Newland Christian Church
About
Available on
Community
651 episodes
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." - Mark 1:1 Mark wrote a "Gospel". As did Matthew, Luke, and John. The term literally means "good news". It means that Mark, as well as the other Gospel writers simply had a story to tell. Why is it that our anger keeps us from telling a joyful story sometimes? What keeps us from joyfully recounting the good news of our encounter with Jesus? GO DEEPER: PSALM 96:1-13
Jesus said to His followers that they would be witnesses, but what did He mean? He means someone who is willing to talk about and share the news of their encounter with Jesus. "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice." - Paul (Acts 22:6-7) GO DEEPER: ACTS 22:1-21
"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." - Luke 6:38 God honors a cheerful giver...but our motives are everything. Why are you giving? Is it because you want to receive more back than you give? That is the wrong reason to be giving...may we give without ulterior motive. GO DEEPER: MARK 12:41-44
The most we will find in God's Word on giving is found in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. Paul commends the Macedonian Christians for their cheerful and sacrificial work of giving. What motivated them? "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7 Is giving joyful for you? GO DEEPER: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-15; 9:6-8
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." - Proverbs 3:9 Generosity is clearly one of the marks of a devoted follower of Christ, but where should our support be given? How can we best serve through giving today? GO DEEPER: 1 TIMOTHY 6:6-10, 17-19
"The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy." - 1 Chronicles 29:9 Israelites were required a tithe (usually a tenth) of their yearly wage, another for a holy festival, and another every three years...but Jesus emphasized that it must also be accompanied by a spirit of generosity. What maybe should be our driving force is not so much what we should give, but what should we keep? GO DEEPER: MALACHI 3:6-12
God doesn't need our money...He owns everything. So why do we give? "...remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" - Acts 20:35 GO DEEPER: MATTHEW 7:7-11
Sunday Sermon from January 23, 2022. Pastor Phillip dives into the story of the woman at the well. Looking at what we can learn when we just come to the well. We are invited in, by the One who can offer us LIVING water!
In ancient times, most families had a steward to keep the property. Peter uses this example to demonstrate how we should be about the gifts that God has bestowed upon us. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10 GO DEEPER: 1 PETER 4:8-11
"On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable." - 1 Corinthians 12:22 Some gifts are amazing to see, but not all gifts are public. Sometimes its the little things that make the biggest difference. Sometimes we must serve in obscurity. GO DEEPER: MATTHEW 25:31-46
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares, "I will build my church." How? With the gifts that He has bestowed on each of us! God has gifted each of us for the benefit of the Kingdom. "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." - 1 Corinthians 12:7 GO DEEPER: EPHESIANS 4:1-16
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." - 1 Corinthians 12:4 Any gathering of people is a miracle of sorts. Just think about it: Within a gathered group of people there are so many who possess different gifts and abilities that all can benefit the whole. It is amazing the gifts we have been given. GO DEEPER: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11; ROMANS 12:4-8
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness.'" - Matthew 25:21 There is tired. Exhaustion from doing and feeling run down and broken because we are drained... And then, there is tired. Tired, but blessed because what we were doing was serving and there is a joy that comes from the Lord. GO DEEPER: Matthew 25:14-30
A hundred things can happen when you serve...and some of those things are not good. People misunderstand intentions, they attack motive, and they leave you feeling that you may not make a difference. Paul reminds us that what can keep us going is that our mission is to exalt the name of Jesus. He reminded Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:10-13 that he was willing to endure anything that would lead to someone finding salvation in Christ. WOW! Are we the same? "I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents." - Acts 20:19 GO DEEPER: ISAIAH 40:28-31; PHILIPPIANS 4:12-13
Sunday Sermon from January 16, 2022 based in Luke 19:1-10. Pastor Phillip takes a deep look at what we can learn from the actions of Zacchaeus and his approach to seeing and encountering Jesus. It might just leave you wanting to climb a tree!
