NCC Larkspur: Recent Episodes
Mike Caulley
The world doesn't need more convincing intellectually speaking, it needs Hope! Nothing brings Hope like our own personal stories of God's redemption in our lives. Don't try to hide those broken places, they are the very things the world needs to see!
There is a correlation between celebration and forgiveness. Or at least there should be because that is the way God has ordained it. Is there somebody that you need to forgive? Or is there something that you need forgiveness for? Celebrate that, even if there are tears and it's hard and emotional. Celebrate the joy that can be found in forgiveness.
We are exploring what transformations, what it looks like, and how we take hold of it. What did God do in Pentecost and the early church and how do we put that into practice today?
The idea that we are called Saints as followers of Christ not because of what we do, or what we face, but because of Whose we are. Today we reorient ourselves around the idea of transformation. As Saints we care about our our own transformation and how it fits into the larger design of what God wants His church to be, a transformational agent.
Our lowest points are transformational. They are the very things that shape us if we are willing to do the work. The things that the enemy wants to use to destroy us are the very things that God wants to redeem, to use in His ministry.
What part of your old self have you not taken off yet? Until you take off the old self, you can't put on the new one and your new self in Christ is a beautiful thing!
Transformation is a lifelong pursuit, salvation is a one time point of accepting and surrendering, and then there is this forever process of dying to self....Looking back on your journey of faith, what has come to life? What has come to death?
Following Jesus isn't just for a moment, it's an ongoing process. We don't just say yes to Jesus once, we have to say yes to Jesus over and over again in all the small ways.
What does joy mean to you? We struggle with this question. Joy can be an emotion just like love but often it is a choice, a commitment. Joy isn't dependent on the actions of ourself or others. Joy comes from being in a right relationship with our Father God, regardless of our circumstances.
Jesus came to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament and to invite us into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Intelligence is knowledge, wisdom is how you apply it. It is not enough that we are biblically literate, we must also be biblically obedient. Building the wise foundation takes time and intentionality. Nobody accidentally builds their house upon or "in" the rock.
Kingdom living starts in the heart. Our old selves must be uprooted and a new self planted in God. Our focus should not be on our fruit but on the depths of our roots!
There is a difference between discerning and judging. "When we condemn another, we are declaring that they have no worth - they do not matter to God or to us."
As followers of Jesus we are challenged to do things differently, to live differently. We can trust God with every aspect of our lives. He will provide for our every need. His is the only approval we need to seek.
A deep desire to be seen is what fuels social media. We want someone, anyone to notice us and approve of us. As we look at this weeks text, Jesus pushes on prayer and the importance of both a hidden life and a shared one. Prayer holds the key to our search for significance.
How do you handle conflict with people who you don't like? As followers of Jesus we are called not only to love our neighbors but to love our enemies as well.
Righteousness isn't about what you do but about the state of your heart. Jesus is less concerned about us doing good then He is about us being good.
So what if Jesus was serious about His followers being the salt and light in the world? if we are salt then we can preserve the world and help prevent rot by bringing out the good in the world around us. If we are light then "Our light will shine before men" and will elicit a response. It is easy to view the world as our "enemy" but the world is not our enemy - it needs us!
What if the underlying malady afflicting Christians today isn't that we take Jesus too seriously, but that we've failed to take Him seriously enough?
God is good, loving, gracious and just. He can be trusted as a stable refuge, even when life is hard and chaotic.
What does it mean to be a good neighbor? Often we define neighbor more by who it's not then by who it is. People grow through relational connectedness. Being a good neighbor is about being with one another in the "moments", not fixing or approving, just being present. That is where true transformation happens.
What kind of neighbor are you? How as followers of Jesus do we love our neighbors well? Living life together and supporting one another is an important part of walking out our faith.
The word "Witness" is a noun, not a verb. It means that it is more about who we are, not what we say. As followers of Jesus we are called to His witness to the world. This isn't about trying to be better but about loving God in such a way that we reflect something different to the world.
Prayer is intended to be a dialogue, not a monologue. It is intended to be transformational, not transactional. When you speak to the Lord do you also listen for His response?
How are you about giving and receiving gifts? As we get older we often start to have a harder time receiving gifts. What gifts do you need to receive? Do you need freedom, forgiveness, reconciliation, joy, peace, hope? Jesus brings all those gifts and more, all we have to do is call His name.
Hope is desire with the expectation of obtainment. But what are we putting our hope in? Hope isn't a feeling that comes over us, it's a choice. Hope is a choice to wait for the Lord. Jesus is our hope!
We live in one of the wealthiest counties, in one of the richest nations in the world. The problem isn't having wealth, it's in hoarding wealth. James isn't talking about how much you have but what you do with what you have and where your heart is.
How do you define joy? Is your joy defined by an illusion of control? Christian joy, biblical joy, is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus' own life and love.
The world is seeking peace but they think it's the same thing as tranquility. True peace can only come from a relationship with Jesus. He takes what is broken and restores it too wholeness. God is in the restoration/redemption business.
There are two kinds of wisdom, earthly/worldly and heavenly/Godly wisdom. You will be able to tell if a person is truly wise by looking at their life. People who practice Godly wisdom not only know what is good and right, but they practice it as well. Their lives reflect their wisdom. Your life will reflect the wisdom that you are seeking.
How do you use your voice? Are you using it to be kind, to speak truth or both? What would the world look like if the people who followed Jesus were kind in the wya that they speak to one another and to the people they live life with?
What is being revealed about the nature of the Kingdom of God? That faith without deeds is dead, just like the body without the spirit. Completeness comes when we marry the words of Jesus with the ways of Jesus.
True good shows up in how we treat others. Our actions reflect our heart. Then Jesus came and turned it all upside down by getting after our hearts.
James tells us to listen to the word and do what it says. This is our faith in action. When the word leads to conviction this should lead us to humility and ultimately to repentance.
Trials are necessary for us to be transformed. Are we willing to fully risk in order to fully grow? Are we willing to embrace transformation?
The world is looking for real, not someone to correct them, but someone to be their friend; someone to love them where they are. Where do you need to love more?
Attachment theory says that we are made to be in relationships. Do you ever wonder who you are in God's eyes, how does He see you in this fallen world. Relationships say that it is not all about us but about others.
