Northeast Christian Podcast: Recent Episodes
Northeast Christian Church
This weekend, Tyler continued our Controversial Christianity series by exploring how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) can be understood and lived out through a biblical lens. While DEI is often controversial in culture, Tyler reminded us that these principles are deeply rooted in Scripture—not foreign to it.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to God’s redemptive story. The Christian vision doesn’t conform to political ideologies; it transcends them—anchoring these values in the identity and mission of Jesus. In a polarized world, the Church is called not to echo partisan extremes, but to reflect the truth and love of God’s Word.
Rather than avoiding hard conversations or allowing secular institutions to shape the narrative, Tyler challenged us to lead with grace and conviction. The Church must be a beacon of unity, a community marked not by division, but by the reconciling power of the gospel.
This Sunday, Terrence continued in our series titled “Controversial Christianity”, addressing the topics of modesty and moderation within the Christian life. The message challenges believers to submit every area of life to Jesus, not out of legalism, but out of love, maturity, and commitment to holiness.
Modesty and moderation are controversial, not necessarily in culture, but within the church due to a decline in discipleship and pursuit of holiness. The Christian call isn’t to earn grace, but to abide in it through intentional, Spirit-led transformation. Terrence’s message balances challenge with compassion, acknowledging past church wounds while calling for renewed pursuit of holiness through love, not legalism.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30
This short but powerful statement encapsulates the heartbeat of Christian discipleship. Whether we’re talking about sexuality, personal behavior, finances, or lifestyle, the ultimate aim is for Christ to be magnified in every aspect of our lives, and for our self-centered impulses to surrender to His will.
While the statement itself may not sound controversial, living it out certainly is—because it challenges our desire for self-elevation, comfort, and control. Discipleship isn’t just about belief—it’s about transformation, and that transformation requires wrestling with hard truths and inviting Jesus into every hidden corner of our lives.
Scriptural Foundation: 2 Peter 1:1–10
This passage calls believers to supplement their faith with a list of virtues (goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, affection, and love). Peter urges Christians to confirm their calling by living fruitful, purposeful lives. These virtues aren’t just moral checklists—they’re evidence of a life rooted in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s letter was written to help the church persevere—first against persecution, and later against false teaching and spiritual laziness. His words are a reminder: we already have everything we need to live godly lives. The Holy Spirit, God’s Word, the community of faith—these are tools at our disposal. Now it’s on us to build the house—to add rooms of character, virtue, and maturity onto the foundation of faith.
Ask the Holy Spirit daily: “Where, God?” – Where are you calling me to grow?
He closes with a prayer by Saint Augustine, asking the Holy Spirit to breathe into every area of life and draw us deeper into God’s holy purposes.
“Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy.”
This sermon is part two of our series titled Controversial Christianity. The purpose of the series is not to provoke, but to approach culturally charged topics with compassion, clarity, and conviction, rooted in Christ’s example and the authority of Scripture.
Two foundational convictions of the church:
- God’s Word speaks to all controversial topics.
- The church must model healthier conversations on divisive matters.
The core theme of Tyler’s message is how to hold to biblical truth while engaging with love, especially on issues of sexuality, gender, and identity.
Seven Key Positions
- Anything less than compassion is not Christian.
- All Christians are sexually broken, regardless of orientation.
- Identity is rooted in Christ, not sexuality.
- Marriage includes gender difference, as designed in Genesis.
- Sex belongs inside lifelong male-female covenant.
- Bible consistently prohibits same-sex sexual acts.
- Global Christian consensus affirms the traditional view across cultures and centuries.
Ultimately, Tyler’s message calls for a church that is both unflinching in its doctrine and radically welcoming in its love, emphasizing that truth without love is damaging, and love without truth is misleading. The final appeal is to reflect Jesus’s example: one of conviction without condemnation and love without compromise.
Controversial Christianity is a five-week sermon series that addresses several BIG cultural questions and hotspots, bringing compassion, conviction, clarity, and Christ into the center of the controversy. Each topic in this series draws from the top questions regularly brought to the Pastoral Team.
In this sermon, Tyler speaks about the cultural tensions surrounding gender identity. He unpacks the Church's responsibility to navigate these conflicts with a balanced posture of obedience, empathy, and belonging, recognizing that we are all image bearers in need of Jesus. At Northeast, our heart is to disciple all image bearers. We are called to be generous with our love while holding fast to biblical truth and the historic Christian ethic regarding gender and identity.
*Anything less than compassionate is not Christian.
*Every person is sexually broken.
*We embrace our bodies as God created them at birth and learn to live faithfully within them.
*Our identity begins in Christ.
Furthermore, we also examine the Church’s failure to reflect and lament on how we’ve responded to those struggling with gender dysphoria. The Church is called to be a safe place—a community that helps carry burdens. Tyler addresses the rapid cultural shifts that have intensified the conversation around transgender identity. Cultural "wars" often result in casualties.
Let's be a light in the midst of it all.
All truth without compassion, and all compassion without truth, fall short of the way of Jesus. In the realm of human sexuality, religious leaders have historically leaned toward shame and judgment. Yet, Jesus offered protection, moral direction that led to freedom, and the power of choice, without condemnation.
We are all image bearers. There is no moral high ground. We stand equal at the foot of the cross.
Let us receive Jesus.
This Sunday, Bob Cherry, founding pastor of Northeast Christian Church, wrapped up our series A Word to the Generations, speaking to the Village Elders. Whether you are young or old, retired or just beginning your career, the choices you make every day shape the house you live in—your life and character. God sees not appearances but the heart, and our true foundation must be Jesus Christ—the only one that endures storms.
Imagine yourself at the end of your life, looking back. How would you finish this sentence: “I wish I had spent more time…”?
Are we investing in relationships, faith, and character, or are we distracted by temporary pursuits? Author Dallas Willard reminds us: "The main thing God gets out of your life is the person you become."
It’s not about our resume or achievements but about our inner transformation and faithfulness.
Life is a construction project of the soul. Every day, every choice, and every thought lays a brick in the house we live in. We are called to build with care, using the precious materials of love, joy, and peace, grounded on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ.
As you navigate the challenges and blessings of life, choose to build a house that will stand the test of time and reflect God’s glory. Invest in your character, nurture your faith, and create a legacy of kindness and humility.
Wherever you are in life, it’s never too late to start building right. Let this be your prayer:
“Lord, build your character in me. May my life be a house of gold, silver, and precious stones, standing firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ.”
May your house be a place of hope, love, and joy for all who enter—and a testament to a life well-lived.
We’re celebrating every season of life and the unique kingdom power each generation holds through this series: A Word to the Generations.
Midlife—a season full of transitions, challenges, and profound opportunities for growth. Whether you're just stepping into midlife or well into your journey, Tyler’s message offers encouragement, insight, and a fresh perspective on how to navigate this pivotal stage with purpose and joy.
How can you begin this transformational journey today?
Here are some practical steps to take toward a proper midlife crisis:
- Embrace Your Identity as a Citizen of Heaven: Let go of worldly validations and find your worth in your relationship with God.
- Shift Your Motivation: Move from pursuing material success to seeking moral growth and meaningful impact.
- Focus on Relationships: Invest deeply in family, friends, and community as your true legacy.
- Surrender to God’s Guidance: Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you through this season with faith and hope.
- Seek Support and Community: Midlife can be lonely, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Find people who will journey with you.
What if the stirring you feel in your heart right now is not accidental, but a spiritual invitation? What if midlife is the Holy Spirit’s way of waking you up to a deeper reality?
This message is a call to all midlifers: have a proper midlife crisis—one that leads to renewal, purpose, and joy in Christ.
Skip the despair and the foolish attempts to relive youth. Instead, choose to climb the second mountain. Surrender your heart to Jesus, embrace your heavenly citizenship, and refocus your life on loving others and living out your God-given purpose.
Whether you are beginning this journey or well along the way, know that God’s grace is sufficient. This is your moment to experience the meaning and wonder that midlife can bring.
This week, Tyler continues our sermon series A Word to the Generations, speaking directly to young adults with a message rooted in Proverbs 2. He offers three foundational life truths—about identity, relationships, and purpose—crafted to meet the core spiritual challenges facing this age group.
Drawing from the deep wisdom of Proverbs 2, Tyler emphasizes that God’s guidance is timeless, relevant across generations, and especially vital for young adults navigating a world of competing voices. While acknowledging the distinct pressures of today—like performance-driven culture, social media comparison, and uncertainty about the future—he reminds us that our most essential spiritual needs haven’t changed: identity, belonging, and direction. God speaks to these needs with clarity, compassion, and power.
His three takeaways are crafted to help listeners live with greater clarity and peace in their current stage of life. This sermon ultimately affirms the spiritual power and potential of young adults in the church and calls them to step confidently into maturity with God as their guide.
The Three Foundational Truths
- Identity
Tyler teaches that identity is not something we build or earn, but something we receive from God. He challenges cultural narratives that tell young people to define themselves by their careers, image, or achievements—paths that often lead to anxiety, burnout, and confusion.
Your identity is meant to be God-given, not peer-driven or self-determined.
When you embrace your identity in Christ, you gain the security and confidence needed to navigate adulthood with peace.
Who am I?
An adopted child of the Most High God, a royal ambassador, a citizen of heaven.
What am I worth?
You are created in God’s image and worth Jesus’ very life.
Why am I here?
To bring a revolution of counter-cultural, cross-shaped love and resurrection life.
Identity, Tyler reminds us, is rooted in divine truth, not cultural pressure or personal performance.
“You are not the sum total of your accomplishments or your failures. You are a child of God, made in His image.”
- Friendship
Tyler then turns to the power of relationships, warning that the people closest to us can either draw us nearer to God or lead us away from Him. He expands this beyond romantic relationships, focusing on friendships and community.
He distinguishes between proximity and intimacy: not everyone physically or emotionally close to you should be spiritually close to your heart. Your inner circle should be made up of people who are pursuing Christ alongside you.
You need Godly friends, but you must work harder than ever to have them.
Building meaningful, Christ-centered friendships requires intention, vulnerability, and shared spiritual goals.
- Purpose
Finally, Tyler addresses the deep question of purpose—a major point of confusion and longing among young adults. He dismantles the cultural lie that purpose is about personal fulfillment or worldly success and re-centers it on serving God and others.
Spiritual growth comes not from upward mobility, but from downward humility—willingness to serve, forgive, sacrifice, and love as Christ did.
Tyler paints a vision of purpose shaped by Jesus: one of service, love, sacrifice, and discipleship. He encourages young adults to move from asking, “What do I want to do with my life?” to “What has God equipped me to give to the world?”
Despite all the noise and challenges of this generation, Tyler sees hope: a spiritual hunger and potential for revival.
Despite whatever flaws, there is a supernatural resurgence of belief in Jesus among young adults… right now! You may be the revival generation!
A Spiritual Call to Action
Tyler closes with a powerful challenge for young adults to live with intention and depth:
- Pursue wisdom with intentionality—through prayer, scripture, and Godly community.
- Reject the cultural lies about self-sufficiency and redefine success on God’s terms.
- Trust God’s voice above all others—including societal expectations and inner fears.
He acknowledges the emotional weight young adults carry—loneliness, doubts, cultural disillusionment—but reminds them that they are uniquely equipped to lead, love, and spark change. When rooted in God’s truth, they can walk into adulthood with confidence, purpose, and peace.
Terrence introduced us to a new series titled, A Word to the Generations, focusing this week on wisdom and understanding for the youth, drawn from Proverbs 4:5–9.
He calls each generation — from youth to elders — to embrace their role in God's Kingdom, highlighting both the strengths and challenges of today’s youth.
His message centers around the critical call for youth and all generations to "Get Wisdom and Get Understanding".
🙌 Every generation matters: No one is too young or too old for God’s Kingdom — everyone has purpose.
🔥 Life is hard but God is good: Emphasizes perseverance through trials, supported by God's unwavering presence.
Will you persevere faithfully in an often-broken world?
The resurrection of Jesus unleashes a power strong enough to sustain and transform lives.
Drawing on Luke 24, Tyler illustrates how the tomb is not only historically empty but spiritually potent. He contrasts Jesus’s inner strength with cultural volatility and emphasizes that followers of Jesus can access this same resurrection power through the Holy Spirit.
The resurrection unleashed power from heaven into the world. The same power that raised Jesus is accessible now through the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Ephesians 1:19–20, Tyler’s message emphasizes that the resurrection is not just historical—it’s personal and transformational.
However, this power is “already but not yet”:
- Present in part, but not fully realized.
- It provides strength, peace, and healing now—but perfection is still to come.
This message isn’t just about history or theology—it’s a heartfelt cry for people to wake up and realize what’s available to them. Resurrection power isn’t abstract. It’s for now. It’s for you. And it’s ready to flow through every believer who says yes.
Will you root your life in something unshakeable? Jesus alone lives up to the hype—and His resurrection offers power, joy, peace, forgiveness, and purpose.
The power that raised Jesus is available today—and it’s up to each person to say yes.
He is risen.
Indeed, He is.
Tyler continued our Easter series, Real, with a powerful message in week three, focusing on the unjust trial Jesus endured. Despite the overwhelming political and religious corruption surrounding Him, Jesus stood with unwavering integrity. He didn’t resist arrest or lash out in defense. Instead, He willingly surrendered, spoke truth without aggression and responded with quiet strength—His actions perfectly aligned with His teachings.
Jesus’s surrender wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was a demonstration of purpose. He chose the path of submission not out of helplessness, but to fulfill His mission—displaying divine power even in apparent defeat. Tyler makes a poignant comparison between Jesus and Peter. While Jesus stood strong under trial, Peter denied even knowing Him. Three times. To strangers. Around a fire. This comparison hits hard. It convicts us—but it also comforts. Because while Peter faltered, Jesus never did.
And here lies the beauty of the Gospel: Jesus knew Peter would fail. And He loved him anyway. This reminds us that integrity isn’t about perfection—it’s about the alignment of our actions with our values. Peter stumbled, but Jesus remained faithful.
So, trust Jesus—not because of religion, tradition, or obligation, but because of who He is. He can withstand your doubts, your questions, your wrestling, your scrutiny. Put Him on trial, and you’ll find someone worth following— not because He demands obedience, but because He wins hearts. Will you test Him for yourself—and let His steady, trustworthy character draw you to faith and reflection?
This message is part two of our Easter series titled "Real", focused on the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life. This week, Tyler’s message centers on the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, highlighting Jesus’ soul-crushing obedience, internal anguish, and his ultimate surrender to God’s will.
“Does your faith cost only Jesus something—or does it cost you something too?”
Tyler emphasizes that following Jesus involves sacrifice, not just salvation. Drawing from Luke 14 and Matthew 26, his message calls believers to "count the cost" of discipleship—bearing one’s cross and surrendering fully, as Jesus did in Gethsemane. The garden scene reveals the depth of Christ’s emotional and spiritual pain before the crucifixion—and how, even in that distress, he chose God’s will over his own.
