust.

Jesus teaches us that God is better than our best thoughts about him, but still as close and accessible as a Father. If the best of our earthly fathers are still broken, HOW MUCH MORE will God bless those who ask him!

3) PERSISTENCE to endure.

As you pray, your prayers don’t dissipate, they accumulate. Don’t stop asking, don’t stop seeking, and don’t stop knocking. Your Heavenly Father can be trusted to hear you and respond at just the right moment!

"Only God can judge me" is often used as a "spiritual do not disturb sign" but what Jesus teaches is that self examination must come before correction. This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message from Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 7:1–3

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

1) The standard you set will be used against you.

When we judge others harshly, we invite that same measure onto ourselves. That way of living creates a culture that eventually turns on itself. This is not the way of Jesus. He invites us to participate in this new Kingdom culture.

Kingdom culture is loving, not hateful.

Kingdom culture is patient, not reactive.

Kingdom culture is authentic, not fake.

Kingdom culture is humble, not hypocritical.

2) “I’m not as bad as them” reveals how broken I really am.

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Comparison doesn’t lead to righteousness, it leads to self-deception. Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned.” Grace puts us all on level ground because at the foot of the cross there is only one category: people in need of a savior.

3) You can’t help others if you’re not honest with yourself.

Jesus tells us to deal with our own plank before touching anyone else’s speck. Pretending to be someone you're not or pretending you have it all together can hurt people. Allow Jesus to do the work "in" you so that he can work "through" you.

4) Jesus can handle the speck and the plank.

You don’t have to clean yourself up before coming to Jesus. He’s not offended by your mess—He came to carry it.

Don’t play God. Let Him do what only He can do.

Whatever you are worrying about God is already working on! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message from Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Apostle Paul put worry and prayer on opposite ends of the spectrum (Philippians 4:6). When you worry, it should be your trigger to pray.

1) Worry shows what I’m invested in, prayer shifts what I’m invested in.

There is no return on our worry investment. It won’t add a single hour to our lives. Prayer steadies our hearts and focuses our attention in ways that bear fruit.

2) Worry is a waste of imagination, prayer is a proper cultivation of imagination.

Worry is when our imagination is applied to the worst possible outcome in a situation, creating fear and anxiety without any benefit.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it just empties today of its strength.

Corrie Ten Boom

Prayer trains our imagination to consider how God might work in a situation, because he already is. Jesus said our heavenly Father already knows what we need!

3) Worry is always wanting, prayer is always praising.

Worry focuses on what I lack, and the result is more worry. Prayer trains me to see God’s faithful provision already at work around me, and the result is peace.

4) Worry thinks about HOW, prayer thinks about WHO.

We can never be able to answer every question or predict every outcome. If we know that God is working on our behalf, our faith can flourish even in the absence of answers.

It is impossible to have the peace OF God until we have experienced peace WITH God, and that is only possible because of Jesus’ rescuing love!

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Are you budgeting to honor God? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our (Re)Formation series with a message from the Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Many of our challenges are the result of misplaced treasure. Much of our stress and anxiety is rooted in a heart that isn’t aligned with what God values. How does Jesus address this?

1) You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.

There is a difference between success and significance. Jesus is telling us to prepare for heaven by investing in things that will last.

2) Your heart will follow your habits.

You can direct your heart by having the right disciplines in your life. Are you intentional about creating space for God to shape your heart?

3) You can’t serve two systems.

The Bible says that a double-minded person is unstable in all their ways. Most people don’t have a resource problem, they have a focus problem. When we choose to follow Jesus we receive wisdom to focus our resources in areas that make the most lasting impact!

Are you hungry for God? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (Re)Formation series with a message about fasting.

Matthew 6:17-18

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Fasting is a choice to deny myself something good (food) in order to focus on something better (God). Most Christians in most places in most times have prioritized fasting. Why?

1) Fasting gives me FOCUS.

Fasting nurtures my appetite for God above other appetites in my life. It helps me focus on what God is saying and doing in my life and world.

2) Fasting reminds me of my FRAGILITY.

When we are denied something as small and commonplace as food, we are reminded of our weakness and dependence on God’s faithfulness.

3) Fasting helps me heed God’s GUIDANCE.

When we sense we have arrived at an inflection point, we choose to fast because it sharpens our spiritual senses.

4) Fasting is a way of embodying REPENTANCE.

When I need to turn to God and grieve for sin, fasting is a way of experiencing that in my body, emotions and spirit.

5) Fasting shows SOLIDARITY in pain.

Jesus assumes his disciples will fast simply because the world is filled with pain and brokenness. It is good to fast in solidarity with those who are suffering, and to pray for help and relief from their pain.

WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS WE HAVE A REASON TO FAST.

WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS WE HAVE A REASON TO FEAST.

Just as the sin and brokenness of our world calls us to fast, the rescuing love of God is a reason to feast. Both practices strengthen our sense of God at work in our world!

How do we pray in the midst of troubled times? The prayer that Jesus prayed is as relevant today as it was when he first taught his disciples to pray it! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres started the second half of our (RE)FORMATION series from the Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power

and the glory forever. Amen.

The prayer follows the movement of the Great Commandment: love God and love others.

1) OUR FATHER

Is your relationship with God a business or a family relationship? Calling on God as our Father is not transactional, it is based on trust.

2) MAY YOUR NAME BE HOLY

Remembering who God is means that we set apart space in our hearts and lives that honors him above all others.

3) MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN

Jesus announced the arrival of God’s kingdom, as well as the forgiveness and life that came with it. Our prayer is to look and long for that work to continue.

4) GIVE US BREAD TODAY

To acknowledge our need for God’s provision is an antidote to the lie of self-sufficiency.

5) FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS

This is the only point that Jesus elaborates, because it is often the most difficult for us. The number one indicator that we have been forgiven is that we freely forgive.

6) LEAD US OUT OF TEMPTATION AND RESCUE US FROM EVIL

Jesus modeled this in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed that God would spare him from the test in front of him, but he trusted that God would deliver him.

7) FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND POWER AND GLORY FOREVER

We have the opportunity to daily be shaped by the prayer that Jesus prayed. Praying it is an indispensable practice for someone who has chosen to BE WITH JESUS, BECOME LIKE JESUS, and DO AS JESUS DID!

How are you being re-formed by the example of Jesus? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message from Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 6:1

Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

Jesus begins this portion of his teaching with a warning to WATCH OUT! Greed and materialism have the peculiar effect of making us blind to our own greed and materialism. Jesus’ teaching can lead us to three questions.

1) What are my assumptions about money?

Many of us assume that our blessings are tied to our own goodness. But what if we are blessed, not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving? Jesus starts with a statement about WHEN, not IF, we give to those in need. The assumption is that those who follow Jesus will live with an open hand, just like he did.

2) What is my approach to giving?

Generosity is not an amount. People can write big checks without being generous. When we give, our approach should be to give with faith and generosity.

Generosity is not an emotion. Giving is the regular, rational response of a person who has correctly identified God as their source.

Generosity is not an achievement. We never graduate from generosity, we only grow in it.

3) What is my aim in being generous?

Are we out to BLESS or to IMPRESS? Don’t forget that we will give an account for the way we steward what is entrusted to us. The reward that we receive from God will be better than any reward we can receive now!

Romans 8:31-32

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

How can we be perfect? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (Re)FORMATION series with a message about loving our enemies.

Matthew 5:43-45

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

After Jesus revises the way we respond to our enemies, he points us to how we can most resemble our Father in heaven. Jesus points us to at least three truths.

1) The law of reciprocity is the way the world operates.

It is human nature to love only those who love us, and to lash out at those who hurt us. But retaliation most often leads to escalation, with more and more hurt.

2) The law of love is the way God operates.

People reject God’s instructions because they won’t trust who He is. If we understand God’s love for sinners, we know that he aims to save both victim and perpetrator.

3) You are never more like your heavenly Father than when you love your enemies.

When we love our enemies and bless those who persecute us, we bear a striking resemblance to our Father in heaven. We are never closer to perfection than when we imitate God in this way.

Romans 5:10

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

We can’t TRY hard enough to live like this. Our hearts have to be TRANSFORMED to live like this. And that is what the Good News about Jesus does in us!

Your words matter! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message about Jesus’ words on marriage, divorce, and integrity.

Matthew 5:31-32

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

1) We are in it for the long run.

Jesus addressed how people in His time twisted God’s intention for marriage, treating it casually rather than as a covenant. While culture often prioritizes personal happiness over commitment, God calls us to faithfulness that reflects His own love for us. Marriage isn’t just a contract—it’s a sacred promise.

2) You don’t have to say all of that.

Jesus challenged His followers to be people of integrity. A lack of integrity leads to deception. Instead of making empty promises, He called us to let our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no. We don’t need to manipulate or over-explain—our words should carry the weight of truth on their own.

3) Take Him at His word.

Numbers 23:19

“God is not a man, that he should lie… Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Many of us struggle with trust because of past disappointments. Broken promises have shaped us. People have let us down. But God is different—He is faithful. He is a promise keeper.

Ultimately, our ability to walk in faithfulness and integrity comes from trusting in God’s faithfulness.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.

Every promise of healing, every promise of provision, every promise of peace, every promise of salvation—all of it is YES in Christ!

Are you being RE-FORMED? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message about sexual integrity.

Matthew 5:27-28

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus continues his pattern of challenging his followers to rethink what they have assumed and accepted. What can we learn from this portion of his Sermon On the Mount?

1) Jesus is calling us to sexual integrity.

The Bible views humans as INTEGRATED beings, with emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual aspects that are interacting in a complex and connected way. Sexual desires and decisions are meant to be a part of that INTEGRATED life.

2) Lust is desire out of context or control.

Sex is God’s idea. But it is designed to be expressed in the right context or it can become destructive. The same fire that warms a house can also burn it down.

Don’t confuse your DESIRE with God’s DESIGN.

Not every desire is healthy or good for me. Learning and aligning with God’s plan for sexual integrity requires trust in his design.

3) Love takes the long view.

Jesus reminds his followers that God is interested in our long-term joy and fulfillment. Love is patient, and lust is not. To build intimacy requires patience, and sexual sin will work against the intimacy that God wants us to experience now and for eternity!

Are you keeping short accounts? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (RE)FORMATION series with a message about reconciliation.

Matthew 5:21-22

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Jesus tells his followers that the real standard that God has begins in the heart. To what truths does this portion of the sermon on the mount point us?

1) It’s not about preparation, it’s about transformation.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were disciplined and fastidious about keeping each regulation. Jesus tells his followers that they have to be even better than that. What hope do we have to do that?

We can’t be trained to live like this. We have to be transformed to live like this.

Until our hearts have been humbled by the grace of God and transformed by the Holy Spirit, we can’t hope to live up to this standard.

2) It’s not the soil, it’s the seed.

Jesus is teaching that the only difference between a person who hates and a person who murders is the context they are living in. The seed is the same, only the soil is different.

Just because you were unquestionably wronged does not make you unquestionably right.

Offense can blind us to our own faults and produce a condescending sense of superiority. The Gospel removes the self-righteousness from our anger and moves us to love others, especially those who are wrong.

3) It’s not about proving who’s wrong, it’s about making things right.

Most people spend more energy proving others wrong than the energy they spend reconciling. Want a simple rule of thumb?

Keep short accounts with God and with others.

Jesus tells us what we should do when we have hurt someone. In Matthew 18 Jesus talks about what we should do when someone has hurt us. Here’s the point:

Whether you’ve wronged someone, or they’ve wronged you, it’s always your move!

Can you serve when you’re not celebrated? Can you rejoice even when you’re resented? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our (RE)FORMATION series from the Sermon On the Mount.

Matthew 5:13

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

Discipleship is a choice to BE WITH Jesus, BECOME LIKE Jesus, and DO LIKE Jesus did. What does this passage teach us about our calling as his disciples?