Have you ever felt fully known and fully accepted? God wants a relationship with you where you are fully known and know that your are truly loved and fully accepted. There is no part of you that is not known by the God who created you. He wants you to know that he loves you and is pleased with you.
We were created to be truly known and loved. The only one who can fully know and love us, is the one who made us, God. Like the woman at the well, we all have a place that we want to hide - a place filled with pain and shame. Jesus wants to meet us in those places and bring light and life and healing.
You cannot be truly known without community. Being known requires three things; pursuing knowing ourselves, pursuing knowing God, pursuing knowing others. Your best moments with Jesus includes others. Small groups are the way that we at NCC make that happen. They aren't the vehicle leading us to the next thing - they are The Thing? We want people to live life together - to be Known!
Life by the Spirit means doing/acting/living, a place in life where we see the fruit actually being lived out. There are always opportunity to minister/serve. It's important to go where Jesus is sending us.
Life is full of choices. Life with Jesus is a choice and a series of choices. What daily choices do you need to make to choose Him everyday?
Who are you being called to come alongside and share their burden? How can we bear the burdens of others well?
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.
Living in step with the Spirit is the everyday life of abiding with Jesus. Being lead by God is something that you enter into and continuously go back. If you are going to live in step with the Spirit Jesus has to be more important to you than all other things.
When we grow down into Christ, rooting ourselves deeper and deeper into Him, spending time with Him, digging into His word, seeking Him, we will naturally start to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Our life with Jesus should produce fruit through the Holy Spirit. This fruit is found in our actions. The question is how do we treat others? "The true measure of a person is how they treat someone who can do them absolutely no good."
Peace and patience are fruits of the Spirit that can be intentionally chosen to be a part of our lives. Through continued practice and time spent with our Father we can be examples of faith even in the face of suffering.
Do you need more love and joy in your life? These are not feeling but fruits of the Spirit. Real freedom comes from loving others. Real joy is not the same as happiness, it comes from being in a relationship with our Father God.
Fruit of the Spirit is the opposite of works of the flesh. We cannot make fruit happen, it is produced by the Spirit. How do we grow this fruit? By keeping in step with the Spirit. Fruit always starts out small. We don't yell at small fruit, rather we cultivate and water it!
Paul was the most Jewish of all of the Jewish leaders, until he encountered Jesus and His grace. Now he is advocating for grace not law. More rules aren't the answer. God's grace really is enough!
Just as the disciples navigated a lot of change during the time of Jesus' resurrection and ascension, so too the church has been experiencing a lot of change. Change even under the best of circumstances can be really difficult. Even though they didn't fully understand what was to come the disciples they still gathered together, prayed together and waited on the Holy Spirit. Sometimes that is the best thing that we can do!
Over and over again we see the disciples of Jesus and wholeheartedly give themselves to worship. Over and over again we see Jesus unpack the meaning of Scripture and prophecy to empower His disciples. After the ascension just as the disciples did we must ask ourselves what now?
Jesus paid the price for all of our sins so that we could be reconciled to him, and so that we don’t need to stay in the brokenness, darkness, and pain of our own sins and the sins done to us. Jesus paid for it. It is finished. We can rest in that truth. Knowing that God redeems broken things.
What does it mean to be a disciple? Are we accidental Pharisees in our quest to purify the church? How are you representing God?
There is an age old theological argument of grace vs law. In the parable of the Shrewd Manager Jesus was speaking directly to the Pharisees about the being good stewards of the things that the Lord has given us to care for. In the end we get the God that we expect and represent. After all we are nothing more than stewards of HIs possessions.
This story is the start of Jesus' ministry - it starts with joy! He knew as He started His ministry that there was pain coming and He still walked it out. His mother Mary had waited for decades for this to begin, to vindicate her story. She trusted Him and laid it all at His feet. How can experience this same joy? By following what Mary told the servants in this story - we must "Do whatever He says".
Let's look at two stories of mother's whom you may not have considered from their perspective, or even noticed that they were in the story.
Parents often ask their kids "If everyone else jumps off the bridge, will you jump as well"? The moral of that statement is "don't follow the crowd". Jesus wasn't a "crowd" person. He didn't let the crowd influence Him. When we are followers of Jesus we can't follow the crowd anymore.
It is a radical act of faith to give to God the things that we hold the most dear. When we offered all that we have with open hands nothing will ever be wasted.The Lord sees our problems even before we do and He already has the solution.
These two stories The Great Feast and The Wedding Banquet are great examples of the upside down nature of the Kingdom. The Lord made it clear that He did not come for the righteous but for us the sinners.
Looking at Peter's story of restoration let's see it from John and Jesus's perspectives. This story of restoration is a good reminder to us of how God sees us and restores us and also how we should respond to others. Jesus uses broken, mistake-filled people to accomplish His Kingdom purpose.
Although we know this beautiful story if we look at from a fresh perspective we can see that this entire sequence began with the forgiveness between two friends. Our world needs more forgiveness. It's ok if we don't always "get the whole Jesus thing". His disciples didn't always get it either and they were with Him for 3 years. Take the journey!
The Easter story is one of the two stories that most people know. However today we are going to look at it from a different perspective and see if we can find new ways to think about this familiar story.
Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week. It is the time when Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King of Peace. Jesus comes as the King of Peace for anyone who will receive Him. His peace comes through salvation.
In His final week to live Jesus sat down with the one who betrayed Him and offered him a chance at redemption. He knew what was coming!
Even at the end of His life Jesus was not alone. God did not leave Jesus at the cross. He will never leave you! He is not afraid of your sin - He wants to be in relationship with you.
Jesus spent His last week reminding us that God shows tremendous grace and we should too. Release those that you are holding anger for. Forgive them as you have been forgiven.
What would you do if you found out you only had one week to live? Jesus spent time having dinner with His friends. During that dinner Mary poured out a gift in fullness and abundance leaving nothing behind. Her offering was one of the last acts of kindness He would receive before His betrayal and death. Are we offering Jesus a drop of our lives or are we willing to break it wide open and give it all to Him?
If you found out today that you literally had one week to live, what would that week look like? What fruit would your life bear?
