Life Ain’t Fair
A message from the series “The Search.” Have you ever known someone who has fallen under the power of grace and seen the impact of God’s Spirit soften and mellow them? I’ve seen it too many times over the years. They can be as hard as granite, but when God’s grace shows up all that changes. That’s why most of us are here today. And maybe you’re here looking for that, too. God has grace for you. Many of us could stand up and testify of God’s goodness to us. So, there’s good news and bad news. Bad news first: Life’s not fair. And the good news: Neither is grace!
Maybe The Grass Isn’t Greener
A message from the series “The Search.” Things are not always as they seem. The things we think will bring us joy leave us unfulfilled. The things we’re sure will kill us end up making our life better – when we walk through them with God. That’s life under the sun – sometimes up, sometimes down. But God always remains the same.
Carry The Presence
A message from the series “Guest Speaker: Mark Harrell.” On the 25th Anniversary of the founding of New Life Church, Overseer, Pastor Mark Harrell of Victory Christian Fellowship, speaks on living an active life in pursuit of God and mission in his message, “Carry the Presence”.
Trash Cans to Treasure Chests
A message from the series “Easter 2024.” What’s worst in you? What is least in you? What are the dregs – the trash cans – in your life? God wants to turn it around, inside out, upside down, topsy-turvy and make it a source of healing, wholeness, and redemption. He wants to take the trash cans of your life and turn them to treasure chests.
Problems Under the Sun
A message from the series “The Search.” Because of sin, the world is full of meaninglessness and vanity – oppression, greed, and loneliness…and we want some answers. The two humanistic answers we try most often: government and money – fall woefully short of solving the problems we see in the human condition…and at times make things much worse. But if each of us will take seriously our relationship with God – starting with his Lordship (letting him lead our lives) – and being earnest in our pursuit of him, there is a promise for us to grasp: we won’t have to be worried and stressed by the vanity around us because we’ll be occupied with gladness of heart.
The Normal Christian Life
A message from the series “Guest Speaker: Richard Beatty.” Richard Beatty encourages us to live a normal Christian life in the midst of our weird, mixed-up culture. Rather than let the world influence our beliefs and attitudes, Christ should shape our worldview.
Protocols and Principles
A message from the series “The Search.” Series: The Search
Sermon: Protocols and Principles
Speaker: Dr. Jim Mann
Date: March 10, 2024
Though we are the crowning glory of God’s creation and made in his image, our sinful, animal instincts have put us on a par with the animals here under the sun. And the same fate awaits us both: death. But the difference between a dead man and a dead animal is clear. Eternity is set in our hearts. Our spirit will arise. We will receive reward for a life that pleases God, or face judgment for the injustice we do. And we will receive satisfaction for the injustice we might face under the sun. Join the search. Find beauty. Seek to please God. Play by his rules and embrace his principles. Continue your search for the giver of truth.
The Search for Fulfillment
A message from the series “The Search.” Series: The Search
Sermon: The Search for Fulfillment
Speaker: Dr. Jim Mann
Date: March 3, 2024
True enjoyment in life cannot be found when we chase after it. Instead, Solomon’s conclusion is that God adds enjoyment to life when we pursue God. When we spend our energy and effort looking for fulfillment from things, we don’t find that fulfillment and find ourselves distant from God and far from fulfillment. But when we pursue God, we find both him AND the fulfillment we desire.
We start with faith in the process – we give ourselves to him as an act of worship – we die to our fleshly pursuits – we put HIM first prayerfully and thankfully content with what he gives us. Then we find our lives pleasing to him and he is pleased to add wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to our lives. Or we could sum it up a lot quicker with the words of Jesus: “Seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these other things will be added as well.”
The Search for Meaning
A message from the series “The Search.” The futility of the world we live has a spiritual root – sin / disobedience. The answer to futility in the natural world is spiritual – and the answer is Jesus. The fact that the world seems meaningless is not an excuse to sit idly by…que sera sera…what will be will be…it is what it is. We’re reminded instead as people of God to take responsibility. Because we live in a futile, meaningless world we must live life connected to Jesus. We must connect with the Spirit in intercession. And because we love the Lord, he turns meaninglessness into purpose. He works even futile things for our good. Because he is the redeemer, only he can bring meaning.
Talk Two: Follow the Rabbi
A message from the series “Guest Speaker: Austin Mann.” Austin Mann shares a challenging message about being a true disciple of Jesus.
Hearing the Voice of God
A message from the series “Vox Dei.” God’s voice is easy to reject. Think of the time Jesus said to the 5,000 “‘You must eat my flesh and drink my blood.’ Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, ‘This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?'” (John 6:60) We understand now what Jesus meant, but many disciples left him at that point. Sometimes, Jesus’ teaching is simply hard to accept. But, if we want to hear God’s voice, if we’re available and we desire to be obedient to God’s instruction – a yes face, and we’re humble enough to listen, God will speak, we will hear, and we’ll be better for it! It’s up to us to listen.
Spiritual Gifts
A message from the series “Vox Dei.” One of the ways God communicates…is through YOU. As you pray for your brother or sister and God speaks to your heart, he wants you to share what he has told you…to encourage them, to build them up, to comfort them. So, when you hear the Bible say, “I wish that you all would prophesy,” pause for a second and hear the Lord in this: “I wish that you all would listen to me, take my words, and encourage, edify, and comfort each other.” That’s not nearly as spooky, is it?