1) You will bring HELP.

Salt was a preservative in the ancient world. It stopped meat from rotting and wounds from festering. Christ-followers are salt. We have a unique capacity to hold back the decay and disorder that sin causes, and to confront hurt without giving up hope.

2) You will bring HOPE.

Many people give up when change seems impossible. That’s not like us. The Christian sees with a prophetic eye, speaks with a prophetic voice, and operates with a prophetic anticipation of God’s power at work to bring change.

3) You will be HATED.

You WILL be help and hope, but people will still insult you and say false things about you. You will get involved and your reputation will suffer. You will serve, and the ones you are serving will hurt you. Have no self-pity, because if they did this to Jesus they will do this to you.

Instead, Jesus says REJOICE! There will be a day when those who have suffered loss for Jesus will be rewarded, and the ruling against them will be overturned!

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. Those who left their mark on Earth did so precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

How are you being FORMED today? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began a new series of messages called (RE)FORMATION.

Matthew 5:1-3

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus called a group of unlikely disciples to be with him, become like him, and do as he did. For these apprentices to LEARN his ways, they would first have to UNLEARN many things. “You have heard it said,” Jesus would begin, “But I say to you…” Can we listen carefully and humbly enough to be RE-FORMED in the ways of Jesus? As we begin this journey through the greatest sermon ever preached, what should we know?

1) The absolute necessity of the Sermon On the Mount.

Jesus’s description of a person who should be considered fortunate. But his description is counter to our notions of blessing, even what is comfortable. Even though it is challenging, precisely BECAUSE it is challenging, we need the Sermon On the Mount.

2) The absolute impossibility of the Sermon On the Mount.

Anyone who understands this sermon correctly will say, "SAVE ME FROM THIS SERMON!” In every area, Jesus sets the bar impossibly high, leaving us no room for excuses, no cause to feel proud.

Before I can DO these things, something has to be DONE in me.

When we realize the impossibility of living out this sermon, we are ready to pray with sincerity: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

3) The absolute hope of the Sermon On the Mount.

So Jesus begins his sermon, CONGRATULATIONS when you bump into your own powerlessness and poverty! HOW FORTUNATE are you when you mourn! GOOD ON YOU when you are mistreated but you hold onto innocence and peace. Then you are first in line to see the kingdom of God!

This is the HOPE.

Jesus is the only one person who ever perfectly lived out the life that is described in the Sermon On the Mount. When we respond humbly to his call to follow, we receive grace and help from him to be RE-FORMED in his image!

Are you about to walk away from your miracle? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin Pardo concluded our RENEW series with a message about Naaman, a mighty warrior whose pride nearly cost him his healing.

2 Kings 5:10

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

1) Powerful yet powerless.

Naaman was a man of power, prestige, and victory, yet his leprosy reminds us of human frailty. No matter our accomplishments, we all desperately need God’s help.

Psalm 121:1-2

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.”

When pride and self-reliance take over, we can forget where our true strength comes from. Renewal begins when we recognize our dependence on God.

2) God’s methods are messy but holy.

Naaman expected a grand display for his healing, yet Elisha instructed him to do something humbling: bathe in the muddy Jordan River. At first, he resisted. When God’s plans don’t match our expectations, frustration can set in. But true healing and renewal come when we trust His ways, even when they seem messy.

3) Renewal requires surrender.

“Obedience is the key to every door” - George MacDonald

Naaman’s healing came not through wealth, status, or his own strength, but through obedience and humility. Like Naaman, we must lay aside our pride, submit to God’s process, and trust in His grace. Don't walk away from your miracle!

How is your heart? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our RENEW series with a message, “Give Me An Undivided Heart."

Psalm 86:11

Teach me your way, Lord,

that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

The decision to follow Jesus is the first step in unraveling the lies we have believed and lived, unlearning the patterns of behavior that are sinful and selfish, and unseating the rival gods that have seduced us with promises of security and control.

1) Everyone needs healing from a divided heart.

It is a reflection of the humility of God that he receives us even when our motives and minds are divided.

James 1:8

The double-minded person is unstable in everything they do.

The symptoms of a divided heart can come in many forms. How do react when God doesn’t operate as you prefer?

It is easier to act like a Christian than to react like a Christian.

Pastor Mark Batterson

There are all kinds of ways that we try to treat the symptoms of a divided heart, but we need to get to the root by praying as David did, “Give me an undivided heart!"

2) Every heart needs tending to grow toward wholeness.

Spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, sabbath and others are new means of self-improvement. They are the ways that we posture ourselves to receive God’s transforming grace.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We do the tending, but God does the growing.

3) You can’t heal a divided heart without an experience in the grace of God.

There was only one person who lived his whole life with an undivided heart. Jesus is the example that we are growing into by God’s grace!

Have you ever wondered if God is listening? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin Pardo concluded our THIS CHRISTMAS series with a message reminding us that God hears every prayer and answers them all faithfully—in His time and His way.

Luke 1:13

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is one of waiting, and ultimately, God’s faithfulness. Though they were righteous and faithful, their prayers for a child went unanswered for years—until God moved in His perfect timing.

1) God has heard your prayers.

The angel’s words to Zechariah are a powerful reminder that God hears us. Even when it feels like nothing is happening, your prayers are not being ignored.

Matthew 6:6

“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Keep praying and trusting because God is listening.

2) God answers prayers on His terms.

When Zechariah and Elizabeth finally received their long-awaited miracle, they weren’t given the chance to choose their son’s name—God had already chosen it: John. This reminds us that God’s answers don’t always come packaged the way we expect.

Proverbs 19:21

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Trust God’s plan, even when it’s not what you envisioned.

3) Step aside and let God do what only He can do.

When Zechariah doubted the angel’s words, he was made silent until the promise was fulfilled. Sometimes, our doubts, fears, and insecurities get in the way of God’s work.

4) Celebration follows surrender.

Zechariah’s voice returned when he wrote, “His name is John,” demonstrating his surrender to God’s plan. His first words were words of praise. Often, our inability to surrender keeps us from celebrating the blessings God is giving us. When we align our hearts with His will, joy and celebration follow.

Whatever prayers you’ve been lifting up, don’t lose heart. God hears you, and He is faithful to respond in His way and in His time. Keep trusting, keep praying, and watch what He will do!

Have you wondered where God is at?

Luke 1:30-31

And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

When the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, he announces that God is answering the cry of his people with a Savior. Mary thoughtfully and honestly brings her questions in reply.

1) God is never scared of our doubts or questions.

In the end, Mary believes and the miracle the angel promised comes to pass. This experience shapes her hopes and expectations.

2) A person with a testimony is never at the mercy of a person with an argument.

The angel tells Mary that nothing will be impossible with God, just like the angel told Abraham, “Is anything too wonderful [difficult] for the Lord?”

3) What if the difficult things are also the wonderful things?

Faith is not thinking about different things than other people, faith is thinking about the same things differently. When we trust the Lord as Mary did, we are able to see that whatever God does not protect us FROM he will perfect us THROUGH.

In the end, the difficult things God brings us through will be a cause for praise and worship!

This weekend, Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our Christmas series with a message centered on the life-changing truth that God is with us.

Matthew 1:23

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

The Christmas story isn’t cute—it’s powerful.

The manger in Bethlehem reminds us that God didn’t shy away from the mess of our world. He stepped right into it, showing us that no matter how broken or messy life may feel, He is with us.

God will interrupt your plans.

Just as He interrupted Joseph’s life with the news of Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, God may show up in ways that challenge your comfort or convenience. But His interruptions are never random—they are invitations to trust Him and realign with His purpose.

God is approachable.

In the Old Testament, God’s presence often felt overwhelming. But through Jesus, He shattered the distance. The baby in the manger grew into a man who loved sinners, touched the untouchable, and embraced the broken. The Christmas story proves that God isn’t distant or terrifying—He is approachable, knowable, and deeply desires a relationship with you.

Luke 2:6-7

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

No matter how messy your life feels, God isn’t afraid to step into it. He’s not looking for perfection—He’s waiting for your openness. Will you make space for Him today?

What words are you waiting for? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our THIS CHRISTMAS series with a message about God’s life-giving Word.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The miracle of speech is not only the mechanics of it, but the meaning behind it.

Words are a window.

Words can bring us closer to people, form bonds and give meaning. They are more than sounds, they are expressions of who we are.

Words have weight.

Some people spend their lives waiting to hear certain words. The right words can change our lives for the better.

Words aren’t just for communication, they are for communion.

At Christmas, God spoke in a language that we could understand best. The Word made flesh was more than information, it was an invitation to draw near to Him!

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is near to the Father, has made him known.

The Christmas story is not always comfortable! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began our THIS CHRISTMAS series with a message about the Magi.

Matthew 2:1-2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The Magi were outsiders to God’s people, and yet they have a prominent place in Matthew’s account of the Christmas story. What can we learn from this?

1) The Christmas story is irritating in its inclusivity.

All throughout the Christmas narrative we see unexpected characters given starring roles in God’s redemption story. The Gospel is the story of God’s wild grace extended toward people who don’t deserve it, and that begins with us.

2) The Christmas story is irritating in its exclusivity.

King Herod knew that the arrival a new king was a challenge to his rule. At the heart of the Gospel story is the challenge to every ruler that would take God’s place in our hearts. Jesus didn’t mince words when he said, “I AM the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus was born to be LORD and KING!

Do you have overdue gratitude? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our BIG DREAMS series with a message about putting FIRST THINGS FIRST.

Genesis 14:19-20

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

Abraham has experienced a hard-fought victory, but he remembers to acknowledge God’s goodness and provision.

1) Giving starts with gratitude.

Gratitude is the art of being present to God’s goodness, of being eyes-open to the gifts that he has given us.

2) Money is meant for managing, not for meaning.

All throughout the Bible, and especially in the teachings of Jesus, we see that we are managers of our resources, not owners. Don’t look for meaning or significance in money.

3) Tithe is a testimony.

Abraham gives a tenth of all he gained to Melchizedek as a testimony of God’s provision. Tithing keeps our source in focus.

4) Generosity produces joy.

When we sow generously, the Bible says that we reap with joy. When we put God first in every area, our hearts become free to enjoy his goodness and see his miraculous provision today!

Blessed is a story, not a status! This weekend New City began a new journey of faith, and Pastor Steve kicked off a series called BIG DREAMS!

Genesis 12:2

“I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.”

This season will be a defining moment for our church, and our prayer is that everyone who calls New City Church their home will participate, heart and soul! The BIG DREAMS INITIATIVE is an effort to prepare our church for the next season of growing ministry, expanded outreach, and a permanent home for our church.

As we enter this season, what does Abram’s call from God teach us about our journey?

1) It’s easier to believe that God is powerful than to believe that he is good.

But in Abram’s call we see an incredible moment of GRACE from God. God’s promise of BLESSING came to Abram BEFORE he ever did anything for God.

2) Faith begins with trust in God’s goodness.

Faith says I believe in God’s GOODNESS so thoroughly that I can ASK him for what I need, and I can TRUST him to do what’s best.

3) This journey is not about what God wants FROM YOU, but what God has planned FOR YOU.

The BIG DREAMS that we have as a church are rooted in God’s promise to Abraham, “I WILL BLESS YOU, and YOU WILL BE A BLESSING.” We believe that as we remember God’s blessing in our lives, we will have a clearer sense of how he has called and equipped us to be a blessing to others!

This weekend Pastor Devin Gough concluded our YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME series with a message about guilt.

Psalm 51:1-4 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

David’s prayer to God came when he faced the awful nature of his own sin. What can this Psalm teach us about how to deal with guilt?

1) Accept God's love.

David’s prayer is offered “according to” the love of God. Before we can find freedom from guilt we need to trust in the love of God for sinners.

2) Assume responsibility.