You are here on purpose! You have a vital role to play in God's mission. What is the calling on your life? Don't let fear keep you from what God wants to do!
In the beginning the church was a family; they spent time together eating and praying. Over time the church has become a place, a building where we meet. Our Father God wants His family back!
Belonging is a deep and profound need that humans have. But belonging is not as easy as it sounds, it's actually incredibly hard work. It requires a choice to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Let this be the year that you fully embrace your place as a child of God; your role as a follower/disciple of Jesus and your Belonging in the family of God.
Even though we are different parts with different gifts we make up the same body. Each of us is valuable and necessary to carry out the mission of the church.
We used to know what to expect but our current season has changed all of that. In the uncertainty it an be hard to move forward. But it's time to move forward - it's time to be on Mission.
We all long to belong. The human need to belong is incredibly important. God created the church to be a Family, a place for us to belong. In this season of life in our church, it's important to remember that we are family.
How do we know when we need help? Today Mike will be introducing Dr Amy Moore and our Care & Counseling Ministry. The goal is to help normalize the way that you are feeling and to help you find ways to get connected and get the help you need.
Love and Joy are intimately and intricately connected. During this season it can be hard to feel joyful. True Joy comes from God and is more than an emotion. Joy is found in being seen and being loved. Jesus told His disciples "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."
When we hope in the things of this world we will be let down. God is the only true place to put our hope. The peace of God is not the absence of conflict but joyful tranquility in the midst of conflict.
Some of us feel like 2020 was a total loss. When we feel that way it is easy to take on the mindset of a loser. Maybe it's time to start acting like winners. Scripture is clear that one day God will confront all evil and He will put an end to it. God has already won!
Sometimes in this journey of faith, we end up paying for the sins of others. Because we are all connected, the sins of others will affect us. God wants us to set the example of how to handle correction and discipline with humility.
"Life is not fair" is the current mantra in our society/culture during this season. Who gets to decide what is fair? Is it the strongest, the richest, the judge or politician. No, the Lord is the only one qualified to decide what is fair, whether we understand it or not. He alone gets to decide. We as His children must walk in obedience and He will lead us in the way that we should go.
It's such a politically charged time. America is a fractured country. It's easy during this season for it to be "Us vs Them". Sometimes our faith can do that to us as well and we feel like we don't fit in, because of the things that we value. During this season it is more important then ever to do the things we know to do consistently, gather, pray and study scripture.
We need to remember that no matter what this past week has been like we serve THE KING. All of the kingdoms that were so powerful in the Bible have one thing in common, they are no more. May our prayer as we head into the coming week be "Lord have mercy on me a sinner."
During this season of "2020" where have you put your faith? Daniel had 70 years of "2020" and he never lost faith in God. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. We must put our faith in His Kingdom and not the world's.
How often do we pray and ask for humility? Daniel has gone through a series of Kings and Kingdoms. There has been a lot of royal drama. What can we learn from his life?
Church is not a building. It was designed by God to be the way in which His children experience Family. NCC will remain committed to Center our church on Jesus. He is the head of NCC! He is the Good News! He is the answer to all of your questions! We will be the Kingdom inside and outside of the church. We will be for and seek the Unity of the Family.
What does God say about our current political climate today and what does He say our response should be? Real change in the world doesn't start with an "us vs. them" mentality but in our own hearts. The question we should be asking is - "Is God alone enough for us?".
Join us in our new series Kingdoms Come and Kingdoms Go, as we journey through the book of Daniel together. Daniel was in a time that was politically charged. Listen as the Word gives us clear direction in how we can keep our faith in this season.
Is your faith just theory or have you put it into practice? All the knowledge in the world does us no good if we do put it into practice and "get in the game". What has God called you to stand in? It is out of the overflow of our life with God that our actions will be spurred on.
The Christian life is not a sprint, it's a marathon. If we aren't established in our faith, established in our truth, established in and strengthened by Christ, we won't be able to persevere to the end.
We cannot do discipleship without each other. Church is a family not a building! Sunday morning services are important , small groups are even more important.
We know the end so that we may have peace in the present. Jesus gave his life so that the outcome is already settled - our debt has been paid.
Are we willing to surrender our lives to the Lord so that He may work in us to refine us? Where in our lives do we need to lay down our expectations and pick up our faith?
At the end of 1 Thessalonians, in his final instructions, Paul tells us to "be at peace with all people". Who is the Lord asking you to be at peace with? Are you carrying around un-forgiveness in your heart? When you are not at peace it can affect all of the other relationships in your life. The Lord is calling us as His people to live differently, to pursue peace and live with grace.
Are you willing to lay down your rights and deny yourself, not just seeking your own comfort? Are you looking at yourself or are you looking at God? Do you feel like you're standing on solid ground or are you being swayed by the latest news? Being a disciple requires discipline.
We deceive ourselves when we look at anything other than Jesus. Lord, forgive us for all of the places where we seek comfort other than You. Our circumstances may not change but the posture or our hearts can!
It's hard to walk out our Faith journey in isolation. We were created to live in community. The community of believers is not the pastor or the building - it is the people - the "community". It is about intentionally living life Centered on Christ and upheld in our faith by those that we live life with.
We are in a season of trials and no one is exempt. God forms us through trials and suffering. There are things that we can only learn through these trials. The good news is that God is not done with us yet! He is not done!
The best way to train someone is through modeling. That's how Jesus did it with His disciples. He went out and did stuff with them, showing them the way. We need spiritual parents as well. Those who will model our faith journey well.
It is our hope that you would find ways to establish your faith, even if you have been on this journey with Jesus for a long time. It's so simple and yet so difficult. Remember Salvation isn't the finish line, it's the starting point!
How do we represent God to the world? We are to be witnesses not to witness. We are nothing more than stewards of His possessions.
In the story of the prodigal son both brothers are "in it" for what they can get from the Father, not a relationship with the Father. What motives you? Which brother are you right now? Maybe the story was never supposed to be about the sons but about the Father.
There is a void in your heart that only God can fill. We were created by Him to be in relationship with our Father God. His heart for us as His children is that we receive Him as our Father.
