New Work Fellowship Podcast

Beyond Distractions (12/17/23)

Traveling Light - "Beyond Distractions" (Luke 1:26-56)

The stories of Elizabeth and Mary are the same and yet opposite. Mary is young and unmarried. Elizabeth is long time married yet barren. And yet through them and their unexpected pregnancies we learn to FOCUS on what really matters - who really matters - and what matters is Jesus. Is that our focus?

The Burden of Control (12/10/23)

Traveling Light - "The Burden of Control" (Luke 1:5-17)

Zechariah really had no control in life. His hopes to be a father were dashed by the time we pick up his story. But as he learns to let go and trust God - he discovers that God has for him, more than he could have ever asked or imagined. One of the struggles of our Christmas is that we want control. How about remembering that in the Christmas story - only God is in control!

It’s Not About the Stuff (12/3/23)

Traveling Light - "It's Not About the Stuff" (Matthew 2)

 

Just as "light" can light your way, so too we are looking for our way to be His Way. And just like someone's burden can be "light" - so too, following Jesus is "light" (not always easy) - but He joins us in the journey. When the wise men were looking for Jesus, we are told they "saw his light" and again followed the light until it was over the child." We can miss the joy/blessing/gift of Christmas when we are overwhelmed by the distractions of the season - what we need is His "traveling light" to guide us to the better way.

Materialsiim has become the ruin of Christmas. It is so ironic that the way in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus is through the accumulation of more and more. And after Christmas we can be "undone" due to our gifts. Be wise and thoughtful as you celebrate Christ. There is meaning in the gifts of the wise men. They remind us that the gift is Jesus.

Blessed (11/26/23)

Cultivate Gratitude: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed - "Blessed" (Luke 22:14-20)

Gratitude begins in the heart - feelings of thankfulness bubble up. That thankfulness finds its voice in expressing gratitude to God. Finally - gratitude settles into the life-awareness that you are blessed. Even in the shadow of the cross, the end of the journey, the final night with the disciples - Jesus chose to focus on the blessings. The Lord's Supper is a tangible reminder of the blessing we have in Christ. Even in the midst of sorrow and loss - Jesus teaches us that we are blessed.

Grateful (11/19/23)

Cultivate Gratitude: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed - "Grateful" (Acts 27:35)

Gratitude is not gratitude until it crosses your lips The thanksgiving in your heart has to find a voice for it to become gratitude. In the storm - those who were confident they were at the end, who even tried to escape the ship - become encouraged after Paul expressed gratitude to God. Gratitude always needs a target. Who are you thankful to? Just like the crew "lightening the ship" so too a heart filled with gratitude lightens the load of life.

Thankful (11/12/23)

Cultivate Gratitude: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed - "Thankful" (1 Samuel 2:1)

Thankful is reflecting the inner awareness of appreciation for the circumstances, people or posture of life itself. Gratitude begins in the heart. You feel it. In Hannah's surrender - she breaks forth with thanksgiving. Hannah's pain and disappointment makes her thankfulness all the more significant. Thankfulness is not just based upon the current circumstances but in the confident provision of God. Even the stories of the pilgrims and their first thanksgiving, grew out of significant loss and pain. No doubt, her thanksgiving in chapter 2 is the eruption resulting from Samuel's birth - but her focus is on the goodness of God. And just after that prayer - she returns home - without Samuel. But not without God. Be thankful! Be thankful in your surrender!

Missions.Sunday (11/5/23)

Just a reminder of who we are and what we do. We exist so that every man, woman, and child would have the opportunity to know Christ, grow in Christ, and go as the body of Christ.

Right Thinking: With a Kiss, You Are Betraying Me? (10/29/23)

Going Through the Motions - Right Thinking: Do You Betray Me With a Kiss? (Luke 22)

If you really want to go deeper, if you really long to be transformed by the renewing of your mind - you have to ask yourself the tough questions. Judas, for whatever reason, had just been going through the motions. The kiss of a rabbi was a kind courtesy - but we see the pure evil in his taking what was to be an act of devotion and affection - and we realize he was just going through the motions. Likewise, we too can just go through the motions. Are the rhythms and movement of your life flowing out of genuine devotion and delight in the Lord, or is it just like the betrayer's kiss? All for show.  Do you delight in the Lord? Does your life reveal your deepest affections? Don't be blowing kisses when what He wants his total devotion.

Right Thinking: Who Do You Say I Am? (10/22/23)

Going Through the Motions - Right Thinking: Who Do You Say I Am? (Matthew 16:13-18)

Jesus also gets into asking the questions that make us think. And like before, this is actually a double question: Who do others say I am, and who do you say I am? Can you answer these questions? In truth, these are the most important questions you will ever answer. If you can answer these questions - the rest of life falls into place. Peter gets the right answers to the right questions And when you answer the question correctly - there are life implications - both for eternity and for the here and now.

Right Thinking: What Is In Your Hand? (10/15/23)

Going Through the Motions - Right Thinking: What Is In Your Hand? (Exodus 4:1-17)

If you remember the calling story of Moses, you know this encounter had more questions than Jeopardy! Moses and God hurl questions at each other. This question is like the "final question/final answer moment." At the core of Moses, there was doubt, fear, and insecurity. He was the king of excuses. Finally, God wants to show Moses who God is. He is the God who could take an ordinary stick and whip the greatest military power in the world at the time. He is the God who could take a simple stick - and craft the most amazing deliverance story the world has ever known. It wasn't about the stick. It wasn't about the hand. It was all about the God. When you have God in your life, you have everything you need for facing the impossible that is before you. Quit thinking you are not enough. Quit making excuses. Quit doubting God. Just pick up the stick and get after it.