Gethsemane reminds us: Jesus didn’t want to suffer—but he chose to. Christianity is not about convenience or comfort—it’s about cruciform obedience. Discipleship is painful. It calls us to be present, to sacrifice, and to keep watch, even when we’d rather sleep.
Are we awake to our spiritual lives? Do we follow Jesus when it hurts—or only when it helps?
This Easter season, Tyler invites us to sit in the weight of Gethsemane, not rush past it to Easter Sunday. Because there is no resurrection without death. No glory without surrender.
Sunday, we started an Easter season sermon series that shows what it means to be a Christian and follow Jesus by digging into His last hours leading to the cross. You can’t follow Jesus if you don’t follow him all the way to the cross. The last 24 hours, as he goes to the cross, are sparked with some of the most electrifying truths of our faith: Earnest Imitation, Soul-Crushing Surrender, Public Integrity, Death-Defying Trust, Divine Power!
Terrence kicked off the series, Real, compelling us to have earnest imitation - to live our lives differently because of Jesus! To hold string to our church community, groups, and brothers and sisters in faith in the midst of our struggles and challenges. How do we emulate Jesus through how we love one another?
In our journey to live a life that honors God, we often find ourselves navigating through a series of steps that can guide us toward transformation. Over the past weeks, we've explored five foundational steps, and this weekend, Terrence delved into the final four steps that will help us restructure our lives and embrace a new identity in Christ.
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Restructuring Our Lives – Lean into God’s grace and His word to guide transformation, allowing humility and flexibility to navigate challenges.
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Persevering in Our New Identity – Stay committed despite setbacks, recognizing that obstacles are opportunities for growth.
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Stewarding Our Lives for God’s Glory – Reflect your devotion to God in how you manage your time, resources, and relationships.
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Devotion as the Secret Sauce – Like an athlete training for a race (1 Cor. 9:24-27), devotion fuels the journey through discipline and self-control.
To help us embrace a life of devotion and overcome sin, Terrence introduced a framework that has been helpful in his own journey: head, heart, and hands. Each step we take should consider these three areas of our lives.
• Head – Let grace reshape your thoughts and mindset.
• Heart – Let eternal hope motivate your actions and decisions.
• Hands – Implement intentional structure and accountability in daily life.
As we navigate our path forward, let us remember that healing is available. Whether you are dealing with past trauma or stubborn habits, God wants to heal you. Your story doesn’t have to remain the same forever. Embrace your identity as a chosen child of God, loved unconditionally and called to a purpose.
The Path Forward – The Podcast! In this episode, we explore what it truly means to have a contrite heart. We dive into the power of confession, the freedom that comes with acknowledging sin, and how embracing humility opens the door to deeper grace and restoration.
This week, Tyler continued in The Path Forward Series, focusing on the power of confession. His message is a powerful call to humility, repentance, and renewal, emphasizing that freedom is found in honest confession and God’s grace.
He challenges believers to stop ignoring their own sins and take personal responsibility through confession and repentance. It offers practical steps for confession and urges people to embrace God’s grace rather than hide behind self-righteousness.
Confession is not a burden—it is the gateway to freedom. It is the key to breaking free from sin’s hold and living a transformed life through Jesus Christ.
This episode of The Path Forward Podcast is one of a four-part series, focusing on spiritual growth, repentance, and overcoming persistent sin. Hosted by Terrence and Beka, this discussion centers on Psalm 51:17 and the concept of having a broken spirit in relation to repentance. The episode explores what it means to have a broken spirit, how it connects to personal transformation, and how God uses brokenness to shape character and faith.
This weekend, Corbin led our Lenten Worship & Prayer service with a powerful message about embracing repentance and God’s grace. He reminded us that God doesn’t seek perfection, achievements, or public displays of piety—He desires our hearts.
Repentance leads to freedom—it’s not about guilt or shame but about transformation and renewal in God’s love. While confession is the act of admitting wrongdoing, repentance goes deeper—it is a commitment to real change. True repentance not only acknowledges sin but also turns away from it, leading to lasting spiritual growth.
Without genuine repentance, confession alone can become empty. It may provide temporary relief from guilt, but it won’t prevent the same mistakes from happening again.
Terrence kicked off a new series, The Path Forward, focusing on overcoming sin and committing to a Christ-centered life. It emphasizes the importance of living dead to sin and alive in Christ, drawing from Romans 6:11-12:
“So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”
The message outlines a nine-step process for overcoming sin, based on the G4 counseling model, which many churches use to help people break free from sinful patterns. The sermon covers the first three steps, focusing on the mindset and posture that may prevent believers from taking them.
In this sermon, Damian Thompson leads us in wrapping up our Vapor series, which focuses on the book of Ecclesiastes. Damian shares that reading Ecclesiastes is like listening to those who have walked ahead of us and know where the bumps and difficulties are in life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil."
Damian explains that to fear God is really to respect Him. He helps us understand why we respect God by providing three key points.
- God is your creator. He is omnipotent and all-powerful in your trials and difficulties.
- God knows all. He is omniscient and has all knowledge in the midst of chaos. God makes sense of the chaos. In the midst of your chaos, He knows, and He provides peace.
- God is everywhere at the same time, always present. So, in the midst of catastrophe, pray when the pain intensifies because God is there. God is your creator, in full control, fighting on your behalf.
Damian compels us to understand and prioritize God in our lives, respecting Him and His commandments because He chose you. The master of who we are is our measure to love through the difficulties of this life. And this leads to the one last point: be in awe of God.
“Many have remembered God too late, but none too soon—so honor God while you’re young.”
This week’s sermon is part five of Vapor, a six-week series on Ecclesiastes exploring its timeless wisdom and the reality that life is fleeting—like vapor—without God at the center.
Tyler dives into Ecclesiastes’ urgent message: the importance of seeking God while young. No matter how young you are, you need God now. Everything else—wealth, pleasure, status—is meaningless apart from Him.
This week, Tyler delves into some of the darkest truths in Ecclesiastes, examining how injustice, suffering, and mortality shape human existence. It also offers a stark contrast between a worldview without God (leading to despair) and one with God (providing hope and purpose).
While Ecclesiastes paints a bleak picture of life without God, Christianity offers hope beyond suffering. Tyler presents three key truths that separate a Christian worldview from an atheistic one:
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God Suffers With Us
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God is Working Against Evil
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There Will Be Final Judgment and Justice
Ecclesiastes is honest about suffering, but Christianity offers a way to deal with it. Without God, suffering is meaningless. With God, suffering is part of a redemptive story.
~ Jesus entered suffering to show us that God cares.
~ Evil is not from God, but He is actively working against it.
~ Final judgment ensures that every wrong will be made right. ~ Christian hope is stronger than secular despair.
~ You can trade a worldview of indifference for one of purpose, love, and eternity.
This week at Northeast Christian Church, Tyler shared insights from Ecclesiastes on finding meaning and satisfaction in life's simple joys as part of the Vapor sermon series.
- Timing of Enjoyment: The time to enjoy life is now, not when circumstances are perfect. Everyday moments—like a warm coffee or a shared meal—are gifts from God meant to be cherished.
- Mindset of Enjoyment: Adopting a mindset of gratitude rather than entitlement helps us appreciate life’s blessings. Shifting focus from what we lack to what we have transforms envy into gratitude and discontentment into contentment.
- Surprise of Enjoyment: Enjoyment is a divine command. God desires our joy, as seen in Jesus' celebratory spirit during His life.
- Method of Enjoyment: True enjoyment requires discipline and self-control, ensuring it remains an act of worship that honors God.
Call to Joy: Embrace simple, daily joys as gifts of grace through practices like gratitude journaling, shared meals, or quiet reflection. These moments bring meaning to our lives and reflect heaven on earth. Join us for more profound wisdom in the Vapor series as we explore life’s fleeting yet meaningful moments.
Tyler opens the series Vapor, drawing from the Book of Ecclesiastes, by exploring two contrasting worldviews: "Over the Sun" and "Under the Sun," using principles of apologetics to examine their implications.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon presents a worldview "under the sun," where life is seen purely through a materialistic lens — as if everything that can be perceived with our senses is all that exists. This perspective aligns with atheism, which dismisses any spiritual dimension, and agnosticism, which questions whether the spiritual realm even matters. Ecclesiastes argues that this view, when fully embraced, leads to meaninglessness and despair. The pursuit of wealth, pleasure, or success ultimately feels empty because, in this worldview, there is no ultimate purpose or divine order behind it all.
However, Ecclesiastes invites us to adopt a different perspective: the "over the sun" worldview. This view looks beyond the material world to a higher reality where God exists, governs, and gives life meaning. By using apologetics — the defense and rational justification of faith — we can see that the "over the sun" perspective offers a deeper, more coherent understanding of life’s purpose. This view challenges the "under the sun" mindset with answers to some of life’s most fundamental questions:
- Purpose: Life isn’t random or accidental; it’s part of God’s intentional design.
- Value: Every human being has intrinsic value, created in the image of a loving and purposeful God.
- Morality: Objective moral standards exist, grounded in the character of a just and holy God.
- Love: We are made to love because we are loved by a God who is love itself.
- Hope: Death is not the end, and there is a final reckoning — a divine justice and the promise of eternal life beyond the grave.
Where do you stand in this debate of worldviews?
Is your perspective shaped more by what’s "under the sun," dismissing the possibility of God or any deeper meaning? Do you find it easy to devalue those you disagree with or shift your values based on circumstance? Do you struggle to hope for a future that goes beyond what you can see and touch?
Using apologetics, we can see that the "under the sun" worldview doesn’t offer a satisfying or sustainable answer to these questions. But the "over the sun" perspective, rooted in God’s revealed truth, gives us a foundation that brings meaning, purpose, and hope — even in the midst of life’s challenges.
Take time to reflect and pray. Ask God to show you where you might be living under the sun instead of embracing the deeper reality of life over the sun.
Welcome back to our first Books of the Bible for 2025! This week’s message was a deep dive into the book of Ecclesiastes, exploring its timeless wisdom and raw reflections on life's meaning.
Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us that life under the sun—pursuits of wealth, pleasure, and achievement—is like a vapor, fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying without God. It offers hope, emphasizing the importance of fearing God, obeying His commands, and remembering the certainty of judgment. With Jesus, judgment transforms from fear to comfort, offering eternal hope and the assurance of a meaningful life both now and forever.
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? - Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Tyler challenged us to reflect on whether our lives are aligned with God’s eternal purpose or caught up in temporary, worldly pursuits.
This week, Tyler invites us to approach faith as an experiment—a journey of exploration over the next 16 weeks to delve into Christian teachings and practices. By Easter, we are encouraged to reflect on how this intentional pursuit has shaped our lives.
He emphasizes the transformative power of spiritual exploration, urging us to embrace Jesus and experience the joy, peace, and eternal life found in Him. Drawing from C.S. Lewis, the message reveals how drawing closer to divine truth can bring profound and lasting change.
In a world where materialism and atheism often fail to satisfy our deepest emotional and existential needs, spiritual curiosity is growing. Through personal stories, cultural reflections, and theological insights, Tyler underscores Christianity’s enduring relevance in addressing life’s most pressing questions.
This is an invitation to embark on a journey of hope, meaning, and transformation. As we take up this challenge, we are reminded that God meets us where we are, guiding us toward the abundant life He promises.
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." – 1 John 4:9-10
Tyler & the team spend this weekend answering your BIGGEST questions… from church dynamics, theological questions, strategies for spiritual and community growth, and more!
In this message series, we explore how to find peace despite the situations, anxiety, stress, or challenges in this world. Mental health issues are at all-time highs, and the Bible provides answers to anchor us in the middle of uncertainty. Listen to each week of this series and prepare your hearts and minds for true peace this Christmas.
This week, Terrence leads us in a message focused on the Gospel over Grief. Grief is often associated with the loss of a loved one but can take on many forms of loss - a job, a house, a divorce, a dream, and other forms. At these times, we are called to lean into loss and walk through this with Jesus. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart. You will be heartbroken, and you will face challenges, but there is one who will journey with you through them. In these moments, Terrence encourages us to go to God, saying, " Reconcile me and use me today. I am confident that you will find a way for me in the future."
Hand over your pain. Psalm 25:8 shows the heart of God. He is big enough. We worship Him because he became a man who knew suffering and rose again so that we might find peace in an anxious world. May your struggles keep you near the cross, and may your bad days prove that God is good. May your whole life prove that God is good.
This weekend, Tyler reflects on Luke 2, recounting the birth of Jesus and its profound connection to finding meaning amidst a world of apathy, anxiety, and distractions.
The pervasive issue of "meh"—emotional apathy or languishing—has become one of today’s significant spiritual challenges, alongside a broader lack of purpose. While the holiday season is culturally celebrated as a time of joy, it often amplifies feelings of emptiness, as many find themselves overwhelmed by distractions and trivialities.
However, the message of Jesus's birth reveals a deeper truth: true meaning is found in sacrificial love for God and others. By embracing God’s purpose and living with intentionality and sacrifice, we can counter apathy and discover lasting peace and joy.
This Christmas, let us look beyond the noise and busyness of the season, rediscovering the hope and purpose that come through the birth of Christ.
Tyler continued in our Finding Peace in an Anxious World series focusing on Self-Denial over Self-Indulgence. He emphasized the dangers of materialism, and the transformative power of generosity and contentment rooted in faith. It begins with a reminder that worldly possessions are temporary and encourages gratitude for basic needs, warning against the destructive allure of wealth and comparison. Instead, true wealth is found in contentment, generosity, and faith.
Jesus gave up the treasures of heaven to make you His treasure.
What you need is not simply to resist money, what you need is to replace it entirely as the source of your deepest desires. When you see God dying to make you His treasure, money will cease to be the currency of your significance, or your security, or your comfort. When you grasp the gospel, money loses its grasp over you. So, think on His costly grace, and it'll change you into a giver.
"You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." - 2 Corinthians 8:9
This weekend, we began our mental health series on Finding Peace in an Anxious World as we prepare for the Christmas season. Drawing from John 1:1-18, Tyler emphasized Jesus as the Word—Creator, incarnate Savior, and source of spiritual rebirth— he contrasted the fleeting solutions offered by secular worldviews with the enduring hope and peace found through faith in Christ.
As we approach Christmas, Tyler challenged us to reflect deeply on our lives, embrace faith, and consider baptism as a step toward regeneration and healing. He reminded us that rediscovering Jesus as the heart of Christmas offers lasting joy, purpose, and hope.
The true essence of Christmas lies in the transformative power of the Gospel—a gift that renews our hearts and minds and points us to the ultimate source of peace in an anxious world.
This Sunday, Tyler concluded our final message in this year’s Bible Series by exploring the book of Malachi.
As the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi is often referred to as "God’s last word before Christmas." Tyler unpacked its rich historical context and themes, drawing meaningful connections between the Israelites’ struggles and our own lives today. He reminded us that waiting is not passive but a hopeful and faith-filled act of trust in God’s plan.
