NHCC Sermons & Teaching

One of our consistent prayer items that makes it into our regular times of petition to God seems to focus on physical healing. Of course, the question might arise: "Why does God choose to heal some but not others?" Closely followed by: "Why does it seem that miraculous healing doesn't occur today as prevalently as it did in the stories we read from the Bible?"----------As...

We start up a short series of messages this Sunday, covering some of the important prayers in the Bible. Some are prayed in desperation, others are prayed with accepting faith, but they all serve a purpose beyond the original intent... they serve as a teaching tool for our understanding.----------This Sunday, Frank starts with the Lord's Prayer; those words uttered to His disciples who wanted...

As we conclude our series on the book of Jame this Sunday, we look to the last few verses of the fifth chapter. In this passage, James offers words of hope concerning those who have wandered from the truth and eventually return for restoration.----------While James encourages his readers with this story of restoration and salvation, it is a sobering reminder of what the alternative is for those wh...

James comes to the conclusion of his letter to scattered Christians with the encouragement to pray for each other and to seek out prayer to make it through the difficulties that life would throw at them. These Christians were facing persecution and depravation and, in their weakness, he reminds them to seek God in prayer and band together in that prayer to look out for each other.----------Frank t...

The old joke goes: "How do you know if a politician is lying?" The answer: "When you see his mouth moving, you know he's lying." There are seemingly always questions about the integrity of our elected officials. One might imagine that for a person of genuine integrity, it would be difficult to convince people of that because of the generalization of those in the political...

Let's be honest, none of us are great at being patient. We can develop a level of patience but it certainly doesn't come easily for us. We live in a world where it is often in short supply and the demands of the day tend to penalize those who actually learn to be patient.----------But when it comes to the return of Christ, that is exactly the teaching the James offers to us. He tells us...

We see warning signs everywhere. Signs that tell us of pending danger ahead on the road. Signs that tell us something is poisonous to ingest. Signs that tell us a floor is slippery. The list goes on and on. Each of these harbingers carry a similar theme: "Misery is coming if you choose not to heed the warning signs."----------We find ourselves viewing such warning signs from James as we...

The will of God is not simply a passive plan, the blueprint for his creation. Rather, very often the Old Testament describes God as accomplishing His will. In this we glimpse the sovereign control he exerts over nations and individuals as well as the certainty that characterizes His will. What God has planned (His will), He Himself will bring to pass. Human history is never regarded as beyond his...

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? --James 4:11-12----------This week, Frank preaches a mess...

"You can't trust Jesus as your Savior if you don't submit to Him as Lord." This truth shines through James' teaching in chapter 4 of his letter. The truth is, we can't play both sides of the fence. The reality of our sin should lead us to repentance out of sorrow.----------Frank looks over verses seven through ten for our teaching this Sunday. Watch along with our wor...

Someone once said that friendship can be categorized into four types: acquaintance, friend, close friend and best friend. Obviously, the stronger and closer the bond, the higher the level of friendship that exists. We have many friendships that exists along those different levels and, outside of potentially "petty human emotions" those friendships co-exist without complication.----------...

Jesus called his disciples from many walks of life and with different approaches. One of the most puzzling was Matthew (a.k.a. Levi). He hardly seemed like a promising candidate for discipleship. Yet, when Jesus offered a simple, short, to-the-point invitation, Matthew got up and left everything behind him.----------Perhaps it gives us some insight as to how the Holy Spirit works to convict someon...

We have no indication whatsoever that Daniel of the Scriptures was a father. However, for this Father's Day Sunday, we will take a glimpse at a familiar chapter in the book bearing his name about perhaps the most famous story of Daniel's life... the night he spent in a den of lions because he ignored the king's decree.----------But our message this week is not about a den of hungry...

"...the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." --James 3:17-18----------James' description of wisdom certainly points to the stark contrast between that "wisdom from above" and let's say, wisdom of the world....

"There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind." – Fred Rogers----------Just a cursory look at the world in which we live gives a picture that looks very little like the kindness that Mr. Rogers encouraged his viewers to strive for as a measure of success. But what about the church? Shouldn't the fami...

In the old time westerns, nefarious outlaws were hunted by the sheriffs, deputies, marshalls and other assorted lawmen of the day. Of course, it was common in those movies to know who the bad guys were because they wore the black hats, but also because there were crudely drawn pictures of the on the "Wanted" posters around town and by the town jail. Those posters would often give an indi...

It can be really nice to get the VIP treatment when you are on vacation, having a nice dinner out, attending a sporting event, etc. It can be a bit intoxicating to have someone tending to whatever need you might have in the moment. Having the best seat, the best view, the best everything, so to speak, can certainly stroke a person's ego.----------Needless to say, one place where there shouldn...

Who has ever heard a guy utter those famous words, "Instructions? I don't need to follow instructions. I got this!" Admittedly, there are some of the more mechanically inclined among us that can pull that off, but for the most part, that is a daunting challenge for the rest of us. We're always the ones with the "extra" parts left over when our project is completed.---...

Hannah longed to have the joy of having a child, but she was never able. Her earnest prayers were eventually answered and, as a response to that blessing, she fully dedicated herself to being a Godly mother. The direct result of her prayers and her commitment was that she became the mother of one of the greatest prophets of Israel--a man of God fully committed to serving God. No doubt he saw that...

Whose fault is it when we find ourselves facing temptation? Is it God, testing us, asking us to prove our faithfulness by staying firm in our conviction to not succumb to the pressure? Is it Satan, probing our perceived or actual weaknesses, waiting for us to fail so that he might accuse us and mock our commitment to the Father?----------The answer, according to James is actually much less complic...

This week Frank Foreman begins a new series of messages from the book of James. In this letter, the brother of Jesus highlights the important, practical nature of Authentic Faith. The choices we make and actions we take will dictate the nature of our faith.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE POOR SOUND QUALITY OF THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP. THERE WERE TECHNICAL ISSUES BEYOND OUR CONTROL.The resurrection of Christ is a testimony of God's promise to us. Jesus' death on the cross was an act of grace to forgive our sins and the resurrection confirmed that truth and gives us hope for this life. It is quite truly the hinge of our faith. Without the resurrection,...

Confidence can be a funny thing. So many situations in life call for confidence. Yet, it has to be kept in check lest we become overconfident in our own ability or talent. We are reminded that confidence, like so many other things, should be exercised in moderation.----------Ultimately, as a Christian, the answer is rather simple. At least in a basic sense it is rather straightforward. Our confide...

There are many examples in injustice in our world. People taking advantage of others, ignoring normal standards of decency and humanity. This happens for a variety of reasons, but most of them are rooted in wickedness and control of others.----------Such was the case of Jesus' "trial" and subsequent sentencing for crimes He, of course, did not commit. But even considering the sham l...

It can be difficult to go through challenging times alone. Feeling isolated when you are at your most vulnerable adds to the struggle significantly. It is what Jesus experienced before He went to the cross. First through Judas' betrayal and then the fearful abandonment from the other disciples. Yet, in the midst of all that, He never wavered in His faith and trust in the Father's plan---...