During this season of change and unrest where are you finding your peace? Who is calling the shots in your life? There is a time and a place where God wants to meet with you! Rest in Him. Find your peace in Him. Trust Him to call the shots.
What would happen if we truly discovered our gifts and practiced them? How would out community look if we put them to service for the Kingdom?
The Holy Spirit is the conduit through which God speaks to us today. The Holy Spirit is the vehicle through which the Lord works in us today. The Holy Spirit is our counselor and helper. It is through the Holy Spirit the our Spiritual Gifts are given.
How much do you hate waiting? This season has tested so many of us and yet there is so much scripture where God tells us to wait. He is not a goal-oriented God; He is in the Journey.
This week we are talking about Fulfilling our Kingdom roles in our families. In this Coronavirus season of isolation and stay at home orders, relationships in general and specifically marriages and families are experiencing a lot of new, different kinds of and even more concentrated seasons of existing stress. So how do we love each other well?
Do you ever have a nagging feeling that you were made to do something bigger in the world? What has God made you to do that no one else is supposed to do? Would you be willing to do it if you knew?
Scripture shows that Jesus would often take time to withdraw from the crowds and pray. He couldn't minister out of what He didn't have. He needed to spend time alone with His Father in order to have His cup filled. Ministry comes from the "overflow". Do you spend time just being with Him without an agenda?
Where are you this week, the week after Easter? Is God calling you to take a chance, step out of the boat and walk on water? It won't matter if you get a little wet, just keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus isn't surprised by what is happening in the world or in your life right now. Don't be distracted by your circumstances, keep leaning into what God wants to do next!
On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, a time of hope. He is Risen! He is Risen indeed.
Palm Sunday can be seen as a time of unmet expectations. The Jews were waiting for a warrior King to free them from oppression. What expectations do you have of Jesus? When we take away our expectations of Jesus we can clearly see that He allowed Himself to be abused and crucified for us!
Peace can be defined as freedom from disquieting thoughts or oppressive emotions. This type of peace is a fruit of the Spirit and only comes from spending time with God. As the familiar in our lives is being stripped away we are being asked to spend more time with our Heavenly Father.
Having fears, anxiety or worry are not due to a lack of faith but are a part of being human. This isn't a faith issue but a courage issue. It takes courage to trust in God. God didn't cause what is happening but He will work through it. May this be a time of Spiritual Awakening.
It's conviction not condemnation that brings people to Jesus. Don't cover your sin and shame, bring it to the Lord.
We need to keep pursuing our healing. Even if God hasn't healed us yet, there is a promise that one day we will be healed. Jesus sees you in your desperate situation. He doesn't ignore us. And you don't need to be clean to go to Him. Jesus touches those that are unclean, both literally and figuratively. No matter what you have done, Jesus will respond to you.
Our transformation process includes healing. When we say "yes" to Jesus we are given the power to break the generational chains that bind our families. As Christians we do not need to fear the past because the power of the Holy Spirit is far greater than any influence passed down through our family tree. In Christ, we are delivered from the past.
Before His crucifixion Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. We, as the church, are called to clothe ourselves in humility. God will lift us up in His timing. Cast all of your anxieties upon Him, because He cares for you.
So much of forgiveness is about us. When we carry unforgiveness it only affects us, not them. The goal is transformation and to fully get there we must walk through forgiveness.
A big part of Jesus' ministry was to heal all types of afflictions. He is still present and available to us all for healing. All we need to do is ask Him.
We want NCC to be a safe place where people are given space to investigate Jesus, where we don't "push" or "sell" God. We are not a closed club nor are we here to judge humanity. God asks us to be willing to be a place of safety for those around us, even when they don't feel safe. Part of welcoming a stranger is realizing that we have all been strangers.
If you want to grow spiritually, it requires others. When we make life together a priority we make place for the Kingdom to expand. The early church did this very well. One of the ways that we do this at NCC is through small groups.
This week we are unpacking Connect with God. Connecting with God can not be about earthly consequences. God wants our hearts not our behaviors. All connecting with God goes through Jesus. That's why we say the we all need more Jesus.
Connect - Heal - Fulfill is our mission statement as a church. Join us as the NCC staff shares the values that are important to them individually and how that relates to the church mission statement.
The only constant in life is change. As you head into the New Year embrace the change that God is trying to do in your life. We want to be more life Jesus, every day, every month, every year.
Hope is the present belief in a future result. God knows the hurts that you have this Christmas season and He wants to bring you Hope!
Advent is the anticipation of something to come. Listen as Kristi wraps up the Advent season with a message on living in love. What does our culture have to say about love, but more importantly what does God have to say.
What is hope? Hope is a longing for something good with the expectation that God will act? What do you long for this Advent season, for yourself, your family, the world? Are you placing your hope in the wrong things, your job, your children, your spouse? Christ came to bring hope. Hope says; stop focusing on yourself or your circumstances and focus on God.
Have you been able to find peace during this chaotic Christmas season? Peace, doesn't mean that the Lord will take away the chaos and that everything will get better, but rather He will be with you in the midst of your mess. Peace comes in the presence of God. It is a fruit of the Spirit that can not be manufactured. During this season He is inviting you to spend time with Him and find your peace.
Joy is not dependent on an emotion. Happiness has little to do with it. Joy, like gratitude, is a choice not an emotion. What are you allowing to steal your joy?
in this Holiday season where do you find yourself? Are you at peace with finances, family, etc? Or are you wrestling with things? Scientists have discovered that feelings of gratitude can change your brain, unshackle you from toxic emotions. Maybe the Lord is highlighting gratitude as a way to see God's goodness.
Suffering is a part of the human condition. Jesus, who was sinless, also suffered. We were not meant to suffer alone. The God who created the universe created you for a purpose. He knows what you are going through. And guess what, He still has work for you to do.
The enemy only has lies and deception that he can use against us. If we will start by being vulnerable with God, bringing our fears and insecurities into the light the darkness loses its power. If we are willing to confess these things one to another and are willing to be vulnerable with each other we are granted freedom.
What season are you currently in? No matter what season you find yourself in He is either in your boat or on the way!
There is a difference between witnessing to people and being a witness. Your most powerful witness is your changed life. People can always argue your theology but they can not argue with your life story.
Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is heresy. We have to have both. Jesus is the ultimate truth, spoken in love. He is the perfect marriage of both elements.
So what are prayer and fasting about? Throughout Scripture fasting refers to abstaining from for food for spiritual purposes. Prayer is nothing more than an ongoing and growing love relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Essentially these practices are manners in which we seek holiness - seek growing devotion and relationship as a follower of Jesus.
Do you have to hide who you really are from others? Can you be your authentic self? God's intention is that His people live as family. Listen as Mike takes us through Ephesians where Paul tells us how to live in relationship with one another.
Jesus has made it possible for all of us to be adopted into the family of God. Paul moved from a slave/orphan to a child of God. What is holding you back from fully embracing your sonship/daughtership?
Discipleship isn't a solo sport. Jesus called us into loving God and loving others. That starts with living in community.
Seeking God's will in all situations matters. Daniel was always seeking God's will. Daniel's witness mattered. He used his life as a witness to God's greatness. Your witness matters!
What has God called you too? What are the fears that are holding you back? Courage isn't the lack fear but knowing what could go wrong and trusting God anyway.
What actions do you need to turn from? What attitudes do you need to transform? What attributes of God do you need to trust?
Many of us want others to be loyal and yet our loyalty can depend on circumstances. As we look at the story of Ruth her loyalty is what sets her apart. She is loyal/faithful to God and to others; including Naomi.
Ittai, one of King David's men, followed him into battle even when David told him that he did not have to. Unlike David's son Absalom he wanted a relationship with the King more than he wanted the provisions of the Kingdom. Jesus invites us into relationship with the Father. The question is do we want the King or the Kingdom?
Eve was intentionally created by God to be Adam's helper, his partner. How can we see Eve's story as our own?
Samson was called by God to free His people from the Philistines. What has God called you to do?
Puah and Shiphrah were Hebrew midwives who were obedient to God and did what was right no matter the cost. Just like these women, you are irreplaceable in God's story. Each of us has a story that God wants to use for the benefit of others.
Who was Bathsheba according to scripture. Was she a temptress? Or in the face of her worst moment did she show true resilience and allow God to redeem her? The Lord wants to take our worst moments, if we will give them to Him, and redeem them.
David was a warrior and king who knew how to meet God in worship. He cultivated a private, intimate relationship with God through worship that spilled out into his publics displays of worship. In his message Sean tells us that God is more concerned with our songs than our voice. Worship is giving God his breath back.
Do you stop short before God responds? Have you stopped following your last commands? Elisha had no tolerance for quitting. He never stopped. He just kept pushing on. What are you called to do? What is distracting/derailing you?
Ezra came out of exile to restore to the people the Word of God. God has a plan and is always pursuing us, in all ways.
Have you ever felt like if you weren't around people wouldn't even notice? Do you wish that someone saw your contribution? We are going to look at someone who is incredibly overlooked in the Bible, Matthias.
Josiah was only 8 years old when he took over as King. He went on to become one of the greatest reformers. He did so by standing on the Word of God.
We are not to Witness but to be a Witness. Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary use words.
No matter where you are Jesus wants to meet you in the mess. There He wants you to find restoration.
Join us on Mother's Day as Terri Powell speaks about the gifts of the Father; Love, Children, Ourselves, Promises and Forgiveness.
Are we really enough to represent the Kingdom? Jesus pursues you! He wants what you have! He uses our stories of redemption to represent His Kingdom.
Jesus is all about the outsiders. His great reveal comes to the outsiders first. Make yourself an outsider, create hidden space for Him to reveal the mysteries of His Kingdom to you.
On Palm Sunday the people did not understand what Jesus was entering the city to accomplish. How often do we all misunderstand Jesus? Do we want just a Savior or also a King?
Listen as Nathaniel takes some of the myths surrounding end times and unpacks how we should live with the end in mind but without fear.
Every component of Jesus' ministry had healing in it. Come and listen to Kristi speak about Jesus, His healing and what it means for us.
We are living in a country that has become very fractured, where people often aren't very open minded when it comes to differing views. What did Jesus have to say about living under authority? Are we as His followers giving authority to Him to to something else?
Are we participating in God's Story? Or are we expecting Him to participate in ours? How do we treat the people who can do nothing for us?
Where is your heart at really? How can we approach God from a heart level? In the end we get the God that we expect or the God we represent.
God is not offended by us crying out for His help; even over and over again. Until the answer is "no" keep praying. Persistent prayer really works.
"We don't love our neighbors to convert them; we love our neighbors because we are converted" The Art of Neighboring
Mike speaks about the importance of having a relationship with our loving Father as he looks at the greatest commandment as well as the 10 commandments.
Listen as guest speaker, Jon Peterson, talks about Redemption. How do you define yourself? As a son or daughter or as a slave? Are we absorbed in our own progress or resolved to be transformed? Attached is the PDF file containing the slides Jon used with all of his Scriptural references.
Listen as guest speaker, Jon Peterson, talks about Redemption. How do you define yourself? As a son or daughter or as a slave? Are we absorbed in our own progress or resolved to be transformed? Attached is the PDF file containing the slides Jon used with all of his Scriptural references.
It's the beginning of the year. Time to reset our Mission and remember what we are called to do.
Joy comes from God. Therefore joy and happiness are not the same thing. In spite of our circumstances we can still find joy through Jesus.
We are to receive this love that has come to us from Jesus and give it back to others. This week we talk about the Greatest Commandment.
Advent is the arrival of a notable person! Hope is believing that God is not done yet! Grace Parrish gives her testimony and explains how she holds onto hope even when in the midst of the storm.
Are we in process or already a product? The purpose of The Church is to be sent into the world to make a difference. What is your part in what God is doing in the world?
To announce the Kingdom you only need to have seen and experienced it. Your life is a witness. Your story can change the world.
Up until this point Jesus has only been rejected by the religious leaders. Mike brings us to the turning point in the story when Jesus is rejected by us all.
Jesus is transformed in front of the disciples and they still miss the message. Will you?
Jesus has a scandalously beautiful moment with a woman who washes His feet with her tears.
John sends his disciples to question if Jesus is the One. His circumstances caused him to doubt the Truth.