Just as the Israelites waited for the Messiah, Christians today wait for Christ’s return. This waiting isn’t passive—it’s an active expression of hope, trust, and perseverance.
Malachi’s message challenges us to examine our faith, rekindle our hope, and prepare our hearts for God’s ongoing work in our lives. For believers, it’s a call to renew our patience and trust in God’s plan. For those who are seeking or uncertain, it’s an invitation to faith—a reminder of life’s uncertainties and the importance of spiritual reconciliation.
As we wait for Christ’s return, may we hold fast to the lessons of Malachi, embracing hope and trusting in God’s faithfulness, just as the Israelites did before the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise.
Leviticus, often regarded as one of the Bible’s most challenging books, plays a vital role in bridging God's holiness with humanity's sinfulness and pointing to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the Levitical system.
It provides foundational insights into God’s character and His plan for humanity, underscoring the weight of sin, the necessity of atonement, and the beauty of holiness.
In Jesus, the principles of Leviticus find their perfect expression, enabling believers to live as priests and a holy nation. This message challenges Christians to embrace their priestly role, showcasing God’s glory in a world desperate for hope and light.
This weekend, Tyler emphasized the importance of handling post-election emotions constructively within a Christian framework. He opened with scripture from Micah 4:1-5, envisioning a peaceful and united future under God's guidance, and then gave us ten principles for moving forward after an election. These principles encourage us to embrace and manage our emotions, maintain respectful witness in public forums, especially social media, and prioritize local unity and neighborly love.
Let’s focus on unity in Christ above political differences, reminding Christians of God’s sovereignty over human history.
Jesus is King!
Tune in to hear Terrence and Beka talk about how we can have more intimacy with God and how you can take that in your daily life!
Terrence wrapped up our “Made for This” series concentrating on Intimacy with God. He emphasized the Holy Spirit's pivotal role in deepening our relationship with God by developing an ongoing friendship with the Holy Spirit. This relationship, built through openness, prayer, and time, allows believers to experience the Holy Spirit's guidance, comfort, and empowerment in all areas of life. By consistently inviting the Holy Spirit's presence, believers can experience personal transformation, emotional healing, and deepened faith, finding strength and joy even amid trials.
By having a renewed dedication to building a friendship with the Holy Spirit, intimacy with God is possible through partnership, availability, and openness.
When you make yourself available to the Holy Spirit, you make yourself available to the goodness and promises of God. So, would you be willing and available to open yourself to the Holy Spirit and simply say have your way?
Tune in to hear Terrence and Beka talk with Colin Lyman, our Young Adult Pastor, about how we can be more missional and intentional.
In the “Made For This” series, Tomara’s message on Missional Intentionality serves as a reminder to live “on mission, on purpose”—boldly and consistently bringing God’s love and purpose into every facet of life. At Northeast, Missional Intentionality means seeing every area—home, city, work (school), and church—as a mission field. Unleashing Love in All Areas of Life At the heart of Missional Intentionality is the call to “Unleash Love,” which reflects God’s love in a sacrificial and persistent way. Northeast encourages believers to “walk the walk” of Christ-like love and “talk the talk” of faith when the time is right, using actions and words to make a genuine impact. Living "On Mission, On Purpose" * Definition: Living "on mission, on purpose" involves intentional actions aligned with God’s purpose, where every interaction is an opportunity to share faith and demonstrate Christ’s love. * Vision: Tomara emphasizes that God has placed each of us in our specific roles and settings to impact others. Living on mission means seeing each arena—home, city, work (school), and church—as a ministry field. * Encouragement: By loving others proactively and embodying Christian values, believers can be “a city on a hill,” visibly shining God’s love. Key Scriptural Foundations 1. John 15:1-8 – Jesus as the Vine: This passage stresses the importance of believers “remaining in Him” to bear lasting fruit, drawing spiritual strength from their connection to Jesus. 2. Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission) – Jesus calls His followers to spread the gospel and make disciples. This proactive engagement is essential to living missional lives. Takeaways from Scripture: * Staying Connected: Believers are encouraged to regularly draw strength from Jesus through prayer and spiritual practices. * Sharing the Gospel: The Great Commission urges Christians to share their faith and invite others into the community of believers. Creating a Personal "Love the ‘Ville" Playbook To live with Missional Intentionality, Tomara invites us to create a “Love the ‘Ville” Playbook, a practical plan to live missionally across various spheres of life: 1. Identify one way to unleash love in each area—Home, City, Work (or School), and Church. 2. Record the plans in a journal or digital notes app. 3. Share your goals with a friend for accountability. 4. Pray over the playbook to seek guidance and focus. 5. Evaluate regularly to stay committed and intentional. By embracing Missional Intentionality, we align our everyday lives with God’s purpose, transforming each moment into an opportunity to demonstrate sacrificial love, stay connected to Christ, and share the good news with those around us.
Terrence is back with the latest episode of our Made for This podcast, and he dives into the topic of Public Witness with Beka—how our lives reflect our faith both in and outside the church. From the workplace to the neighborhood, they discuss living a life that testifies to God’s goodness.
What if you are here, right now, in the world for a purpose and a reason? We believe this! We believe that our purpose, morality, and mission are discovered through God. In this sermon, we jump off John 8 and Matthew 5, which shows us that part of our purpose is to be the light. Jesus says He is the source (fire) for which we are to be filled up to shine His light to others.
Our light is our witness to a better, more beautiful, more fitting way of life for the many lost, suffering, and searching for love, peace, and identity. Today, the cultural assumption is that truth is subjective, so they need to understand the heart aspect first. Show them the goodness of Jesus first, then they will believe.
And hear this church, public witness is a team sport. The more lamps shining, the more hospitable the city. Our willingness to trust in God is a declaration: "So may your light be good, before others, glorifying God, a city of light to the world in the darkness."
Check out our videos to learn more about us, or visit us at necchurch.org. Follow us on Facebook: @NECChurch and Instagram: @northeast.church
Tune in to hear from Terrence and Lindsey Weber, our Elementary Ministry leader for K-2, to hear about what it means to be faithful to the truth and how we can take that and apply it to our personal lives!
This week, Terrence continued in the "Made for This" series, focusing on Faithfulness to the Truth. He highlighted different ways people receive God’s word, depending on their heart's condition: the path (word snatched by distractions), rocky ground (faith without depth), thorns (faith choked by life's concerns), and good soil (persevering faith that bears fruit).
Believers are urged to examine their faithfulness by reflecting on whether they are letting distractions or life's challenges hinder their spiritual growth. True faithfulness involves honesty about one's condition, holding onto God's truth through trials, and enduring the cost of following Jesus. Faithful Christians prioritize God's will over worldly concerns, aligning their emotions and actions with Jesus' teachings.
He challenged us to live out our faith through perseverance, joyful obedience, and submission to God’s will. Practical steps to cultivate faithfulness include surrounding oneself with a community of believers, being honest about personal sins, and focusing on Jesus as the ultimate source of hope. Terrence asked us to examine ourselves, ensuring that our faith is rooted, active, and bearing fruit for God's kingdom.
This podcast episode, an extension of the "Made for This" series at Northeast, focuses on the theme of "Love for Neighbor." Host Terrence introduces Kris Eldridge, the local Outreach Pastor, who shares his background in ministry and family life. They discuss the biblical concept of loving one's neighbor, particularly referencing the Good Samaritan story. Kris emphasizes that true neighborly love transcends boundaries and should extend to everyone, regardless of differences. He highlights the importance of being intentional in loving neighbors through everyday actions and community involvement. Kris shares practical ways his family engages with their neighbors, such as hosting gatherings, praying for them, and inviting them to church events. They also touch on broader outreach efforts, including partnerships with local schools and nonprofits, and the significance of serving marginalized communities. The conversation encourages listeners to reflect on how they can actively love and support those around them in meaningful ways.
This weekend, we kicked off a powerful five-week series, Made For This, centered around the core values that define Northeast Christian Church. These values—Love for Neighbor, Faithfulness to Truth, Public Witness, Missional Intentionality, and Intimacy with God—are at the heart of what it means to follow Jesus. Tyler passionately reminded us that we are "Made For This," uniquely created by God to live out these principles, even when the world resists the idea of a divinely given purpose. He also delved into the practical side of loving our neighbor, highlighting the importance of pursuing justice for the marginalized, showing love to our enemies, and fostering compassion for strangers, particularly across ethnic and cultural differences.
In this sermon, part of our Books of the Bible Series, we dig into the Book of Esther. Esther is a dramatic story about God working in the lives of His people from behind the scenes in the most unlikely people, in the most places. It is a story of courage and faith. While this is the only book in the Bible that does not actually talk about God, it has a clear agenda to teach people about God and His plan. Ultimately, through Esther, the Messianic line from Abraham, Moses, to David is preserved. God's hand is all over this story.
Like Esther, we live in a superpower country. And like Esther, we are each called by God to lead in times such as these. There is a purpose far bigger than we could imagine on our own. God is always speaking to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's find God in the coincidences of our world and look forward to where God is leading us.
Earthly kings—whether in ancient Israel or modern politics—will always fall short. As we journey through 1 & 2 Kings, these books show how Israel’s monarchs, from Solomon to the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, consistently failed to uphold God’s covenant, leading to the nation's downfall. Despite this, Tyler highlights the covenant promise to David, which points to Jesus Christ as the true and eternal King.
Tyler encouraged us to turn away from political idolatry and place our faith in Jesus, who fulfills God's promises and establishes an everlasting kingdom. Drawing theological lessons from the historical narrative, he examines key moments, including Solomon’s disobedience, the divided monarchy, and the role of prophets like Elijah and Elisha. Ultimately, the message is that while human leaders will always fail, the hope of salvation lies in Christ, the King of Kings. Today, will you turn away from political idolatry and place your faith in Jesus, the King of Kings?
This weekend, we had the privilege of welcoming guest speaker Heather Gorman, who led us through an enriching study of the book of Hebrews as part of our Bible Series.
Hebrews stands out as a profound book, delving into themes of faith, suffering, and the nature of Jesus Christ. Central to its message is the powerful affirmation of Jesus' supremacy. The author of Hebrews carefully compares Jesus to key figures in Jewish tradition—not to diminish their importance, but to emphasize that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s revelation. He is presented as both fully divine and fully human, uniquely capable of understanding our struggles.
For believers who are weary or disillusioned, Hebrews offers a message of hope. It reassures us that Jesus, in His divinity and humanity, knows our trials intimately and is ever-present to help. We are reminded that we do not walk this journey alone; our faith is strengthened in community as we support one another while keeping our eyes on Christ.
Above all, Hebrews calls us to persevere, even when life feels disorienting. It encourages us to hold fast to our faith, knowing that Jesus is with us every step of the way, offering His strength and understanding.
"When life is disorienting, don’t give up on your faith."
This weekend, Terrence concluded our Intentional Parenting series with a powerful message on Finding Rest as a Parent. He emphasized the importance of discovering spiritual rest amid the challenges of parenting, drawing wisdom from Psalm 23, reminding us of God's faithful provision and protection in every season of life, especially when the challenges feel overwhelming. As parents, we are invited to surrender our need for control, place our trust in God’s loving guidance, and continuously lean on Jesus for strength, wisdom, and peace. This message serves as a profound reminder that true rest doesn’t come from a break in our responsibilities but the ultimate source of rest comes from living as a sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Have you experienced the rest that only God can offer? "Rest is a practice, a posture, a purpose—and it flows from work that has already been completed."
In week four of our Intentional Parenting series, Tyler shares recent sociological data, which notes a trend that many parents are unintentionally passing down a diluted form of Christianity that prioritizes the pursuit of happiness and success—essentially a Christianized version of the American Dream—over a deep, transformative relationship with God. While it’s natural for parents to want their children to be happy and successful, these should not be the primary goals of Christian parenting. Instead, parents should focus on nurturing a faith that prepares their children for eternal life. To find more resources, visit https://www.necchurch.org/intentional-parenting-resources/.
This is week three of our Intentional Parenting Sermon Series, packed with equipping resources for parents and anyone who invests in our next generation. In this sermon, Tyler shared insights from a book by Jonathan Haidt called The Anxious Generation, which argues that in the last few decades, Americans have made two contradictory choices about the safety of our children. We have become way too protective in the real world and not protective enough in the digital world. And guess what? Both are taking a spiritual toll on our kids.
Let's be a church that fosters genuine community for our kids and teaches them about their identity in Christ. Let's work to combat what is stealing hope and joy from our kids and set boundaries to protect them. Let's pass down a faith that sustains them for a lifetime.
To discover the parent resources for this series, be sure to visit necchurch.org/resources/
In this bonus episode in our Intentional Parenting Series, we discuss the topics of mental health, screens, and much more!
In week 2 of the Intentional Parenting series, Tyler focuses on The Best Parenting Style According to the Data.
Parenting is a significant responsibility that shapes the future of children, influencing not only their character but also their faith. The "Intentional Parenting" sermon series is designed to equip Christian parents with the tools and strategies necessary to raise their children in a faith-centered home. By adopting the authoritative parenting style, engaging in daily faith conversations, and maintaining a united, faith-centered marriage, parents can effectively pass down their beliefs and prepare their children for a life rooted in faith.
So, what is your vision for your kids? If it’s not centered on Him, it’s too small to carry them through this life. If you give them Jesus, no matter where the road leads—you can rest assured knowing that He will be with them. And there’s no one better to walk beside them than our King Jesus.
Train children to live the right way, and when they are old, they will not stray from it. - Proverbs 22:6
In this new series, Intentional Parenting, we will explore what it means and what it takes to pass down our faith to the next generation. We will not just talk about it; we will provide helpful tools and support along the way.
In today's message, Tyler focuses on the biggest influence on our kids today. Guess what, parents? It's you! Research indicates that the best predictor of what any American religious life will be like in adulthood is how their parents held their religious beliefs while raising them. The power of parental influence has remained stable since the 1970s; however, there has been a decline in religiosity among American Christians. In this message, we will examine how parents can use their influence to develop faith in their kids that will sustain them for a lifetime. Be sure to check out the parent resource tool to audit your parenting skills and help you understand how you can nurture faith with your kids.
Find the resource tool on our resource webpage necchurch.org
In the final week of the "Survivor’s Guide to an Election Year" series, Tyler encouraged us to reclaim our attention from the media, reject partisan narratives, and focus on local community issues. Drawing from the early church's prayer in Acts 4:29-31, he emphasized missional urgency and the healing power of faith, calling for boldness in preaching the word of God. By prioritizing our faith, unity, and values, we can more effectively navigate the political chaos.
Ultimately, our goal is to reflect the love of Christ in all that we do, creating a positive impact within our communities and beyond. Together, we can survive and thrive in this election year, guided by our faith and commitment to one another.
Your challenge this summer is to get in shape spiritually, mentally, and physically. Want to learn more about the Summer 60 Challenge? Visit https://necchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2336562.