Over and over again, David refers to himself as the one responsible for his sin. Owning our sin is key to finding freedom.

3) Admit our sin is against God.

Sin makes victims of people, but is ultimately an offense to God whose laws and love we are violating.

4) Ask God for cleansing.

God is the only one who is able to cleanse our hearts and set us free.

David’s prayer pointed forward to the One whose sacrifice would one day provide forgiveness and freedom for all of us who receive it!

What is your ONE THING? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME series with a message about fear.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

David is not in denial. As we read David’s prayer in Psalm 27, we see that he has real reasons to experience fear. How does he respond?

1) SEEK

David’s reflex in the face of fear is to seek God. Different seasons require different glimpses of the face of God.

2) MEDITATE

Our imaginations can fuel our faith or our fears. When we meditate and think deeply about who God is, our redeemed imagination is encouraged.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace

all who trust in you,

all whose thoughts are fixed on you.

What is your meditation? What do you allow your mind and heart to dwell on during your day?

3) GAZE

David’s ONE THING, his highest desire, is to see and appreciate the beauty of God. What is your ONE THING?

4) WAIT

Maturity in faith comes only when we break our addiction to control. David’s trust and surrender are expressed in his waiting in the face of fear.

We can overcome fear because we serve a God who is able to turn every curse into blessing!

Are the opinions of others ruling your life?

This weekend, Pastor Joaquin continued our series YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME with a message on Opinions.

Daniel 3:1-6

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold... and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

In this story we are introduced to King Nebuchadnezzar and the young Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego where we learn about living under the influence of opinions, both from others and ourselves.

1) When your opinions of yourself become excessive, it leads to obsession.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride led him to build a golden statue and demand worship. While we may not build statues, excessive self-focus can lead us to idolize our own opinions, creating a throne in our hearts where we crown ourselves, and in doing so we take our eyes off of Jesus and rob God of his glory.

2) The opinions of others can strip away your God-given identity.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's original names—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—pointed to God. Yet, the Babylonian culture tried to erase their identities by renaming them. Similarly, if we aren’t careful, the opinions of others can distort who God says we are.

3) Pleasing God over pleasing people leads to true freedom.

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Despite facing the fiery furnace, these three young men declared that whether God delivered them or not, they would not bow to the king’s false gods. Their faithfulness reminds us that trusting God, rather than being swayed by human opinions, leads to true freedom and safety.

God stands with us when we stand firm in His truth. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we are called to let God's Word, not man's opinion, define us.

Let’s choose this week to break free from the influence of others' opinions—and our own—by focusing on who God says we are!

Is anger in the driver’s seat of your heart? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres kicked off a new series called YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME.

John 2:15

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables.

On more than one occasion, the Bible tells us that Jesus was angry. What does the Bible say about the ROOT of anger, how it goes WRONG, and how to get it RIGHT?

1) The ROOT of anger is love.

Anger is a healthy response to protect something or someone that we love. When we find ourselves getting angry, it is an indicator of what we love and value.

2) Anger goes WRONG when our loves are out of order.

Do we value the same things that God values? When our loves are disordered, our anger is disordered as well.

Anger gets LAZY when I love something less than I should. When our love is lacking, we become indifferent to the things that matter to God.

Anger gets CRAZY when I love something more than I should. Our overreactions and fits of rage are often rooted in an exaggerated love. Crazy anger lashes out and often attacks people rather than the problem itself.

3) To get anger RIGHT, we have to own it, aim it, and end it.

Regardless of how our anger is expressed, we have to own the fact that we feel angry. We ask ourselves why we are angry, and evaluate if this anger is healthy. Righteous anger is aimed carefully at addressing the root of the problem, with a goal of redeeming the person involved. Our bodies and hearts are not designed to sustain anger for long, but because we trust in God’s fair judgment, we can find an endpoint for our anger.

So great is the love of God that on the cross, God’s anger was focused in a way that would destroy sin, but save sinners like you and me!

Are you preparing for who’s next? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres concluded our DAVID series with a message about leaving a legacy.

2 Chronicles 3:1

Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of [Araunah] the Jebusite.

David’s story is the story of an imperfect person living by the faithfulness of God. In this new season, he has new questions to tackle about his heart and legacy.

1) What do you do when God says NO?

David’s desire to build a house for the Lord is good, but God still says no. The man or woman of God can trust that God’s no is still for our good.

2) Can you sacrifice for what you won’t enjoy?

Once David realizes that someone else is going to build the Temple, he might have folded his arms and done nothing more. Instead, he prepares for the work to be done.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

Nelson Henderson

Even though our culture encourages a me-first mindset, God’s plan is to serve even when it doesn’t benefit.

3) Are you preparing for who’s next?

David’s legacy was to prepare for someone else to build a house for God. At the same place of David’s repentance and sacrifice, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to prepare the way for us to be forgiven and set free!

What if you weren’t defined by your worst moments? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about how to recover from failure.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

After David’s sin with Bathsheba is exposed, he is humiliated and

1) Failure gives us a new perspective.

David’s reaction to his sin is one of true humility and brokenness before God. If we fail to recognize that our sin is against God, our repentance can still be self-serving.

2) Failure might be a me thing, but repentance is a we thing.

Nathan was a wise voice speaking into the David’s foolishness. When we fall, we need to listen carefully to other godly voices that can guide us.

3) Failure is never the final word for the righteous.

Many people are defined by their failures. David’s deep and sincere repentance meant that his failure would not be final.

Proverbs 27:16

For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,

but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

The righteous person is not defined by their falling, but by their rising. Because Jesus paid the price for every sin, we can be confident that God will give us grace to rise after falling!

2 Corinthians 5:21

God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

Failure doesn’t have to be final!

How do you keep your heart clean (even when you’ve been done dirty)? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about how to heal from hurts.

Psalm 52:8-9

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the faithfulness of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

Everyone will GO through hurt but not everyone will GROW through hurt. What does David’s prayer teach us about how we can handle our deepest wounds?

1) “As for me.” Start with me.

Just because we’ve been unquestionably wronged does not mean we are unquestionably right. Start with the humble examination of whatever part of this that we need to own.

2) “I trust in the faithfulness of God.” Leave room for God to work on your behalf.

David trusted that God would take care of him. This is the trust that sets us free from the need to retaliate or take revenge.

3) “I will praise you because you have done it.” Make space for purpose in your pain.

God is able to take what was intended for evil and use it for good. You can thank him in advance for how he will use this hurt to heal others.

4) “I will wait on your name.” The best fruit takes time to grow.

Olive trees grow slow, but they bear a lot fruit. David knew that it would take time for fruit to come from his hurt, but he was willing to wait.

God is able to help us grow and flourish through every season!

The power of friendship! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our DAVID series with a message about friendship.

1 Samuel 18:1-3

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

David, a man after God's own heart, and Jonathan, a man faithful and committed to the Lord, shared a special friendship in the Lord's sight. Here is what we can learn from them:

1) A friend affirms God's calling on your life.

In 1 Samuel 18:4, we see Jonathan's remarkable act of faith and friendship:

"And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt."

As the son of King Saul, Jonathan was next in line for the throne. However, God had chosen David instead due to Saul's disobedience. Rather than being resentful, Jonathan honored God's decision by giving David his royal garments and weapons, symbolizing his wholehearted support for David as God's chosen king.

2) A friend protects.

1 Samuel 19:1-2

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself."

True friends care deeply about each other's safety and well-being. They will go to great lengths to protect one another from harm, just as Jonathan did for David.

3) A friend speaks well of their friend.

1 Samuel 19:4

And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father...

Despite having much to gain from David's death, Jonathan refused to speak ill of him. Instead, he advocated for David's life, spoke well of him and defended his innocence.

4) A friend keeps their promise.

After Jonathan's death, David honored the covenant he made with him:

2 Samuel 9:1

"Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

David sought out Jonathan's remaining son and treated him as his own. David's love for his friend was selfless and unconditional, motivated by genuine affection and loyalty.

5) Jesus: The Greatest Friend.

The story of David and Jonathan highlights the power of true friendship, but it ultimately points us to the greatest friend of all, Jesus. While we should strive for friendships like theirs, we might feel lonely at times. However, that's not true—Jesus embodies all the qualities of the perfect friend and more. He is God, reaching out to be your friend.

Don’t you dare compare! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about comparison.

1 Samuel 18:6-7

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”

The tipping point in Saul’s life and leadership was when he fell into the comparison trap. Why is this so toxic?

1) Comparison strangles our joy.

How many times have we lost our joy because we were focused on another person’s blessings and not our own?

Psalm 34:10

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing.

God is faithful, so we can be confident that if we lack something in our lives, it’s not good for us now!

2) Comparison stunts our growth.

Comparison is that sideways energy and effort that doesn’t move you forward in God’s purpose for you. It is wasted time and energy.

3) Comparison steals our focus.

It’s so freeing to know God’s plan for me, because not only can I focus on my own assignment, but I can trust God for the resource to walk it out!

God’s promises come with a process! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about the making of a man or woman of God.

1 Samuel 17:40

Then David took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Before David ever found victory on the battlefield against Goliath, he had to learn some important lessons that we can learn as well.

1) Destiny comes wrapped in the ordinary.

David was not planning to face off against the giant, he was simply following through on his assignment to deliver some cheese. It was faithfulness in the ordinary that brought him to a moment of great importance.

2) Private victories protect against public failure.

David had confidence in this moment of public testing because of the private victories he had experienced over the lion and the bear. Take care of your bears and lions!

3) God equips you with gifts custom-fit for your assignment.

When Saul gave David his armor, David was wise enough to know that if we can’t walk in something, we can’t war in it either. Make sure you understand and steward the gifts God has given you.

4) Trust and availability go hand in hand.

David knew that Goliath was not the only giant in the Philistine army. When he chose five stones from the river, he was making himself available for the next fight as well.

5) God prepares the worker AND the work.

God wasn’t just working to prepare young David. He had already prepared the battle for victory. Long before we reach our moments of testing, God has been preparing the work to be done.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God has given you a promise, now be faithful in the process!

He knows what He is doing! This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our DAVID series with a message on embracing God's plan.

1 Samuel 16:13

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.."

Stop mourning what didn't work

When God rejected Saul, Samuel grieved over what was. But when our hope and trust is solely in God, we avoid getting stuck in the past, and can embrace the new things God is doing.

God uses unexpected things and people

Our plans are built on what we see and know, but God sees beyond our limitations. When it was time to anoint a new king, everyone focused on Jesse's seven sons, but God chose the one everyone overlooked. Unlike Samuel, God can see beyond what is in the physical and will use the unexpected things and people to achieve his plans and purposes.

Accept God's strategy and timing

God didn't reveal the entire plan to Samuel all at once; instead, He provided just enough direction for the next step. Even after being anointed, David didn't become king until 15 years later. The time in between is formative. The time it takes and the limited information you have are what God has prescribed for the perfecting of your faith so that you might know the fullness of God.

What does home feel like to you? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our BRING THE HEAT series with a message about an under-appreciated quality necessary to be a leader: hospitality.

1 Timothy 3:1-3

A church leader must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must be hospitable, and he must be able to teach.

The Apostle Paul understood the importance of opening our homes and lives to outsiders, so he considers it a qualification for leadership. Why?

1) Home is one of the central themes in the Bible.

From God’s presence in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1, to God’s presence in the Garden City in Revelation 21, the whole Bible is one long story of exile and returning home.

2) Jesus came to bring lost people home.

Jesus did more than teach and heal. Most of his ministry was spent eating and sharing with sinners, ushering in the kingdom of God one meal at a time.

3) Hospitality is the practice of inviting strangers to be friends.

Paul tells Timothy to practice welcoming outsiders. Ask yourself, "How can I use my home, my money, or my resources to invite someone into a deeper experience of God’s hospitality and grace?”

