This week we dive deep into the transformative journey from doubt to faith, guided by the stories of the disciples and the powerful lessons from the Easter narrative. Today, we explore how each step in our lives prepares us for the next, echoing the spiritual growth seen in the biblical figures of Thomas and the women at the tomb.
In this episode, we discuss the challenges of skepticism, the importance of patience in spiritual growth, and how frustrations can be opportunities for applying God's wisdom. We delve into the story of "Doubting Thomas," whose initial refusal to believe without seeing highlights our own struggles with faith in a modern world that demands proof.
Join us as we uncover the reasons why God might choose unlikely witnesses and the implications this has for our understanding of value and worth in His eyes. We'll also tackle how these scriptural lessons prepare us for our own missions of sharing the Gospel, emphasizing empathy and perseverance.
This episode is perfect for anyone who finds themselves wrestling with doubts or seeking deeper reasons behind their spiritual journey. Whether you're a longtime believer or just curious about the Christian faith, there's something here to challenge and inspire you. Tune in to gain insights into how embracing faith without sight can lead to a blessed and fulfilled life.
Don't forget to subscribe for more discussions that aim to enlighten, inspire, and move you towards a more profound faith. Share this episode with friends and family who might be on their own path from doubt to faith, and let's grow together in understanding and belief.
God has Hope for you here.
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Experience the wonder of the first Easter through this powerful message that captures the moment Jesus appears to His disciples post-resurrection. Join us as we explore the dramatic encounter in the locked room where fear turns to joy, doubt transforms into mission, and the disciples are forever changed. Discover how the resurrection is not just a biblical event but a transformative moment that echoes through the ages.
God has Hope for you here.
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A dive into the intriguing story of two disciples on the road to Emmaus and their unexpected encounter with the resurrected Jesus. Join us as we explore the transformative power of asking questions, the importance of genuine conversation, and the moment of revelation that changes everything. Discover how this story can shed light on our spiritual journeys and help us recognize who Jesus truly is.
God has Hope for you here.
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Explore the true meaning of the holiday beyond the bunnies and eggs. Discover the joy and hope of Jesus' resurrection through a heartfelt sermon that delves into the Gospel of Luke. Learn about the women who first witnessed the empty tomb and how their message changed the world. Let's celebrate the transformative power of the resurrection and share its light with everyone around us.
God has Hope for you here.
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If you had unlimited supernatural powers, how would you save the world?
(It wouldn't be like this.)
A dive into the powerful story of Jesus' crucifixion in Luke 23:33-56. We reflect on Jesus' prayer for forgiveness, the profound darkness that covered the land, and his ultimate trust in the Father. We also explore the impact of his death on those who witnessed it, including the repentant criminal, the centurion, and Joseph of Arimathea. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of the cross.
God has Hope for you here.
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Three very different parades. Jesus' humble entry, Pilate's grand procession, and the sad march to the cross. We are invited to walk alongside Simon of Cyrene, discovering the unexpected and life-changing nature of discipleship. The Daughters of Jerusalem's mourning prompts us to consider our own attitudes toward suffering and judgment. The sermon closes with an inspiring call to action: to carry our crosses daily, follow Jesus through life's trials, and find solace in the hope of His resurrection. This message challenges us to live each day with faith and hope in our hearts.
God has Hope for you here.
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The "Eagle Face" sermon concluded the "Four Faces of Worship" series by delving into the symbolism of the eagle in worship.
The message began with a humorous reflection on how we often worship the wrong things, turning good things into idols that ultimately lead to our destruction. The sermon highlighted that worship is not optional; we are created to worship, and the only question is what we will worship. The eagle, a symbol of vision and soaring faith, reminds us that true worship involves trusting in God's strength and relying on His promises.
The sermon also touched on the importance of worship in shaping our lives and culture, drawing on Luther's ideas about the centrality of God's Word and music in worship.
The message concluded with a call to keep our eyes focused on God, reminding us that worship is a response to God's actions and is integral to our identity as His people.
God has Hope for you here.