This weekend, Tyler continued in our series “How to Survive an Election Year”, focusing on how political disagreements have affected friendships, families, and church dynamics, urging a return to unity under Christian values.
Politics and personal relationships can be tricky, but this message encourages Christians to prioritize their faith and unity in Christ over political affiliations. By doing so, the church can maintain its unity and purpose despite the political turbulence. The call to action is clear: Christians should engage in politics without losing sight of their spiritual mission and shared identity in Christ. Through worship, mission work, and personal healing, the church can remain a united and strong witness to the world.
The sermon encourages Christians to ground their political conversations and positions in the word of God. It references Philippians 1:27-30 as a guiding passage, urging believers to live as citizens of heaven, standing together in one spirit and purpose.
This week, Tyler urged us as Christians to engage in politics with a measured allegiance to government, a commitment to love and dignity, a realistic view of human nature, an uncompromising moral compass, and a fearless hope in Jesus. And, emphasized the need for prayer, revival, and a transformative approach to political engagement that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God.
Survival Guide 2024
“Above all, [we will] live as citizens of heaven, conducting [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”
Philippians 1:27-30
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
This week, Terrence wrapped up week 3 of the “How to be a Witness” series, urging us to accept the call to be prepared witnesses for Jesus, ready to speak boldly wherever we are placed.
“Accept the call to be a prepared witness for Jesus.... willing to use words…right where God has you.”
As Christians, we are called to embody two essential roles:
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Evangelist: Those who share the good news of Jesus and the Christian faith.
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Apologist: Those who defend and explain the truth of Jesus and the Christian faith.
When we defend and explain the truth of the Christian faith, remember that our posture matters because we are sharing "good news." Ask yourself if you are abiding in Christ before you speak, be intent on listening, and know your story. You can always use Terrence's C.S.I. method—calm conversation, simple questions, and in-context scriptures—to help you through difficult conversations. Through prayer, understanding, and practical application, the church can fulfill its mission to make disciples of all nations.
Terrence recommended other resources to help us better understand how to witness effectively. You can find it here: https://www.necchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-to-be-a-witmess-week-3-slidespdf.pdf
This week, Terrence continued with week 2 of the “How to be a Witness” series, urging us to accept the call to be prepared witnesses for Jesus, ready to speak boldly wherever we are placed. “Accept the call to be a prepared witness for Jesus.... willing to use words…right where God has you.” As Christians, we are called to embody two essential roles: * Evangelist: Those who share the good news of Jesus and the Christian faith. * Apologist: Those who defend and explain the truth of Jesus and the Christian faith. These roles are crucial for addressing questions and misconceptions about Christianity. The call to be a witness for Jesus is both a privilege and a responsibility. By relying on the Holy Spirit, engaging in meaningful conversations, and approaching evangelism with gratitude and nuance, believers can bridge the gap between the positive perception of Jesus and the less favorable view of Christianity. Through prayer, understanding, and practical application, the church can fulfill its mission to make disciples of all nations.
This Sunday, Terrence Turman kicked off a 3-week series “How to be a Witness”.
In Acts 1:7-8 and Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands us to make disciples and be witnesses of His teachings.
Living a life dedicated to Christ can be uncomfortable and challenging with an internal war between the call of Christ and the call of personal desires, emotions, and the pursuit of a comfortable life. But, through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit, you can receive the strength and guidance to empower you in Christ’s mission to share the gospel.
We have been strategically placed to be a light in the darkness and guide others toward Jesus. Will you seize everyday opportunities to share your faith right where you are?
Physical Health Made Simple
Your challenge this summer is to get in shape spiritually, mentally, and physically. Check back on July 23rd for the second podcast on Soul Care Made Simple.
Want to learn more about the Summer 60 Challenge? Visit, https://necchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2336562.
This weekend, Jon Weece from Southland Christian Church in Lexington joined us as a guest speaker for Father’s Day. His focus was that Godly men have their priorities in alignment with God’s priorities.
He listed 6 ways men are biblically called to engage:
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Grow by crucifying our emotions and appetites.
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Provide for others.
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Protect the people that matter to them.
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Lead with character.
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We restore by bringing life.
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Stay focused and be determined to avoid distraction.
What can you do to encourage men around you to help align their priorities with God?
In this message, we welcome Professor Jamey Gorman to teach about the importance of church unity. Understanding our history allows us to make better decisions going forward. Unity is one of our vision targets as a church, and we are working on supporting other churches also so that more may know the name of Jesus
Don’t you love the book of James? It’s filled with challenges and wisdom. It’s raw, real, and more direct than any other book in the Bible and it’s even more compelling when we learn about the man who wrote it. James, the younger brother of Jesus, only experienced conversion after he saw his risen Brother. His conversion is one of the biggest proofs of the resurrection of Jesus. James later became the leader of the early Christian church, a writer, and ultimately was martyred for his faith. More than any other writer, James leans directly into Jesus’ teaching and challenges each of us to put our faith into action. How did the son of a poor carpenter become so brilliant? … Because he became a slave to Jesus. May we all have faith like James.
1:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
You’re challenge today is – You have heard from James- now go do!
“Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” - Amos 5:24
Want to know God’s opinions on social justice? Look no further than the book of Amos. It’s a harsh book full of warning. God is just. And He links the sins of injustice and oppression with idolatry. This prophetic book is jam-packed with judgments and pleas for Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations. But, even despite the coming judgment for these unrepentant people, God will remain faithful in the end.
This weekend, we celebrated what God has done over the past 10 Years of Love the ‘Ville!
Love The ‘Ville isn’t just a motto – it’s a movement. To Love the ‘Ville means to unleash God’s love into every area of our lives. We started by asking our neighbors, “How can we help?” one Sunday morning, and it has grown into a year-round movement of loving our schools, city, and world!
Yesterday, Tyler wrapped up our Roots to Branches message series sharing Jesus’ radical views on family undermining traditional and progressive views.
No matter where you came from, or what your family looks like… your family's pain does not define your future.
If you just choose to believe there is a big family here to hold you up!
The Good News is that the blood of Jesus covers many sins. We are stuck together. Together, we are the family of God.
We hope this challenging series has impacted you personally to reflect on your blessings, acknowledge past hurts, the power of praying over your family, and embrace the spiritual tool of forgiveness and selflessness. And most importantly to embrace your future forever family of God - your church.
This weekend, Terrence gave us the second of two spiritual tools to unleash the power of God in our families. Living a selfless life.
This is the 2nd key to unlocking generational change in our family through God’s power.
So, how do you practice this? Gratitude, humility, and intentionality.
You are a better person and a better Christian, when your life is aiming at the harder and more costly things of God.
The last two weeks, we’ve focused on the past - both brokenness and blessings. It’s vital for us to learn and honor the blessings of the past, but also to redeem the brokenness that was handed down to us. This weekend, we moved from past to present, and Tyler gave us the first of two spiritual tools to unleash the power of God in our families. Forgiveness.
We don’t earn forgiveness by forgiving others, we prove we’re forgiven when we forgive others.
Christian forgiveness is a loving gift of unearned grace. It does not circumvent social justice or restorative discipline. And it does not destroy the sinner, but rather it seeks to heal and convert the sinner.
The forgiveness of Jesus is better. Before we come to Jesus with a broken heart, fall on our knees and beg, or offer restitution… He’s already paid the debt. In the middle of our sins, Jesus loves us so much that he has already done the work to forgive us before we ask for it.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8
Family forgiveness is hard, but it’s essential. And by the power of Christ in you, you can forgive.
On Sunday, Tomara taught on Generational Blessings; part of our Roots to Branches message series. Real blessings draw us back to God. She asked us to look back in our lives and find nuggets of blessings and reminded us that we have been blessed to be a blessing. We are to move into the world from blessing, not for blessing.
So, how have God and your parents blessed you? Your challenge this week is the 3 Blessing Exercise. Each day this week, take time to name what we are thankful for. Think about the brokenness in your life and name it. Ask God to turn this brokenness into blessing.
The brokenness I was given was ______ but by the power of Jesus, I want to bring ______.
This weekend, Tyler continued in our series Roots to Branches talking about Family Relationships and focusing on Generational Brokenness. Family relationships are powerful and have a lasting impact and demand on us.
One of the main points of this weekend is that we cannot overestimate the impact your family of origin has had on who you are. We all have things from our family of origin that can be negative. We also know that we can be the ones to break those cycles with the power of God.
This past Sunday, we welcomed Mark Moore here from Christ Church of the Valley in Arizona to launch our series Roots to Branches where we will dig into developing healthier family relationships. Marked focused on wisdom through the example of Solomon, the wisest man in the world. In Solomon’s story, we see that parenting and relationship failures happen when we stray from God.
Wisdom is not what you know, it’s what you model.
Mark challenged us to read Proverbs this month and to point out the top 10 Proverbs that you can work on with your family or in your home. Take a moment today to read the Proverbs Resources (https://shorturl.at/CKZ05) that Mark shared and reflect on what you are modeling in your family.
We loved celebrating our risen savior here at Northeast with you! At Easter, we remember the core of our faith and why we have hope. Because He rose, we have forgiveness of sins, a clear purpose for our lives, and freedom from the fear of death. “He is risen - and so shall we be!”
Today, we wrap up our message series, A Journey into Captivity—A Study of Galatians. Today's message centers on preservation. Paul reminds us to stay true to Jesus' teaching and not be swayed by others' attempts to add to it or change it. False teaching puts free people back in chains, and Paul points us back to the truth. Let's be a church that stays true to the gospel and helps others find freedom in Jesus, in spite of a current culture that encourages the deconstruction of faith.
In this message, Damian Thompson continues our study of Galatians with the topic of Perseverance.
Persevere through your storms.
To persevere through the difficulties in life is a reminder that God is good, his mercy endures, and he is faithful. Damian reminds us that if the problem made it to you, that’s how you know you can endure it. Because God has already tested it, and He proved that you’re able to bear it. So just hold on.
Be proud of who God called you to be. Stay faithful to his word. And don’t let anybody try to disqualify you from walking according to his plan. Because if God called you, he also will perfect you. Patiently wait for him to bring you out of your storm. You just simply have to persevere.
Terrence continues in our series “A Journey Into Captivity - A Study of Galatians” focusing on Reconciliation.
Reconciliation is a state of being. It’s a reality that you live in. It's living in a restored state and renewed practices of relating to one another. It's the sense that reconciliation requires a group of people to embody their shared identity and walk together toward the same goals and outcomes. And that is established through the finished work of Christ.
Jesus says, pick up your cross and follow me. And saying yes to Jesus is crucifying yourself daily for His purposes and His way. There is nothing significant about us except for the cross of Christ. There’s nothing we have to offer or that brings more meaning, purpose, and value to the life of a believer except the cross of Christ. Living in reconciliation with one another is embracing new creation - identity. It’s making much of the cross and little of our preferences, preoccupations, and presumptions.
Mark Moore continues in our series “A Journey Into Captivity - A Study of Galatians” focusing on Mortification.
There is a truth of life that applies in many areas, and that by limiting our freedom we are more free.
We are most free when we are most dead.
Mark highlighted three practices and challenged us to take on one of them this week as a way of combatting the flesh:
Fasting—Skip three meals one day this week. This is a sacrifice of pleasure. This counters the lust of the flesh.
Generosity—give something away that is important to you. This is a sacrifice of material goods. This counters the lust of the eyes. (Story of the Pulpit Commentary)
Service—Dedicate 3 hours of your week to offer a skill you have that you could use to Love the Ville in a tangible way this week. This is a sacrifice of time. This counters the boastful pride of life.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” - Colossians 3:5
Lent and this prayer and worship service offer us all the same thing… opportunity. What might it mean for us as individuals, but also as a congregation and as a community, to look deeply into the reality of our souls and be reminded why Good Friday and Easter had to happen? Easter is a season of celebration, but it is also a season of reckoning. It's a time when we come face to face with the reality that Jesus had to die because humanity didn't have the capacity to die to ourselves. One had to die so that many could have life. Even in that truth, today we have the privilege to live on the other side of the resurrection.
On Sunday, Tyler continued our study of Galatians by focusing on Sanctification following Galatians 5:16-23. Paul explains that the Holy Spirit is present to guide us and produce fruit in our lives as we depend on Him. We must trust in the Holy Spirit for guidance, since following our heart can let us down.
How can we tune into the voice of Holy Spirit so that He will be our guide?
In this message, Tyler continues our study of Galatians with the topic of liberation. Not only has the Holy Spirit freed us from the Law, He also guides us into the new law; the law of other-focused love. We are warned to not chain ourselves or others back to the old law (Legalism) and also to not selfishly indulge in our freedom found in Christ (Antinomianism). Which extreme do you tend to lean? How can you fix your eyes on your new identity in Christ as a freed prisoner as well as someone who submits to the Spirit?
Tyler continued our Galatians series this weekend, focusing on the topic of Adoption. He reminded us that we are all trapped in the slavery of sin with orphan hearts. But, God wants to restore our hearts and break the chains of bondage. He has already paid the debt and set us free. So, will you remind yourself of your identity today? That you are already adopted by the Most High, the One who claims, protects, nurtures, and parents you. You are no longer a slave but God’s own child. Galatians 4:4-7; Galatians 3:26-29
Tyler continues in our series “A Journey Into Captivity – A Study of Galatians” focusing on Justification.
Are you living in an awareness of God’s grace?
We are all guilty of sin and deserving of punishment. We try to justify ourselves but find that we can’t. But we have been justified through faith in Christ. And through faith, Jesus’ perfect righteousness is credited to us. What’s true of Jesus (his crucifixion and resurrection) becomes true of us. Salvation is received, not achieved. We don’t have to prove we’re not bad… we’ve been pardoned. We don’t have to prove we’re special… we’ve been declared righteous. We don’t need to earn peer affirmation… we’ve been given a family.
It’s all GRACE!
We know that a person is justified not by the works of law but through faith in Jesus Christ. – Galatians 2:16
In this message, Terrence Turman continues in our study of the Book of Galatians, focusing on "Revelation". A revelation is the idea of removing a veil to see things clearly. In Galatians, we hear from Paul, a man who experiences a personal unveiling, allowing him to see Jesus as his savior. Paul went from persecuting the Church to proclaiming the sovereignty of Jesus. Seeing Jesus clearly changes everything, allows us to submit to His will, and produces a life of transformation. “Where do you see God pointing and revealing himself to you?”
Tyler kicked off the first Sunday of January with a bible study weekend walking through Galatians.
The goal is to better understand the historical circumstances underneath all the doctrine. It turns the book into real life, not just telling you what’s going on, but giving you the story beneath the story.
This letter from Paul to Galatia is a specific vision for a new creation community. He says it's a multi-ethnic, no jew, no gentile, slave or free, male or female. It’s a multiethnic, nonprejudicial, family-like community that's prioritizing faith in Jesus and learning to follow the spirit. Living in the freedom of love, that's safeguarding the integrity of the true gospel, and that is sharing it with everyone, no matter their country, color, class, or culture. Over the next 11 weeks, we’ll spend 9 weeks journeying through the book of Galatians and we hope you’ll join us!
