Newsong Fellowship: Recent Episodes
Pastor Dave Romoser
Newsong celebrates God's beautiful design in the family through a recognition of some of the stages of life and the joy of the journey together as a larger family in pursuit of "home".
In this final parable, our pastoral team talks about one of the most well known parables drawing attention to how familiarity can often cause us to miss the obvious
In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables in response to the accusations of the religious leaders regarding how the fact that he enjoys being with and giving worth and value to the wrong kinds of people - "those" people. The parables are meant to make each of us wrestle with just how significantly different God feels and acts towards those who are "lost" - whether they recognize it or not. In the third parable, Jesus squarely frames the father as the tangible and prodigal display of love and grace that we so easily miss or ignore
Whether prayers of persistence, belonging or humility, Jesus teaches us to ‘pray always and to not lose heart’. The Kingdom of God that is revealed in Luke 18 through the Parable of the Persistent Widow and The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is real and reliable, and therefore, we can have faith: the confidence to act as though the goodness anticipated in hope is trustworthy, reliable and persistent.
Matthew 13 contains the first parables that Jesus taught and, in the trilogy of the sower and the soil, the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed and the yeast, he reveals the arc of the life of the kingdom and drives home the urgency of now.
In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus strikes to the core of our human nature and the tendency to make judgements about who's in and who's out - to judge those who believe or behave differently convincing ourselves that they're the weeds and we're the wheat. Once again, Jesus flips the story and reveals just how dangerous and destructive that practice truly is.
In Luke 16 Jesus gives two related parables: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager and the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus. Both of these stories revolve around money, but are ultimately getting at something deeper: where we place our trust. Jesus is comparing and contrasting two different attitudes towards money because he understands the pull it has, and he uses this to invite us to examine and orient our lives around what should be the sole object of our trust: God and God's Kingdom.
Jesus continues in Matthew 13 with the theme of seeds and sowing as the most repeated and significant metaphors for understanding the nature of the Kingdom. Once again, in the simplicity of a parable, Jesus reveals deep and critical truths that, for many, pull the rug out from under the common perceptions of who's "in" and who's "out".
Throughout all of history, our shared stories (Bible and current) ought to remind us of a God throughout the phases, mothering each of us - comforting us in our pain, embracing us in our doubt, celebrating with us in our triumphs and rejoicing with us in our joys. Our shared stories allow us to remember the humanity among us in our shared community, and as we share our stories, we are invited to hold the tension together in community.
Jesus creates a teachable moment at a red carpet event reminding us that even what is good can sometimes be an unwise distraction
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus' teaching around the central metaphor of the "seed" is, as good parables always are, much more profound and powerful than what it appears to be on the surface.
Jesus, the master teacher, changes his approach to how he communicates his message about the kingdom of God without warning and begins to teach in parables. What is it that causes the shift and what's the first point he drives home as he tells a story about soil and seeds? The answer is very revealing about the nature of the kingdom.
Pastor Dave begins the series laying some ground work that reconciles the difference between having faith IN Jesus and having the faith OF Jesus, why both are necessary and why it matters in regards to the nature of the Kingdom of God
Walk through the resurrection story in the gospels and you'll discover just how much the story is in the details and just how easy it is to miss what's right there in plain sight
The Teacher from Ecclesiastes closes his book with a poem - an artful description of his final thoughts as he looks back over his life and observations around "vapor management" in his old age. In these final words, there is an urgency in his conclusion that we dare not miss
Wisdom - it’s something we all think we have, until we realize we don’t. The teacher in Ecclesiastes is self-examining, self-disclosing as he reflects over his life recognizing that he has been both capable of wisdom and folly, good and evil. However, the King, insulated by power, privilege, & prestige, was unable to truly see his own folly, until it was too late.
Focusing on chapters 8 and 9 of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher is going toe-to-toe with our illusions of control. In chapter 8 he knocks down the sense that we can control any of the stuff, or vapor, of life. In chapter 9 he dismisses any notion of control over how long our lives are, ultimately saying that "time and chance happen to us all." By dashing these illusions of control of all of our external stuff, he leaves us with the reality that the only thing we can control is our interior life. We can no longer look to the stuff of vapor to try to earn God or the good life, but we can look through the vapor to the God who is always present. What this takes is a shift in our interior lives, a change of perspective, to see God through all things.
For all those who've worked hard to stay on the right path, follow all the rules, check all the boxes and that thing you were hoping for and counting on still fell apart... there is a wisdom beyond the wisdom that offers insight for how to manage all that is "vapor under the sun"
Ecclesiastes opens us up to acknowledge our own experiences and how they influence our perspectives and understanding of the world. The teacher says, “There is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.” Questions of “why?” and “now what?” are common and welcomed by this wisdom teacher in the discovery that “doing good is itself a pathway to wisdom”.
Pastor Dave closes the series reminding us how God has wired all creation for flourishing and what humankind's role is in bringing about
Pastor Dave closes the series reminding us how God has wired all creation for flourishing and what humankind's role is in bringing about
A few years ago, a study was done having to do with how those outside the faith saw those who professed to be followers of Jesus. In a ranking of the top 7 ways the group perceived the church, the #1 category where they said the people of Jesus acted the least like Jesus was this: the church was judgmental. We know what Jesus taught…but do we understand the implications of choosing to ignore it
We are living in days of growing polarization and rising tension. While our world is more connected than at any time in human history, the divide between us, at every level, only deepens. What does shalom look like and how do we pursue it and reclaim hope?
The restoration of all things according to God's intended desire and purpose at creation - what the Hebrew people understood as "shalom" - can only come to pass if the "shadow" understands and chooses to reconcile its relationship with its Source
The biblical creation story paints the picture of how the world is designed to work and the role that humankind was always designed to play in its ongoing experience of shalom: universal wholeness and flourishing. But no sooner is the story in full swing, and humankind breaks from the story shattering the relationships fundamental to its flourishing in the process. How does God respond?