The good news of Luke - God's mercy and compassion are available to all. Jesus brought a message of freedom. He is less concerned about the physical/material and more concerned with the Spiritual. Jesus wants to open the eyes of your heart.
Jesse challenges us to see people the way our Heavenly Father sees us and to love them accordingly.
This is the story of Jesus being left behind in Jerusalem by his parents and how we make the same mistakes as his parents in assuming Jesus is with us as we pursue our plans. At the end, Tim challenges us to a 21 Day Spiritual Quickstart.
Look at the first four verses of Luke with an overview of the themes to come and a look at how Luke is different from the other gospels.
Message looking at the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus is not just speaking truth, He is Truth.
Message looking at the interactions of Jesus with two people needing healing encounters and the faith they show.
Message looking at the responses of some of the followers of Jesus right after His Death up to His Resurrection!
Message looking at Palm Sunday events and asking the question are you a "subject" or a "servant"?
Message looking at Jesus' role as a teacher and how His teachings can mean different things at different times in our lives.
Message looking at how Jesus mixes grace with justice for two people in Jericho and what that means for our lives.
Art of Neighboring author Dave Runyon talks about seeing and receiving from our neighbors.
Message looking at how "loving our neighbor as ourself" doesn't require us to convert anyone to faith.
Message looking at how "loving our neighbor as ourself" doesn't require us to convert anyone to faith.
Message looking at the context of the Good Samaritan story and how we can be like "experts in the law" that ask "Who is My Neighbor?"
Message looking at the Good Samaritan and how that should inform the way we neighbor in our community including the workplace.
Message looking at the Lord's Prayer as a model for how to ask for what we need and following God into the unknown.
The Lord's Prayer and the ways in which approaching God as a child allow for us to respond in Awe & Wonder.
A look the story of Jesus walking on water and how that informs who the story of our lives are really about.
Message looking at the story of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the Father who pursues his children.
Message looking at the way God creates us all with two callings: a general calling that all have and a special calling for each individual human.
Message using the story of Jonah to look at how God moves people around so that His Kingdom can advance and how we need to be careful not to adopt a Jonah-type attitude.
A look at the importance of the community that connects and shares life with each other.
Message about Pentecost Sunday, Spiritual Gifts, and where we, the community of Jesus fit in.
Message looking at the teaching about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking and how that influences how we follow Jesus.
Mother's Day message looking at the stages of life and how God desires to meet us in each season.
Message looking at what Jesus said about judging others and how self-awareness is the key
Message looking at Jesus uses a teaching about treasure and money to challenge us to live authentic lives.
Message looking at the Resurrection story about Jesus walking with two on the Road to Emmaus and how that is truly good news for us.
Message looking at the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem to ask the question are we looking to Him for Needs or Wants.
Message looking at how Jesus modeled prayer for us as His followers and how that prayer model still works for us today.
Message looking at what Jesus says giving, prayer and fasting have to do with righteousness & humility.
Message continuing to look at the Sermon on the Mount and how Jesus challenges us to be incredibly different from our society.
Message looking at how Jesus compares Anger to Murder and what He was trying to help us see about our hearts and the way we treat others.
Message looking at how Jesus compares Anger to Murder and what He was trying to help us see about our hearts and the way we treat others.
Message looking at Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount 2000 years ago and how they help us understand who is good.
Message examining Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well and what that speaks to all who have been "poor in spirit".
Message looking at the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount and how Jesus is boldly proclaiming the availability of the Kingdom for all to receive.
Message looking at the Greatest Commandment and what Jesus means by encouraging us to love our neighbors.
Message looking at how we as followers of Jesus should use discernment as we look at media choices like movies, tv, music, and video games.
Vision Message looking at the early church as an example for NCC's calling to Connect, Heal & Fulfill.
Message looking at the Christmas Story and how God uses Outsiders to advance His purposes.
Christmas Eve Message looking at the Magi and what the significance of their gifts means for us today.
Advent message looking at the difficult feelings of loss and grieving, and how God responds in the middle of where we are with Love.
Message looking at the importance of Hope in our lives and the role it plays in our hearts for our futures.
Message looking at how Gideon ascribed Peace to God and what that means for us in this Christmas season.
Message looking at how we find our identity in our Father God as His sons and daughters.
Message looking at the story the Prodigal Son and how that shows the Father's desire to have intimacy with us, His children.
Message looking at how Father God responds to us as His children who are fully adopted into His inheritance.
Message looking at how to receive The Father's Love regardless of our earthly examples.
Message looking at how Jesus challenges our view of money and what that means for our roles as His followers.
Message looking at what questions we should ask ourselves in this political climate and how Jesus responded to political structures.
Message looking at how Daniel and friends adapted in the midst of grieving and change and what that means for our hearts in following Jesus.
Message looking at how the disciples navigated life after Jesus ascended into heaven and what that means for us as followers of Jesus.
Message looking back at the main themes of Mark and what the Roman believers would've learned.
Message looking at the intimacy and betrayal of the Last Supper of Jesus with the disciples and what that means for us as we approach communion.
Message looking at the lavishness of Mary mixed with the brokenness of Judas and what that means for our relationship with Jesus.
Message looking at The Greatest Commandment out of Mark and how that should inform the way we live and love.
Message using the SOAP model of a devotional to look at the way the religious leaders test Jesus and how He reminds us that we are made in the image of God. Download the SOAP file to follow along with the message.
Message using the SOAP model of a devotional to look at the way the religious leaders test Jesus and how He reminds us that we are made in the image of God. Download the SOAP file to follow along with the message.
Message looking at the role we have to be missionaries wherever we live, school, work, etc. with an emphasis on how our children are to be Jesus in their schools.
Message looking at the story of the tenants that Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day and how that can lead to comparing faith to others.
Message looking Jesus turning the temple upside down and what that shows us about relationship as God intended it.
Message looking at the role our faith plays and how it should inform our response to the world around us.
Message looking at the story of James and John asking to rule with Jesus and how his response challenges the way we should respond with humility.
Message looking at why it was difficult for the rich young man to follow Jesus and what that means for those who call themselves believers.