On New Year’s Eve, we concluded our “Finding Peace in an Anxious World” series. Tyler emphasized the significance of self-denial over self-fulfillment.
Many of us are trapped in the pursuit of worldly self-fulfillment, but Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. God’s way is the best, and without it, our lives will be incomplete. It’s extraordinary to entrust yourself into the hands of God, who created us, knows us better than ourselves, loves us more than we love ourselves, and wants to guide us toward freedom and prosperity. However, we must let go of our old ways of living to experience this new life, which starts with baptism.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. – Romans 6:4
What an incredible weekend of Christmas services celebrating the birth of Jesus!
If you’re seeking for someone to heal your heart, guide a lost soul home, or point the way to the path of peace. Jesus can. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus, and Him alone, is all you need this Christmas. His goodness is endless, it’s eternal. And we pray you find HOPE in him.
“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” – Luke 1:78-79
This weekend, we continued our series Finding Peace in an Anxious World, where Tyler focused on Doctrine > Desire.
What does this exactly mean? You will find more peace when you allow God to direct your life and you will find more anxiety when you allow your desires to direct your life. But it’s your choice.
Jesus can lead you to your innermost desires because He will lead you to the way of the cross. And it’s the cross-shaped love of Jesus that sets you free. We don’t have to figure out life on our own. He invites you today to choose His way over your way, just like he did the disciples 2,000 years ago – one step at a time. Just “come and see”.
We are in week 4 of the series Finding Peace in an Anxious World, and Tyler focuses his message on Local Presence over Omnipresence. Omnipresent - “always present”. God is always present everywhere all the time. God alone is… Omnipresent (all-present), Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing). While Christmas is supposed to be about incarnation (God becoming human), we make it about excarnation (humans becoming God). Rather than focusing on our local presence, we strive for God’s omnipresence. Simply, there are things we cannot do, expectations we cannot meet, goals we cannot achieve, sins we cannot erase, wounds we cannot heal, shame we cannot remove, guilt we cannot forgive… and an enemy we cannot defeat on our own. But God can. Jesus has, and he's inviting you. He’s inviting you to accept that victory and join the army. It’s the ultimate admission that you're not God, that you're not omnipresent, you're not omnipotent, you're not omniscient. It's asking God to do for you what you can’t do for yourself.
We’re in week 3 of our Finding Peace in an Anxious World series, and this weekend Tyler encouraged us to choose perseverance in a society that is anxious because of its fragility.
The ultimate goal of this series is to equip you with the spiritual truths, strategies, and resources to combat the anxiety that many of us are feeling and often becomes intensified during this Christmas season.
Anxiety, depression, and pain are not new; they have been present throughout history, and we can see this in almost every character in the Bible, including Jesus. However, Jesus is the path to peace and victory, not chaos and death. God created you because he wanted you and stamped you with his image. You are not an accident, and even in the midst of sin and rebellion, God still pursues you. Jesus was born to bring peace beyond understanding and courage to overcome your circumstances.
Remember, these words provide not only peace but victory and courage as well. John 16:33 states, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Our human nature is not God-centered, but self-centered.
None of these worldly things have any real power to cure the human heart or heal our sins, but Jesus does.
You must walk out of the darkness into the light if you want to find peace in an anxious world, you must choose confession over concealment. So, where is your darkness? Where is your sin? How can confession become a part of your spiritual journey? Where do you need to start?
When your honesty collides with the mercy of Christ, deliverance happens.
This weekend, we began a new series on Finding Peace in an Anxious World as we prepare for the Christmas season. Terrence spoke about the power of Hope over Despair, that it's not just a mere feeling, but a participation and a commitment. In the Christian life, hope is about being fully committed to a Christian mind. John 14:27 reminds us of the gift of peace that is available to us: "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." We want to invite you to join us next Sunday as we continue our discussion on Confession over Concealment, where we can explore ways to find peace and comfort in our lives.
This weekend, we celebrated how God is working in the life of our church through Global Outreach!
Love the ‘Ville Outreach unleashes the love of Jesus in our city and beyond. We partner with global organizations to empower locals and meet the unique needs of their communities by building sustainable ministries. They show what it means to Love the ‘Ville right where they are. You’re invited to join us. Jesus is Why!
This weekend, Tyler finished a series called The Story of the Bible in 14 Books with the Book of Revelation. Revelation is a letter John wrote to seven churches in Asia, unveiling the truth of Jesus Christ.
We often come to the Book of Revelation looking for answers about the future or ignore it entirely because it is confusing. Revelation is a blessing for all readers and exists to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, challenging us to choose a side in the epic battle between good and evil. It is a reminder that God is sovereign and wins in the end. No matter today's struggle, the eternal tomorrow in heaven offers peace. So, don't give in to evil and remain focused on Jesus.
That is a blessing for all who follow Jesus!
Be sure to visit our resource webpage to dig in further into the study of Revelation.
In this episode, we discover the power in the writings of Paul through the letter of Philemon. This letter is only 355 words, yet Paul clearly describes to Philemon and the entire body of Christ's followers that having faith in Jesus is to live with radical grace. Paul speaks directly about the tension of the culture and how those with faith in Jesus are supposed to handle disputes. We are called to be a church of unity and grace because of the righteousness we have received from God. We are called to share this radical grace, restorative love, and unity with the world.
Love has a name, His name is Jesus.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses specific issues the Corinthian church is having and shows them how the Gospel, when properly applied, solves the problem.
Love is the answer.
Love in 1 Corinthians
- I will put your good before my own.
- I will put your flourishing before my freedom.
- I will put your growth before my comfort.
- I will put God’s way before our wants.
This is Biblical love
- Love is self-sacrificial.
- Love is truth.
- Love is unconditional.
- Love is unmerited.
- Love is wise and discerning.
- Love is the power of God.
What are you facing today? Paul says, face it with the Gospel, and you’re going to win. The cross-shaped love of Jesus always wins.
We’re back in our Bible Series as Tyler unpacks the book of Romans. The Letter to the Romans focuses on meeting the people, seeing their problems, understanding Paul’s practical hopes for the church, and grasping Paul’s theology on unity, but there’s one main core idea - fighting for unity. Unity is possible. Jesus is Why, and the Holy Spirit is how. The power that unites us is far greater than anything that would divide us. Unity is essential. Jesus didn’t just die for our sins, He died so that we would be reconciled to one another. And it’s not only essential, but it’s also beautiful. When we bring together a multiclass, multiethnic, multicultural, intergenerational collective of sinners united by grace and bind ourselves eternally to one another as family, we give the world a vision of the family it’s longing for. Which is why we fight for unity.
We are in the final week of a three-week sermon series called The Rule of Life, which is about having both rhythms and restrictions to help you connect with God and resist popular culture.
This week, Terrence preached on “Accountability” and how it looks to be accountable for what Christ has called and willed us to be.
Unity of Accountable Community
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Our relationship with Christ is always in the context of the body of Christ.
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Our commitment to the Body of Christ is a measure of our commitment to the way of Jesus.
How does confession fit into your current relationship structure? Who are the people that know your struggles? Who are the people that you can count on to keep it confidential but who will take what you say and will go to God interceding on your behalf? Will you be the person who speaks love and truth but also walks alongside someone back to the hands and feet of Jesus?
Your good traits don’t belong to you, but neither does your pain and your struggle. It belongs to the bigger body of Christ.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. - James 5:16
We started a new three-week sermon series called the Rule of Life, which is about having both rhythms and restrictions to help you connect with God and resist popular culture. This week, Tyler preached on “Rhythm” and what that looks like in our lives and challenged us to have daily prayerful engagement with Scripture. What do you meditate on day and night?
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3
We started a new three-week sermon series called the Rule of Life, which is about having both rhythms and restrictions to help you connect with God and resist popular culture. This week, Tyler preached on “Restrictions” and what that looks like in our lives. He left us with a challenge of 3 simple tasks for the next 14 days - put away your phone for one hour a day, during every meal with loved ones, and during church.
For those of us who place our trust in Jesus, He has given us His Holy Spirit to help. When you limit your life within the will of God and limit your life for the sake of others, you’ll find the peace that you truly desire. His limitations are good and true freedom is found in limitations. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. - John 14:23
This is a two-week Generosity series, and here is week two called Soft Prosperity. In this message, Tyler talks about how Jesus should motivate your generosity and sacrifice. Generosity should come from a place of appreciation and gratitude for what we have in Christ. “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor so that by his poverty, he could make you rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9 The truth of the eternal gospel is that Jesus has paid it all, and all you need is Him. Do you have Him? You have all you need in Christ. Check out this message and pray on what steps you might need to take to change your views on money and generosity. Let’s live generously and Love the ‘Ville!
This is a two-week Generosity series, and here is week one called Comparative Complacency. In this message, Tyler talks about how generosity isn't about money but your heart. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." - Matthew 6:21 We know that the gift of generosity is a responsibility to better serve and care for others. However, what trips us up from actually living generously? Check out this message and pray on what steps you might need to take to change your views on money and generosity. Make sure to come back next week for part two of the series. Let's live generously and Love the 'Ville!
This is Celebration Sunday! We are excited to have a service dedicated to remembering how God is working in the life of our church. In this message, Tomara Brown takes time to reflect on School Blitz and Blitz Worship, pointing to the relationships built, people impacted, and volunteers who shared the love of Jesus. Tyler McKenzie shares the history of the Love the 'Ville movement and why it is so important for Jesus' followers to be intentional in meeting the needs of their community. Jesus is why, and we are all invited to share the love of Jesus with others.
In this message, Tyler bounces off the critical ideas of Acts. As a church, we are called witness bearers for Jesus. What does this mean, and how do we live this out? Make sure to listen, hear and think about how this applies to your life. To dig deeper into the book of Acts and our other Bible Series topics, be sure to check out our resource pages on our website: https://www.necchurch.org/resources/
Grab your notebooks and lean forward because this message unpacks the entire book of Matthew through three key themes. Matthew demonstrates that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, He establishes a new kingdom, and Jesus is more significant than Moses. These ideas were both radical and politically challenging for the time. Jesus came to do all three, but in ways no one expected. Jesus came to conquer death itself- a much bigger evil than kings, empires, and man. Matthew ends his gospel with an invitation to join this "upside down" revolution and enter into the "co-mission" of Jesus called The Great Commission. That invitation is here for all of us today!
In this episode, we talk about the book of Nehemiah. It tells us the story of Nehemiah who was convicted about the mission that God gave him. He first had the courage to remind his people that they were stuck. “Here is horrible, and we can’t afford to stay here, in horrible.” Then Nehemiah challenged, encouraged, gave focus, sacrificial commitment, and rallied the people to work together for a common purpose. He experienced backlash from their enemies, but they stayed united. As a result, the people’s civil revival led to a spiritual revival, and their lives were transformed. What would it look like if we were obedient to God’s purpose and mission for our own lives?
Nothing is as captivating as a good story. In fact, Jesus told stories and parables to help bring God’s teaching to life in the hearts of His followers. This summer, we are hosting an exciting guest speaker series called Tell Me A Story.
In this sermon, Damian Thompson, Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, shares the story of Jairus & the Bleeding Woman. In this story, two very different people come to Jesus; one a leader with connections and privilege, and the other an outcast labeled by her affliction. But they are united in their need to know Him. He describes how we need to worship Jesus even in our worries and suffering. We need to be patient and ready to witness how God is working in our lives.
Nothing is as captivating as a good story. In fact, Jesus told stories and parables to help bring God’s teaching to life in the hearts of His followers. This summer, we are hosting an exciting guest speaker series called Tell Me A Story. Join us each weekend to hear our guest speakers tell powerful stories from the Bible.
In this sermon, our Student Ministry Pastor Jacob Stewart tells the epic story of Elijah along with help from our next generation of students. This is a call to follow God, have resilience in this life, and lead in faith. This weekend we hear from our students about the power of listening to the voice of God.
Nothing is as captivating as a good story. In fact, Jesus told stories and parables to help bring God's teaching to life in the hearts of His followers. This summer, we are hosting an exciting guest speaker series called Tell Me A Story. Join us each weekend to hear our guest speakers tell powerful stories from the Bible.
In this message, Terrence Turman shares the story of Levi, an enemy to his own people, yet Jesus calls him. Like Levi, we are fully known and seen by God. Jesus calls us to follow Him. Are we ready to stop hiding what Jesus already sees? Are we prepared to discover the purpose that He has for our lives?
If you want to make a difference, you need a plan. In this message, guest speaker Clayton Hentzel, challenges and encourages us to have a strategy to be better Fathers, leaders, parents, and followers of Jesus. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. But you need to be aware that there is an enemy waiting to cause destruction to families. This means you need a strategy for implanting a better marriage and better kids. Listen to the message to learn more.
Clayten Hentzel joined us from The Crossing Church in Illinois, where is the Lead Pastor of a multisite church that spans 3 states. We are blessed that he spent Father's Day with us and shared this message.
Nothing is as captivating as a good story. In fact, Jesus told stories and parables to help bring God's teaching to life in the hearts of His followers. This summer, we are hosting an exciting guest speaker series called Tell Me A Story. Join us each weekend to hear our guest speakers tell powerful stories from the Bible.
In this message guest speaker Bill McKenzie recounts the story of Lazarus. Jesus is completely God and completely man. He weeps at the death of his friend and also demonstrates new life for those who believe. John 11:25-27. Jesus said to her, " I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? "
Nothing is as captivating as a good story. In fact, Jesus told stories and parables to help bring God's teaching to life in the hearts of His followers. This summer, we are hosting an exciting guest speaker series called Tell Me A Story. Join us each weekend to hear our guest speakers tell powerful stories from the Bible.
This Memorial Day Weekend, Jeff Faull kicked off our series with the story of The Woman Caught in Adultery. In this story we see that Jesus offers forgiveness even when others are quick to condemn. But that is not the end of the story. Jesus also offers new life and an opportunity for this woman to change her story forever.
In this prayer and worship service we celebrate that Jesus is King! The crucifixion echos the kingship of Jesus; forever transforming the cross as a symbol of torture into one of His glory. By focusing on the Ascension and Pentecost, we discover Jesus' promises and commands for all who follow Him.
In this message we discover what it means to intentionally parent; to sow seeds that allow our kids to flourish. Parenting can be challenging and rewarding. We prepare our kids for life by how we love, listen, and care for them. Together we'll learn the importance of sowing seeds of faith, service, and a seriousness in following Jesus. And if these seeds don't take root right away, stay the course. Never stop planting seeds of God's love, praying, and persevering.