The most dramatic difference between the creation story of the Hebrew people and that of all the other creation stories to this day has to do with two very significant and paradigm shifting words... that were very good news for humankind
The opening narrative of the Scriptures presents a creation story that emerges from an experience of struggle, isolation, oppression and fear following the exile of Israel to Babylon for 70 years. In a powerful contrast, it refutes and reverses the claims of the creation narratives of the day and offers the reminder of the hope of a goodness not seen but deeply longed for then and now
At the center of advent is the invitation to worship fully. The coming of the Christ child is the reminder that God has drawn near and through Jesus came to earth, will come again and comes even today. And how we choose to anticipate that and enter into it everyday makes all the difference
In a season where we experience the pressure to spend money, buy and give the best gadget, bounce from one gathering to the next — we are invited, once again, to revisit a familiar story. A story of a God who gave. A God who gave — sacrificially, generously, and thoughtfully — and we are invited to GIVE MORE and to give the way God gave.
God made a revolutionary decision in the incarnation by choosing to be born poor and marginalized. This decision flipped the way we are to think about stuff, money, and the ways we tie together (and our culture wants to tie) our identity with accumulation. God is leading a countercultural way - both for individuals and communities - that is relevant for today: to spend strategically.
Pastor Dave opens the new series to take us into the advent season as we prepare for the coming of the Christ-child with a fresh lens on the story of Christmas and the reminder that it is born out of the love for all by the God who came near
Pastor Dave along with Pastor Grant and Pastor Lindsey discuss the the larger arc of this series and the implications for what it looks like to take the next step towards intentionally becoming the kind of people who naturally and easily do what Jesus commanded
Jesus begins with "anger" as he delivers the Sermon on the Mount, giving us insight into what so often keeps us from the experience of what he calls "eternal life" hear and now
Pastor Dave turns a corner in the series moving from what the substance and quality of the life on display in the life of Jesus is, namely, faith, hope, love, joy and peace, to begin to address the question: "what is it that is keeping us from being able to live from those same underlying conditions naturally?"
When Jesus offers his peace... When Paul assures us that God's peace will guard our hearts and minds in King Jesus, what do you understand that peace to be? How do you secure it? What is it's substance? How do you cultivate it in your own life?
Pastor Dave explores the nature and power of joy to restore and heal at the deepest level of our soul.
STORY: Pastor Grant and Mikhaela share their experience with one of joy's most counterintuitive yet life-giving realities as an underlying condition in the midst of their own journey of loss and mourning
Central to our capacity to live the life here and now that Jesus keeps insisting is available through him, is the need to not just comprehend, but to cultivate what love actually is and how it's intended to come to completion in us and through us.
Over and over, Jesus invited people into an experience of life he referred to as "eternal" or "abundant" life. His invitation was into a certain quality of life, upheld by specific realities that enabled him to sleep calmly in the midst of a great storm at sea, to face the horrors of the journey to his death and still choose to walk that path, to look out upon the crowd who demanded his death and came to watch and jeer as he hung on a cross dying and still utter pleas in their defense to the Father. How does Jesus do that? Where does that kind of fearlessness, courage and compassion come from?
Pastor Dave begins a series designed to help us discover and understand one of the most significant, and yet most often overlooked, dimensions of formation into the image and character of Jesus and how that severely limits our ability to become mature followers of Christ
In the lineage of Cain we get introduced to a young generation who learned to live into the tension of their family’s history. By caring and taking in those stories, they were able to lean into the sacred space of reconciling the good with the bad that that kind of tension raises to work for a better and brighter tomorrow. The holy tension of Cain’s lineage invites us into this journey too.
Pastor Tim offers insight into the dangers of being unaware of our tendency to think of God wrongly
As we examine the ancient story of Cain and Abel, the temptation is to compare their offerings and God’s response, assessing and ranking. But comparison leads to shame, judgement and destruction, even death. Perhaps there’s an alternative approach worth considering as we learn from Cain and Abel, gaining better tools to cultivate healthy relationships. Perhaps the practices of empathy and gratitude become just the antidote we need to heal our brokenness and shame and to bring God our best offering.
Pastor Dave opens the series with a look at Genesis 4-5 through the lens of the lineage of Jesus and what's underneath God's ongoing favor towards the "underdog"
A service dedicated to honoring Pastor Tim's 15 years of leadership and ministry at Newsong and a celebration of his upcoming retirement
David wraps up this powerful description of his life in the hands of the Good Shepherd with an assurance of His trustworthiness in all dimensions of life, always...
As the psalmist moves through his poem, the metaphor shifts slightly once again revealing the God who is the Good Shepherd now as the One who is also a gracious host. The question is... why the shift? Why a gracious host and what's the relationship to the flow of the poem?
Psalm 23 is perhaps best known for the comfort found in times of loss and grief from the poet's words, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me." And yet, as is often the case, there's so much more just below the surface
In Psalm 23, the poet-shepherd describes with simple words that reflect a profound experience of satisfaction and trust, how it is that the Good Shepherd meets the most fundamental needs of his beloved sheep
Pastor Dave opens a series based on one of the most well known and revered Psalms with a look into the unique nature and power of the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep
Life has a way of changing in a moment… sometimes in drastic and difficult ways. What matters most is the lens through which you see that moment. Is it an "interruption" or a "disruption"? Because the lens you choose makes all the difference
In the now, we are invited to experience the transformation that comes with the practice of receiving the grace that redeems our past
With our reframed lens on the future as it relates to God’s eternality, we are, in the now, invited to trust that the best is yet to come
Richard Rohr has said that presence is the practical, daily task of all spiritual disciplines. Before we can learn from Jesus helpful ways of thinking about and engaging our past and our futures, we must first learn from the Author of Life how to be right here and right now, in this present and sacred moment
Kelly Romoser & Emma Youchoff lead us in worship | Pastor Lindsey introduces her father as he tells his story about fatherhood and faith
"Paul tells us to 'take captive every thought and submit it to Christ.' That means we take captive and submit the way we think about something even as seemingly abstract as time. Unsurprisingly, Jesus can use this too in order to form us in our discipleship to him."