Continuing our series in Mark about Discipleship, Pastor Mike Caulley hands the microphone to Joe Meverden for a look in Mark 10:1-16 at two seemingly different stories to discover a litmus test for where we are really at in our relationship with God. It's a surprising discovery with life changing implications.
Taking a short break from our series on Mark on Discipleship, Jesse Ralph, NCC elder and son of NCC founding pastor, Tim Ralph, looks at the life of Joseph to share a special Father's Day message about God, His Love, and His Plans for us and the dreams He gives us.
Continuing NCC's series in Mark, our founding pastor, Tim Ralph, talks about knowing the stakes when it comes to following Jesus.
Message looking at why the disciples couldn't heal and what we can learn about living life with Jesus.
Message looking at the Transfiguration event and how we tend to misinterpret God's Plans.
Message looking at the challenge of Jesus to the disciples, "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."
Message talking about the Brokenness each of us carry and how when can embrace the work of Jesus to allow our lives to be a testimony.
Mothers' Day message looking at how Jesus takes our frustrations at the actions of others to a place of choosing Gratitude over Resentment.
Message about the healing of the blind man and what that means for our spiritual sight.
Message looking at the leaven/yeast of the Pharisees and how that relates to the things in this world that influence us.
Message looking at three interactions Jesus has with differing groups of people and what that means for our lives specifically in the area of compassion towards us and towards others.
Message looking at the way Jesus responds to the outsider and how that should influence our responses to others.
Message looking at an encounter of Jesus with the religious elite of His day and what that means for our faith.
Message highlighting that the ultimate purpose of the Resurrection of Jesus was the Freedom it brought to us. To watch video referred to in this message visit www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0BEJ01NU.
Message highlighting Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem as a foreshadowing that one day everyone will proclaim Jesus is Lord!
Message looking at Jesus walking on water and what it speaks to us as disciples about the process of rowing against the water waiting for His rescue.
Message looking at Jesus feeding the 5,000 and what that means for our roles as disciples, especially the challenge to start with what we have.
Message looking at the death of John the Baptist and how we respond to the choices of others that negatively affect us.
Message on Jesus responded to being dismissed by His own town and people and what that means for our lives as His followers.
Message looking at the voices that try to tell us there is no use troubling the Teacher and the choice we have to make to continue to trust Jesus.
Message looking at how Jesus responds to us and more importantly sees us exactly where we are currently.
Message looking at what we (followers of Jesus) can learn about freedom from the story of Jesus, a demonized man and pigs.
Message on the function of the Kingdom family and how that should inform our role as disciples of Jesus.
Message on the importance of following the 2nd part of the Greatest Commandment - loving our neighbor as ourself.
Message setting up a year thinking about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how the first disciples would have understood that to be lived out.
Message setting up a year thinking about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how the first disciples would have understood that to be lived out.
Message on discipleship using the story of the Prodigal Father as a picture of three ways to respond to Father God.
Message on discipleship using the story of the Prodigal Father as a picture of three ways to respond to Father God.
Message looking at the importance of Love in the midst of Christmas season that is based completely on the Love of God for us that sent Jesus for us.
Message looking at the impact choosing Joy has on our lives and our outlook in the midst of our circumstances.
Message on how Jesus has power over the storms of our life and the fear associated with them.
Message responding to Jesus' challenge for us to "consider carefully what you hear" and especially to respond to what is heard.
Message from Tommy Jones, pastor of Proximity Church, on the importance of how we receive the Word using the parable of the Sower and the Seed as the challenge to receive Jesus.
Message on how Jesus modeled for us Kingdom Priorities, specifically being refreshed by God and caring for people.
Message on how Jesus modeled for us Kingdom Priorities, specifically being refreshed by God and caring for people.
Message on how Jesus breaks down human traditions of works and brings true Sabbath rest.
Message on the importance on not letting others add things to Jesus so that we care about the things Jesus cared about.
Message on the importance of being forceful in your pursuit of Jesus and not allowing others to take you of course.
Message about how Jesus sought solitude after ministering to those hurting and how that models refreshing for us.
Message on how Jesus reset God's Law with a new teaching that was really a fulfillment of God's Intentions.
Message on the importance of being interruptible in our relationship with Jesus by looking at the calling of the first disciples.
Message on how we should handle our money and what that means related to giving, tithing and offering.
Message on how we should handle our money and what that means related to giving, tithing and offering.
Message on our role in serving our community highlighting Neighbor Network, a non-profit organization serving the aging population in Douglas County. (dcneighbornetwork.org)
Message on the Father's Heart of God and how our past pain keeps us from fullness of relationship with God now.
Message on how we are to parent our children paying particular attention to what training should look like.
Message on what it means to be on mission for God's Kingdom, even when we want to give up.
Message on why it's important to be in community with other followers of Jesus and how it helps us see how God has designed us.
Message on how the five-fold gifts are intended to be the way The Church equips all to be ministers where they live.
Message on how important hope is in the process of grieving a loss and how Jesus enters into our grief.
Message on how God wants to help us have a new identity found in Him that brings healing into our lives.
Message on our relationship with our Heavenly Father and how it sets up all of the other relationships in our lives.
Message on the incredible value God places on things that are "lost" and our need to be involved in what God values most.
Message on how the first church did church and what that can teach us about the church's importance in our lives.
Mothers' day message looking at how we compare ourselves to others and how to find our identity in God.
Message on how being close to God will help us win favor and overcome distractions in the midst of neighboring.
Using the story of Jesus sending the 72 as a model for being a neighbor to people we work with.
Message on how we fulfill both parts of the Greatest Commandment by loving our neighbors.
Easter message that focuses on a story of resurrection that Jesus performed and how that speaks to all who need a resurrection story.
Message on how Palm Sunday was the first of two parades for Jesus in a week and how we have to chose in which parade we participate.
Message on the Ark of the Covenant returning to Israel and David's attempt to do things his way and then God's way.
Message on the Life Lie David was living and how repentance brought him back to The Truth.
Message on how David personalized God while on the run from Saul and what that means for our relationship with God.
Message on how David responds to being attacked and chased by Saul and how he responds to God.
Message on how David responded to the worst day of his life and the lessons we can learn from his experience.
Message on how we can have assurance in our faith that doesn't require performance, only love.