In this episode, we continue in our Bible Series Plan with the study of Isaiah. Isaiah is full of truths for God’s people. Isaiah shares warnings to the Southern Tribes and Kings, pleas for repentance, and offers hope for the exiles. Isaiah calls out sin in politics, social injustice, corruption, and idolatry and says that there is still time to turn back to God. Isaiah shows the judgement and consequences for going astray. God’s judgment is short term and leads to a long-term restoration plan. This plan is fulfilled in God’s Servant who comes offering hope. Spoiler alert- our hope is in Jesus!
In this message we learn that to understand Psalms, we need to dig into poetry. God speaks in poetry to His people because it has the power to capture our hearts and excite our minds. In the prayers of Psalms we find prayers for every human condition along with the answer of hope. You too can find hope in the psalms. Today we know that the name of this hope is Jesus.
In these books we dig into the political struggles of God's people, what makes a good king, and the anointment of David: chosen by God because of his heart. David's story includes unexpected blessing, deceit, waiting, trust in God, sin and forgiveness. The story of David is a fulfillment of God's promise to His people which ultimately point to Jesus.
We have a God who understands our grief and offers hope. In light of recent events, we worship with intentional prayer and action. This is who we are as a church. It is what we do. Jesus is why.
Check out our videos to learn more about us, or visit us at necchurch.org.
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He is risen. He is risen, indeed. This Easter, we discuss the Resurrection and how to accept the gospel both historically and personally.
As we look toward Easter Sunday, we paused on Palm Sunday to praise God for all that He has done, all that He is doing, and all that He will continue to do. We celebrated how much God is moving in our church, in Love the ‘Ville Outreach and in our Deaf and Indian Ministries!
What does it mean to be “All In” at Northeast? In the final week of our vision series, we are asking those who consider themselves “All In” to sign a Stakeholder Covenant: Living Generously, Serving Sacrificially, Engaging in Church Community, Having a Rule of Life, Having a Love the ‘Ville Playbook, Supporting the Mission, Vision and Values of Northeast Christian Church and Sharing My Faith With People Outside the Church.
"We have momentum, and momentum is hard to get, fun to have, but easy to lose. So Stakeholders, let's take a hold of what God is doing here." In this week of our vision series, we look at the mission, vision, values of our church and the direction God is leading us.
"What is the best vision for a Love the 'Ville Church? It is Romans 12. Thank you, Paul." In this first week of our vision series, we look at Romans 12 and what it means to be all in for God and the Church.
In this Worship and Prayer service, we get the opportunity to connect with God and others as we enter the Lenten season, a Spiritual tradition dating back to the earliest Apostles. Today, we are continuing this spirit of repentance and self-sacrifice, to ready our hearts for Easter.
Jesus calls us friend. Isn’t that beautiful? As we obey Him, our friendship with Jesus grows deeper. Obedience isn’t always easy but it produces intimacy with our Father who cares for us with an everlasting love.
Friends who share an eternal bond in Christ can speak truth without fear of separation. In our current seres, "Forever Friends," we're learning how to make friends and be a good one. This week's message is about the deep friendship of Paul and Barnabas.
In our current seres, "Forever Friends," we're learning how to make friends and be a good one. This week's message is about the covenant friendship between David and Jonathan.
Adult friendship is two people saying ''I haven't seen you in forever, we should really meet up more'' over and over again until one of you dies. But it doesn't have to be this way. In "Forever Friends", we're learning how to make friends and be a good one. Today we're learning to be a good friend to yourself first, start with who is already in your life, and how to be willing to work through the mess.
Exodus transports us from palatial power to slave labor in a few verses that span a few generations. Seems the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will perish beneath Pharaoh’s whips along with their distant God and His absurd promises. Or will it? Enter stage right — Moses. Fished out the Nile, raised in royalty, married in Midian, and blessed by a bush. The reluctant one delivers God’s plagues, then God’s people, then God’s law. Deuteronomy is just barely more exciting than Leviticus…until you peak beneath the hood to see what God is up to. The book is basically one big do-over (the name literally means a second law). It’s not merely a remake, it’s a new start. Let’s take a second look at the “Second Law” for the best chance at a new beginning.
For more resources to study Exodus & Deuteronomy, please visit www.necchurch.org/resources
The beginning has begun. Creation is history. God did it! And God has put an image of Himself to rule and enjoy it.
"Adam and Eve, you're here! And you're hired!" What a gig! What a grace! All is good in paradise, right? What could go wrong?
Well, apparently ... us.
Turns out this managerial arrangement will serve as the central point of conflict in the plot of the human story. The humans forget they are an image, not Immanuel. We get too big for our britches. We lead above our paygrade. We mistake having the image of God for having the wisdom and foresight of God. And we seize authority rather than trusting that God's way is the best way.
Which begs the question - What is God going to do about it? Will he fire us? Will he give up on the relationship? Not a chance. While sin may win the battle, it will not win the war.
For more resources to study Genesis, please visit https://www.necchurch.org/genesis-resources/
Genesis, THE origin story.
It’s Bible study week! By the end of this message, you will be able to outline this epic book, understand its foundational themes, answer some of the hard questions everyone debates, and find Jesus in its pages. At Northeast, we want our people to know, honor, and read the Bible. That journey starts here in the “Genesis” of everything and everyone.
Visit www.necchurch.org/resources/genesis for more tools to help you study Genesis.
We're ringing in the New Year the best way we know how. This special New Year's Day prayer service will encourage you to start the year in the presence of the Lord.
As a church, Northeast is committed to being in the forefront of both relief and development.
"Relief" makes a difference in communities in the short term by helping provide for immediate physical needs. "Development" takes a long term approach by working to reduce the need for future intervention and aid.
Relief and development mobilize Christians locally and globally to express their concern and compassion in practical ways, such as financially supporting projects or volunteering where help is needed.
Sometimes, a simple food box or a Christmas Gift offered in God's name is worth a thousand sermons on love and compassion. Where some look at the needs and pain in the world with despair or disinterest, Northeast sees tremendous opportunity and privilege to serve the poor, marginalized, and forgotten through both relief and development.
All we do in the ministry of relief and development is for God's glory.
Working with Love the 'Ville outreach Partners, you could help a young woman leave a trafficked life. You could help a person experiencing homelessness leave their addiction and be housed and employed. You can help a refugee family integrate into society.
This is tough work, but the rewards are great.
Visit www.necchurch.org/outreach today to find a place to serve.
Holistic Ministry views people through God’s eyes as complete individuals with both bodies and souls.
This holistic view of ministry changes the way we see individuals and communities. In individuals, we seek to meet both physical and spiritual needs to nourish the body and soul with love and tangible care. In communities, we seek to provide both short term intervention and long term involvement.
This week, we get to hear from a panel of our partners who are passionate about holistic ministry.
Visit www.necchurch.org/outreach to find a place to serve today.
Every person is made in the Image of God. Every image bearer has dignity, worth, and capacity.
Being made in the image of God means you have inherent worth. It also means you have inherent capacity- abilities, ideas, assets, and solutions.
In all of our Outreach efforts, we seek to define others by this identity of "image bearer". If we define others by their deficiencies or treat them as passive recipients of someone else’s help, it rejects their dignity as image bearers.
"Dignity " means we involve everyone as participants, as equals. If we change our paradigm for understanding poverty from a resources framework to a relational framework, then we will focus on the practice of reconciliation rather than the distribution of resources.
To get involved with Outreach at Northeast, visit the Outreach page at https://www.necchurch.org/outreach/
We'd love to connect you with one of our partners who are making a difference in our community.
"Shalom" is the biblical concept of wholeness. Shalom is physical, spiritual, emotional, and social harmony everywhere. As followers of Jesus, we seek justice to bring shalom to life. In this series, we're walking through the biblical concepts of justice and shalom, and highlighting partners in our city who are doing the work.
We have a saying at Northeast that we “Always walk the walk, and talk the talk when the time is right.” But how do you know when the “time is right” to share your faith? It’s not as complicated, scary, or weird as you may think.
We believe sincerity always trumps spectacle, and that unleashing the love of Jesus is most effective in the everyday moments with the people closest to you.
We have a saying at Northeast that we "Always walk the walk, and talk the talk when the time is right." But how do you know when the "time is right" to share your faith? It's not as complicated, scary, or weird as you may think.
We believe sincerity always trumps spectacle, and that unleashing the love of Jesus is most effective in the everyday moments with the people closest to you.
Week one of "Show + Tell" will encourage you to both show and tell the love of Jesus in small, daily, world-changing ways.
In the final week of "Who We Are" we're leaning into the importance of intentional community. At Northeast, we want to be a community where every person can name their pastor and friends within the church.
As we unleash the love of Jesus in our homes, workplaces, city, and church, we want to be the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20-21
We want to be a church that leads in facilitating unity among diverse churches in the ‘Ville because, as Jesus said, our unity will be attractive to a divided world.
How does a group of people from all different backgrounds, of all different ages, of all different socio-economic situations, come together as one? Jesus is how.
It's Youth Takeover Weekend! We want to be a church that invests in our youth, especially the most committed. You'll hear from our family teams about why we love the next generation of the church and how we want to partner with you to achieve this goal.
"Spiritual formation is becoming like Jesus for the sake of others". -Robert Mulholland
At Northeast, we want to help you become more like Jesus so you can take his truth, his beauty, and his love into every part of your life. We hope that your investment in your spiritual formation leads you to say, "I have rhythms and restrictions that help me resist popular culture and connect with God." It's our goal to create resources and communities that make spiritual formation a priority for every person who calls Northeast home.
In this message, Tyler shares how we plan to help invest in your spiritual formation in 2023 and beyond.
Visit www.necchurch.org/resources to explore the beginning of our Northeast Resource Library.
We've all heard the adage, "It's easy to overestimate what you can accomplish in one year, and even easier to underestimate what you can do in five."
At Northeast, want to be obedient in becoming who we believe the Lord is calling us to be as a church. In this introductory message, Tyler gives an overview of the ten "aspirational vision targets" that we are strategizing towards for the next five years. It's our hope that five years from now, we can look back and see how God has moved in our church and grown us together in these key areas.
Over the course of this series, we will dive deep into five of the ten targets, highlighting one each week.
This week, we're focusing on the first target: "We want to be a congregation who knows, honors, and reads the Bible."
This week we're grateful to have Guest Speaker, Clayton Hentzel. Clayton is Lead Pastor of The Crossing Church.
Today we're hearing from a panel of parents who are all at different stages in their parenting journeys.
Life is full of firsts. Naturally, parenting is too. From your baby's first steps across the living room to their first steps out into the world as an adult, your children will experience many things for the very first time.
As a parent, you have a role in how these "firsts" contribute to the formation of your child. The experiences they have are largely out of your control, but you can help form them as they slowly become adults who experience life for themselves.
Today, we're thinking through how you can contribute to your child's spiritual formation by discipling them through all the "firsts" along the way.
If you want to raise kids that are leaders of consequence in the kingdom of God, you need a plan. But before you make a plan, you need to catch a vision.
This week of Intentional Parenting is super practical. Whether you still have kids in your home or not, you'll learn how to catch a vision for intentional parenting, identify your values, and make a plan to help you stay on track.
We've created four worksheets to help you work through this process. Download them through the link below:
https://www.necchurch.org/intentional-parenting-vision-values-plan/
There's no such thing as the perfect parent, but it is possible and necessary to be an intentional one. So how is it done? How can you bring intentionality to your children's spiritual development with the same passion and devotion you bring to the rest of their development?
We're spending the next five weeks exploring these questions together.
Even if you aren't a parent, this series is sure to provide practical tools for your spiritual formation.
Guest Speaker, Mark Moore, concludes our Summer of Prayer series. Praying for the lost always has a cost. If you're a "sideline" Christian, the cost to your comfort, relationships, and time will be too high. Mark walks through four different types of prayers Jesus prayed, and poses a challenge to all who claim to follow Jesus: are you willing to follow in Jesus' footsteps and pay the cost to reach the lost?
Prayers of adoration remind us of the character of God. This week, we're looking at examples from Scripture of what it looks like to adore and praise God through prayer.
Seeking control is not the solution to the human condition. It's the problem.
Fear happens when you feel out of control. So how do you overcome fear? The logical answer may be to seek more control over every little detail of life, micromanaging until there is nothing left to fear. But this "control" is an illusion, and all it takes is one unexpected turn to feel afraid and out of control all over again.
The solution? Be honest about your lack of control and lean in to the grace of "withness" through prayer. Prayer is simply being with God, sharing your unfiltered thoughts with him. If you want to overcome fear and control, you can't do it alone; you must learn the practice of "withness".
Even though "cultural Christianity" has largely lost social power and influence, it's clear that people still long for the transcendent. People still long to know God and access spiritual power in their lives. As followers of Jesus, we know that true spiritual power comes from prayer.
This week we're learning from James 5:7-20 about how to persevere through hard times with patience.
This week, we learn from James 3:13-18 about how to mature in wisdom. Worldly "wisdom" is not the same as godly wisdom. How do we know the difference? How do we ensure we're walking in godly wisdom?
"Consumer Christianity" says that "God, the world, the church, and everything else orbits around me. They exist for my desires and my problems". The Way of Jesus, however, defies Consumer Christianity. Jesus had compassion on crowds, but he also strategically resisted them so that he could invest in his core of committed followers. Jesus invites all people to "come and see", but at some point we must decide whether we will truly follow him in sacrifice.
Jesus was never in a hurry.
When you look at his life and ministry in the gospels, you see that he took the time to be where he was, never rushing himself or his disciples along to the next thing.
In this series, Next Steps, we're looking at five different ways you can "take a step" in your faith. This week, the invitation is to slow down and live your life at the pace Jesus did.
1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus walked". If we are going to walk as Jesus walked, we have to match his pace. We're not running, we're not hurrying. We must learn to step BACK and evaluate what matters most, then step forward unhurried and ready to prioritize seeing and loving others like Jesus did.
This week, take the step of daily praying, "God, help me to slow down and walk with you so I can be intentional with what matters most."
So you came to church... now what?
The first step to making a change is deciding not to stay where you are. Going to church doesn't make you a disciple of Jesus, but it's a great first step. 1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus walked."
Wherever you find yourself in your spiritual journey, you have a next step. In this new series, we're exploring five steps you can take right now towards being a mature disciple of Jesus.
If you're new to Northeast, your next step is Northeast Basics.
Getting connected in a new church can feel overwhelming, especially in a place the size of Northeast. We’re making it painless for you to take your next step at Northeast with our four week course, Northeast Basics.
Northeast Basics will answer the foundational questions: Who is Northeast? What do we do? How do we do it? How can I help? Northeast Basics is offered every weekend so you can easily hop in when you’re ready to get connected.
Visit necchurch.org/basics to register today.
Guilt is a feeling that says "I did wrong". Shame, however, says "I AM wrong". The experiences of healthy or unhealthy shame are only healed by God's amazing grace through Jesus Christ. Are you carrying the heavy burden of shame? Jesus invites you to lay it down today.
We all experience guilt in varying degrees, sometimes as the very first emotion of the day when that snooze button is hit one too many times. What should we do with our guilt? Is there such a thing as "good guilt"? What's the difference between guilt that leads to anguish and conviction that leads to repentance? This week, we're learning the difference.