With humankind's choice in the garden to reject God's will for them to live according to his design and purpose for them, the two most important requirements for Life in the Kingdom of God were lost. Pastor Dave discussed what those are, how Jesus makes those available and why it matters more than we may think.
Understanding how to live in harmony with creation as a part of God's desire for the flourishing and wholeness of the world that is understood as "shalom", is essential for the accomplishment of God's purposes and has everything to do with how we see our role in the world on beyond Sunday and into Monday
In Genesis 2, after having made a declaration that all creation was "tov me'od" (very good), God makes makes an unusual, yet critical, observation about humankind
As we look back to the garden to understand God's design in creation, we learn that what God declared as "good" was much more profound than we had imagined
Pastor Lindsey talks with Shelly Romoser and Kelly Caringer-Romoser about learning and living the joy and beauty of motherhood
"Shalom" was how the Hebrew people and prophets described what God wanted and where the human story was headed. What that looks like in the garden, then, is the much needed lens to understand how to live in "new creation" now
To understand God's intent for life now, in the "already here but not yet fully realized" reality of "new creation", you have to understand what his design and intention has been from the very beginning
Pastor Dave begins a new series designed to help us understand what it means to live in the "new creation" that is set in motion with the resurrection of Jesus
The resurrection of Jesus is a cornerstone of the gospel of the Kingdom. The real question may be whether we have the same understanding of its significance as did the early Christians
In his final expression of those who are blessed in the Kingdom, Jesus declares that the final group are those who are persecuted for the sake of the Kingdom. How does Jesus go from peacemakers to persecution? Is there a reason that this the last beatitude?
In our first live stream of The Gathering, Pastor Dave interviews and baptizes Sawyer Simmons and Megan O'Neal
Newsong launches its first live stream service as a measure of wisdom in terms of the need for social distancing balanced by the value of community and connection as a community of faith.
As Jesus nears the end of his announcement of those who are blessed in the kingdom of God, he pronounces a blessing on “peacemakers”. Once again, to capture the full scope of this word - used only one time in the New Testament -you have to understand the bigger picture of the story of God at work in human history... What does Jesus mean by “peacemaker”?
The beatitudes may be some of the most misunderstood statements of Jesus, with “Blessed are the pure in heart...” perhaps near the top of the list. As usual, Jesus reveals a strategic and extremely significant truth about life in the Kingdom that is easy to miss - and usually is
As Jesus continues his declarations of those who are blessed, painting a picture of the “good life” available to all who would seek it, the narrative arc of his discourse begins to reveal a progression. “Blessed are the merciful...” is a strategic and incredibly difficult shift
It’s natural to read the Scriptures and draw conclusions about what it means. What doesn’t come naturally is the knowledge that we all have “lenses” through which we’re interpreting and understanding what we’re reading. When Jesus blesses those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness”... is he saying what we generally think he’s saying?
In his declaration of blessing upon the meek, Jesus reminds his audience - then and now - how the story of humanity and creation actually ends and invites us to rethink how we see the world in light of our pursuit of “the good life” | Family Moment: Pastor Lindsey interviews Ashley Criley for an update on Sensory City
In his announcement that those who mourn are blessed, Jesus casts a vision that overturns the prevailing assumptions of all those who’ve known suffering and loss as he unveils a new reality now present in the rule of God
Jesus makes a declaration that overturns the assumptions in his day - and for much of Christian history - about whom God blesses by inviting them to the life of the kingdom
Jesus, the master teacher, opens his most thorough and strategic talk with a declaration that sets the tone for his revolutionary message of good news
Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. We all live in our present Time yet we continually look back or forward to what time is holding for us. Whether it is a memory, a dream of what could be, hidden deep down or on the surface, all of us are in a fight with time. So how would your life look if time becomes a friend rather than the enemy, and what does our Faith and Spiritual Formation look like when we allow God to direct our time?
Pastor Dave wraps up the series with a brief recap of some of the major ideas, some thoughts on one of the two most critical practices for life in the Kingdom, and a simple "beginner's guide" to experience the Kingdom life
Jesus is always teaching at the level of helping us understand how to live a certain kind of life… life with him in the reality of the Kingdom. As we begin a new year, Jesus offers insight into how to live a life that results in our capacity to be free of worry. What may be surprising is how we get there
Once we can trust in the bigness and the closeness of God we can find that every bush is on fire with the glory and very real presence of God, and that old story of Moses’ own encounter teaches us a few vital lessons that can change the way we see everything
We recognize that "loving our neighbor" is part of what Jesus considered to be the greatest commandment. But who, specifically, is my "neighbor" and what does that actually mean?
It's not difficult to understand why Jesus would tell us love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, or even the priority of loving our neighbor as ourselves. What's difficult is understanding how to do that…
The nature of character transformation into the kind of people who naturally and routinely do what Jesus commanded requires a clear sense of the roles of mind and body in the process... but what does that mean?
If you want your life to fall to pieces, give your emotions and desires full reign. Pastor Dave explains how easy it is to do that and how hard it is to actually do the work to replace false narratives that are driven by destructive reactions to one's negative attractions and emotions.
To become the kind of person who naturally and routinely does what Jesus commands us to do, we have to understand specifically where to begin...
Pastor Dave lays out the process by which we actively pursue the transformation of our character into the nature and character of Jesus which requires that we have the right vision, a determined intention and the proper means by which His grace can empower us to do so.
For many, the idea of grace in the Scriptures is primarily about God's willingness to forgive our sin. And yet, as true and critical as that understanding is, what if that's just one example of how grace works? Are there other dimensions of grace that we've missed or not understood that are also critical and necessary to our capacity to understand how to live as followers of Jesus?
Pastor Dave opens a new series exploring what it means to fully comprehend and pursue holiness as we seek to become the kind of people who naturally and routinely do what Jesus taught us to do.
