Pastor Frank’s NewChurch Resolution Suggestions:

• Attend Sunday Worship Faithfully.

• Be Faithful in Your Tithes and Offerings.

• ???

What's the third one? Hmm. 
You'll never guess. Even if I told you.

This is how Christians are made.

God has Hope for you here.
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A description of Christmas at the Hart house in 1971, the first year Pastor Frank had a new step dad—and his mom had a little money.

A confession that he wants Christmas to be perfect but is always tempted to ruin it with selfish emotions and being too irritable. 

A solid plan for how to approach holiday expectations with the wisdom of Jesus.

Colossians 3:12-14: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

"People seem to view God as either a mighty and powerful terrifying being who must be feared and reverently respected—or as gentle Jesus, meek and mild, a hippy shepherd philosopher who couldn’t hurt a fly.

But He is both. He’s always both."

"The difference between a wise person and a fool boils down to whether talking to them helps or not. A wise person can hear what you tell them, see the error of their ways, and change. A fool doesn’t listen, won’t listen, and doesn’t learn without consequences. Talking with a fool is a waste of time, they’re just waiting for you to stop talking so they can get back to their foolishness."

"It’s my hope that you can hear what I’m saying today, I mean really hear it, not like a fool who’s just waiting for the preacher to stop talking—but as a wise person who will listen and let what they hear make a difference."

"Comfort, comfort for my people. Prepare the way for the King. The Messiah. So powerful, but so gentle. Almighty God came to earth but He came as the Good Shepherd. He came to find you and pick you up—carry you back home where you belong."

God has Hope for you here.
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First Sunday in ADVENT.

"Don’t you ever think, “Good grief, Lord! Can’t you see what’s going on down here? The way people are acting? Do you get MSNBC in heaven? Do You see the way they mock Your name and Your people?"

"This passage has a very interesting movement to it: It starts with a prayer for God to come down here and destroy our enemies, then behold, we realize we would also be destroyed because we are also sinners, then it ends in a surprising glimpse of Jesus—Behold! The divine Son of God who did come down here but instead of destroying all the sinners, He saved them. He saved us. He didn’t show up angry, instead He made it so our sins wouldn’t be remembered any more."

God has Hope for you here.
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"Love is not how you feel about someone."

"When we love people we’re going to feel it, but the feeling isn’t what love is—it’s a byproduct."

"Jesus is not telling you to feel a certain way about God or to feel a certain way about your neighbor. It’s not about feelings at all."

Do you know how to love people the way God told you to love them?

"How can we create heaven on earth? How can we treat people on earth the way they are treated in heaven?"

"God is love. He loves you perfectly because that’s who He is."

God has Hope for you here.
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Courtroom drama retelling of Jesus on trial.
Are you a yappy religious know-it-all who thinks you understand why Jesus is not the divine Son of God who commands your attention? Or are you Barabbas. Those are the only two choices.
Jesus is still on trial today in our culture—for the same reasons.
He's call you to be a witness, to testify, what kind of witness are you going to be? Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

God has Hope for you here.
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The Lord's Prayer—66 words in English. But the actual prayer is even shorter, 57 words in Greek. Most of us don’t really pray like this, unless we’re just reciting the Lord’s Prayer. We use a lot more words. We don’t feel like we “really” prayed if we keep it that brief. 

I’ve come to understand that the Lord’s Prayer can be prayed in basically three ways. As a petition, as the Law, and as the Gospel. Petition meaning asking for things, Law meaning what God told us to do, commandments, and then Gospel—what Jesus has done and continues to do for us.

God will always answer your prayers. Sometimes the answer is maybe later, sometimes it’s no—but He always answers.

Jesus said, “Pray like this: Our Father.” This is Jesus sharing His Father with us—it’s Jesus talking and He says. “When you pray, from now on call Him what I call Him—from now on you’re my brothers and sisters, so just call Him “Father,” like I do. Ever had a friend you were so close to you called their father dad? You do now. 

So, mix it up. Pray asking for what you need. Then maybe meditate on what God wants you to do with your life. And sometimes, just bask in the joy of everything you have to be thankful for.

God has Hope for you here.
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"Ever do something that couldn't be undone?"

"How often do we find ourselves in places we shouldn’t be? Doing things we shouldn’t be doing? Acting like unbelievers—as if we’ll get away with it."

"For a while, when I was in my 20s, I wouldn’t call myself a Christian."

"Someone has a different idea about one of your favorite theological nit picks! Surely you can’t let that just exist out there uncorrected!"