Hebrews 13:1-2

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

How do we find the motivation to fan into flame the gifts God has given us when we are up against a difficult task? This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our series BRING THE HEAT with a message about what we should remember when we lack motivation.

1 Timothy 1:12-14

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Timothy was up against a tall task at the church of Ephesus having to stand against false teachers. Paul encourages Timothy by taking a trip down memory lane of his own life. Here is what he chose to remember.

1) Remember Jesus chose you.

Paul finds motivation by remembering that day on the Damascus Road when he was chosen by Jesus.

When speaking about Paul to Ananias in the book of Acts, Jesus said:

Acts 9:15

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Our motivation starts when we remember we are CHOSEN!

2) Remember Jesus appoints and empowers you.

Paul reminds himself he was chosen for a reason. He was appointed to service and he knew that Christ gave him the strength to do what he was appointed to do.

3) Remember Jesus' grace for you.

When we remember our past, it shouldn't bring us to a place of shame and guilt. It should propel us into a heart of gratitude every single time. Like Paul, the memories of his past sins reminded him of how great God's grace is. It was the spark that ignited his motivation behind what he was called to do.

Can you believe even when it is costly? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our BELIEVE series with a message about Elijah’s faith.

1 Kings 18:37-38

Elijah prayed, "Answer me, Lord, so these people will know that you are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

Elijah was dealing with a people whose entire relationship with God existed in the past tense. They had not rejected God, they had added other gods to their worship.

1) Elijah’s faith was a CATALYST.

A catalyst creates a reaction. Healthy people don't go out looking for conflict, but growth and change rarely happen without discomfort.

"Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."

Jim Elliot

Our real conflict is not with people. People are the prize in the kingdom of God, so our goal is not to defeat people but to win them. Real faith will produce healthy confrontation.

2) Elijah’s faith created COMMITMENT.

Elijah asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions?” Elijah knew that belief was meaningless without obedience.

3) Elijah’s faith was COSTLY.

After years without rain, Elijah’s pouring out of water on the sacrifice was an extravagant act of faith. Are you willing to operate in trust even when it costs you something precious?

When Elijah prayed, God answered with fire from heaven! It may seem like this dramatic story of faith in action is out of reach for us. But the Bible says the opposite.

James 5:17-18

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

You can have a faith that God uses to turn hearts towards Him again!

Where have you placed your hope? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres started our BELIEVE series with a message about the nature of faith.

Matthew 17:20

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Faith is not a denial of reality, it’s a deeper reality. What does this passage teach us about how to trust God in the face of very real challenges and disappointments?

1) Every seed starts out SMALL.

Faith is not a form of religious achievement. What matters is not the amount of faith, but the object of our faith. Even a small seed of faith, WELL-PLACED, can make mountains jump.

2) Every seed starts out SLOW.

Faith requires trust in God’s unseen work. Real faith allows us to be faithful to our assignment today, trusting that God will bring finished fruit in His perfect time.

3) Every seed has a SO THAT.

A gardener plants seeds to grow a tree and to enjoy its fruit. But Jesus said there is a SO THAT that has nothing to do with the gardener's goals.

Matthew 13:33

"Though the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

When we place our hope and trust in Jesus, God multiplies His blessings in our lives, SO THAT others can experience God’s goodness as well!

How do you guard your heart and life? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres shared a message about Jesus’ face to face encounter with Peter on the night before his crucifixion, and a question from Pastor Tim Dilena that has served as a challenge for decades.

Matthew 26:31-33

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

Every Gospel records this unflattering story of Peter’s boast and denial on the night of Jesus’ trial. Not only does this authenticate the historical nature of the Gospels, but it also illuminates some important truths.

1) "It is written" beats my opinion.

Peter was sincere in his belief in himself. The other disciples said the same, but "it is written" always beats the majority opinion. God’s Word is the standard for truth, not our sincerity.

Isaiah 55:11

My word that goes out from my mouth:

Will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

We can choose to disagree with the Bible, to be offended by it, to vilify it, to call it irrelevant and dismiss it, but we cannot undo it.

2) My failures cost more than me.

Jesus knew that when a leader fails, others are impacted. If you strike the shepherd, sheep will scatter. Your life in Christ is not personal, it is public, and your example matters.

3) Self-confidence can be self-deception.

Peter underestimated his own weakness and dependence on God’s help. A humble attitude keeps us grounded in an awareness of our need for God’s grace to obey Him.

4) Prayer is the antidote to temptation.

Jesus tells his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41) Prayerlessness is pride because it ignores our daily need for help from the Holy Spirit to serve God.

5) Sin gets easier with repetition.

When confronted at Jesus’ trial, Peter begins by simply claiming ignorance, but as he is challenged again, he adds an oath and finally, cursing. Sin always gets easier with repetition. When the rooster crows, Peter leaves in sorrow and shame.

The next day, Jesus is tortured and forced to carry his cross, and the Bible says soldiers forced Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross for Jesus. Over twenty years ago, Pastor Tim Dilena asked the question, “Where is the other Simon?” Where was Simon Peter when Jesus needed help carrying his cross?

God raises Jesus from the dead, and Jesus beautifully forgives and restores Peter. But Peter’s failure still serves as a warning to us. When we guard our hearts and lives, we keep ourselves available for God to use at the most pivotal moments of his plan for our generation!

Do you want to be well? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our FACE TO FACE series with a message about the stories that define us.

John 5:5-6

One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to be well?”

After such a long season of hardship and disappointment, the man who has longed for healing is face to face with the Healer. What can we learn from the way that Jesus interacts with him?

1) Jesus addresses his foundation.

The stories that we tell ourselves about ourselves define our future. After Jesus asks him a simple question, the man responds with a story about frustration and defeat. Before the man could receive his miracle, his mindset would need to change.

2) Jesus addresses his feelings.

The danger in discouragement is that it steals our hope. Our prayers become tame, and our dreams get domesticated. Yet, in spite of his discouragement, the man at the pool kept showing up, and that created space for God to work!

1 Corinthians 15:19

And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

But we don’t have a hope for this life alone, we have a RESURRECTION HOPE! And that hope translates to courage. So the Apostle Paul continues:

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The enemy wants pain to paralyze you. He wants you to give up. He doesn’t win if you're hurt, he wins if you quit. But we have a RESURRECTION HOPE, and that hope gives us courage to keep showing up.

3) Jesus addresses his faith.

STRONG FAITH is about power, but LONG FAITH is about perseverance. After many years of hoping, Jesus arrives and simply tells the man to take his mat and walk. The mat that had been the symbol of brokenness and marginalization now became the symbol of God’s overruling goodness and power.

This is the Gospel message! When Jesus chose the cross, He transformed it into a symbol of our forgiveness and freedom, and because He triumphed over sin and death, our stories can be redeemed and transformed!

Have you ever been waiting on God and wondering where He is? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough shared a message about desperation and the faithfulness of God.

Luke 8:49-50

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

Jairus was a synagogue leader and a man of influence, but on the day he came to Jesus he was a desperate father with a dying daughter. He came humbly to Jesus, but when Jesus was delayed by another woman’s sickness, Jairus had to make a choice between FEAR and FAITH. His story teaches us how we respond to God when we feel ignored or afraid.

1) RELEASE THE FEAR.

Jesus’ instruction to release this fear is not just about dismissing emotions but about redirecting trust away from the situation and towards Him.

2) RELY ON FAITH.

Faith, in the Biblical context, is trust in God's character, promises, and power, even when the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

3) REST ON HIS WORD.

For Jairus, resting on Jesus' word meant believing in the promise of his daughter's recovery. When Jesus said, “She will be well,” it was a promise that Jairus could count on.

Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

In the end, Jairus trusted and watched Jesus faithfully fulfill His word. The same is true for you: Do not fear, only believe, and it will be well!

Do you know the order of grace? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our FACE TO FACE series with a message about the generous love of God.

Luke 19:5-6

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Zacshaeus was a man who has become famous for his short stature. What can we learn from his unexpected face to face meeting with Jesus?

1) Be willing to climb a tree.

Tree-climbing is for children, but not for respectable adults. That Zacchaeus was willing to appear foolish to see Jesus meant that he was humble enough to receive the kingdom of God.

2) Get over the crowd.

Other people can be mean and hypocritical, but in order to see Jesus you have to be willing to look past them. Extend to others the same patience and grace you extend to yourself.

3) Bring Jesus home.

Zacchaeus doesn’t invite Jesus over, Jesus invites himself. Pay attention to the order of grace. The love of Jesus is not the payment for our efforts. The love of Jesus is what produces a deep change in our lives!

How do we know that Jesus loves us? Because when we were lost, he climbed a tree for us, choosing the foolishness of the cross so we could have a place at his table!

This Sunday we continued our Face to Face series, where we're exploring different biblical accounts of people who were changed by personal interactions with Jesus.

1) The miracle of his reach.

2) The boldness of his honesty.

3) The narrowness of his offer.

This Sunday we started a new series called "Face to Face," which will take us through easter during the next 6 weeks. Throughout the bible, we see this idea of "Face", which can also be translated as "presence." The radical idea that the New Testament explores is that when people came face to face with Jesus, they were coming face to face with God himself. So between now and Easter, we will look at different face-to-face encounters in the Gospels!

1) Pain makes us press in.

2) Labels are lazy.

3) Trauma makes us turn inward.

4) The reach was worth the risk.

This Sunday, Pastor Joaquin concluded our Take Care series with a message about what it means to take care of our hearts. Our human hearts aren't as trustworthy as we may think. We need to seek alignment with God's heart to ensure we're following the right path.

1) Don't follow your heart.

2) Follow God’s heart

3) Trust the right person with your heart.

During our Take Care series, we've discussed many ways to steward what God has blessed us with. Today, we are discussing how to take care of our money, and what it means to steward it well!

Key Points:

1) Giving starts with gratitude.

2) Money is meant for managing, not for meaning.

3) Tithing is a testimony.

4) Generosity is a joy.

On Sunday, Pastor Steve spoke about the significance of taking care of our bodies. He advised us to consider our bodies as temples that are blessings from God! Just as with any other blessing, it is important to be responsible stewards of our bodies. However, many of us may struggle with doing this perfectly. There can be a range of reasons for this, but Pastor Steve highlighted three common reasons in his talk:

1) We are confused.

2) We are coping.

3) We are caught.

Listen to this sermon to learn why it is important to rely on the Lord to help us take care of our bodies!

During his sermon this Sunday, Pastor Joaquin spoke about the importance of taking care of our minds. He emphasized that God is the source of our strength and that if we turn back to Him, we will be rejuvenated, refreshed, and restored. To achieve this, we need to pray without ceasing and be vigilant in guarding our minds against falsehoods. We must also take every thought captive and bring it under the authority of Christ. By doing so, we can experience a transformation of our minds through God's renewing power.

1) Take care of your mind by going back to what God has said!

2) Take care of your mind by guarding it against lies.

3) Take care of your mind with prayer.

4) Take care of your mind by holding every thought captive.

Are you making the most of every moment? This weekend Pastor Steve started a new series, TAKE CARE, to prepare us to thrive in the new year!

Genesis 2:1-2

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

1) Take care of your margins. Time is limited.

Everyone gets 1,440 minutes are in a day. Rich or poor, smart or not so smart, we are all given the same time in our day.

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

We don’t spend time, we invest time, and wisdom begins with the understanding that time is limited.

2) Take care of your margins. Time is valuable.

Not all moments are created equal. Some moments are much better than others, and we need grace to recognize the moments that matter.

"Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things that don't really matter."

D.L. Moody

God creates and sets aside a time that is considered holy - the Sabbath. This is our time to rest in the goodness of God’s gift of creation.

3) Take care of your margins. Learn to recognize ENOUGH.

We serve a God who, after working, knew how to say, “Enough.” It’s impossible to create margin and space for rest if we aren’t able to say enough: enough striving, enough accumulating, enough accomplishing.