For centuries, followers of Jesus have been marked by their counter-cultural confession and repentance. Colossians 1 reminds us that through Jesus, we can be reconciled to God. Each day, we're given the opportunity to act as reconcilers in the world, offering forgiveness to others just as Jesus has forgiven us.
In this season of Lent, we look back at our past sin so that we can remember our need for a Savior. We search our hearts for all of the ways we’re currently living out of step with the Holy Spirit. We confess and repent, preparing our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection.
This weekend, Tyler sits down with his mentor, Richard Stearns, to discuss the importance of being ambassadors for Jesus in the workplace. Whether your workplace is the home, in school as a student, or in a vocation, most of our time is spent "at work" in one way or another. How can we live with Jesus, being faithful to the calling to be "ambassadors for Christ" wherever we work?
Richard Stearns, a past president of Parker Brothers and Lenox, Inc., and of World Vision United States, an international Christian relief charity, offers wisdom from his career that will give you practical inspiration to Love the 'Ville in your workplace.
Life can be complicated, and you want to get it right. We’re here to help you take back control of your time and attention so that you can take back control of your heart and mind.
In this series, we’re walking through everyday rhythms to help you live an unhurried life in the Way of Jesus. These rhythms are spiritual practices that invite us to recenter and slow down so that we can live every moment with God.
Today, we're finishing the series with the rhythm of communion. In order to experience the fullness that God intends us to enjoy during communion, we have to step back and remember where the practice originates and why the elements are significant for followers of Jesus.
This week, we have the honor of learning from Reverend Damian Thompson of Emmanuel Baptist Church about the importance of fellowship. For more resources to create unhurried rhythms in the way of Jesus, you can visit www.necchurch.org/portfolio/rhythms
Jesus lived life on mission, but unhurried. This week, we're learning to keep a regular rhythm of time with God. Jesus prioritized time with his Father to rest and recover, to deal with overwhelming emotions, and to face down temptation. As followers of Jesus, we want to follow his example of Sabbath.
This week, we're developing a "Tech Rule of Life" that will help you silence the constant noise of technology and tune in to silence and solitude with the Lord.
For more resources to help you create Unhurried Rhythms, visit https://www.necchurch.org/portfolio/rhythms/
In this series, Unhurried Rhythms, our goal is to help you take back control of your time and attention so that you can take back control of your heart and mind.
The goal is to help you unplug from the voices of this world so you can plug into the voice of God. The hope is to help you rewire your way of life so that you can connect with The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
Today, we want to suggest that there is something truer and better than endless doses of political commentary, News, and Netflix. It's Scripture, and it's the number one best selling book of all time for a reason.
We're looking at a few questions that will help us audit our content consumption, and are encouraged to be formed most of all by the truth of God's Word.
This week, we're exploring the Unhurried Rhythm of studying Scripture with Professor Jon Weatherly. Are there things about the Bible that put you off, that you're weighing and considering? Do you ever wonder why Christians put so much stock in Scripture?
Today we're looking at the contrast between the Bible that people imagine and put at arms length, and the "real Bible" that people of faith experience when we allow Scripture to be what it was intended to be.
How many tabs are open in your browser right now?
How many tasks are on your mind while you also try to read this caption? Are you giving any one thing your full attention? Chances are, you're probably reading this while also attempting to do something else.
Linda Stone, a tech writer and consultant, said that, “Continuous partial attention is our new default setting.” That was in 1998. In the last 20 years, this "continuous partial attention" has only become more partial because of technology.
When "continuous partial attention" is our default, it debilitates our capacity to hear, see, adore, petition, experience, and commune with God, what Christians call prayer.
In this series, Unhurried Rhythms, we’re walking through everyday rhythms to help you live an unhurried life in the Way of Jesus. There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity, but we hope to remove the stumbling blocks of shame and intimidation from practicing spiritual rhythms.
This week, we're taking a practical deep dive into the topic of prayer. You'll learn a few tangible ways to practice prayer, and walk away with the tools to integrate this rhythm into your day.
Catch up on the rest of the series below:
Week 1- The Way of Deformation: https://youtu.be/vmo56ytyhVY
Additional Resources for this series: https://www.necchurch.org/portfolio/rhythms/
For more spiritual formation content, follow Northeast Christian Church on social media.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeast.church
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NECChurch/
Online: www.necchurch.org
This week, we're looking back at the year in photos. 2021 was a difficult year. We all need Good News. In Luke 2, an angel says he brings, "Good News that will bring great joy to all the people." He's announcing the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, Emmanuel.
Jesus is God with us, and after a tough year, he is the good news we all need.
Contrary to popular Christianity, God never promised your “best life now”.
If we look to Scripture, we see that he doesn’t promise us everything we ask for- perfect health, blessing, success, safety, or resolution for all of life’s problems. He promised something better: that every promise HE makes will be “yes and amen” in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).
If we can trust that God keeps every promise he makes, what did God actually promise us? What truth can we place our hope in, and what does it all have to do with Christmas?
This week, we’re looking at the gospel of Matthew’s account of the Christmas story. What promises does God make? Who is it that we worship in Matthew’s story, and how does that change how we live our ordinary days over 2,000 years later?
The idea of "worship" is at the core of the human experience. Whether intentional or not, we all worship something. The only question is- who or what are you worshipping?
We believe worship is not just one set-apart hour to sing together on Sunday morning. Worship is when you offer ultimate value to something. As Christians, we worship God alone who was revealed in Jesus, and we do it mostly through ordinary moments in our everyday lives.
To prepare for Christmas, we're walking through a theology of worship that is based on the simple and beautiful truth that God is ALWAYS with us because of Jesus- even in the ordinary moments that fill our days.
Our daily habits (whether intentionally chosen or not) create the substance of our entire lives. How can followers of Jesus practice daily habits that align our hearts and minds with his? In this sermon, Care Pastor, Melinda Gividen shares two time-tested practices that Christians have used for centuries to connect with God: Daily Office and Lectio Divina.
Have you ever felt like you're always behind, playing catch-up, and never "done" with your work or responsibilities? Is there an undercurrent of something in your life that doesn't feel right and never goes away?
Do you maybe even feel that way right now as you're reading this?
These are all signs of burnout.
If God and the people you're closest to feel distant, if you've lost sight of your dreams, or you find yourself a slave to the "urgent" instead of the "important", the way of Jesus offers a better way to live. In Week Four of Let's Talk About Mental Health, we're unpacking what the Bible says about Sabbath and how it can reverse and prevent the effects of burnout.
This might be the message you need to hear today, so take a break and tune in.
Grief is more than an emotion; grief is tangible, and it does not wait to be invited into your life. The apostle Paul says in the book of Romans that followers of Jesus can "Rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance". Do we really believe this? When we experience uninvited grief, how do we grieve "well"? In week three of Let's Talk About Mental Health, Jacob Stewart offers four guiding principles on biblical grief.
What do you do when your world turns upside down? The unexpected job loss, the death of someone you love, the diagnosis, the divorce, the shattered dream, the betrayal? How do you respond when deep desires go unfulfilled, or you find yourself in a dryness or loss of joy in your relationship with God?
After 2020, surely all of us have experienced this kind of challenge to our mental health in one way or another. Pete Scazzerro, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, calls these seasons "Walls". Walls can't be avoided in our broken world, so we must decide how we will respond when they inevitably come. They have the power to damage us emotionally and mentally, but they can also have great power to grow us spiritually.
Rather than accepting secular narratives of karma, illusion, or fate when you feel "stuck" at a wall, we believe the Bible offers a response more hopeful and true. Intimacy with God and surrender to God can carry you through the wall and bring you out the other side with more maturity and wisdom than you had before.
Studies show that at least 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental health challenge. This number is even higher amongst teens. In 2020, the CDC reported that 40% of Americans were struggling with mental health or substance abuse.
What role does the church have to play in this mental health epidemic?
At Northeast, we believe in a wholistic approach to mental health. Mental health problems are rarely faith problems, but they can have faith solutions. We believe talking about our mental health with one another is vital, and the church should be a place where we share our burdens- not the place we hide them.
So, let's talk about mental health.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please immediately contact a hotline for help:
LOCAL (to Louisville, Kentucky):
Mental Health Crisis Line: 502-589-4313
Seven Counties 24/7 Addiction Help: 502-583-3951
NATIONAL:
Crisis Text Line: HOME to 471-471
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK
Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 press 1
The Trevor Project (24/7 helpline for LGBTQ youth ages 13-24): 866-488-7386
WEB:
NAMI Louisville: www.namilouisville.org
First Hour Grief Response: www.firsthourgrief.org
The stories we believe make and break our lives because they give us our answers to the big questions and realities of human life. What makes humans different than other living organisms is that, by nature, we must find a larger story to live into that explains our existence, purpose, meaning, morality, destiny, and more.
We're diving in to the Story of Popular Culture and asking, "Is it a true story? Is there a better story? Is there a story more in tune with reality?"
Do you know what story you're living? Let's unpack it together.
"Is it okay to question God? Is it okay to tell him what I'm really thinking?"
The Bible gives us many examples of real people who brought their doubts, their struggles, and their questions to the Lord. In this message, we're looking at five examples of ways God responded to people who came to him with questions, honesty, and even accusations. How does God respond to them? What might he say to us if we come to him? Let's find out.
If your deepest beliefs are driven and formed by vengeance, a desire or longing to be in control of your own life, or by fear and insecurity, the way of Jesus offers something different. In week two of Unpacking Faith, we're asking three clarifying questions that can help you process doubt and deconstruction.
We all wrestle with anger.
We would all like to think that other people or inanimate objects are the ones to blame for our anger, but with a brief survey of Scripture, we see this is simply not the case. Only you can control your anger. So is it worth the fight?
Founding Pastor Bob Cherry offers us six steps to controlling anger. You may be surprised by how simple they are once you really commit to placing your anger in the shadow of the cross.
God has you where you are for a reason. No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to love the people around you with the love of Jesus. We're passionate about helping you do just that.
Richard Mosqueda, our Spiritual Formation Team Lead, is passionate about helping people understand who they are so they can do what they're called to do. What might the Lord be calling you to do so you can unleash the love of Jesus in your workplace?
The Bible says in 1 John 2:6 that "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." As Jesus followers, we must ask ourselves, "How did Jesus walk?"
Guest Speaker, Nicole Unice, joins us this week with a powerful sermon exploring the intersection of Grace & Truth. Can you have one without the other? Are grace and truth like a see-saw that must be balanced, or is it possible to abound in both?
There are two "Great Commands" in the Bible: Love God and Love Neighbor. A desire for the second flows out of the first. You can’t white-knuckle a desire for the mission of God into your heart.
A desire to live FOR God grows from a life spent WITH God. The "Great Commission" to go and make disciples of all nations is not forever. Life with God is. How does this affect our mission to live life on purpose?
We live in a culture where "evangelism" feels wrong. But before he ascended into heaven, Jesus' last words to his disciples commissioned them to be his witnesses in the world. Today, our role as a public witness to Jesus means we must ask ourselves every moment, "What will this say to the unchurched and dechurched about Jesus?"
One of the most relevant "evangelistic" traits we have is hope. While everyone is distracted, bored, outraged, afraid, lonely, sad, exhausted, and doing all they can to avoid getting old, we bring hope!
Jesus had a moral vision for life. He promised it would lead to resurrection life, but he also promised it would be the way of the cross. One of Northeast's core values is "Faithfulness to Truth". Is your life faithful to truth? Would you define "truth" the same way Jesus does in Scripture? Let's find out together.
In the moment, adversity doesn't BUILD your character, it REVEALS your character. The last eighteen months have been full of adversity. What have they revealed about our church? What kind of character are we committed to building?
In this series, Who we Are, we will celebrate and cast vision for who we are as a church family and a community on mission. At Northeast, we value Love for Neighbor, Faithfulness to Truth, Public Witness, and Missional Intentionality.
What is the biblical vision for neighbor love? Do you truly love your neighbor? Listen to this message for an encouragement and challenge to really commit to loving your neighbor as Jesus does.
As we continue our series, Love the 'Ville in the City, we're reminded that serving others transforms our lives. Loving our neighbors should be a regular, worshipful rhythm in our lives. Today, we're helping you get inspired by people who are living the Love the 'Ville lifestyle, and encourage you to commit to making service a regular part of your life. Jesus is why we love others, and Jesus is why we Love the 'Ville!
Everybody likes talking about love, tweeting about compassion, and virtue-signaling about justice. Not everyone likes the inconvenience, time, and consistency it takes to do it.
It’s socially advantageous and laudable in our culture to seem humanitarian, to have a cause.
But we must ask: Do we like the idea of love more than the act?
We’ve seen that a compassionate church is made through sweaty brows, dirty hands, achy backs, weekly commitments, and inconvenienced schedules. We have to put our money and muscle where our mouth is.
Are we up for the challenge to truly BE the Love the ‘Ville church, and not just applaud the idea of it? In this service, we hear from a panel of our community partners who are committed to loving their city one small act of great love at a time. As you listen, consider how you might follow in their steps to commit to being a doer.
“Don’t talk about money, politics, or religion.” We’ve probably all been on the receiving end of this recommendation before a family gathering or social event.
You may bring this cultural imperative to the table when you read the Bible, but it won’t take long to discover that the Bible has a lot to say about money.
The book of Acts is no exception. This week, we’re asking the question, “How should a wealthy church deal with its money?”, and looking for answers in the book of Acts.
At the height of Adolf Hitler’s reign, German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, created an underground seminary for Jesus followers who opposed the church’s complicity with Nazi control. It was within this distressing context that Bonhoeffer penned these words in his book, Life Together: “The greatest threat to Christian community is our expectation of some wishful idealized version of it… Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community.”
In the United States today, we do not live under fascist control or in the thick of genocide, but our country appears to be more polarized and divided than ever.
Do the words of Bonhoeffer deliver any hope for the American church today? And what does the book of Acts have to say about unity among believers? Is Christian unity even possible in our divided country? (Spoiler: we believe it absolutely is. Listen to this week of Acts Verse by Verse to discover how.)
Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders, delivers a powerful encouragement spurring us on towards unity in the body of Christ.
If we are to have significance in this world (instead of just settling for "success"), we must learn to embrace the whole of the Christian love ethic which shows concern and care for every part of the body of Christ.
Founding Pastor Bob Cherry returns as a guest preacher to deliver a powerful encouragement. He reminded us of our need to replace "but I" excuses with "but God" declarations. Bob uses Paul's letters to the Corinthians to display that God did not dispute anyone's inadequacies, and is capable of bringing beauty through brokenness.
I’m Still Standing- Damian Thompson
Guest Speaker, Damian Thompson, continues our series in Acts Verse by Verse with a powerful encouragement to remember that You’re Still Standing.