"Jesus asks for the third time, “Do you love me, Simon?” 
He’s not asking how Peter feels about Him. Love isn’t a feeling, it’s a commitment, it’s how you treat someone—it’s your actions toward them and about them."

"Three denials. Three affirmations. This wasn’t penance, this was kindness. Mercy."

"You’re forgiven because Christ forgives you. Do you feel the weight being lifted off you? No more guilt. No more condemnation. You are free. Do you feel it?
Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. It doesn’t matter. Forgiveness isn’t a feeling either. Like God’s love, like His mercy, it’s something He does for you."

"This is not cheap grace, it’s easily the most expensive thing in the universe."

God has Hope for you here.
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Do you ever feel anxious? Worried?
Is it a sin? Is it a lack of faith?
Was it a sin when Jesus was so anxious in the Garden of Gethsemane that He sweat blood? (Of course not.)
It's not a sin to be anxious. When Jesus tells us not to worry, that's a word of comfort, not a word of law and condemnation.

Also, did Jesus tell His followers to carry a weapon?

Big questions are answered in this message.

God has Hope for you here.
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"This is going to be a good reminder that God didn’t call any of us to follow Jesus because He thought we’d be so dang good at it."

"What does it mean that they’ll sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel?"

"It’s a lot easier to die for someone than to live for them—it’s in the little moments when our love is actually put to the test."

"Also, mom and dad, apply this at home—don’t hide your sin from your kids. Don’t pretend like everything is perfect—they will eventually find out, and it’s going to be bad if they think you’ve been lying to them. Show them what it looks like to confess and repent."

God has Hope for you here.
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If you've ever wondered what the big deal about Communion is...

This is how Jesus saves the world with bread and wine.

"The God who spoke the universe into existence is the One who said, “This bread is my body given for you. This cup poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Is my body, is my blood. Is means is. We take Jesus at His word. It's a miracle. It’s a mystery."

The blood of the Passover Lamb has to be applied if the person is going to be saved—this is how Jesus makes His body and blood present to save His people. 

When you eat the bread and drink the wine, Jesus has made this miracle so you also receive His body and blood. It’s how grace is given to you. It’s how forgiveness of sin is applied to you. 

'Not symbolically. It happens miraculously. It happens for real. We call it “Real Presence.” Because Jesus has spoken, it’s as real as the blood that was on the door frames of those houses in the first Passover. We make no attempt to explain how it happens. It’s not transubstantiation, it’s not consubstantiation, it’s not symbolic, not a memorial. It just is. We take Jesus at His word. Would you rather it was actual cannibalism? Of course not. Embrace the mystery.'

"The Last Supper is really four meals layered on top of each other. It’s the last Old Testament Passover meal. It’s the first New Testament Lord’s Supper. It’s what every Holy Communion celebrated throughout the church looks back to in remembrance. And it’s a glimpse of the future heavenly feast at the end of time when Christ returns in glory and we all sit down to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb."

"The gift of His body and blood—given for us on the cross, and given to us in the bread and wine."

"To partake in this meal, to accept the cup and drink it is to accept Jesus’ suffering and death as the atoning sacrifice for your sins. Not automatically, there has to be faith, has to be trust—you have to believe the promise Jesus made to you, that it’s for you. But it doesn’t take much faith—just enough to lift that bread to your mouth and the wine to your lips—the smallest amount will do."

“What’s the point of this (New)Church thing? Why does it matter?”

" I want to propose something completely nuts. Something totally off-menu.”

"Every church thinks they have the corner on the truth, like they’re the only ones who really know Jesus. Can we not be like that, please?"

"It’s so sad to me when someone says, “Nah, I already tried that Jesus thing and it didn’t work for me. I went to church for a while. Wasn’t my thing.”

"They met some church people but they didn’t meet Jesus. I don’t want that to happen here. Can we make sure that doesn’t happen here?"

"No one follows Jesus alone."

"As the church goes, so goes our culture. And for many people, church has already gone."

"Your faith doesn’t really become your own until you share it with someone else. You have to share your faith. And you have to let people share their faith with you."

"This is the vision of NewChurch. A way to worship God and love people. I hope you’re starting to see it."

God has Hope for you here.
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"One of Jesus’ Twelve disciples is bodily possessed by Satan himself. How in the world did that happen? How can a follower of Jesus be possessed by the devil?"

"When we give in to the same temptations, doing the same sins—habitual sins—we invite demons as sure as leaving food outside attracts flies. "

"Giving in to your favorite sins is like putting handles on your soul so the devil can really get a good grip on you."