4) Take care of your margins. Rest is a gift.

Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. Rest is God’s gift to us, so we should steward it well!

Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

Because Jesus did the work we could not and cannot do, we can be free from the need to justify ourselves, and simply rest in his goodness!

A people in darkness have seen a great light! We thank God for you, and we hope you were blessed by this season’s amazing worship and celebration! On Sunday, Pastor Steve Andres concluded our SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS series with a message about the shepherds at Christmas.

Luke 2:17-18

When the shepherds had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

The shepherds were unlikely draft picks to be the first messengers of the Good News of Christ’s birth. What can their story teach us about God’s plan for us?

1) You can’t have a messenger without a YES.

It is not our job to do amazing things for God, it is GOD’s job to do amazing things for God. God will use the least likely who is most willing to say YES.

2) You can’t have a messenger without a MESS.

Christians aren’t perfect people, they are forgiven people. The shepherds were not dressed in their Christmas best, but they were willing to trust God’s magnanimous love for them. We are all a mess when God calls us!

3) You can’t have a messenger without a MESSAGE.

The message that the shepherds were sharing was that a Savior was BORN, not elected or appointed. His birth was exactly what we needed, rescue from our sin. This little baby who was born in weakness and humility would be strong enough to defeat death and rule in glory!

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME!

How glorious was the night before Christmas? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS series with a message about hope in the middle of frustration.

Luke 2:6-7

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Sometimes things are not as advertised. Mary had been promised a blessing from the Lord. She and Joseph now faced the embarrassment of an unplanned pregnancy, the challenge of a long and uncomfortable journey, the burden of a new tax, and an unwelcoming hometown. Was this the blessing? If so, the reviews would be mixed at best.

But that isn’t how the story ends! When Jesus was born it changed everything! The Apostle Paul wrote about his despair in Romans 7:24, calling himself “miserable”, but that isn’t where he ends. Just one chapter later he said we are “more than conquerors” because of what Jesus has done for us. Then he gives us the final review of life in Christ:

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

When we look at our lives and our world, we might be tempted to despair, but God isn’t finished! This season is a celebration of how the arrival of Jesus changes everything. After all is said and done, the final review of life in Christ will be: it was worth it all!

Merry Christmas!

How is God speaking to you? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS series with a message about the Wise Men in the Christmas story.

Matthew 2:10-11

When the Magi saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

At Christmas, God welcomed outsiders and gave them a starring role in his miraculous rescue mission. How did the Magi find Jesus?

1) God speaks star.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Theologians call it prevenient grace: the kindness and grace that God shows to us before it is ever in our hearts to call on him. God spoke to the Magi in the language of their loves, and he gave them a star to lead them to Himself.

2) God speaks kindred spirits.

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

The long journey to Bethlehem happened with people who shared a kindred spirit. God was faithful to give them kindred spirits for the journey, and to warn them against Herod’s duplicity. He speaks the same way today!

3) God speaks generous love.

2 Corinthians 9:11

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

We invest in what matters to us. The Magi didn’t know how their gifts would be used, but God did. God used their generous offerings to support this family when Jesus was a child in Egypt.

If we worship the gifts that God gives, they turn toxic. But when we journey together to the Giver of every good thing, we offer our best in worship and love, and He does the rest!

Do you trust what God says? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began a new series, SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS, with a message from the Christmas story.

Luke 1:13-14

Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

There are no perfect Christians, only forgiven Christians. How do we continue to grow in the grace of trusting God and believing His word? Zechariah’s story gives us some insight.

1) Living in dark days is not the same as living in darkness.

Luke anchors his story in the days of Herod: a dark time for Israel. But he introduces us to a faithful couple who are living in contrast to the compromise and chaos.

2) It’s possible to be blameless but barren.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were blameless, but the desire of their hearts was not fulfilled. Their faithfulness was not contingent on God answering their prayers.

3) God has not ignored your prayers.

The angel assures Zechariah that God has remembered his prayer. When we pray, our prayers don’t dissipate, they accumulate. Every prayer that has been offered in faith is heard in heaven!

4) Don’t mess up your miracle.

Zechariah is a spiritual leader, serving in the temple, but he still doesn’t trust God’s word. The angel tells Zechariah that his words are messing up his miracle, and he gives Zechariah nine months to break the stronghold and trust God.

5) Obedience puts a multiplier on your miracle.

You don’t know what God is working on while you are waiting for the answer to your prayer!

Luke 1:13

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.”

Which prayer? The prayer for a son? Or the prayer for mercy and forgiveness for God’s people? Both. Because Zechariah and Elizabeth trusted God, he not only answered their prayer, but the prayers of generations of God’s people for salvation!

Do you know the recipe for joy? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our JOYFUL series with a message about being content in every circumstance.

1) Learn to be content.

Philippians 4:11

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.

To be content we need to: stop comparing ourselves to others, stop being obsessed with having more, and accept change.

2) Lean on God's power.

Philippians 4:13

I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.The Greek word that is translated "strengthens" is the word related to the English "dynamic".

3) Live generously.

Philippians 4:17

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

If you want to go through the rest of your life all stressed out, be selfish and stingy. When you need refreshment, what you should do is refresh others.

4) Let God meet your needs.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

When we live generously, God will not forget our needs. He will give to us with the measure that we have given to others, plus interest!

Finally brothers, rejoice in the Lord! This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our series, JOYFUL, with a message about where we can find our joy and how we keep it.

1) Joy is found in the Lord.

Philippians 3:1-9

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord..."

Paul is telling the church to rejoice in the Lord while being chained to a guard in prison. How? Happiness can be taken away because it's attached to what’s happening around us. But true Christian joy can't be taken away because it doesn’t come from us! It comes from the LORD.

2) Joy is kept when the Gospel is guarded.

Philippians 3:3

"For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh..." When the Gospel is perverted in our minds, we no longer have hope and promise. We have lies and deceit instead! Paul is saying that laws and deeds and works get you nowhere. Instead of building our confidence in our "good works," our assurance and our joy must be rooted in knowing that we were saved by grace.

3) Joy is released when we let go of control.

Philippians 3:7-9

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him..."

Paul levels with his audience by reminding them of who he used to be! He once tried to be in control of his own salvation and freedom but in doing so became a slave to it all. We can't find freedom from sin in our own strength, and we can't live in peace and joy in our own strength. Joy begins when we release control and trust God with our life!

Will you answer when God knocks? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our series, JOYFUL, with a message from the second chapter of Philippians.

Philippians 2:12-13

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

Pride puts a chokehold on our growth, but humility opens the door for God to work in us.

1) Humility is the soil in which all other graces grow.

It is easy for us to be obsessed with ourselves, either in self-love or self-hatred. Looking to the interests of others is the opposite.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

C.S. Lewis

Jesus is our example of humility. We cannot out-serve him, out-love him, or out-give him.

2) Obedience is answering the door.

The Greek word for obey in the text is rooted in the idea of answering the door. When Paul tells us what Jesus did for us, he says obedience should be our response.

3) God puts salvation in you, and you work it out.

Paul isn’t suggesting that we earn God’s grace. But since he has given us a new nature in Christ, we have everything necessary to live for him!

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life!

You can find joy today! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began a new series of messages called JOYFUL, walking through the book of Philippians.

Philippians 1:5-6

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

In the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we already see glimpses of his deep joy and gratitude. Where did Paul’s joy come from?

1) The POWER of PARTNERSHIP

Owners have a different mentality than renters. Paul tells the Philippians that, because of their generosity, they are partners with him in his ministry. When we invest in God’s work and in one another, we become shareholders in all that he is doing in each other!

2) FAITH in God’s FOLLOW-THROUGH

How much time do we spend worrying about the future? Paul was joyful because he trusted in God’s promise to finish what he had begun in him. And because he trusted his future to the Lord, he could rejoice in the present!

3) SECURITY in God’s SOVEREIGNTY

Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison, but he makes no appeal for pity. He is in chains, but he still has a choice.

We can be joyful IN affliction because we know what we get OUT of it.

We rejoice because God rules and overrules, and whatever our circumstances, they will serve us in the end!

Have you ever witnessed a miracle? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres concluded our series, FRESH WIND, with a message about the beginning of the Philippian church.

Acts 16:12

We reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

After the Apostle Paul and crew arrive in Philippi, the book of Acts gives us stories of how three different individuals came to faith in Christ.

1) Lydia, the dealer of purple from Thyatira.

Lydia is a wealthy and well-established businesswoman who has a deep spiritual commitment as well. Why does Paul share the Gospel with her when she is already successful and good? It’s precisely because she is that she needs to hear the truth of how God came to save all sinners.

2) The enslaved girl who spoke the truth.

When Paul cast out the demon from the young girl, those who were exploiting her were enraged. When her God broke through the psychological and spiritual oppression she was experiencing, she no longer fit in the system that used to profit from her. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and the doorway to a transformed life.

3) The jailer who was doing his job.

When Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned, the jailer is simply doing his job, not searching for truth. But then God sends an earthquake to set the prisoners free. The jailer is moved to repentance, but not by the earthquake. He was moved to repentance by the mercy that Paul and Silas showed him.

These three radically different stories of people coming to faith in Christ are the beginnings of the church at Philippi. There are miracle stories in Acts 16, but the greatest miracle is the CHURCH!

It’s all about the finish! This weekend Pastor Steve continued our series, FRESH WIND, and New City celebrated our 5th Anniversary!

Acts 8:4-7

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

At the beginning of the story in Acts we see the start of Philip’s ministry. 28 years later, Philip appears again.

Acts 21:8-9

The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

Philip served the Lord faithfully for those 28 years, even though his assignment changed. What are the keys to being faithful to the finish?

1) Authenticity has endurance.

Nothing lasts like the real thing. Philip’s commitment to Jesus was authentic, and it had staying power.

2) Everyone runs their own race.

Philip didn’t have to do everything. It was just as important to raise those four daughters to serve the Lord as it was to preach to the city.

3) Forward is a pace.

It’s easy to dwell on past successes or disappointments. To finish strong we need to stay focused on what God is calling us to do today.

4) It’s we, not me.

Your race impacts others, and that is the legacy that we leave. Philip was intentional about preparing the next generation to serve the Lord.

5) It’s all about the finish.

We don’t run our race against anyone else. In the end, it’s finishing that matters!

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

Are you living in freedom? This weekend Pastor Terrence Sutton from Tahoe Forest Church continued our series, FRESH WIND, with a message about living in the fullness of God’s grace.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters.

Too many people live short of the plan of God for their lives. Though we are offered grace and mercy, we sometimes persist in shame and disgrace.

1) What sin or past experience are you allowing to keep you in bondage?

In John 5 Jesus is at the Pool of Bethesda, where he asks a man who has been paralyzed for 38 years if he wants to be well. The man explains to him why he has remained in sickness.

2) What excuses or reasons are you offering yourself and others for your lack of freedom?

Why does Jesus ask the man before healing him? Because the choice is ours whether we want to receive God’s transforming grace.

3) Are you willing to ask Jesus to change your life? Are you ready to receive God’s gift?

To do so, all we need is to be humble enough to admit it. Something powerful and supernatural happens when we open our hearts to Jesus and to one another!

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Have you been sent? This past weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our series, FRESH WIND, reminding us that God's plan doesn't stop at salvation. We are saved, called, and sent!

Acts 13:2

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

1) Jesus transforms sinners into soldiers.

Despite Paul's past as a persecutor of Christians, the Holy Spirit called him for a specific purpose.

2) Embrace your calling and leave your past behind.

Don't let your past, whether filled with mistakes or accomplishments, hinder you from moving forward in your calling.

3) Opposition can lead to transformation.

Paul's intense opposition to Jesus and his followers ultimately led to his own transformation.

4) Grace works harder than sin.

