New Life Irvine

This Sunday, we continue our series Sacred Stories as we examine some of the parables Jesus used in his teaching ministry. Luke 18:9–14, at first glance, appears to be a simple story about prayer—but it’s really about something deeper: our craving for approval, our need to be accepted, and the quiet calculations we make to prove we belong. In this short parable, Jesus exposes the games we play—and...

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we encounter a fascinating story about a rich man who suffers in hell. Through the rich man's folly, Jesus reshapes our understanding of sin. We see how sin doesn't just break God's rules, it ultimately breaks us. More specifically, sin disintegrates our souls. Join us this Sunday as we come face to face with the wonder of our sin and the greater wonder...

This Sunday, we look at one of Jesus’ most pointed parables — the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. It’s a gripping parable of a vineyard owner, rebellious tenants, and a beloved son sent into hostile territory. Through this story, we come face to face with the darkness of the human heart and confounding nature of God's love. Come ready to be challenged and comforted because the Lord of the vineyard...

We work for what we cherish. Therefore, discovering the real identity of our treasure can lead us to either praise or repentance or both. In our relationship with God who gave us His very best (Christ), the only reasonable currency is to cherish Christ back, our heavenly treasure. The affection associated with our treasure serves as a conduit for deeper empathy and connection with God that enriche...

In this week’s passage, Jesus tells a story that flips our sense of justice on its head: a landowner hires workers throughout the day, from early morning to late afternoon—and then pays them all the same. Those who worked all day are outraged. Wouldn’t you be? Matthew 20:1–16 isn’t just a lesson about the nature of God's kingdom; it’s a confrontation with our hearts. This parable reveals the self-...

People tend to be hopeful about their future yet often their present circumstances are far from ideal. Why is life in this world so challenging? And why do we maintain such hope for the future despite difficult circumstances? We'll look at Genesis 3 in order to get a glimpse at what our future will be and what it could be. 

Throughout this sermon series on Abide, we talked extensively about why we need to abide and how we can abide in Jesus. Yet, one thing we haven't covered yet is the goal and purpose of our abiding. To answer that question, we will go back to where this series started and unpack Jesus' words in John 15 where He identifies Himself as the vine and us as the branches.

Don't invite your friends or family?! How do we make sense of what Jesus says in Luke 14 in light of the scripture's teaching on the importance community? This Sunday we will delve into the tension of engaging in community with one another and extending hospitality to those outside our community is a practice that helps us "Abide" in the Lord.

Most Christians understand the importance of community. They've heard over and over again about how God has created a "we" instead of simply a "me". What many don't understand, however, is how to deepen and strengthen community. How do we go about cultivating the type of community our hearts long for? How do we go beyond the superficial and create the type of depth and vulnerability we were create...

Up until now, the practices of our Abide series have largely been individual practices. Solitude, sabbath, scripture, prayer, generosity, and fasting...these are all practices you can do alone. However, the Scriptures make definitively clear that when it comes to abiding in Jesus, when it comes to growing our faith, community is indispensable. We cannot grow unless we tether our lives with fellow...

Fasting is a doorway to deeper experience, clearer discernment, and a more intimate walk with Jesus. It is a practice found all over the pages of Scripture and one that is frequently observed throughout the global church. It's time for the Western church to take advantage of this spiritual discipline. Join us this Sunday as we finish up part 2 of our mini-series on fasting and talk about how fasti...

One of the most powerful practices God has given us to abide in Him also happens to be the most neglected: the practice of fasting. While there are some today who regularly fast because of its health benefits, many fail to see its overwhelming spiritual benefits. Join us this Sunday as we rediscover this spiritually renewing practice and learn how we can more faithfully abide in Jesus.

As we continue our crawl through the Lord's Prayer, we encounter the next flurry of petitions: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." These simple lines are more than just words—they are a call to action. They invite us to reimagine what this world could look like and participate in making this God-centered vision a reality. We are reminded that prayer is a powerful wea...

As we move through the Lord's Prayer, we encounter the first petition: "Hallow Be Thy Name". While "Our Father" helps us grasp the intimacy of prayer, "Hallow Be Thy Name" helps us grasp the ultimate aim of prayer. It reminds us of life's purpose, design, and ultimate aim. It is to see God's name hallowed. Join us this Sunday as we discover how God's glory is tethered to our good as we continue to...

While suffering can weaken and undermine faith - apostle Peter teaches, suffering can strengthen and purify it instead to produce something more precious. How so?

Everybody prays. Primitive people prayed. Modern urban dwellers pray. Europeans, asians, africans, latinos...we all pray. At the Super Bowl, we saw athletes pray and fans pray. Yet, while everyone prays, how many of us know what we're doing? What is prayer? Does it really make a difference? How should we pray? Join us this Sunday as we study what it means to say, "Our Father who art in heaven" and...

Join us this Sunday as we continue our Abide series, exploring the essential practice of prayer. We will examine how prayer is a means of abiding in Christ—drawing near to him, aligning our hearts with his, and deepening our communion with Christ, the true vine.

In a world full of noise, busyness, and distraction, it is easy to lose sight of self, God, and others. Instead of living thoughtfully, intentionally, and meaningfully, we end up living superficially with weak relationships and an even shallower faith. This is why we need to learn the practice of solitude. In solitude, we encounter our true selves and calling as we listen to God instead of the wor...

In our fast-paced world that is obsessed with achievement and distraction, Jesus offers a compelling contrast. He invites us to slow down and find a diversion-free space where we can be alone with God. Developing the practice of solitude is more urgent now than ever as the constant noise of life threatens to drown out the voice of God. How can we grow as Christians if we can't hear ourselves and i...

What is it that makes a follower of Jesus flourish? Psalm 1 invites us to consider the mystery of abiding in God through His Word—how meditating on Scripture shapes not just what we do, but who we are. In this sermon, we’ll uncover why Scripture is not just a book to read, but a source of life that anchors and nourishes those who truly abide in Christ.

As we kick off 2025, we launch a new sermon series called, "Abide". In this series, we will cover various practices that will help us abide in Jesus Christ, so that his life-blood might pulsate through our veins--leading to fruitfulness, vitality, and change. Too often, we allow the circumstances of life to dictate our decisions, attitudes, and moods. Like a piece of driftwood in the sea, we are t...

Luke 2:25-35

Romans 8:18-25

Luke 2:1-7