Salvation

This week at New Life's mid-week service we are taking a look at one of our core beliefs -- SALVATION.  The Bible is full of stories about redemption, deliverance, and salvation.  The core belief of salvation encompasses three essential Biblical doctrines--1) The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2) the fall of man, and 3) the salvation of man.

Thankfully, we serve a God of the second chance.  He is actively pursuing us with his love seeking to redeem our lives from the slavery of sin and fulfill his purpose for our lives.  The Bible teaches that we were all created in the image of God for a purpose (Genesis 1:26).  Our fallen nature leaves us in need of a second chance to connect with God and His purposes for this life and the life to come (Romans 3:10-12).

Through Jesus, God gives us a second chance and a new life (John 14:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17).  Because of his sacrifice on the cross, we are set free from the power of our fallen nature.  In Christ, we receive a new nature and a new purpose for living.

Salvation is a gift from God.  No one can escape the power of sin or earn their way into God's grace.  God's gift must be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The bible also teaches us that God's gift should not be neglected as judgment for sin is real (Hebrews 2:2-3).

Join us Thursday at 6 PM as we dive deeper into this important Bible truth.  Pastor Tom

Paul and the voice of God

The Apostle Paul had a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus Road.  Acts 9 records the story.  Before the encounter, Paul was was a zealous Jew persecuting the church.  After the encounter, Paul became the leading Apostle in the spread of the church among the Gentiles.  How did this happen?  Paul heard the voice of God.

Now most of us aren't expecting God to reveal himself to us in such a dramatic fashion.  And yet, Paul's story is a good reminder that God can and does reveal himself in subtle and strong ways.  Join us Sunday as we continue to learn how to hear the voice of God and walk with Him!  Pastor Tom

Voice of God - New Testament

Last Week we began a new series focusing on hearing the voice of God.  The Old Testament has many great examples of God speaking in dramatic fashion.  When God met Moses at the burning bush, the trajectory of Moses' life changed.  Up until that time he had been living on the backside of the dessert perhaps trying to forget an episode earlier in his life (in Egypt) when he took matters into his own hands.  Then God showed up with a call and a cause and asked Moses to put his life into His hands.  It wasn't easy for Moses to "let go and let God"!  He had a number of excuses and his humility almost got in the way of God's plan.   But Moses said yes to God's call and cause and God worked mightily through him to deliverance his people from slavery.

This week we turn to the New Testament to look at two key leaders in the early church -- Peter and Paul.   Both men experienced a radical transformation and call to serve.  Peter was a disciple who walked with Jesus.  Sometimes he got it right and sometimes he messed up royally.  In fact, Peter denied the Lord and wept bitterly because of his failure.  After the death of Jesus, Peter was so discouraged that he said to the other disciples, "I am going fishing" (John 21) -- Peter was returning to his old way of life.  In that moment, Jesus met Peter and restored him to his call as a shepherd.  Following the Day of Pentecost, Peter became a leading figure in the early church.

When we first encounter Paul in the New Testament, he is assisting in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58).  Saul was a devout Jew and worked to destroy the spread of Christianity until he met Jesus.  Acts 9 records Saul's dramatic encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus.  The rest is history -- Saul, now Paul became the leading Apostle to the Gentiles.  He led to way on three missionary journeys and wrote much of the New Testament.

Both Peter and Paul remind us that God can meet us and in a moment our lives can be redirected with purpose and potential.  I hope you will join us Sunday as we discover God's voice in their lives and ours.  See you Sunday, Pastor Tom

God's Not Dead

God's Not Dead will be showing at New Life Community Church tonight (Thursday, August 21st).  The Family Feast begins at 6 PM.  Movie showing will start around 6:30 PM.  Great movie.  Invite a friend and join us!

The Voice of God

Is the voice of God analogous to a thunder clap in the sky or a whisper in the wind?  How does God speak to you?  How did God speak to the saints in the Old Testament or to believers in the New Testament?  Hebrews 1:1-2 provides a framework for God's voice.  Hebrews records, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."

We shouldn't skip over the obvious truth, namely, that God is a speaking God.  God loves to communicate with us!  Christian theology teaches us that God has revealed His divine nature to us in creation, through the prophets, and the gift of His Son, Christ Jesus.  Genesis, the book of beginnings opens with the words, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (1:1)  Beginning in verse 3, "And God said" is repeated at least eight times in the opening chapter of the Bible.

So our creator God spoke creation into existence out of nothing--with His voice.  In Genesis, God spoke to Adam and Eve, to Cain, to Noah, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob,  and then to Joseph.  In Exodus God called Moses . . . that's where we pick up.

God's people are in slavery; life is not so good.  The people are suffering in captivity.  Joseph and the Pharaoh which knew Joseph is long gone.  God hears his people groaning and speaks to a man named Moses.

Moses' story is remarkable because of his background and upbringing.  Although Hebrew, he was raised as an Egyptian, and later became the leader of God's people in the Exodus.  sunday we will look at the preparation of Moses and God's call at the burning bush.  Can't wait!  Pastor Tom