New Beginnings Lutheran Church

Ever feel like the world is getting worse? Do government systems appear corrupt, the leaders also, and culture appear to be at war with your faith? How *didn’t* Daniel respond to these circumstances?

Truly God was with Daniel and his friends. The bigger miracles were not walking through fire or closing lions mouths; what really astounds is the hope, humility, and wisdom we see in those who followed the rule of faith.

Many look to Daniel for prophetic insight, but what we really benefit from is learning how to live godly lives in a world gone wrong. Can we really live counter cultural lives in Babylon -- or 21st century USA? It may come at a price.

The book of Daniel might bring to mind prophecy charts, diet fads, or tales of lions, but these are distractions if focused upon to the diminishment of the prophet’s main point. God often chooses to be with us in our trials rather than deliver us from them.

God has equipped you with gifts and tasks to grow His kingdom and share His love. But do you always use those gifts for that purpose? Does it always seem fair to share God’s love with those around you? Jesus addresses all this and more through a parable. Let’s dive in to what He has to say. 📖 Luke 20:9-19 | bit.ly/3vWInV1 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

It is not a stretch to say there’s a lot in common between mothers and missions. Having children and making disciples are very much alike. It all starts where you are and you don’t know where it’ll take you! 📖 Matthew 28:18-20 | bit.ly/2Of9U3U 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Jesus said it: it is more blessed to give than to receive. Isn’t it strange that the more we have the less prone we are to give? That’s not true of everyone, but we all will struggle with that truth. 📖 Acts 20:35 | bit.ly/3fwxFQm 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

We are not saved by good works but for good works. And doing good works makes us feel good, no that’s not the whole reason we do them. Why do we do good works? 📖 Ephesians 2:10 | bit.ly/31I9Z3u 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Almost everyone I know is really good at forgiveness. After all, most people know someone who fails their hopes and expectations every day. And even though they promise to do better next time, they betray that trust over and again. But you forgive yourself again and again. That’s why we need to love others as we love ourselves. 📖 Ephesians 4:32 | bit.ly/2Of907y 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect...

You be you - no one else can. But being like Jesus is also part of the equation, right? Being who God intends us to be is our Red Letter Challenge (RLC) for this week. 📖 Matthew 11:28 | bit.ly/2PUAMGN 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

We were baptized into Christ’s death so that we could live new lives--Christ-like lives--through the power of the resurrection. This Easter we will undertake a 40 day challenge to live like Jesus! 📖 Romans 6:3-4 | bit.ly/3tSBpzz 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

There is no Easter without Good Friday. We will continue with NBLC’s traditional tenebrae service--a service of increasing darkness--as we remember how God’s great love for us was not extinguished, but demonstrated through the death of Jesus. 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Ever hear of a “glutton for punishment”? You don’t want to add that title to your resume! In fact, if we want to get more in life, giving up excess is a good move to make. Adding moderation--or restraint--to our choices will save us from many regrets. 📖 Matthew 5:21-24 | bit.ly/2ZTdrHy 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Ever hear of a “glutton for punishment”? You don’t want to add that title to your resume! In fact, if we want to get more in life, giving up excess is a good move to make. Adding moderation--or restraint--to our choices will save us from many regrets. 📖 Matthew 6:25-35 | bit.ly/3pWA4FF 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

I’m too tired to give up laziness. There’s got to be an easier way to deal with sloth than all the hard work it takes to get rid of it! (Are you picking up on the irony in those last two sentences?) God has so much more in mind for us. If we just give up sloth, we get more of the life God has in store! 📖 Matthew 25:14-30 | bit.ly/3pTln5V 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nb...

Watch out for envy! The more envy you have, the less you get in life. Envy robs you of the best of things. Envy robs you of the joy that comes from all that God has given you!. Give up envy and get more of God’s blessings in your life for godliness with contentment is great gain! 📖 Matthew 20:1-16 | bit.ly/2NZi93Q 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Seven Deadly Sins—now those are worth giving up for Lent! In fact, when we surrender a sin we gain much more than we give up. Take Lust, for example. We think what we lust for will give us more, but it leaves us with less. When we give it up, we get more: purity! 📖 Matthew 5:27-30 | bit.ly/2OYz5b6 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

What’re you giving up for Lent? That familiar question assumes subtraction leads to devotion. Jesus promises addition. When we give up sin—which we are often reluctant to do—we actually gain from the so-called loss. For example, when we give up greed, we can gain charity in exchange. It is more blessed to give! 📖 Matthew 6:19-24 | bit.ly/2Zptfl4 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Lov...

Which of the Seven Deadly Sins is your favorite? If you had to give them all up except one, which one would you hold onto? That was a trick question, for if you give up sins you don’t lose, but you get more! Christ crosses out our sins and adds His goodness to our lives and we are forever better for it! 📖 Matthew 16:24-26 | bit.ly/37uf02X 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | n...

It’s time to put on the gloves! 🥊 That’s right: time to hit the punching bag. We gotta get to work in order to fight the good fight of the faith. We are not bodybuilders, but we do have to work out God has worked into us. 📖 Jude | bit.ly/3qLbRCK 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

If you just witnessed pastor Joe shoplifting from the grocery store, would you want to listen to his sermon? What if he stole your car? 🚗 You’d probably excuse him and say, “We’re all people in process,” right? We’re saved by grace, after all! 📖 Jude | bit.ly/3qLbRCK 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Some things are worth fighting for. Holding onto your faith can often feel like a fight. This is the perspective advocated by one of the half-brothers of Jesus Christ in a sermon he wrote. This sermon is found in your Bible in the little book of Jude. 📖 Jude | bit.ly/3qLbRCK 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

We care better together. In fact, caring relationships assume we stick together. And God brought us together for a purpose bigger than any one of us. To achieve something greater than ourselves, we need to be part of something greater than ourselves. 📖 Hebrews 10:24-25 | bit.ly/2WJHUWW 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

Caring for one another has a ricochet effect. Jesus said others learn about God’s love when we do as He did for us. What has God done for you? That is a clue to how our care for one another will impact the whole world! 📖 John 13:34-35 | bit.ly/3rqTC73 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give

We care, but caring is as much about Word as it is about action--God’s Word. A family dinner pack from Bread Co is fitting when someone is laid-up. A warm meal feeds them for the day. Including encouragement from the Bread of Life will sustain them for eternity. 📖 Colossians 3:12-17 | bit.ly/34L89At 🤗 Connect Card | nblc.net/connect 💚 Giving is Loving | nblc.net/give