Paul's life is a testament to the power of God's grace to transform lives. When grace captures you, everything changes, and you become someone that God intends to use.

5) You don't get to be saved and not sent.

God’s plan doesn’t stop at salvation. Every believer has an Acts 13 calling -- “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

There is no wrong kind of person for the GOOD NEWS! This week Pastor Steve continued our series, FRESH WIND, with a message about God’s love for the outsider.

Acts 8:26-27

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians.

God sends Philip in a direction to meet the man from Ethiopia. When he finds him, the man’s heart has already been stirred with questions about Jesus. After Philip explains the Good News about Jesus to him, he believes and is baptized!

1) The Good News of Jesus is for all people, everywhere.

To think there is a WRONG kind of person is to assume that we are the RIGHT kind of person. Instead, the early church realized that what Jesus had done was swing the doors wide open to all people everywhere.

2) The Good News of Jesus is that outsiders are insiders now.

There are no exceptions to God’s exceptional love. Historically, Christianity has called people from the margins of society to the center.

1 Peter 2:10

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

That means that Christians don’t think with an US and THEM mentality. Everyone is a candidate for God’s grace.

3) God is already preparing hearts for the Good News of Jesus.

God was working in the heart of the Ethiopian official before Philip ever arrived on the scene. Whatever God has called you to at home, at work, or at school, he is already preparing the work!

What is your WHY? This weekend Pastor Steve continued our series, FRESH WIND, with a message about Stephen’s FAITHFULNESS.

Acts 6:5

The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

If you are too big to serve, you are too small to lead. Stephen was a man full of faith who became an example of leadership through service.

1) Faithfulness is (faith)(fullness).

When we trust that God is able to meet our every need, we can serve without worrying about who sees or approves.

2) Faithfulness is a YES.

One great prayer says, “Lord, the answer is YES before you even ask.” No one has to be perfect to say YES to God, they just have to be willing.

3) Faithfulness has endurance.

A wrong motive has no endurance, because our doing only lasts as long as we get what we want in return. Faithfulness can weather disappointments.

4) Faithfulness is a doorway to greater things.

Jesus told us the pattern in the kingdom of God is: faithful with little, ruler over much. Be faithful to your assignment and God will take care of the greater things.

5) Faithfulness is what heaven celebrates.

In Acts 6, Stephen waits tables and looks after widows, then in Acts 7 he preaches the longest sermon in the New Testament. When he is killed for preaching, Stephen is welcomed to heaven with a standing ovation!

Where is the shaking? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our series, FRESH WIND, with a message about unity through prayer.

Acts 4:31

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Peter and John had been brought to court because of the healing that had taken place. But the case against Peter and John was exceedingly difficult to prosecute because the man, lame from birth, was standing in their presence as indisputable evidence of the miracle. Not only that but Peter and John spoke with wisdom and authority, astonishing the council who was judging them. When they were released with a warning, the believers all prayed together.

Unity is NOT sameness. Unity has to do with the same purpose. In order for there to be unity, there must be something out there that everybody is tuned to. That something is actually someone: the Holy Spirit. So we ask a few questions about ourselves:

1) Where is the shaking in our gathering?

2) Where are the fillings in our gathering?

3) Where is the boldness to speak and declare God’s word?

Do you believe in miracles? This weekend Pastor Steve began our fall series, FRESH WIND, with a message about the miracle of the Church.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Two thousand years ago, a tiny group of peasants believed God had raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead in order to fulfill of a long list of promises to bring healing to the world. This emerging movement of Jesus followers empowered the poor, elevated women, built diverse communities, remade their culture and, ultimately, upended an empire. What did God give them to do this?

1) TRUTH

Acts 1:3 talks about “all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach.” Our faith rests in what JESUS has done, not in what we are able to do for ourselves. And our hope rests in the promise that Jesus is not finished yet. As we like to say: If it isn’t fixed yet, God isn’t finished!

2) POWER

When the earliest believers experience God’s empowering presence (Acts 2:1-4), some people thought they were drunk. They were smarter, bolder and more loving than they were before, but not because they had been drinking. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and power.

Acts 2:16-17

These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’

These disciples who had been afraid before, were now declaring the wonders of God in miraculous fashion to people from all over the world. Thank God that he gives power to be witnesses to the truth of Jesus’s resurrection!

Have you ever been tempted to go back to your old ways? This weekend, Pastor Joaquin reminded us that when we do, Jesus goes back after us!

John 21:3

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Peter had just spent the last three years witnessing Jesus' miracles, and, most importantly, witnessing an empty tomb. Peter saying, "I am going fishing" declared that he was going back to his old life. In Peter’s lowest moment, he had denied Jesus three times and he was holding on to that shame and guilt.

1) Discipleship encourages you to go deeper and try again.

When Peter met Jesus for the first time he was getting ready to call it quits. He fished all night and caught nothing! Then he heard Jesus say,

Luke 5:4

"Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

After this, two boats were filled with so many fish that they began to sink! We are quick to wash our nets and call it quits when we don't see the results we are expecting. Jesus is saying, "You're giving up too soon! Go deeper, still!"

2) Discipleship reminds you to not be afraid.

The first time Jesus met Peter, Peter knew he was unworthy to be in His presence. Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man…”

But instead of addressing Peter's sin, Jesus addresses his fear and gives him a new call.

Luke 5:10

“…Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

As fishers of men, we don't show people the door, we show them a new way!

3) Discipleship means you keep showing up!

It didn't matter that Peter denied Jesus, or that he had made the decision to go back to his old life. Jesus still showed up. Jesus was on the shore and called out to him again. He didn't just give Peter a new call, he showed him what fishing for men looks like by not giving up on him.

We don't give up on people because Jesus doesn't give up on us!

What will you choose today? This weekend Pastor Steve concluded our series, NEW GROUND, with a sermon about the last words of Joshua.

Joshua 24:14-15

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth… choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”

Now in the twilight of his life, Joshua addresses a people who have followed him through disappointments and victories. We can see from Joshua’s life the keys to going the distance.

1) Authenticity leads to longevity.

Joshua says to serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth. A commitment to the Lord that lasts has both passion and integrity.

2) Priorities are pre-decisions.

We can make decisions today that will protect our tomorrow. Joshua had made a decision about his family before knowing what the future would hold.

2 Corinthians 6:14

Don't be yoked together with unbelievers.

Commitments compound over time. If we establish boundaries and priorities, they make an impact over the course of our lives.

3) Legacy is intentional.

Joshua led a family who served the Lord, and left a legacy of faithfulness. This doesn't happen by accident.

Joshua’s obedience only pointed to a greater leader to come. Jesus was faithful, even to the point of death, and made a way for us to serve God in sincerity and truth. Choose today!

Are you struggling to trust the Lord in the midst of your battle? In the book of Joshua, we see faith is the overwhelming and unwavering trust one has in God. It's overwhelming to it's enemy and unwavering to its circumstances. This weekend, Pastor Joaquin continued our series, NEW GROUND, by reminding us that the battle is in God's hands!

Joshua 6:16

...And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city."

1) Your promise is a part of His purpose.

God made a promise to Abraham 430 years prior to its fulfillment. Why would God make a promise to a man that wouldn't be around to see it? Because his promise to Abraham was always a part of a greater purpose that would outlive him. What was the greater purpose? To redeem the world.

2) God overwhelms the enemy.

Joshua 6:1

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.

Jericho, the place that was known to be an impregnable city with mighty skilled warriors, was completely locked down because of the people of Israel. In Joshua 2, Rahab, a woman who was a part of the land of Jericho, gives more insight as to why.

Joshua 2:9-10

...“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt..."

The enemy was overwhelmed by the miraculous stories they heard about God and his people. They knew they didn't stand a chance against a powerful God!

3) We fight from victory, not for victory.

This story starts off by God speaking in past tense about an event that had not yet occurred.

Joshua 6:2

And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor."

The reason God can do this is because the battle belongs to him! It is his victory that he hands over to us but what he asks of us is to trust his strategy. For the Israelites, that meant to circle around the walls of Jericho, blow a horn and give a shout, a strategy that would appear to be strange for battle. Yet as we see in this story, God doesn't ask for OUR best strategy, but instead to trust HIS!

Do you have an undivided heart? Pastor Steve Andres continued our series, NEW GROUND, this weekend with a message about holiness.

Joshua 5:13,15

When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” the commander of the Lord’s army replied. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Joshua faced an impossible situation, and God appeared in order to help him, but first Joshua needed to acknowledge the holiness of God. Why?

1) God’s holiness is GOOD NEWS.

For many people, the word "holy" means morally rigid or even proud and judgmental. God's holiness is UNDILUTED PERFECTION, which means he is unchanging in his love, justice, mercy, and beauty. That's good news!

2) God’s holiness is the GOAL.

In the Old Testament, something was holy if it was reserved for God's use only. Holiness in our lives looks like UNDIVIDED DEVOTION to God.

Psalm 86:11

Give me an undivided heart to fear your name.

God's design is for our devotion to him to be the soil in which all other commitments grow.

3) God’s holiness is a GIFT.

Jesus was already morally perfect, but holiness is more than that. As he faced the cross he prayed for his followers:

John 17:19

For their sake I make myself holy, that they too may be truly holy.

Jesus was undivided in his devotion to God's plan to save, all so that you and I could receive forgiveness and the freedom to live holy lives!

What is your assignment for this season? This weekend Pastor Steve started a new series from the book of Joshua called NEW GROUND, with a message about being courageous in the face of uncertainty.

Joshua 1:5-6

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

Joshua had trained in Moses’ shadow for 40 years, and now his assignment was to lead the people of Israel to new ground. Though he would never bring water from a rock or call down bread from heaven, God promised Joshua he would be with him as He had been with Moses.

1) YOU GET HIS PRESENCE.

God’s presence is the difference-maker in every area. It rids us of pride, fear and cynicism, and it fills us with peace in the face of challenges.

2) YOU GET A PROCESS.

The process is the ordinary work of practicing faithfulness at home, at work and in relationships. You can’t copy someone else’s process any more than you can copy another person’s friendship!

You get His presence and a process, so BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. God wants us to GET OUR HOPES UP! This week, Pastor Joaquin spoke about The Shunamite woman; a woman who experienced a great miracle that changed the way she handled the tragedy in her life.

2 Kings 4:16

"At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son." And she said "No, my Lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant."

1) With Hope you can ask again.

The scriptures indicate that having a child seemed like an impossible occurrence for the Shunamite woman. She is the perfect example of someone who does not want to get her hopes up. But she conceives and bears a son just as Elisha said. Many of us have tucked requests away in our prayer closets when things seem impossible. But God reminds us here in this text, that we can ask again.

2 Kings 4:26

Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “All is well.”

2) With Hope all is well.

When the child had grown, he died in his mother's lap. What would we do if the miracles we prayed for begin to show no signs of life? Instead of doubting, when asked how her child is she replies, "All is well." It's not disillusionment - you can know that everything is not ok but when you understand who is in control, you know all is well!

2 Kings 4:34-35

Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

3) With Hope you have the strength to hold on.

The Shunamite woman's approach is different this time. She would not let go of the prophet until she got what she desired: her son to live again. Elisha does not stop praying when he feels the boy's body get warm. He stretches his body over the child until he comes back to life.

A lot of us stop at warm, God wants us to see it through!

This Sunday Pastor Devin Gough encouraged us that NOW is the time to make better decisions. We can do so by learning how to overcome instant gratification. Here are some other ways to help us make good decisions:

1) Live for others, not for self.

Once we begin putting God first, we also become familiar with honoring one another. We need to open our eyes and our hearts to not look at our own interests, but rather the interests of others.

Romans 12:10

Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.

2) Live by faith, not by sight.

Everything is in the hands of the Lord! We can begin making good decisions by meeting God at the altar. How often do you trust God's plan over your own?

