New Life Ministries Podcast

He was dead for four days. Buried. And then Jesus called him out of the tomb. That's not just a Bible story — it's why thousands of people showed up for Palm Sunday. In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Joe Wickman looks at the moment Lazarus walked out of his grave and why that one miracle changed everything — including what happened when Jesus rode into Jerusalem days later. You'll also hear real...

What if worship is bigger than music?  In this message, we close our Spiritual Disciplines series by looking at the heart of worship. Every human being worships something. We were made in the image of God, created with a deep longing that only He can fill. This sermon explores: why every person is wired for worship the “God-shaped void” in the human heart how Jesus made a way for us to come near t...

What makes a life truly meaningful? In Acts 9, we meet a woman named Tabitha whose life was defined by simple acts of service. She didn’t preach sermons or lead movements—she simply loved people and served them. Yet when she died, the entire community mourned because of the impact her life had made. Her story forces us to ask a powerful question: When our life is over, what will people remember? I...

What does the Bible really say about submission? In a culture that celebrates independence and self-promotion, the idea of submission can feel uncomfortable. But Jesus taught that true greatness is found through humility, service, and surrender to God. In Part 5 of our Spiritual Disciplines series, we explore the biblical discipline of submission and why it is essential for spiritual growth. Jesus...

Are you constantly tired… overwhelmed… running on empty? In Part 4 of our Spiritual Disciplines series, we explore the life-giving discipline of Sabbath — not as a religious rule, but as a gift from God. From Genesis to Exodus to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 12, Scripture shows us that Sabbath is woven into the rhythm of creation itself. God didn’t rest because He was tired — He rested to establish...

What does the Bible really say about fasting? Is fasting required for Christians? And can fasting truly bring spiritual breakthrough? In this powerful message from our Spiritual Disciplines series, we explore the biblical foundation of fasting and why Jesus assumed His followers would practice it (Matthew 6, Matthew 9). You’ll discover: • Why fasting is more than skipping meals  • How fasting deep...

In this message, discover how prayer and spiritual disciplines can completely transform your relationship with God. Many Christians struggle with prayer — feeling like they don’t pray enough, don’t pray the right way, or don’t know how to hear from God. But prayer was never meant to be complicated. It’s simply a conversation with your Heavenly Father. Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to...

Have you ever wondered why God feels distant—even when you believe, pray, and want to grow spiritually? In this message, we kick off a new series on Spiritual Disciplines by addressing a tension many Christians quietly wrestle with: the gap between discipline and desire. Is closeness with God about trying harder… or something deeper? Using Scripture, personal stories, and insights from Celebration...

What if your faith was never meant to stop with you? In Part 5 of our Growth series, we explore the biblical call to multiplication—the natural outcome of a life rooted in Christ. From baptism and spiritual maturity to disciple-making and bearing fruit, Scripture shows us that God’s design has always been growth that leads to multiplication. This message traces God’s heart from Genesis to the Grea...

What does it really mean to bear fruit as a follower of Jesus? In this message from our Growth series, we explore Jesus’ teaching in John 15, where He calls us to remain (abide) in Him as the true vine. Spiritual fruit isn’t produced by striving harder—it flows naturally from a deep, loving connection with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Using the metaphor of plants and growth, this s...

What does real spiritual growth actually look like—and how do we know if we’re growing? In Week 3 of our series, Growth: The Work of God, we turn to Colossians 2:6–7 to discover that spiritual growth isn’t about trying harder or managing better habits—it’s about continuing to follow Jesus the same way we first received Him: as Lord. If you’ve ever wondered why your spiritual life feels stagnant—or...

What does it really mean to be rooted in Christ—and why does growth never happen alone? In this message from our Growth: The Work of God series, we explore how spiritual growth happens when we put down deep roots in Jesus and intentionally connect to the body of Christ. Using powerful biblical imagery of trees, roots, and flourishing life, this sermon addresses the tension every believer faces: up...

What does it actually mean to grow as a Christian? In Part 1 of our new sermon series Growth: The Work of God, we begin at the very beginning — with seeds. Using Jesus’ Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13, this message explores how spiritual growth starts, why it sometimes stalls, and what it takes to flourish in Christ no matter the season. From the Garden of Eden to the cross of Christ, Scriptu...

Mental health struggles are more common than many of us realize — even in the Church. In this powerful and deeply honest message, “Unmasking Mental Health in the Church,” we confront the harmful myth that strong faith means never struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or neurodivergence. Through Scripture, personal testimony, and practical wisdom, this sermon invites believers to remove the...

On Christmas Eve, we celebrate more than lights, traditions, and familiar songs—we celebrate the Light who came into our darkness. In this message from Isaiah 9, we’re reminded that the world has always searched for light in the wrong places: success, possessions, knowledge, relationships, and even religion. But none of those lesser lights can guide us through life’s deepest darkness. The prophet...

What does it really mean that Jesus is Immanuel — God with us? In this Advent message, we explore the powerful promise found in Isaiah 7 and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. From the pain of separation to the hope of reconciliation, Scripture tells one unified story: God moving toward His people in love. Using the story of King Ahaz, the prophet Isaiah, and the birth of Jesus, this message invites us to...

What if joy isn’t the result of a better season—but the fuel that carries you through the wilderness? In Advent Part 3: Joy, we explore a deeper, biblical understanding of joy that goes far beyond fleeting happiness or emotional highs. Drawing from Isaiah 35, this message reveals that joy often arrives before circumstances change—because joy is anchored in who God is, not what we see. This sermon...

Experience a powerful Advent message on peace—rooted in the ancient prophecies of Scripture and fulfilled in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Joe teaches how God's people waited for thousands of years for peace, and how Christ now fulfills that promise for every weary soul. Christmas often magnifies whatever is happening inside us. If our lives are joyful, the season feels...