Roland and Carolyn Ashby from "Strategic Alliance" join us to talk about their work in Reynosa, Mexico building homes for the poor and helping students stay in school through their ministry, Escuela Viva. For more info visit: http://www.strategicalliance.org
As we approach the season for elder nominations, Pastor Dave interviews Newsong's elders inviting them to share some of their thoughts and the impact of their journey as elders in their own lives.
What if people are more than the sum of their choices? What if there's something deeper and more true about what it means to be human, made in the Image of God? What if even Jesus had to wrestle with the temptation to be what others wanted him to be and chose, ultimately, to live into who he actually is? Our journey of following Christ means we, too, are to live into who God made us and knows us to be, and not hang our sense of identity and worth on the things we do. As we delve deeper inward, we can discover the immortal diamond within and find the "true self."
Pastor Dave walks through the questions and challenges surrounding the dangers of living a "hurried life" and unpacks the pathway to experiencing freedom from all the ways that it hinders our experience of real Life
Pastor Dave responds to a question posed during the series regarding the role of the Holy Spirit in the context of the life of one seeking to live as an apprentice of Jesus
Pastor Dave and Pastor Lindsey walk through an update on the heart and ministry of Newsong's "Love Our City" ministry through various interviews and stories
Pastor Dave wraps up the series with questions and thoughts about the bigger picture... Why is hearing from God so vital to our existence? Is it possible to live a good life without intentionally pursuing an ongoing conversation with the Divine?
Engaging the dialogue with the Divine requires a certain intentionality and a certain of understanding the nature of God as the perfect, loving parent... particularly when the "still small voice" goes silent
To understand God's will requires that we first - at least in broad strokes - understand what God wants... What was the primary desire in the mind of the Creator when he spoke all things into existence and the wired and called us to find our place within it?
Learning to hear the voice of God requires that we be willing to take the risk of exploring our doubts in dialogue with the Divine in order for our faith to take the shape of confidence and trust rather than merely intellectual assent
Central to the biblical narrative is the understanding that the God who spoke all things into existence continues to speak into his world and to those made in his image. The question is, how do we hear his voice and discern what he wants?
Given that communication is the life-blood of every relationship but is, at the same time, a lot more complicated, layered, and nuanced than we generally acknowledge, are there ways that we may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the nature or the role of God's speaking to us?
The essence of the with-God life is relationship. It's what God is, what God wants, and how God wired us to experience him most powerfully. What does that look like? What happens when I choose to respond to his invitation into the "circle dance" of Father, Son and Spirit?
Everyone lives from a deep sense of what we believe about how the world works and what the driving engine is underneath the way the universe is designed to flow. We live and move in the world from that space, those perceptions. To understand how to be in relationship with the Divine, we need to understand the story we embrace and how it shapes our understanding of how to live in the world as part of God's grand creation project.
Our EPIC Student Ministry leads us in worship and a summer recap that includes video highlights of our children’s Walkabout event and stories from EPIC’s summer mission trip (Stories: The Morby family & Lexi Allen)
Pastor Dave closes the series with the reminder that the life in the Kingdom is guided by faith and the willingness, at times, to take the initiative in order for God to use us in extraordinary ways to bring about the healing and flourishing of the world around us
What does it look like for the church to become the hope of the world and what is our role in bringing hope to those who have no hope?
The power of healing within a community requires all of humanity to truly see another and demonstrate authentic presence. Jesus invites us to see the plight of another, like the four men saw the paralyzed man in the crowd in Mark 2:1-12, and to break through barriers so that we all experience the healing power of a God who not only heals the man’s disease, but also heals the societal illness. This journey requires all of us to daily practice humility and honesty.
The beginning verses of Mark 2 offer a lot to reflect on, but it can be confusing: It seems like two different conversations are going on. One is about a guy who could not walk now being able to, and the other about sins being forgiven. All of this scene is backdropped by the added drama of a roof getting smashed in and Jesus praising the faith of the vandals. Jesus, as should be expected, is masterful in using his words and actions. Very carefully and lovingly he brings about a deeper, fuller healing - the kind of healing that's actually most needed: a healing of the "illness" and not just the "disease."
Pastor Dave wraps up the series with final thoughts about the priority of "soul training" and Jake Apple facilitates a Q&A with questions that have been submitted about the series
When asked, Jesus says that the most important command is that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength - and that we love our neighbor as ourself... which raises the question, "What is a soul and what does that mean when it comes to living in the Kingdom now?"
Jesus invites us to "take up his yoke" and follow him into the life of the kingdom of heaven... but what does that mean and does that lead to our transformation?
The gospel of the early followers of Jesus revolutionized and changed the world in the centuries following the birth of the church. 2000 years later, the church struggles to have any traction at all in the world around it. Is there something that we've missed along the way?
As we work through understanding what Jesus means when he talks about the kingdom of God, seeking it first, and wanting that life more than we want anything else... what does that look like in ordinary life? How do you begin? Jesus' own life and ministry offer some much needed insight...
Jesus' announcement of the coming of the Kingdom of God is the gospel that changes everything and invites us into a life far different than a life of religious behavior and belief.
One of Jesus' primary commands is that we "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"... but what does he mean by that?
Mothers Day: A special reading from a blog posted by the late author, blogger, wife and mother, Rachel Held Evans, is included at the end of the podcast as an encouragement to and in honor of all women who are mothers, long to be mothers, those who are grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and all those who nurture and mentor others in some way.
So many people spend much of their life wondering if there's more to life than what they're experiencing. Jesus keeps insisting that the fullest life is found in the kingdom of God. What does he actually mean and how does one experience it?
The reality of the Kingdom of God, as Jesus described and displayed it, was the spark that lit the fire that caused the early church to explode across the Roman empire. The question is, do we really understand the real meaning and the full scope of it's implication 2000 years later?