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:45 Jesus came to earth humbly. No lavish lifestyle. He didn't walk around telling others He was better than them or too good to do small tasks...He got right in and did what needed to be done. He constantly met others where they were, on their level, and He has given us the same mission. What comes to mind when you hear "serve others?" GO DEEPER: MARK 10:35-45
"He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach." - Mark 3:14 Many of us as Christians adhere to the formula of doing for others. Missions, Feeding the Hungry, Youth Trips, etc., we are willing to jump in and do for others while missing the key part of what Jesus called the disciples to do...not just do for others, but to be with Him. We must spend extended time with the Savior. How can we get to know what Jesus said and did, and imitate Him today? GO DEEPER: JOHN 15:1-8
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13 If you hang around "Church" folk long enough, they will cause you hurt. The longer you spend in anything the more you are guaranteed to have a bad experience. But... When we have bad experiences, it is the way we respond that says a great deal about our relationship with Christ. Have you been wounded? By whom? Have you wounded anyone else? GO DEEPER: COLOSSIANS 3:1-17
Church attendance has been on a swift decline in the US over the last twenty or more years. "Christians" sporadically attend church, that is if they attend at all, and for a variety of different reasons. The teachings of Jesus and of the New Testament remind us that fellowship with fellow believers is important and needed. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:27 We are One body with many parts! GO DEEPER: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." - Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus ministry on earth began with a call, "Come and be my disciples." He ended it with a command, "Go and make disciples." That should be our mission as the Church: to come and follow Him and to go and lead others to do the same. Are you staying on mission? GO DEEPER: MATTHEW 28:16-20
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." - Matthew 16:18 Jesus had an earthly father, Joseph, who was a carpenter. There is a likelihood that Jesus also was a builder as He grew and matured. His greatest building project, however, is the Church. What can we learn from this today? GO DEEPER: MATTHEW 16:13-18
Sunday Sermon from January 9, 2022 based in Luke 2:41-52. What can we learn about the encounter that Mary and Joseph have with a 12-year old Jesus at the Temple? We can learn from their experience, recognizing that even at 12, Jesus was doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Join Pastor Phillip for a look at the encounter with Christ through the Temple experience from His childhood.
Our faith is personal...but it is not intended to be private! We need the fellowship of others as we strive to live a Christian life. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another." - Hebrews 10:24-25 What can you do to ensure that you are consistently seeking to meet and encourage one another? GO DEEPER: ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22 Bible study isn't as complicated as we make it sound...in fact, three steps will make sure that our study is productive: Read. Engage. Apply. Are you simply hearing the word? Or, are you engaging with it and applying it to your life? GO DEEPER: JAMES 1:22-27
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 Why is it that it seems that Christians and churches alike have trouble when it comes to interpretation? Our biggest troubles come from not seeking the One who can offer understanding and help us rightly divide the word. Is there someone who could help you as you strive to grow in Christ? GO DEEPER: LUKE 24:36-42
"Blessed is the one...whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night." - Psalm 1:1-2 Some hear the word meditation and it immediately clouds their mind with new age and secular ideas...but meditation is good and is directed by the Word of God. We can meditate on His word, and find ways for it to speak directly to us. Go deeper into His word today! What biblical truth would be good for you to chew on and absorb today? GO DEEPER: PSALM 1:1-3
"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts." - Deuteronomy 6:6 It is important for us to put God's word on our hearts. When we are facing things in life that break us down and break our hearts open, when we have the Word of God on our hearts it will pour out in to the wound, helping to offset the struggles the world brings our way. Do you have scripture memorized? Are there some you would like to commit to memory? GO DEEPER: DEUTERONOMY 6:1-9
"I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws." - Psalm 119:30 How should we study the Bible? It is almost like asking how we should exercise. The answer depends on how healthy we wish to be. Proper training in our spiritual life must be done daily. We can grow if we are constantly seeking and truly searching to grow in His word. What approach do you take to studying God's word? GO DEEPER: PSALM 119:9-16, 25-32
Sunday Sermon based in John 8:1-8 from January 2, 2022. What can we learn from the encounter of the Woman Caught in Adultery? How can her story guide us in our own encounter with Christ? We must remember that He wants to replace our guilt with His grace, and our shame with His salvation...He longs to make it personal with us. It always starts with an encounter with Him.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:2 There is a way of reading and studying God's word that actually dishonors God. Don't believe it? Look at the Pharisees and Sadducees and how they handled the word of God. They knew it, and they used it to cast judgment and start arguments, totally missing the point! If we are simply trying to look smart or win arguments...we have totally missed the point of God's word. GO DEEPER: HEBREWS 4:12-13