In Acts 28, Paul the apostle faces personal disappointment and public danger after unexpectedly shipwrecking on the island of Malta. He was bombarded with trial after trial, but remained standing strong in the knowledge that God had a purpose for him.
We’ve all faced trials of different kinds, but if you’re reading this, you are still standing. If your plans have been wrecked, God can still use them to bring forth his purpose.
If you've spent any amount of time as a consumer of Christian media, you'll likely be familiar with the great "culture war". Christian media and political pundits would love for you to believe we're engaged in a war for the soul of Christianity, the future of the US, and the fate of the next generation.
"Culture War Christianity" is a corruption of our faith because it prioritizes winning over witness, power over piety, protecting the 99 over reaching the 1, and self-preservation over selfless love.
How do we fight these "Culture wars" we hear so much about? If we look at the conversion of Saul found in the book of Acts, we see a cross-shaped alternative to the "culture war" mindset that isn't very war-like at all.
Christians on the political left and right have convinced themselves that gaining political power is the key to bringing the kingdom of God to earth.
Recent data has shown that political privilege is harmful for Christianity in society. The presence of pluralism and the absence of privilege are actually beneficial for Christianity because it must be chosen for its actual merits and spiritual power, rather than its social merits and political power.
Anytime we look elsewhere for power, it robs the Spirit. You can have the power of politics, or the power of the Spirit, but not both. It's not a matter of whether Christianity has power- it's whether WE will have it.
According to a recent Gallup Study, in 2020, 47% of U.S. adults belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque. That’s down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999. This is the first time in eight-decades it's dropped below 50%. Younger people are far more likely to claim no religious preference.
Why is this the case? Why is the church facing a credibility crisis? How can we overcome the cultural pressure we're facing and model the early church as we see in Acts?
Tyler walks through seven marks of the early church, and how those characteristics allowed them to remain a faithful witness to Jesus amidst persecution.
Have you ever wondered how to respond to demands like, "Stop talking about race and ethnicity and just preach the gospel!"?
In this sermon, Tyler walks through the book of Acts to deliver a beautiful, biblical vision for gospel-centered racial and ethnic diversity. Christians have been given the doctrine, power, and commission to build a multi-ethnic family that heals racial and ethnic divides.
It's time to make this vision a reality through the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit at work within his church.
The book of Acts follows the birth of the early church, beginning with the ascension of Jesus and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Acts testifies that we, the church, are the continuation of Jesus' ministry. The "Acts" of the disciples are carried on through us today. Join us this summer for our new series, Acts Verse-by-Verse, starting now with Week 1.
Our home is the most important ministry God has entrusted to us. How can we use it as a tool to love those around us? Join us for week two of our series as we learn how to live the Love the 'Ville lifestyle in our homes.
Our home is the most important ministry God has entrusted to us. How can we make sure we give it the attention and love it deserves? Join us for our two week series as we learn how to live the Love the 'Ville lifestyle in our homes.
Romans 8 says that all creation eagerly waits for the day in the future when God will make all things right. We eagerly anticipate and groan for the future when Jesus will return and all things will be resurrected. This week, we wrap up our theology of the resurrection.
Our job as Kingdom citizens is to move the world and its people toward heaven. Perhaps this task must start first in the Church. We've got a job to do!
Join us for week five of our series, From Death to Life, as we develop our theology of the resurrection of Jesus.
"Deconstruction" is a hot topic right now in the Christian world. Many would say that they are on a journey to "deconstruct" their faith, questioning whether or not they believe the things they've been taught.
We believe this is a healthy and helpful process as long as it has a proper starting point: the resurrection of Jesus.
A confident belief in Jesus’ resurrection makes deconstruction healthier because it gives you the comfort to explore with the assurance of salvation. You can poke, prod, question, and criticize knowing you're safe in the deep acceptance of the Father when you believe Jesus is risen.
With the resurrection as your starting point, you will set out to "deconstruct" with the humility to trust Jesus over self.
Join us for week five of our series, From Death to Life.
In a year full of suffering and despair, the empty tomb is a reminder that following Jesus doesn’t promise a life free from suffering or pain. It promises something better.
Following the living Jesus promises us a way to overcome inevitable suffering because we place our trust in a living hope. Your past (no matter how broken or messy) and your future (no matter how uncertain) can be made whole by the living hope and presence of Jesus. Join us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday!
What you think you see at the cross isn’t what you’re actually seeing. An Execution is a Sacrifice. A Criminal is the Lamb of God. The Cross is a Temple. In week 3 of our series, From Death to Life, we expand our theology of the cross.
What you think you see at the cross isn’t what you’re actually seeing. An Execution is a Sacrifice. A Criminal is the Lamb of God. The Cross is a Temple. In week 2 of our series, From Death to Life, we expand our theology of the cross.
Do you know what you believe about the cross?🌿
To the world, the cross is a symbol of death and shame. But because of Jesus, the cross is no longer an emblem of defeat. Part 1 of our new series, From Death to Life, begins unpacking our Theology of the Cross.
The church is the picture of perfect unity when we are serving together. This week, we learn about opportunities to serve at Northeast so that we can Love the 'Ville starting right here in our church family.
If you were to describe your spiritual life, would the word “intentional” be it?
Most of us would say that we want to have a better prayer life, or we want to read the Bible. We want to make church a weekly habit, join a group, or serve somewhere. We have every good intention to grow in Christ, but that does not make us intentional.
You don’t need good intentions. You need a plan. You need a playbook! This two week sermon series and our accompanying "Love the 'Ville Playbook Devotional" will help you think through the areas in your life: Home, Workplace, Church, and City. This will help you see where and who God is calling you to. You’ll also get a better idea of who you need to serve, pray for, and love on. It’s time to get intentional! Game on!
Check out the 7 day Love the 'Ville Playbook Devotional here! https://www.necchurch.org/playbook-devotional/
We’re living through a crisis of truth. It’s hard to tell what’s right, and who to trust. Everyone needs a stubbornly loyal community of friends, united in allegiance to Jesus, who cheer one another to mission and hold one another accountable.
Every day, countless voices compete for your attention. How will you make sure your ears, heart, mind, and soul are open to what God needs you to hear? The Bible teaches us that our hearts must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What tools have you acquired that will help you hear God's voice? How will your life be changed because of what you've experienced?
Week 3 of our Voices series answers these questions, and offers practical tips for engaging with Scripture to train your mind and transform your heart.
We are living through a crisis of truth. It's hard to tell what is right, which voices are legitimate, and who to trust. The Christian way reminds us that there is such a thing as truth, and speaking it will often bring conflict. In those moments, we can have the courage not to run from those conversations, and carry the wisdom and grace to bring truth to light. In Week 2 of our Voices series, we learn how to test for truth.
The voices you listen to are the voices that shape you over time. The voices in this world shape us in the image of the world, while the voice of God shapes us in the image of Jesus. Who do you listen to each day? Who are you becoming? Join us in this series, Voices, as we learn to how listen to God’s voice and become more like Jesus.
The false gods of this world will promise a flourishing life, but they can never deliver what is only found in Christ. In the last week of our Identity series, we discover how we can flourish in Christ by finding our identity in his unchanging truth.
Our culture says, "To find yourself, search within." Besides being complex, it also tells us very little about what we ought to do with what we discover. The Christian worldview suggests a different route. "If you want to find yourself, look outside of yourself to your Designer and his Design before you look within." This small shift changes everything. It doesn't degrade the value of self-discovery. It illuminates, shapes, and directs it. This message discusses what it means to bear "the Image of God".
Join us for a special "Half Hour of Hope" as we celebrate stories of impact from our Outreach ministry. We will look at where we've been in 2020, and where we are going as a church in 2021.
Our culture teaches that to find yourself, you must look within yourself. Scripture teaches that to find yourself, you must look outside of yourself to the Designer and His design. How were you designed? Who were you made to be? What were you made to do? This week, we start a new series on Identity, exploring what makes you YOU.
God with us. Immanuel. What does it mean for God to be with us? At Christmas, we celebrate this truth of Immanuel through the birth of Jesus.
The “Secular Salvation Story” isn’t working. It tells us to place our trust in ourselves. Through human progress and personal achievement, we can live the dream. But 2020 has crashed that dream. It has microwaved a lifetime of disappointment, loneliness, suffering, and reality checks into eight months. Where do we turn?
We could all use "peace" this year, but you may be looking for peace in the wrong places. Jon Lee shares what it means to have true, Kingdom peace, and how we can pursue the Prince Peace himself this Christmas season.
Join us for the first week in our new series, Good News. Can we still have Joy even amidst a year when everything seems so disappointing?
Culture-War Christianity vs. Cross-Shaped Christianity. Why one is a perversion of our faith, and one is a pattern for our faith.
Check out our videos to learn more about us, or visit us at necchurch.org.
In Week 5 of our King & Kingdom series, Tyler offers some eternal perspective after a tense election week.
Many of us are being discipled by the deceitful yet persuasive rhetoric of politics and mass media. How do we rise above the rhetoric and resist?
Romans 13:1 in the Bible tells Christians to “be subject to governing authorities”. What does that look like for us in the United States today? Join us for week three of our sermon series, King & Kingdom, where we explore how to live under the authority of the Constitution
Exploring the difference between what we give to government versus what we give to God.
To kick our new series off, we discuss the political reputation of the early church and five values Christians uniquely bring with them into politics.
There are so many voices trying to shape how we think about and respond to the world. This week we let Jesus lay out his way of inner formation for the sake of public witness.
Are you looking for God during these hard times? Here's a simple explanation on on how to find Him.
We welcome author, speaker, and ministry leader Lisa Whittle. She's the founder of Ministry Strong and the popular podcast "Jesus Over Everything". She is speaking about the healing power of Jesus.
What's the cost of worshiping achievement? Only the realization that you will never be the best, you won't enjoy what you love anymore, you'll ruin relationships, and worst of all, no one is coming to help. God didn't create you to live like this. Surrender to a life focused on Christ and you will have everything you need.
Are you battling with lust? Are you tired of battling it? Are you hoping this problem will just go away? Using the story of King David, Next Gen Pastor Jon Lee lays out practical steps to help you flee from this struggle.
When you say the word busy, it’s almost like a badge of honor, or a huge compliment. Busyness can disguise itself as hardworking, successful, and revered! But truthfully busyness is often full of pride, and insecurities.
Guest preacher, Chris Morgan of the University of Louisville FCA speaks about his struggle with busyness.
Anger wants to destroy you life, yet Jesus wants to save it.
God, have mercy on me, for I am a sinner.
Care Pastor Melinda Gividen discusses anger and the ability it has to mess up our lives.
Who needs humility? We do.
What's on the line when it comes to humility? Our witness and our salvation.
God, have mercy on me for I am a sinner.
This weekend is dedicated to our schools and what we do with Outreach at Northeast! School Blitz looks a littler different this year - instead of gathering at school campuses, we're focusing on encouraging the teachers and staff of schools. Learn more and get involved with School Blitz at https://www.necchurch.org/schools.
How do you ensure you are listening supremely to the voice of Go so you can discern, resist, and redeem the voices of popular culture? Prayer.
Prayer is the best weapon we have to make sure our hearts, minds, lives, relationships, families, churches, politics, morals, and souls are being shaped by God rather than everyone else.
C.S. Lewis famously said that courage is the “form of every virtue at its testing point.”
So are you loving? You’ll only know when loving another is hard. Are you faithful? You won’t know until your faith is truly tested.
Justice is a hot topic in the public square. The Left and Right have different ideas about what justice is. So how does Scripture define justice? Join the Bible study this weekend.
Who is this perfect Father that loves us so much? He is a God that specializes in bringing dead things back to life. How can God breathe new life into you today?
The point of The Prodigal Story isn’t what the father does with the younger son. It’s what the elder brother does with what the father does with the younger son. The Elder Brother has a spirit of self-righteous stubbornness, outrage, and superiority. It is this spirit holding us back from confessing and addressing racial injustice head on.
American culture teaches us that to be happy, we should pursue personal freedom. But where should we turn when that freedom leaves us empty?
Dr. Mark Moore from Christ's Church of the Valley wraps up this series with a focus on praying for an opportunity to live your faith.
✅ Global Pandemic
✅ Racial Injustice
✅ Economic Crash
✅ Political War
There is a lot of pain and suffering right now. This weekend, we discuss it all.
We are re-opening church next weekend. But we are doing it in a totally different way. This week, we discussed.
Religious liberty. Saving the economy. Reopening church. This weekend, we discuss.
Key verses: Galatians 5:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Wish things would just go back to normal? Maybe you shouldn’t. Our old normal was abnormal in so many ways. We need to grieve and leave the lives we left behind. It’s time to create a new normal.
Why would God cause a pandemic? If God is all-good and all-powerful, why is this happening?
Key Verses: 1 John 4:8-10
As our country begins the conversation about re-opening, how will the Love The ‘Ville Church respond? Our church is a unique organization. Everyone organization’s plan is going to look different depending on what they do. For years, part of what we do is gather thousands together. What changes if the re-opening process goes slow and small?
Get into a virtual group today: necchurch.org/anywhere
Key Verses: Romans 12; Genesis 2:18
What is it about a pandemic that has caused our mental health issues to spike? What are some spiritual solutions that will help? Need more resources?
Visit necchurch.org/care
Key Verses: Philippians 4:4-13
What do you do when it’s Easter Sunday but it feels like Saturday?
Good Friday. Black Saturday. Easter Sunday. This is the gospel.
What do you do when COVID-19 feels more like a tomb than a resurrection?
A few weeks ago most of us believed, “I am in control.” But that’s what’s been so disastrous about COVID19. It has shattered any sense of self-sufficiency & control we have. This week we talk through control, trust, God, and pandemics. Watch or share with a friend. It will help.
Most of your life will be determined by how you respond to hard times. And it is possible to face hard times in a way that you steal its power to wreck you. Today we look at that, the three-part formula for Unflinching Resiliency during a pandemic.
What does it look like to walk faithfully in the midst of COVID-19? Here are 5 practical ways you can practice faithfulness in your home, this week. You can find resources to enhance these on our website at www.necchurch.org/anywhere. Disciplines of Disengagement * Utilize unanticipated margin to pray, study, and rest.
Defiant Worship * Worship in defiance of fear, suffering, and uncertainty.
Spiritual Curiosity * Take opportunities to share your hope
Total Surrender * Put your life into the hands of Jesus
Breath-taking compassion * Love your neighbor like Jesus loves you.
The cost of following Jesus is everything. But the promise of following Jesus is that it’s worth it. Because the reward of following Jesus is Jesus, and he is everything.
The culmination of the Love The 'Ville Playbook: Workplace Series - Game Day.
ACC Coaches. Bible Scholars. Corporate VPs. Judges. Engineers. Lawyers. COOs. PhDs. We gathered together some of the best leaders in our city to share powerful ideas on how to take your faith to work.
If you want to take the Love The 'Ville lifestyle to work and be consistent:
- have integrity in pain and promotion
- serve the people you work with
- operate from "Jesus is why"