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In this thought-provoking message, Kemper Crabb delves into the profound symbolism of the "Man Face" in the Four Faces of Worship series. Drawing inspiration from the song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne, Kemper explores the deep connection between humanity and divinity, and how the incarnation shapes our understanding of worship. Join us as we journey through this insightful sermon, uncovering the layers of meaning behind the "Man Face" of the cherubim in worship and its implications for our lives as followers of Christ. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of worship.
God has Hope for you here.
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People like to complain about church—both the people who go and the people who don't. There's no shortage of opinions. Irrelevant, boring, cliquey, too traditional, not traditional enough, judgmental—and then there's the music.
But what does the Bible say about worship? What does "worship" even mean? Where is it supposed to take place? What is it supposed to look like?
This message is going stretch your imagination—maybe even give you nightmares. Picture it: thousands of angels in joyful assembly, proclaiming God’s holiness. It’s far more mysterious and powerful than we realize.
So, despite the complaints, worship is essential. It’s not about doing God a favor—He doesn’t need our worship. We need it. It sets the direction for our lives, bowing before God in everything we do. And it’s all because of Jesus, who became human to save us. That’s why we show up every week—to respond with thankful praise for what He’s done for us.
God has Hope for you here.
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This is a message that will challenge your perspective (especially those religious ideas that you think will save you), ignite your faith, and deepen your understanding of the Gospel. You will be transported to the foot of a mountain, where an extraordinary event unfolds before your eyes, revealing the very essence of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish.
In this captivating narrative, we'll explore the Transfiguration story from the Gospel of Mark, unraveling its layers of meaning and drawing out timeless truths that resonate with our lives today. Join us as we embark on a transformative exploration of faith, encountering profound insights that will inspire, convict, and ultimately lead us to a deeper relationship with the Savior. Get ready to listen, to learn, and to be profoundly moved by the message of hope and redemption found in the person of Jesus Christ.
God has Hope for you here.
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Ever thought about how our bodies are like precision instruments, and a tiny fever can throw everything off balance? It's crazy how delicate the whole setup is. Today, we're delving into the nitty-gritty of life's intricacies, from fevers to demons, and how it all ties into the big picture.
We will ponder the marvel of our existence. The Goldilocks Zone, where everything has to be just right for life to thrive.
Now, imagine this: God, way out there at the edge of space, taking a close look at us. From the vastness of the cosmos outside the created reality, all the way in to the microscopic details of our lives, it's a mind-boggling shift from the infinite to the intimate.
Today, we're digging into the Gospel of Mark, checking out how Jesus handled fevers and demons, bringing divine authority into the world. It's not just a historical account; it's intimately connected to the things we deal with today.
From fevers to faith, we're navigating a journey that starts at church but echoes through our everyday lives.
Have you experienced the frustration of trying to follow Jesus while juggling the demands of work, family, and life in general? Discover how to find clarity in this week's message. Explore the connection between worship, love, and service in a way that goes beyond the Sunday service.
We’re like secret agents. Gospel ninjas. Our ultimate loyalty is always with the kingdom of heaven which gives new meaning to all the important things we do in our ordinary lives.
God has Hope for you here.
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God knows every detail about you, including your thoughts and secrets. Is that comforting or unsettling? This Psalm is a prayer for facing darkness and difficult times—God promises constant presence and guidance, even in your darkest moments. This sermon will consider God's intricate involvement in creating you and having a plan for your life. There is also a twist ending to this Psalm having to do with enemies—understanding that your main adversaries are spiritual forces like sin, death, and hell. However, sometimes your enemies will be people. How should Christians deal with their enemies? Love them? Hate them? The passage concludes with a bold prayer for your self-examination, expressing confidence in God's forgiveness through your connection with Jesus, offering hope in challenging circumstances.
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God has Hope for you here.
Join us: https://www.NewChurch.Love
Please support NewChurch by texting the word “Give” to 832-400-5299.
1. Sin and Repentance:
2. Jesus' Baptism and Its Significance:
3. Responding to Doubts and Criticisms:
4. Baptism and Christian Identity:
Overall, the sermon presents a strong message about sin, forgiveness, grace, and the importance of Jesus Christ and baptism in the Christian life.
God has Hope for you here.
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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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