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

3) Let God choose for you.

We read in Genesis 13 that Abraham let God choose for him! God then allowed Abraham's descendants to be spread throughout the earth.

Abraham gave thanks to God and lifted his heart to God. We should never leave our house without the presence of God!

With God's help and your work, you can keep from withholding in the following areas:

1) Do not withhold an apology.

We are broken people who have eternal security, but we live in the body and unfortunately, we hurt one another. Apologizing can lead to healing!

2) Do not withhold forgiveness.

In every act of forgiveness and reconciliation, there requires humility. The Lord has taught us to ask for forgiveness and offer it to others. Forgiveness can bring you and others to freedom!

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

3) Do not withhold encouragement.

We need to create a culture of encouragement because we live in a world where encouragement doesn't often exist. With kids, do not withhold encouragement. With your spouse, do not withhold encouragement. In every relationship, do not withhold encouragement.

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.

God does not withhold his love from us and we have total access to it!

Is there someone in your life that you need to apologize to, forgive, or encourage? With God's help, take that step today!

Are you surprised by the love of God? This weekend Pastor Steve wrapped up our JONAH AND THE WHALE series with a message about God's compassion.

Jonah 4:11

But the Lord said, “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?”

Jonah was wrestling with understanding God’s love for Nineveh. God was patiently trying to help Jonah understand:

1) The PRODIGAL love of God.

Prodigal is a word that means wild or lavish. To Jonah, God’s compassion for Nineveh seems misdirected, but that just shows Jonah didn’t understand how undeserving he was of God’s compassion. Surprise is the right response to God’s love for us sinners!

2) The PATIENT love of God.

God has patience with Jonah as he stumbles again and again. He doesn’t appreciate how forgiving God has been toward him.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

How patient is the love of God? We might be wrong for a lifetime, and God will still give us an opportunity to get right.

3) The PERSISTENT love of God.

Jonah rationalized his anger and resentment. But God sent the storm, the whale, the tree, the worm and the wind to change Jonah's thinking.

This kind of love comes only from God, and so it has to be received before it can be shared with others. Have you been surprised by the love of God?

How do you react to disappointments? Jonah preaches to Nineveh, and the whole city repents. But then, in a twist of the story, Jonah is angry and complains to God.

Jonah 4:3-5

Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

Jonah should have been grateful to see change in the city, but his motives are mixed, and his heart is divided. James 1 says, “A double-minded person is unstable in all they do.” What does Jonah teach us about our hearts?

1) Everyone begins their relationship with God for selfish reasons.

When we come to God, it is almost always out of self-interest, but God still accepts us! Once we begin to see God, our hearts change from seeing him as useful, to seeing him as beautiful.

2) Everyone needs to tend to their heart regularly.

The daily disciplines of scripture reading, prayer and confession are meant to help us lead our hearts toward wholeness and devotion to God.

3) Everyone needs to experience the grace of God to have an undivided heart.

Every rival god in our hearts demands our utter devotion, but leaves us empty-handed. With God, it’s the opposite.

The grace of God is shorthand for how Jesus gave everything for us, so we could be free to love God with an undivided heart!

Despite sin, rejection and disobedience, the Word of the Lord still came! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our JONAH AND THE WHALE series with a message about the love of our Father!

Jonah 1:1-3

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

John 1:11-12

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Your Father in Heaven isn't afraid of rejection.

There is a pattern all throughout the Bible that shows the world and the people of God rejecting God. However, there is also a pattern of God's love and grace towards his people. Despite rejection, God still comes to us.

You are never disconnected from the Father's love.

Although Jonah rejected the Word of the Lord and attempted to run away from him, that never disqualified him from being a child of God. God never stopped loving him. Our sin and disobedience is not strong enough to keep us away from the Father's love.

Your heavenly Father loves you too much to let you drown in your mess.

The Lord sent his word, a storm, and even appointed a whale to rescue Jonah from the mess Jonah created. Over 2,000 years ago, our heavenly Father appointed his son Jesus to rescue us from our sin, rejection and brokenness. The work of salvation has been completed in the person and work of Jesus. All we need to do is receive this free gift!

What is God teaching you through your troubles? After Jonah’s experience in the fish, he was a changed man.

Jonah 3:1-2

Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”

God uses disappointments, failures and suffering to bring change to our hearts and lives. What did Jonah learn in the school of suffering?

1) Suffering teaches us how to be humble.

When we deny our brokenness, we delay our healing. Suffering shines a light on our need for God, not just to help our suffering, but to heal our sin.

2) Suffering teaches us how to help.

Your greatest gift will often come from the place of your deepest wound. In failure and pain we learn to be compassionate and sensitive to others.

3) Suffering teaches us how to hope.

A rugged hope in God’s redemption gives us strength to endure, even when circumstances are unresolved.

Don’t let the dark nights go to waste! Because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, God can redeem every failure and every disappointment!

The only way to fail at prayer is to not pray! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our JONAH AND THE WHALE series with a message about prayer.

Jonah 2:1-2

Then Jonah prayed to his God from the belly of the fish. He prayed:

“In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God.

He answered me.

From the belly of the grave I cried, ‘Help!’

You heard my cry.”

The Bible says that Jonah was swallowed by the fish, THEN he prayed. Why do we delay so long before we call to God?

1) PRAY NOW, because now is the best time to pray.

Prayerlessness is pride. Thankfully, God is not too proud to answer us, even when we have looked to everyone and everything else before asking Him.

2) PRAY NOW, even if you don’t know how to pray.

There are no spiritual black-belts, no professionals at prayer. Even when we think we are doing well, we could never know what we need to know to pray correctly.

Romans 8:26

We do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.

God is actively helping you every time you go to him in prayer, translating your simple petitions into something powerful.

3) PRAY NOW, because the only way to fail at prayer is to not pray.

Our problem is not going to be asking or expecting too much from God. Our problem is going to be asking for and expecting too little.

“Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask.”

Billy Graham

What are praying for today?

Matthew 25:21

"Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

What does it mean to be faithful? Faithfulness is living according to the truth of God’s word, and doing it again tomorrow.

1) Faithfulness keeps our success in perspective.

We think that success is measured by how much we have to show for what we’ve done. But in the Kingdom of God (which is reality), success is measured in units of faithfulness.

2) Faithfulness keeps our perfectionism in check.

We were not created to be perfect, we were created to behold perfect. So I don’t have to be afraid to fail. I don’t have to hide my gifts in the ground. I am free.

3) Faithfulness keeps our reward in him.

If the reward we seek is anywhere outside of Him, it’s an idol! Faithfulness will cure imposter syndrome. Faithfulness will prevent regret.

What we find in him is a great celebration and the fullness of joy. That fullness begins with faithfulness - YOU ARE FREE TO BE FAITHFUL!

Have you ever felt like giving up? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres wrapped up our series, HEART & SOUL, with a message about God’s love for us in our discouragement.

1 Kings 19:4-5

Elijah came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

If you serve God long enough, you will have seasons where your exclamation points turn to question marks. Elijah’s story teaches us a few important truths to remember when we are depressed or discouraged.

1) Everyone gets weary and discouraged.

Discouragement is isolating. But it’s important to remember that everyone experiences seasons like this.

2) God loves us in our discouragement.

We should be REAL about what we are feeling, but we should also stay RIGHT. Wrestle against a cynical or negative outlook.

Isaiah 42:3

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

God’s response to Elijah's discouragement reflects a rich understanding of who we are as humans. God sends help to Elijah in the form of touch, rest, food, words and prayer.

3) Discouragement is an opportunity for growth.

Seasons of discouragement don’t mean there is something wrong with you, they mean there is something more for you. Find the hollowed out rock where God spoke to others and start seeking God there.

The Bible says that there is a deep rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-11), because Jesus has finished the work of redemption and has given us hope greater than our disappointments!

Why are we afraid when Jesus is with us? This weekend we continued our HEART & SOUL series as special guest Steve Spear shared about running for clean drinking water in Africa.

Luke 8:24-25

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

After resigning from his job and selling their business, Steve Spear and his wife set out on a journey to raise millions of dollars to provide clean water for the most vulnerable in nations around the world. At each turning point and step in his journey, he had to ask himself a simple question:

Other than fear, what is holding me back from doing what God is calling me to do?

Jesus leads us on a journey and invites us to follow. When his disciples set out on the boat, Jesus knew what was ahead, but they had to depend on him to get there. There are a few things that the disciples learned on this journey.

Jesus calms storms.

Jesus is with us.

Jesus heals and transforms.

But all of these truths and experiences turn on one important point:

We never know what’s on the other side until we go.

Choosing to follow Jesus in faith means we do things we never thought we could do!

What’s love got to do with it? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our HEART & SOUL series with a message about loving one another.

1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

In order to obey God’s command to love, we need to do two things:

ANALYZE THE KINDS OF LOVE

The word used in this chapter is AGAPE, which is an enduring, sacrificial love that will do anything for the one loved.

John 15:12

This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.

Jesus was saying that we should have an enduring, sacrificial love for one another!

REALIZE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT LOVING

1) All I say is just noise (1 Corinthians 13:1 - If I speak with eloquence, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal)

2) All I know is negated (1 Corinthians 13:2 - If I understand all mysteries and all knowledge, but have not love, I am nothing)

3) All my faith means nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2 - If I have faith to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing)

4) All my sacrifices are nullified (1 Corinthians 13: 3 - If I give away all my possessions but have not love, I gain nothing)

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

Have you ever felt stuck in a moment? This Easter weekend Pastor Steve Andres shared a message about Thomas, one of Jesus’ followers. We have called him doubting Thomas for centuries, but is that really fair?

John 20:24-28

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

It isn’t until Thomas meets the risen Jesus that he can move on from the trauma and disillusionment of Friday’s crucifixion. Meeting the risen Christ means three important things to us:

1) Suffering can’t keep me stuck.

Jesus’ resurrected body still has scars. God doesn’t take away our suffering, he transforms it to work for his purposes and for our good.

2) Labels don’t have the last word.

For Thomas and all of us, Jesus’ resurrection means that we are no longer defined by OUR worst moments, but by HIS best moment.

3) Facts are facts, but they aren’t final.

The facts about me or my circumstances are true but aren’t the whole truth. When Thomas saw Jesus risen, he declared the truth about Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

Happy Easter! We have life because Jesus is alive!

We love the party, but do we know the plan? This week Pastor Steve Andres shared a Palm Sunday message about receiving Jesus on his own terms.

John 12:12-13

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!”

People from the city were caught up in the celebration of Jesus’ arrival, but Jesus' plan differed from theirs. What did the people think of Jesus?

1) He was compelling. Jesus speaks to our highest hopes.

Jesus’ ministry spoke to the deepest longings of the human heart for freedom, forgiveness, and a home that we have not yet known.

2) He was confusing. Jesus breaks our categories.

Jesus fit into none of the existing categories of his day, and he fits none of today’s categories either.

“God cannot be a figment of my imagination because he is nothing at all like I imagined him to be.”

C.S. Lewis

When we receive Jesus on his own terms, he points us to a better God than we could have imagined!

Oh to be a kid again! This weekend, Dr. Dick Foth concluded our TIL KINGDOM COME series with a message about child-like trust in God.

Mark 10:15

These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."

The difference between God’s Kingdom and earthly kingdoms is dramatic. In the kingdom of God, the poor are valued, outcasts are recruited, rip-off guys are invited, worn-out traditions are upended and the humble are honored. That’s why children are valued. So what does it look like when we come to God as a child?

DELIGHT. The joy of being a child is the delight of first-time experiences. They never tire of what they love to do.

DEPENDENCE. The heart of a child is complete, reflexive, unreserved trust. Once a child trusts, they jump into every experience with enthusiasm.

"It may be that God has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

G.K. Chesterton

For most of our lives, we are trying so hard to grow up, but then Jesus says, “Be a child again!” When we receive the grace of God, we receive the power to be kids again!

