NewChurch Podcast

First Sunday in ADVENT. "Don't you ever think, "Good grief, Lord! Can't you see what's going on down here? The way people are acting? Do you get MSNBC in heaven? Do You see the way they mock Your name and Your people?" "This passage has a very interesting movement to it: It starts with a prayer for God to come down here and destroy our enemies, then behold, we realize we would also be destroyed be...

"Love is not how you feel about someone." "When we love people we're going to feel it, but the feeling isn't what love is—it's a byproduct." "Jesus is not telling you to feel a certain way about God or to feel a certain way about your neighbor. It's not about feelings at all." Do you know how to love people the way God told you to love them? "How can we create heaven on earth? How can we treat peo...

Courtroom drama retelling of Jesus on trial. Are you a yappy religious know-it-all who thinks you understand why Jesus is not the divine Son of God who commands your attention? Or are you Barabbas. Those are the only two choices. Jesus is still on trial today in our culture—for the same reasons. He's call you to be a witness, to testify, what kind of witness are you going to be? Tell the truth, th...

The Lord's Prayer—66 words in English. But the actual prayer is even shorter, 57 words in Greek. Most of us don't really pray like this, unless we're just reciting the Lord's Prayer. We use a lot more words. We don't feel like we "really" prayed if we keep it that brief.  I've come to understand that the Lord's Prayer can be prayed in basically three ways. As a petition, as the Law, and as the Gos...

"Ever do something that couldn't be undone?" "How often do we find ourselves in places we shouldn't be? Doing things we shouldn't be doing? Acting like unbelievers—as if we'll get away with it." "For a while, when I was in my 20s, I wouldn't call myself a Christian." "Someone has a different idea about one of your favorite theological nit picks! Surely you can't let that just exist out there uncor...

Do you ever feel anxious? Worried? Is it a sin? Is it a lack of faith? Was it a sin when Jesus was so anxious in the Garden of Gethsemane that He sweat blood? (Of course not.) It's not a sin to be anxious. When Jesus tells us not to worry, that's a word of comfort, not a word of law and condemnation. Also, did Jesus tell His followers to carry a weapon? Big questions are answered in this message....

"This is going to be a good reminder that God didn't call any of us to follow Jesus because He thought we'd be so dang good at it." "What does it mean that they'll sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel?" "It's a lot easier to die for someone than to live for them—it's in the little moments when our love is actually put to the test." "Also, mom and dad, apply this at home—don't hide yo...

If you've ever wondered what the big deal about Communion is... This is how Jesus saves the world with bread and wine. "The God who spoke the universe into existence is the One who said, "This bread is my body given for you. This cup poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." Is my body, is my blood. Is means is. We take Jesus at His word. It's a miracle. It's a mystery." The blood of th...

"What's the point of this (New)Church thing? Why does it matter?" " I want to propose something completely nuts. Something totally off-menu." "Every church thinks they have the corner on the truth, like they're the only ones who really know Jesus. Can we not be like that, please?" "It's so sad to me when someone says, "Nah, I already tried that Jesus thing and it didn't work for me. I went to chur...

"One of Jesus' Twelve disciples is bodily possessed by Satan himself. How in the world did that happen? How can a follower of Jesus be possessed by the devil?" "When we give in to the same temptations, doing the same sins—habitual sins—we invite demons as sure as leaving food outside attracts flies. " "Giving in to your favorite sins is like putting handles on your soul so the devil can really get...

Are we looking forward to that day? Or dreading it—the end of the world? "The only ones who are going to be delivered from the wrath of God at the end of the world are the people who trust in Jesus to save them." "How can we talk about how good God is, how God is love, if He's going to be like that? What's so good about a God who destroys the wicked?" "If we think God's judgment of the world is im...

It's going to be cataclysmic. Horrifying. Nightmarish. This is why Jesus told us in advance.  When the obvious end of the world starts to happen, everything is going completely bonkers, and you see Jesus coming down from heaven—try to remember what He told us to do. It's just three simple things: Stand up straight, raise your heads and look at Him, and thank God your salvation is here! Can you rem...

If Jesus is who He says He is, then everyone has a tough decision to make. He's either God, or a liar, or He's crazy. The one thing He can't be is a nice guy who said nice things. This message is a not-so-subtle attempt to blow your mind about how awesome and unique Jesus actually is.  It also includes a strong warning to beware of toxic Christians and not to let them chase you away from Jesus. Go...

If you argue with someone, who usually gets mad first? You or them? Why do we get mad when we argue? Are we surprised someone has different opinions than we do? Why do we think it's okay to get mad just because they get mad at us? Today Jesus is going to get into some arguments. Let's pay attention to how He handles Himself. God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please s...

"What was your part in making things bad? Don't look around trying to find  someone else to blame. Confess. Repent. Repentance is God's kindness. It's His idea, He wants to forgive you, it's what He came to do. God is infinitely more patient with you than you will ever be of yourself." God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Gi...

Jesus has His authority challenged by the local authorities. We explore why His answer about John's authority was not avoiding the question. We also talk about the proper distinction between Law and Gospel (and how most Christians confuse them).  God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.

This is part two of a two part mini-series on a Biblical view of how to handle human emotions. Part one was Pastor Frank, Part two is by Kemper Crabb. You will learn something if you're not careful. God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.

It's fine to have emotions, it's part of what makes us human. But we can't let those emotions control our behavior. In this lesson, Jesus goes from extreme happiness, to utter sadness, to furious anger. All in 24 hours. What can we learn about how we should deal with our emotions? God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Give" t...

Did Jesus actually say about the Gospel, "Use it or lose it!" What are the "minas?" Is this parable the same as the parable of the Talents? (It's not) It's also not about money. The Gospel in this parable is so unfair it's not funny. (But that's not to say nothing is funny.) God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Give" to 832-...

You can't earn salvation. Jesus earned it for you. But you can try to live up to it. God's name is holy, and He puts His name on you. You can't earn it, but you can try to keep His name holy now that it's on you. It's about being someone people can count on. About being someone who does what's right, even when it's hard.  God has put His holy name on you. Now what? How are you going to keep it hol...

There are a lot of things we think we understand before we actually experience them, then we find out we had no idea. How many things have you heard over and over but they never sank in? Important things—like the Gospel. You might want to share this one with someone who needs to hear the Gospel, someone who is struggling to believe. This is the Gospel according to Jesus. God has Hope for you here....

Sometimes, if we want to live, we have to give up something that's killing us. We'll almost never want to do it. Jesus says this is why it's impossible for rich people to enter the kingdom of God.  Everything we have must be put under His Lordship. Every single thing. The question is always: Lord, what do You want me to do with this all this stuff You've given me? He will tell you. But you probabl...

1. Receive the kingdom of God like a child or you won't receive it. 2. Does that mean trying really hard to be like a child? Haha. (No.) 3. Church is not optional. 4. Jesus shared His Father with us. What more do you want? God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.

The Pharisee and The Tax Collector like you've never heard it. A pretty good case can be made they went to the temple to pray on The Day of Atonement—which changes everything you thought you knew about this parable.  Also, what's the deal with the rainbow text? You might be surprised. God has Hope for you here. Join us: https://www. NewChurch. Love Please support NewChurch by texting the word "Giv...

Jesus teaches how to pray for what you want and never lose heart. Seems like an important thing to pay attention to. What if God isn't going to do anything until you ask? In this teaching, Pastor Frank gives at least 17 important clues on how to pray so God will answer you. Don't bother listening if you think everything is perfect and nothing in the world needs to fixed—if you don't need anything...