"I don’t want you to doubt your salvation. There’s a big difference between giving into temptation followed by repentance—and deliberately continuing to embrace sin. The life of a Christian is a life of being sorry for your sin and returning to grace. But it’s not trying to hide your sin, cover it up and trying to get away with it. If you confess your sin, Jesus is always faithful to forgive."

"I don’t know what your favorite sins are but I know you need to confess them, say what they are, admit to them, turn away from them, and return to the promise of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. "

God has Hope for you here.
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Are we looking forward to that day? Or dreading it—the end of the world?

"The only ones who are going to be delivered from the wrath of God at the end of the world are the people who trust in Jesus to save them."

"How can we talk about how good God is, how God is love, if He’s going to be like that? What’s so good about a God who destroys the wicked?"

"If we think God’s judgment of the world is immoral, if we think it’s not good—then what are we saying? That we’d rather that evil triumphs?"

"I would make a terrible god."

"What is it that if it was taken away, you’d think it was the end of the world?"

God has Hope for you here.
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It’s going to be cataclysmic. Horrifying. Nightmarish. This is why Jesus told us in advance. 

When the obvious end of the world starts to happen, everything is going completely bonkers, and you see Jesus coming down from heaven—try to remember what He told us to do. It’s just three simple things: Stand up straight, raise your heads and look at Him, and thank God your salvation is here! Can you remember that? It’s going to be counterintuitive.

When the most frightening thing in the history of the world happens, Jesus says you don’t have anything to be afraid of.

God has Hope for you here.
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If Jesus is who He says He is, then everyone has a tough decision to make. He's either God, or a liar, or He's crazy. The one thing He can't be is a nice guy who said nice things.

This message is a not-so-subtle attempt to blow your mind about how awesome and unique Jesus actually is. 

It also includes a strong warning to beware of toxic Christians and not to let them chase you away from Jesus.

God has Hope for you here.
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If you argue with someone, who usually gets mad first? You or them?

Why do we get mad when we argue? Are we surprised someone has different opinions than we do? Why do we think it’s okay to get mad just because they get mad at us?

Today Jesus is going to get into some arguments. Let’s pay attention to how He handles Himself.

God has Hope for you here.
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"What was your part in making things bad? Don’t look around trying to find  someone else to blame. Confess. Repent. Repentance is God’s kindness. It’s His idea, He wants to forgive you, it’s what He came to do. God is infinitely more patient with you than you will ever be of yourself."

God has Hope for you here.
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Jesus has His authority challenged by the local authorities. We explore why His answer about John's authority was not avoiding the question. We also talk about the proper distinction between Law and Gospel (and how most Christians confuse them). 

God has Hope for you here.
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This is part two of a two part mini-series on a Biblical view of how to handle human emotions. Part one was Pastor Frank, Part two is by Kemper Crabb. You will learn something if you're not careful.

God has Hope for you here.
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It’s fine to have emotions, it’s part of what makes us human. But we can’t let those emotions control our behavior. In this lesson, Jesus goes from extreme happiness, to utter sadness, to furious anger. All in 24 hours. What can we learn about how we should deal with our emotions?

God has Hope for you here.
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"Don't tell me what to do!"

Jesus could have come riding in on a war horse, in a chariot, driving a tank—guns blazing and mowing down anyone who tried to stop Him with flame throwers. Could have had an army of angels clear the path.

But He came in humility to bring peace. We need to be doing the same thing.

God has Hope for you here.
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Did Jesus actually say about the Gospel, "Use it or lose it!" What are the "minas?" Is this parable the same as the parable of the Talents? (It's not) It's also not about money. The Gospel in this parable is so unfair it's not funny. (But that's not to say nothing is funny.)

God has Hope for you here.
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You can’t earn salvation. Jesus earned it for you. But you can try to live up to it. God’s name is holy, and He puts His name on you. You can’t earn it, but you can try to keep His name holy now that it’s on you. It’s about being someone people can count on. About being someone who does what's right, even when it's hard. 

God has put His holy name on you. Now what? How are you going to keep it holy? How are you going to live up to it?

God has Hope for you here.
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There are a lot of things we think we understand before we actually experience them, then we find out we had no idea. How many things have you heard over and over but they never sank in? Important things—like the Gospel. You might want to share this one with someone who needs to hear the Gospel, someone who is struggling to believe. This is the Gospel according to Jesus.

God has Hope for you here.
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