Resurrection Sunday is the central reality that changes everything for human history. In light of what they believed it meant about the future, what did the early church understand about it's implications for their present and is there something we've missed along the way?
In a brilliant move, Jesus sets the wheels in motion for the kingdom showdown at the cross in ways that no one foresaw and with the reinterpretation of a familiar meal.
Central to understanding the greater purpose and deepest revelation of the cross is understanding the story from which it emerges. How do the Hebrew Scriptures set the stage for this key event in the story of God's involvement in human history?
Today we're celebrating: 1) the joy of family ministry as we reveal an added dimension of our Kingdom City curriculum called "FX", 2) the next step of in the lives of Macey Devall and Rozalyn Douglas as we witness their baptism, and 3) the reminder of our opportunity to "Say Yes!" to the flourishing of our Kingdom City ministry by participating and partnering with it in specific ways!
Stories from Love Our City: Pastor Lindsey interviews the team who went to Reynosa, Mexico last December and they share the highlights of this new opportunity in partnership with Strategic Alliance. / Pastor Lindsey also interviews Danielle Adair who is leading out in Newsong's participation in World Vision's 2019 Global 6K for Water coming up on May 4th.
Pastor Dave closes the service by exploring some of the challenging dynamics that often accompany the modern day interpretation of the cross and it's relationship to what's often communicated as "the gospel".
While God desires for us to experience prosperity, the biblical wisdom tradition provides insight into significant ways in which that is different from our general cultural understanding
For over 2000 years, people from all races, backgrounds, cultures, political and economical perspectives have been drawn to the cross. While fully aware that it represents one of humankind's most horrific torture devices, it's worn as jewelry, printed on t-shirts and bumper stickers, carved and painted by renowned artists and displayed in beautiful cathedrals around the world.
While we have some understanding of its purpose in history and faith, there's a mystery to it that is rich and complex and full of possibility for seeing the world in a whole new light. How can it continue to transform our lives now... some 2000 years later?
Anger may be the most misunderstood, and as a result, most destructive emotions in our lives. How do we recognize and heal from our own destructive anger and how do we learn how to deal with it when it's directed at us?
The most difficult aspect of wrestling with our anger may be learning how to be wise in our feeling and expression of anger. Understanding it's relationship to love is where that journey begins
In our faith tradition, communities sometimes have a tendency to want the "one, correct way" of reading scripture. But our sacred stories can offer so much truth, so much beauty, and so much wisdom when we allow the story to turn and reveal new perspectives. Today, we will joyfully re-member one of Jesus' parables that guides us closer to God's vision for all of creation; a vision of generosity, healing, and full celebration.
Of all the subjects in the book of Proverbs, understanding how to be wise with our words is addressed more than any other topic outside of wisdom itself. Words are the building blocks of all reality and have tremendous power for life and death. What does it look like to learn to use our words in such a way that we, and those around us, can flourish?
In the ancient near east it was understood that pursuing wisdom would lead to the best experience of life. To accumulate wisdom meant that you were seeking to understand how things really are and how they're interrelated so that you can make the right decision. That's what it meant to be wise. They also had language for those who did not pursue wisdom. They were called fools. What does it mean, according to the Scriptures, to be a fool?
According to the ancient wisdom traditions, wisdom is a path. The journey is always step by step, right foot, left foot... One grows in wisdom by taking the next right step. While everyone's path is unique in some ways, there's a path that everyone walks at some point, and this path in particular can lead to great wisdom
If every decision that will have a significant impact on your life requires wisdom, the question becomes: "How do I get wisdom?"
(The recording from last week's series opener is not available due to technical issues. We apologize for the inconvenience! )
God often invites us into transformation through disruption as he did in a defining moment with Peter. What new thing will God want to do through you in this upcoming year through moments of disruption of defiance?
Two different times Jesus is asked the question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" His response provides insight for each of us seeking to experience the overflowing life of the Kingdom
Jesus' invitation for us to experience an overflowing, abundant, eternal life begins with a certain way of seeing the world... and your life in particular
In all of the recorded words of Jesus in Scripture, there is more emphasis on what he has to say about how we view and manage our resources than any other subject, except for the Kingdom. It's clear that Jesus knows something about our nature that we often can't see for ourselves
In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus throws out what appears at first glance to be a random thought, but turns out to be critical insight for experiencing the overflowing, abundant life he offers
Jesus keeps insisting that there's a better life, an abundant and overflowing life that's available to everyone... And in the opening lines of the prayer he teaches us to pray, he points us to the substance and source that lies at the heart of that very life
The prophet Elisha stood boldly and stared down the full force of the Aramean army. Death was knocking on his door, quite literally, but what is most puzzling, spectacular, confusing, and awe-inspiring is his response. The prophet bore witness to a hope defiant. It's the kind of hope that changes the world, and it might be exactly what we need today.
Pastor Dave closes the series by taking a look at how the Church has lost traction in shaping culture and how living from the right narrative makes all the difference
The "good news" that Jesus kept announcing and inviting people to experience was revolutionary and transformational for both the individuals who chose to "follow" him and, in turn, the culture where it took root. However, in our day and our culture, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this is rarely the case. What are we missing?
The number one criticism of the Church, by far, from those looking in from the outside is that Christians have done immense harm in their actions and their words in regards to those within the LGBT community. What would it look like to respond as followers of Jesus?
What does it look like to navigate the tension of being a follower of Jesus in a world where the political climate can often be divisive and polarized?
Pastor Lindsey interviews Terrie Desloge of Live Differently Ministries and Ashley Criley as we explore a new ministry to families of children with special needs. http://www.livedifferentlyministries.org
Pastor Dave chats with Kyle Sharos for an update on the funds raised for the upcoming trip to Reynosa, Mexico to build shelters for the poor in partnership with Strategic Alliance
Apparently, the universal response to the question as to whether the Church is and/or has been judgmental is a resounding "YES!!" Pastor Dave takes a look at what Jesus said, what he didn't say, and what he did in regards to the human tendency to judge others.
