OOPS!  I guess I got excited about the HARVEST Series coming up in November and forgot about October.  Sunday, October 6th, we are kicking off a series entitled "Live Like Jesus".  I think you are going to love it!  As followers of Christ, we know that Jesus was an amazing leader, teacher, and savior, but can we live like Him?  I won't be suggesting that we sell our cars and wander the streets, but I will be asking the question, "What does it mean to live like Jesus today?"  Hope you will join us in October as we become more like Jesus!  Bring a friend.  See you Sunday.  Pastor Tom

Looking forward to a new series called, "THE HARVEST".  Most people don't think of life as a harvest (unless your a farmer), but Jesus did.  As we move into a season of thanksgiving, at New Life we want to focus on what Jesus and the Bible has to say about harvest.  I hope you will be present for the next 3-4 Sundays as we begin to think about life as a harvest!

New Creation

This Sunday, we wrap up our series on Grace in Galatians!  Through out the letter to the Galatians, Paul has focused on the grace of God available to us in Christ Jesus.  He highlights our new position in Christ, our new freedom, and the potential of living by the Spirit and producing good fruit.  Then he wraps up with a clear focus on the cross of Christ and the importance of becoming a new creation!

The cross of Christ is central to Christianity.  In fact, without the cross, you really don't have Christianity!  The cross of Christ reminds me of the price that Jesus paid for my spiritual freedom and the sacrifices I must make in order to walk with Him.  Join us Sunday as we wrap up our focus on grace and the cross of Jesus!  See you Sunday!

A Theology of Grace

Grace may be the most important concept in the Bible!  What do you think?  I would love to hear from you about your favorite theology in the Bible.  Paul certainly felt that grace was central to the Christian message.  For instance, nearly two-thirds (100 out of 154) of the NT occurrences of charis, normally translated "grace," are found in the Pauline letters.  Paul is concerned with God's grace (i.e. love), the grace of salvation (i.e. unmerited favor), and gifts of grace (i.e. endowments for service).

In Galatians, Paul is especially concerned with God's grace in comparison to human effort or "law observance".  His message throughout the book of Galatians is that human effort is a by-product of God's favor rather than a precursor.  Only by connecting with God's grace in Christ Jesus can we experience the Christian Life and expect a change of heart and mind.  God's grace sets us free and lifts us up to live a better life!

Join us this Sunday at New Life as we continue to focus on God's grace in Galatians.  Paul wrote in 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ set you free."      See you at the ARC.  Pastor Tom