Message on the freedom that comes from obeying God's commands that are centered on love.
Message on how we have been adopted as children of God and what that means for our lives.
Message on how the anointing of the Holy Spirit helps us become fully identified with Jesus.
Message on how we can exalt things to a place where it blocks God's light in our lives.
Message on how John responds to false teachers of his day and what that means for us in responding to our culture.
Message from our pastor in Guadalajara, Mexico on the importance of defining the purpose of our journey of faith. Are we on a cruise or a mission?
Message on the restoration of Peter by Jesus and what that means for our journey of faith.
Message on how Jesus appears three times right after His Resurrection to His followers and it's implications for our journey of faith.
Message on the John 17 where Jesus prays for the disciples and what that means for our faith.
Message on the prayer of Jesus for Himself to be glorified and how we view glory in our lives.
Tim Ralph continues the series in John by discussing the Holy Spirit as Counselor, true religion vs. bad religion, and the difference between God-set boundaries vs. men-made fences.
Message on the text about how Jesus warned the disciples that "the World" would hate them and what that means for our faith today.
Father's Day message using the movie "The Legend of Bagger Vance" to communicate God's heart for us. For movie clips, visit the church's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NewCovenantLarkspur.
Message on what effect Pentecost Sunday had on our faith as followers of Jesus and the role of tongues in that faith.
Message on how the ascension of Jesus ushered in the time of Holy Spirit, who is to guide us in our story.
Message on what Jesus meant when He declared He was the vine and we are the branches on how much it shows the heart of Jesus for us.
Mother's Day message about how Jesus responds to mothers and how that should form our response back to Him.
Message on how Jesus is The Way to God and the greater works that we will do in His name.
Message about what John & Peter saw at the empty tomb and how that relates to our believing in Jesus.
Message of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and the amazing demonstration of His Love for us.
Message on how we respond to the voice of Jesus using the analogy of the shepherd and the sheep.
Message on how Jesus describes Himself as the Bread of Life and what that means for our lives.
Message on Jesus feeding the 5000 and how his plans for us bring abundance so we can thrive not just survive.
Message on how Jesus meets us when we're stuck using the healing of the official's son and the lame man at the pool as examples.
Message on how Jesus meets the Samaritan woman right in the middle of her mess and what that means for us.
Message about how Nicodemus took risks to meet with Jesus and how that applies to our lives.
Message on what winning looks like in the Kingdom using the story of Jesus calling the first disciples.
Message on how Jesus responded the disciples in the fourth watch and what the means for us now.
Message on how Peter risked by stepping out of the boat and how we can risk for the Kingdom.
Message on the importance we place on being great and how Jesus defines greatness in the Kingdom.
Message on the authority that Jesus has given us to see signs and wonders advance His Kingdom.
Message on transition that comes in God's Kingdom and specifically within New Covenant.
Message on the importance of making room for God in our finances including what God says about money.
Special Sunday message with a glimpse inside our children's ministry to see what and how our kids learn about the precepts of God.
Message on how Abraham and Sarah were considered people of faith from God's perspective.
Message on the importance of truly trusting God to the point of letting go of our Plan B.
Message on the book of Jonah and the lessons we can learn from his life under a microscope.
Message starting off the series of Living Life Under a Microscope about how both God and the world are watching us.
On Pentecost Sunday, a message about how the Holy Spirit came to bring us balance in our lives.
Mother's Day message on being inter-generational and preparing the way for those that follow.
Message from the author of the book "The Art of Neighboring" on how to live out the Greatest Commandment.
Message on the importance of being interruptible and overcoming the time barrier in our lives so that we may be good neighbors.
Message on the importance of healthy relationships both inside and outside the church to be a good neighbor.
Message looking at where do we place our trust and whether we're building an altar of peace or an altar of rocks.
Message on how to receive the peace of God when facing circumstances that seem impossible like Gideon.
Message on the importance of mentoring relationships and receiving Godly counsel and their impact on Godly character.
Message on how in the midst of being sifted it is some important to find our hope in Jesus.
Message on how Jesus prays for us in the midst of being sifted and the importance of coming back.
Message on the importance of courage as a part of Godly character in the midst of life's circumstances.
Message on how we have become so self-reliant that we've forgotten how to really trust God.
Message on the importance of how seeking God's favor in the midst of our circumstances brings about character in our lives.
Message on the importance of being teachable and the role it plays in the growth of our character.
Message on how Jesus responded to tragic circumstances of His day and how that relates to us.
Message on the importance of pursuing continuing experiences with God regardless of where we are in our journey of faith.
Father's Day message about how God sees us and responds to us in all of the times of our lives.
Message on the importance of teamwork and unity within the body as it relates to Spiritual Gifts.
Message on how to thrive in your relationship with Jesus even in the midst of difficult life circumstances.
Message on who our Father God is to us and the importance of deepening our relationship with Him.
Palm Sunday message about Jesus' ministry of the Kingdom and the conflict that can accompany it.
Followup message revealing more about the Holy Spirit and the gifts associated with Him.
Message on what the Christmas Story speaks to us today and the impact it has on our lives.
Message about how God used ordinary people in the Christmas story by putting something on their hearts.
Message on what do we value in our lives and being someone that God and others can count on.
Sermon on how to respond to God's Spirit by being alert, ready, and on stand-by all the time.
Message following up the previous week's message about Kingdom Dreams leading to the goal of Eternity in Heaven.
Message on how to determine whether we're pursuing the American dream or the Kingdom dreams. Video referenced can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZeN6kdgM2Y.
Message on the lies we believe about ourselves and how they turn into vows that affect the way we live.
Message kicking on the new series about the importance of being in STEP with God's Spirit.
Sermon on how Nehemiah responded to a need and what that means for our lives in today's world.
Sermon on importance hope plays in our lives when we follow God's order and receive His power.
Message about Palm Sunday and the cheering people who a week later wanted to crucify Jesus.
Message on the importance of finding joy through peace in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Message reflecting on Joseph's response to circumstances that seemed too impossible to believe.
Message on allowing God to work in spite of our circumstances in order to build our faith.
Final message of the series on wisdom about the importance of asking for are receiving wisdom and understanding.