What attitude, from those who claim to know and obey the Scriptures, is acknowledged by most within the faith and is most frustrating to those outside the faith... and to Jesus?
We begin a series designed to help us identify, hear and address the ways in which we, as individuals, as a local community of faith and as part of the larger Church, have failed to live, look, and love like Jesus to those around us, both inside and outside the faith
Pastor Dave responds to a variety of questions across a range of topics that have been submitted for today's Q&R session together
Three time Dove Award winner,Ginny Owens, joins us in our “living room” once again to lead us in worship, share her story, and bless us with her incredible gifts as singer/songwriter
Aminata Cairo, one of Newsong’s beloved, returns for a visit from the Netherlands and shares her story of faith and challenge in a new role; Jerret Batson introduces us to his experience in helping provide shelters for the colonies on the outskirts of Reynosa, Mexico; and Kyle Sharos walks us through his way of participating in the Kingdom as we prepare for our trip to Reynosa this fall
Pastor Grant explores the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8, mining it for insights, wisdom, and the presence of the Holy Spirit; engaging the text in what may just be what we need to engage the Spirit who is always inviting us to be enfolded, led, and nurtured
The 10 Commandments conclude with a somewhat odd final command... How do you attempt to regulate something you can't see? As is often the case, what's just below the surface reveals the reason and the brilliance of this unique command
EPIC, Newsong's student ministry, leads us in worship, shares some memories from the summer and graduating seniors; Daniel Reed and Oliver Johnson come through the waters of baptism; and other family moments...
To fully grasp the 9th commandment is to discover what may very well be one of the most universally underestimated causes of human affliction
Most of us wouldn't consider ourselves thieves, at least not in terms of people who intentionally take things that belong to others. But what we often don't recognize is that the very impulse that that drives those who steal is very much alive and well in all of us
In virtually every culture, adultery is considered wrong or taboo. And yet, millions of men and women intentionally pursue the illicit affair knowing what's on the line... or do they?
The command seems straightforward and easy enough to comply with... "You shall not kill." But as he often does, Jesus opens up the layers that lie beneath those four words and reminds us that none of us is as innocent as we may have thought
Pastor Lindsey sheds light on a familiar passage, helping us see some of the deeper layers of what it means to honor our father and mother
Pastor Dave explores a dimension of the commandment to honor our father and mother that highlights the reciprocal nature of the command and its connection to God's grand design of the flourishing of His creation
In between the commandments having to do with vows to God and those that have to do with how we treat others is the command to remember the Sabbath. What is it about this particular practice that causes it to rank so high on the list?
The commandment to not “take the name of the Lord in vain” is often understood primarily in terms of swearing an oath or cursing. What if, in Hebrew thought, there was much more to the whole concept of what a name actually is?
Jordan Grammer joins us in our "living room" with thoughts on the story of Lot's wife, a woman who might impact how we deal with trauma and story. As you listen, hear the salt sing a different tune in a familiar story
The second commandment can feel dated because, for the most part, we don't live in a culture of idol worship. But, as is most often the case, there are layers within the command we'll miss if we don't look just below the surface
This first command along with it's counterpart sets the tone and framework for discovering how to live in the ongoing practice of experiencing and responding to God's great love
How you understand the context in which the 10 Commandments are given will give you a significant understanding of their truest intent
Learning from the Psalmist, we are invited to experience the God whose loving fingerprints are found all throughout creation. There is immeasurable beauty, goodness, and truth to be found all around us. The invitation for us is to see that creation is singing the praises of God all the time - we simply get to add our voices to the symphony
The third “big idea” as we prepare to explore the expression of God’s love for his bride in the giving of the 10 commandments, is that God is “ahead” of us alway drawing us into a better future, a better story, a richer experience of Shalom
Pastor Grant continues the series with the second of 3 “big ideas” about the God who demonstrates His love for His people through the covenant we know as the 10 commandments
Pastor Dave begins a new series with the first of 3 “big ideas” about the God who demonstrates His love for His people through the covenant we know as the 10 commandments
Pastor Dave begins a new series with the first of 3 “big ideas” about the God who demonstrates His love for His people through the covenant we know as the 10 commandments
The resurrection of Jesus, which is central to the Christian faith, was understood and experienced within a specific context and story by the 1st century followers of Jesus. What can we learn about those lenses to better understand the implications of the resurrection some 2000 years later?
The book of Lamentations ends with the tension, doubt, despair and wondering that is the natural course of grieving and mourning. But is there more to the story than what appears on the surface?
In this series of poems, there is an arc, a sense of movement... these poems are taking us somewhere. What happens when you have no energy left to rant? To shake your fists at God? When what's happened has happened and there's no going back? What can these 2500 yr old poems still teach us about the art and necessity of lament?
Lamentations 3 presents the heart of the struggle of being caught in the throws of lament, suffering, hope and despair all at once along with helpful insight into the theme of God's anger that reverberates throughout the book
Throughout the book of Lamentations, in the midst of the great tragedy and loss of the people of Israel, not once does God speak into their pain or make an appearance to offer hope. In chapter 3, a new character finally offers words that point in that direction with timely wisdom for all of us
The journey of lament is a process. It's a narrative with an arc. It begins with loss and leads us towards healing and hope as we choose to journey through our anger and pain with eyes and hearts wide open
As we begin the journey into Lent, looking towards the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and the new life it promises, we delve into the poetry of Lamentations and discover there is much we have to learn about pain and grief before we’ll be ready to fully receive the full gift of life Jesus offers
Pastor Dave closes the series sharing some final thoughts from his own faith journey that have helped shape the DNA of Newsong
One of the fundamental needs of the human spirit is purpose. Why am I here? What do I want? What am I supposed to do with my life? Purpose is a crucial component of every story as it is the engine that drives the narrative and helps us experience meaning. We believe that it is within the great story of God that we all find our truest sense of purpose and the clarity to answer those crucial questions. Story: Anne Schomaker from Eden's Glory
Newsong celebrates the blessing of family and belonging with child dedications and stories from a variety of Newsongers.