Is your heart too crowded? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our TIL KINGDOM COME series with a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Sower.

Matthew 13:22

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

It’s possible for our hearts to have loves that compete with a love for God and His Word. Jesus says there are two main ways that the seed of God’s Word can get choked out and become unfruitful in our lives.

1) THE CARES OF THE WORLD

Worry and anxiety are rivals to a trust in God’s promises in our lives. Do we create space in our hearts for them?

"Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.”

Vance Havner

If we want to allow God’s Word to bear fruit in our lives, we have to remember that, “There is nothing that can happen today that the Lord and I can’t handle.”

2) THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES

Wealth is deceptive. It promises security and joy, but it never delivers.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

God never promises to give us tomorrow’s provision today. But we can trust that he will take care of our every need today!

Jesus came to call sinners, not perfect people! This weekend Pastor Steve continued our series, TIL KINGDOM COME, with a message about the NEW WAY of the kingdom of God.

Mark 2:21-22

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.”

Jesus’ ministry began with his announcement of the arrival of the kingdom of God. What did his teaching tell us about it?

1) Its originality.

The old religious narrative of self-rescue is not new at all. Christianity is original because it not only acknowledges that we are broken, it begins with that fact.

2) Its exclusivity.

Being 85% faithful is not faithfulness. The kingdom of God is an all-in proposition. Jesus is either Lord of all, or he isn’t Lord at all.

3) Its incompatibility.

This NEW WAY is incompatible with the old. The gift of NEW LIFE through Jesus means learning a NEW WAY of honoring God.

We are not mistake-makers in need of correction, we are sinners in need of a Savior.

Sin is not something we can be coached out of, it is something we are rescued from. Thank God today for rescuing us by sending his Son!

What do you do when Jesus is in the room? This weekend Pastor Steve continued our TIL KINGDOM COME series with a message about Jesus at the house of Simon the Pharisee.

Luke 7:38

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Simon and a sinful woman are in the same room with Jesus, but they have radically different reactions. Simon is unaffected, but the woman is transformed. What was the difference?

1) There is no healing in hiding.

The woman that comes to Jesus had a sinful past but made herself vulnerable and honest. You will only find healing in the relationships where you are honest.

2) There is no transformation without surrender.

Simon approached Jesus as if he was interviewing him for a job or negotiating a deal. But God is not the one that we control, he is the one to whom we surrender control.

3) There is no closeness without commitment.

When the woman poured out her perfume, she was letting go of her past identity. In religion, I use Jesus to get to other things. In real Christianity, Jesus is who I want the most.

As Jesus told his story about two debtors who were forgiven, the woman understood that for a debt to be forgiven, someone would have to pay. Joy and humility fill our hearts when we realize that Jesus went to the cross to pay for our debt and forgive our sins!

Are you building something that will last? This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our TIL KINGDOM COME series.

Daniel 4:34

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever.

King Nebuchadnezzar was an evil king filled with pride, arrogance, and self-centeredness which led to him losing all that he had, including his sanity. At the end of his story, after being humbled, he praises the King of Heaven who humbles the proud.

1) In the Kingdom of God, the King is the one who pursues.

In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar has three encounters with God. God initiates the pursuit of the soul before we ever desire to pursue Him.

Ezekiel 34:11

For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

2) The Kingdom of God does not diminish; it lasts forever.

What are you building today that will last?

3) The God who humbles, also restores.

The King of Heaven took everything that King Nebuchadnezzar valued. He lost his sanity and became like a beast in the field. Sin will always make us less than human. When we look to God, we are restored to be who we are meant to be.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will remain! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our series, TIL KINGDOM COME, with a message about how God changes our hearts.

Matthew 5:17-18

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

As he taught, Jesus was describing the new way of life in the Kingdom of God. What can we learn about this new way?

1) It’s not about moderation, it’s about transformation.

Jesus raised the bar that the Law had set from having right behavior to having a right heart.

We can’t be trained to live like this. We have to be transformed to live like this.

When we receive God’s grace, it comes with the capacity to live a whole new life. [Baptism] is a powerful symbol of that death-to-life transformation!

2) It’s not about the symptoms, it’s about the sickness.

The Gospel takes the pride and self-righteousness out of our anger, and it moves us to love and treat everyone as someone made in the image of God, even - perhaps especially - those who are wrong.

3) It’s not about proving a wrong, it’s about making things right.

Jesus is saying that his followers will have a strange capacity to humbly speak the truth in love.

Whether you’ve wronged someone, or they’ve wronged you, it’s always your move!

Jesus did not come to erase the law, but to change hearts so that the law could be fulfilled in us - all because of His grace!

How do we understand the kingdom of God? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began a new series of messages called “Til Kingdom Come."

Matthew 13:31-33

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Jesus came announcing that God’s kingdom had arrived. In this passage he tells us its arrival is inconspicuous at first, like a tiny mustard seed.

The seed has power for life.

The kingdom of God is not positive thinking or principles for living. It’s not first a system of beliefs or behaviors.

1 Corinthians 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

When God’s rule and authority are in operation, there is power at work to bring life.

The seed brings potential for growth.

It’s not right for us to think about God’s work in us as something fragile and breakable. The work God is doing in you has potential to transform you and your world.

The seed creates new purpose and blessing.The work that God is doing in you is not just for you! God’s work is in you SO THAT you can be a blessing to others. Jesus talked about his own life in this way:

John 12:24

I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But it dies [SO THAT] it can produce a plentiful harvest of new lives.

Jesus died a death so we could have life. He wasn’t just buried, he was planted, and he was raised again SO THAT we could have life!

Everything we need is in the seed!

You are blessed so you can be a blessing! This weekend Pastor Steve concluded our 23 AND ME series with an encouragement to live generously.

2 Corinthians 9:10

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, God will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

1) Generosity is God’s idea.

Every good thing we enjoy is a gift from our heavenly Father. He always takes the initiative in giving!

2) We are managers, not owners.

If I recognize that I don’t own what I am entrusted, I can find joy in managing and cultivating it to flourishing.

3) Generous giving is an antidote to me-first living.

God knows that we struggle with giving, so he tells us to test him in our obedience. See if he won’t bless you when you give!

4) Generosity outlives me.

God has a better plan for our resources than we do. Let him build a legacy as you obey him in generosity.

5) We are blessed to be a blessing.

Jesus set the example for us by laying down his life for our sake. We are called to follow him in that same sacrificial love toward others!

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

There is a hole in the heart of humanity that is meant to be filled by Jesus! This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our 23 AND ME series with a message titled, ROOM FOR ONE.

Genesis 29:34

Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi.

1) Fill yourself with the Word of God

Don’t live your life on empty! Your flesh will seize the opportunity to fulfill its desires when you're at your weakest. God's word is the nourishment your soul needs.

2) Walk by the Spirit, not the flesh.

The temptation to do what WE want without seeking what the Holy Spirit is asking of us, is great. Galatians explains why this tug of war is at work.

Galatians 5:16-17

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

3) Follow the Word. Don’t follow your heart.

The world advises us to follow our hearts, but the scriptures teach that our hearts are deceitful and can lead us astray.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Our emotions are swayed by circumstance, but God's instruction is to follow His Word that never changes.

4) Fulfillment and satisfaction are only found in Jesus.

There is only one person who can satisfy our souls, because in that God shaped space in our hearts, there is room for just One. King Jesus is the only One who can satisfy and the only One who died to be the Savior you need.

How do we build a life that outlives us? This weekend Pastor Steve continued our series 23 AND ME with a message titled BUILDING ON BROKENNESS.

2 Samuel 24:2

King David said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

This great man of God, whose entire life has depended on the mercies and intervention of God, is now taking matters in his own hand.

1) Pride makes an enemy of God, humility makes him a friend.

We never graduate from trusting God. Every sin can be traced back to a failure of trust.

2) Conviction is a gift from God.

When God confronts us, it is to push us toward repentance and healing. If this voice of conviction is silenced in your life, you are in a dangerous place.

3) To get back on the right path, conscience, and counsel work together.

Sin is a rejection of the wisdom of God. Conscience starts the process of repentance, but wise counsel keeps you from repeating a cycle of sin and regret.

“The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

Martin Luther King Jr, Letter from the Birmingham Jail

Yesterday’s repentance sets the stage for tomorrow’s transformation.

4) When you repent, you are defined by your rising, not your falling.

Repentance is a sifting of the priorities and loves in our lives. It’s not just saying sorry for this sin or that sin, it is a renewal of a trust orientation toward God.

Proverbs 24:16

For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,

but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

A generation after David’s sin, Israel’s Temple is built in the place of David’s repentance. The exact location where David repented becomes a house of prayer for all nations!

Luke 11:1

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, "Lord, teach us to pray.”

The Lord’s prayer is not just a pattern for praying, it is a pattern for living!

The one BIG point that Jesus was trying to give to his disciples in Luke 11 is this: THE ANSWER TO EVERY PRAYER IS MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

• If you want a spouse, get filled with His Spirit.

• If you are praying for a job, get filled with His Spirit.

• If you want a promotion, get filled with His Spirit.

• If you're trying to decide which college to go to, get filled with His Spirit.

• If you need to break that habit, get filled with His Spirit.

• If you want to be more obedient to God’s voice, get filled with His Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us the boldness and audacity to ask on behalf of another. Asking is the seed we sow, trusting in faith to receive from God!

Prayer is the way we build a life of legacy in 2023!

How do we build a life of legacy in 2023? This weekend Pastor Steve kicked off our New Year series called, “23 and Me.”

Joshua 1:7

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

While the funeral music for Moses is still being heard, God speaks firmly to Joshua, "Moses is gone, but I have not changed.” Be strong.

1) Loss is real. God is still good.

Fear and disobedience are related, because when we are afraid, we are magnifying our problems and fears and making them bigger than God. Loss is real, but God will continue to be good to us.

2) Practice remembering God’s grace.

God tells Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night. It is the way that we can build our courage and conviction. What is your meditation?

3) Be courageous and lean into God’s promises.

It’s a promise that brings rejoicing. If God is for us, then we can lean into every one of his promises with courage for the new year.

Be strong and very courageous! Happy New Year!

The greatest gift is YES! This Christmas Eve, Pastor Steve encouraged us with a word from our HOME FOR CHRISTMAS series about how even a small YES is a big deal to God!

Matthew 1:1

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham.

The beginning of Matthew’s Gospel is a record of Jesus’ family history. The surprise of the Christmas story is how God brought such a beautiful gift from such a broken family. When Mary said YES to God, it set in motion a chain of events whose impact will be felt for eternity.

A little thing is a little thing. But faithfulness in a little thing is a big thing.

Hudson Taylor

Like a mustard seed, or a cup of cold water, or a candle in darkness, seemingly insignificant acts of faithfulness are the stuff of great impact when God is involved. For Mary to say YES was a small gesture compared to the great uncertainty of what would follow. But it was that simple YES that God used to bring redemption to a broken world.

In the Kingdom of God, a small YES is a big deal.

The Christmas story is filled with people who say YES to God: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi and more. But the most meaningful YES is the one Jesus said to us when he humbled himself, choosing to be born in poverty, live in obscurity and die in disgrace, all so we could be made new. The great gift of God at Christmastime is the offer to be forgiven through Jesus, and to have our NO transformed to a YES again in Christ. Will you say YES to Him today?

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving New City Church! This is our moment to remember what Jesus has done for us. He suffered, he laid his life down so we could be healed.

When you are sitting together today, this is one of the best ways to say thanks to God!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 116:12-14,17

12 What can I offer the Lord

for all he has done for me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation

and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.

14 I will keep my promises to the Lord

in the presence of all his people.

17 I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the Lord.

Bring words to God.
Bring offerings to God.
Eat and drink together.