We are hard-wired for connection and story is woven into our DNA but the experience of deep, authentic relationships is an intentional journey that begins with the willingness to be vulnerable. Story: Nick & Kristina Heckelman
Pastor Dave discusses the “new song” that has defined the journey of Newsong and shaped who we are and are becoming
Every family has a story that gives them direction and purpose and a way of engaging the world around them. Pastor Dave opens the series with a conversation about the church as a family and power of story to understand and shape the journey of the family of Newsong
Pastor Grant closes out the year with the opening words of John’s gospel and their implications for the hope and light to be found in the year to come
John closes his letter to his “Dear children” with specific intentions of clarity and what appears to be a peculiar warning
John begins to wind down his letter by reminding his readers of the critical victory won at Calvary. This was the event that changed everything. This was the conflict the entire story of Israel had been leading up to. The rightful King had landed and the new world had begun as love conquered the final enemy
How do you know that God lives in you? Or that you live in Him? John gets to the heart of that question in the simple, yet extraordinarily profound truth that “God is love.” For John this isn’t just “true”.. it’s a fundamental reality with all kinds of implications
Getting to the heart of the letter, John returns to the theme of "loving one another" for the final time with a determination to ensure that we don't overlook the obvious or minimize that which is both profoundly simple and humanly impossible
John gives wise insight, as well as a surprising reminder, as he addresses his “dear children” who are seeking to understand how to discern what is true and of God in the midst of the tension of disagreements and differing voices among them
In a day when you never really knew where you stood with the gods and given the prevailing questions dividing this early community of believers, John gives reassurance to all those - then and now - who wrestle with feelings of guilt and shame, wondering if they're doing enough to remain in God's love.
John gives a brilliant commentary on what it means to be human and invites us to welcome a disruption at the core of our being in order to more fully experience the love of God flowing in us and through us
According to John, love for one another is the evidence of our being part of the life that is the real life.
In chapter 3, John moves into a direct, but somewhat odd discussion about sin and seems to draw some equally odd conclusions.
John addresses one of the sources of tension within his community and reminds them of who they really are in Christ
Learning to live in the life that Jesus keeps insisting is available through Him, requires that be aware of certain - and sometimes subtle - dangers found in this life
John addresses the division in his community with compassion and a reminder of that which is most important
More than any other gospel writer, John speaks of "light" and "truth" in reference to Jesus. But if we miss the the impact of these profound metaphors, we'll miss what is central to John's understanding of the gospel.
John opens his first pastoral letter with a proclamation often missed and loaded with the potential for us to reimagine the implications of the message of Jesus in tangible and transformative ways
Hear the stories of some of the ongoing Kingdom work that Newsong has the privilege to participate in: Interviews with Rayden Hollis from Red Hill Church, Emilee Adams from Restore Decor & Katie Heaton from the Fairmont City Library Community Center
Pastor Dave closes the series with a look into Jesus' empowering declaration of his followers
Jesus wraps up his "sermon on the mount" with a series of images and reminders of how intentional our commitment to follow him must be if we're to find the life that is the real life in the end.
Jesus teaches that loving our enemies is somehow intricately connected to "being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect".
Many are familiar with the "turn the other cheek" expression and Jesus' teaching along those lines from the "Sermon on the Mount". But what if we've misunderstood what he's really trying to say? But what if the message isn't really what it appears to be on the surface.. and there's something deeper and more profoundly Kingdom-oriented just beneath it?
Jesus segues from divorce to oaths and challenges us to understand and wrestle with the power of our words
Both services combine on EPIC Sunday to worship, celebrate baptism and hear stories of transformation in the lives of students
Building on themes given earlier in his great Sermon on the Mount Jesus was entering into a long-standing conversation, engaging the world around him, and addressing injustices all surrounding divorce. Perhaps his words on the matter have a lot more to offer than we might have initially thought. Perhaps he's beckoning the Church to seek justice for the hurt.
As a river flows, so does the love and mercy of our ever-pursuant God. Discover what Ezekiel's prophecy and vision in Ezekiel 47:1-12 says to us about God's promise of restoration and hope. Wherever the river flows, life will flourish.
Jesus continues his strategic teaching on what it looks like to live in the Kingdom of God by addressing the dangers of the lustful heart. With a brilliant, if not absurd "wake up call", he targets an element of our humanity that we tend to minimize, and invites us to consider its vast potential for destruction
Pick up any paper, watch the news on any network and the top stories will almost always center around some kind of tragedy that emerged from the depths of an angry heart. In his sermon on the mount, Jesus strategically begins this section of the discourse by addressing the hidden and deadly power of anger that's left to simmer unchecked.
For many, the primary experience of the Christian faith is as a religious system consisting of specific "do's and don'ts" to adhere to. While there's some truth to that being part of the journey, it's not what Jesus saw as God's "end goal" or the greatest desire for His children. Throughout his ministry, Jesus kept insisting that there was a better way to live... a better way of being in the world. He called it "eternal life" or the "Kingdom of Heaven" and discovering how to experience life in that reality changes everything.
Pastor Grant recognizes Newsong's graduates & Pastor Lindsey interviews Kent & Erin Moore as they share their story of faith, struggle and community
If the church is to live out it's primary calling to live as a display of the Kingdom of God so that others might be drawn to Him and find the life Jesus kept insisting was available here and now through him, can that be transformative in their lives and in the world around them? If so, how?
Central to the story of God rescuing and restoring creation is the simple practice of sharing a meal. What is it about this simple blessing that creates such a sacred space for a transformative experience?
Pastor Dave unpacks the vision of Newsong to reveal the clear calling and strategy for our journey together as a Kingdom community
In our culture, love is often seen as primarily an emotion... A response based on attraction or pleasure. However, the biblical picture of love is far more robust and substantial and is the only means of navigating the challenges of a relationship moving towards unity in light of our differences.
For the church to become and function as "an undivided oneness of differents", we must grasp the profound gift called simply "grace" and give it room to transform our way of moving in the world
For many, the Church is the primary instrument for shaping what the Christian life looks like and how to go about living it out. So, an important question would be... is the Church an accurate reflection of God's intention?
Both services come together to worship, celebrate with those being baptized, and hear from Newsong's newest Elders
Cathy Daus teaches through the Biblical basis for participating in "tikun olam" and God's grand creation story
The resurrection of Jesus, as experienced by his early followers, was a subversive counter-narrative with implications for what participating with Jesus in the restoration and reconciliation of all things would like from that point forward.
The long awaited dialogue between God and Job is over. How does Job respond and what can we learn for our own journey through pain and suffering?
Job comes to "the end of his words" and, as God responds, there is very little in terms of the answers Job - or the rest of us - tend to want or expect. Instead, God crafts a brilliant discourse that points to larger realities that Job appears to find helpful in his wrestling with the deep questions of his suffering and God's goodness.
At a pivotal point in his struggle to understand his suffering and God's silence, Job helps us find a glimmer of hope even in what feels so much like death
At the heart of Job's lament, is a growing frustration with God. What if our tendency to defend God's goodness in seasons of great tragedy is actually the response that keeps us at a distance from Him?
In one of the few comforting moments in the book, we witness the healing power of vulnerability as Job sits in his pain joined by his friends
Suffering is a universal human experience, but when it comes in extreme measure, we're forced to wrestle with necessary, gut-wrenching kinds of questions that have significant implications for our view of God and His role in it. Over the next 5 weeks, as we journey towards Resurrection Sunday, we'll explore the mystery of suffering through the journey of Job
When we think about responsibilities, we usually think of all the things we have to do... but what if, instead of doing more, God just wanted us to be in His love for us? (Q&A from both services included)
Why is it that Jesus speaks with such strong words when it comes to how we manage and view our "stuff"? Is there a larger truth underneath his warnings?
What does it mean to be a "follower of Jesus"? What does that imply today and what did it mean 2000 years ago when Jesus called his disciples?
What's the relationship between the mission of Jesus as he states it in Luke 4 and his declaration regarding "the year of the Lord's favor"? How can it give us insight into bringing "good news" to the very real tensions and struggles of our day?
On the eve of the day when, as a nation, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King; and in light of the racial and ethnic tensions unfolding in our country and around the globe, what does it look like to respond as a follower of Christ? How can we participate in God's Kingdom plan of restoration and reconciliation?
What was the message of Jesus and what does it look like to pray and act upon our desire for that to materialize "on earth as it is in heaven"?
In the healing of a blind man, Jesus helps us see that toxic religion can create hurt and invites us, instead, into a way of life that heals… a Kingdom that prioritizes people over rules.
At the center of the Christmas story is the story of God invading earth in a cosmic conspiracy of love
The Christmas story reveals just how powerful it is that God gave of himself and invites us to discover the power of presence and significance as we follow His example
As we enter the season of Advent, we join a movement that has been celebrated for centuries. Advent literally means to wait... to wait for the arrival of something or someone significant. As we wait for the coming Christ child, how can we live in line with what this revolutionary arrival actually implies?
Pastor Lindsey helps us explore the heart of generosity at the center of the Christmas season | Stories: Dana Adams & Hope Gunderson
10 lepers are healed... 1 returns to express gratitude and experiences something far greater than physical healing. How does gratitude become the catalyst for a life of wholeness?
Given the current climate of division and fear, Jesus' prayer for his followers can teach us the "dance of yielding"
In the midst of a season of major political turmoil, and with the upcoming election, how do we navigate these troubled waters through the lens of the Kingdom?
Dave & Tim walk through the biblical narrative surrounding the tithe and its role in the life of the people of God.
What do you do when the Bible seems to have contradictory passages? How do you make sense of it? Trust it? Engage it? Today we take on questions that come from what are sometimes referred to as the "dark passages"…that tend to create confusion both inside and outside the faith.
The question under the question that sets the stage for some of the deeper questions surrounding the Scriptures
Pastor Dave teaches on the impact of the Scriptures in the story of the people of Israel, the Christian faith and, ultimately, the world.
Is your understanding of what it means to "be saved" based on how the Bible talks about it or from some other influence? In other words, if all you had to go on was what the Bible says about it, would your understanding of what that means be any different?
Newsong celebrates our story remembering God's faithfulness and our calling to build His kingdom | Stories: Dana Adams from "Restore Decor" & Anne Schomaker from "Eden's Glory"
For many, their understanding of heaven is often shaped more by culture and religion than the biblical narrative. Heaven is generally the thought of life after death in "the sweet bye and bye"… but is that the picture painted in Scripture?
An interesting and valid question for those of us looking to reconcile the realities of a loving God and the eternal outcome for those who have no interest in the life He offers.
As is often the case in the stories of Jesus, "this" is really about "that" | Luke 16:19-31
A survey of the words translated as "hell" in Scripture and Jesus' teachings on the subject
The new series opens with the remaining questions submitted when Lindsey interviewed Dave & Shelly two weeks ago and transitions into the story of the beginning of Newsong and the beautiful journey of faith found in wrestling with faith & doubt
It's "family" day as we hear news and stories from Newsong's very first kid's "Walkabout" Bible camp; and students share stories of their spiritual journey - including four who are baptized - as part of their participation in the community of EPIC
Part 6 | "Make It Personal" | Lindsey interviews the Romoser family | Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Alex Giltner unpacks some thoughts and essentials of theology surrounding the great mystery of the Trinity
Newsong celebrates the ordination of Lindsey Apple and Grant Claunch into pastoral ministry
Part 5 | "Fundamentals of Flourishing: Practicing the Restoring of Shalom" - Story: Justin & Mindy Jefferson
Check out the audio experience of Newsong's intentional experiment in search of a deeper experience of community in our very first combined service! Next service of "The Gathering" coming in May!!