NMC Audio Podcast

Verse four is a total change in tone from the previous three verses. We're first introduced to green pastures, quiet waters, and paths of righteousness. Sounds nice, right? However, in striking contrast, verse four introduces us to the valley of the shadow of death. The valley is dark, daunting, and full of potential evil. We all have valley lows, but to whom will we turn to in our greatest times...

It’s not uncommon for something small to affect great change. Two words can do it. “I’m sorry” can diffuse a giant disagreement, and “I do” seals a man and woman together in marriage. A five-minute wait at a “fast food” restaurant tests one’s patience. And just eight seconds makes or breaks a bull rider. David offers something in 36 seconds that can change our lives if we're willing to trust.

David paints a picture of a Shepherd who lovingly provides what His sheep can't provide for themselves: true rest. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters.” Sheep don't naturally rest easily. They're fearful, anxious, restless, and distracted. Yet the Good Shepherd removes fear, calms the chaos, provides, and gently leads us to peace.

Psalm 23 begins with a staggering declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd.” David doesn't place his confidence in circumstances, resources, or even himself. His trust is rooted in the eternal God who feeds, leads, guards, and sustains His people. Even in crisis, trust psalms like Psalm 23 declare confidence in the faithfulness of God. The greatest comfort of Psalm 23 isn't the green pastures or stil...

Joseph spent 13 years in pits, prisons, and waiting rooms he never asked for. But Genesis 50:20 is the moment the whole journey comes into focus. What do you do when your life doesn't look like what you thought it would? And what if God is working in it rather than around it?

Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands in Scripture. In the story of Joseph and his brothers, guilt lingers and relationships remain complicated, but Joseph responds to God’s calling to overcome evil with good. Where we see hurt, God can still bring healing, redemption, and good.

As Joseph's life unfolded, he learned more about himself and continued to understand God’s character and ways. As we look at the choices Joseph made, we turn to ourselves and know we have the same opportunities to decide how we'll respond to God and the obstacles we face. 

Joseph faced temptation, pressure, and false accusation, but he refused to compromise his character or dishonor God. Even when no one else was watching, Joseph chose integrity over convenience and obedience over pleasure. The life of Joseph explores how real faith is revealed in private moments and how God honors those who stand firm when compromise would be easier.

The uncomfortable reality is that sometimes the deepest wounds don’t come from strangers; they come from home. The life of Joseph explores how jealousy, comparison, and unresolved hurt can unravel relationships, and asks the honest question: Will there ever be healing and even reconciliation?

Is this just a fishing expedition into Peter's life, or is Jesus personally setting a course for his future? Around an early morning campfire, an unlikely table is set, and what unfolds is one of the most intimate, criticized, and defining conversations in all of Scripture. What Jesus does for Peter, He intends for us too.

Did Jesus lose control in the temple? Or did He reveal what truly mattered? When He overturned the tables, what was He doing? The temple was meant to be a place where people could meet God, but it had become a place that crowded out prayer, justice, and genuine worship. What tables might need to be flipped in our own lives? Jesus’ actions remind us that God cares deeply about the condition of our...

In the story of Zacchaeus, Jesus does something shocking. He chooses to sit at the table with the "wrong kind of people." Tax collectors, sinners, and outsiders were pushed to the margins, judged as unworthy, and forgotten. But when Jesus enters Zacchaeus' home, He isn't just sharing a meal—He's turning the world upside down. The Kingdom of God flips the social hierarchy. The people everyone else...

The story of Jesus is the story of invitation—a grace that meets you where you're at and welcomes you to sit at the table. On the night of His betrayal and on the road when hope seemed lost, Jesus drew near to His disciples and welcomed the doubting, the disappointed, and the questioning. The invitation is still the same for us today. There's a seat for you at the table. Will you accept His invita...

Paul’s legacy is that he gave everything for the calling he received. His life asks something of us: What will our legacy be? Will we live comfortably, or will we live purposefully? Will we shrink back when it’s difficult or press on with courage and conviction? Each of us has been given a calling—unique, intentional, and meaningful. The question isn't whether we have one, but whether we'll live i...

We live in a moment of profound cultural and moral shift—a moment churches have faced before. What does faithful, courageous, and loving community look like? How does the church respond in this moment? What does Paul’s heartfelt challenge in Acts 20 say to us about how to face whatever comes next?

In 1870 Lydia Baxter wrote a hymn entitled, “Take the Name of Jesus with you.” Its stanzas are about the various trials we may face as well as the joy and hope found in Jesus. As we continue our journey through the Book of Acts, sometimes called The Acts of the Apostles, we're witness to how their actions are informed by who Jesus is and the joy they have as they trust Him. Because of their faith...

When the early church faced a wave of new believers who didn’t grow up with the same traditions, a big question emerged. In Acts 15, the leaders gathered to decide whether new believers had to follow all the old religious requirements. After prayer and discussion, they reached a powerful conclusion: don’t make it difficult for those who are turning to God. The heart of the gospel is simple—salvati...

Left to itself, a fire tends to burn out. Throughout the Bible, believers are urged to keep their spiritual fervor red hot, like Paul encouraged Timothy to "fan into flame" his spiritual passion. Life and all its challenges take a toll on a warm heart. More than just giving us a challenge, the Word gives us a clear path to a heart that’s hot for Jesus. --- Dave Engbrecht served as NMC’s Senior Pas...

Following Jesus is more than a private belief—it’s a bold, active faith. In Mark 2, four friends refuse to let obstacles keep their paralyzed friend from encountering Jesus. When the crowd blocks the door, they climb the roof, tear it open, and lower him to Jesus. Their faith wasn’t passive. It was persistent, courageous, and sacrificial. This message explores what it means to be the kind of follo...

Prophetic words have the power to call forth our true identity, gifts, and calling. Through the apostle Paul’s encouragement of Timothy, we see how spoken, God-inspired words can strengthen faith, awaken purpose, and help us stand firm in challenging seasons. We as the Church are called to intentionally speak life-giving, identity-shaping words that help others stand strong in who God has called t...

In Acts 10, we encounter two men in different places but in the same posture of heart: Peter and Cornelius. One is a Jewish apostle, the other a Roman centurion. Both are united by a simple, powerful act: They make themselves available to God through prayer. It's in those moments of yielded prayer that heaven interrupts earth. Visions are given. Boundaries are broken. Hearts are changed. Through p...

Could one step of obedience set off a chain reaction? Everyday faithfulness is the first domino God wants to tip, and fulfill His call in Matthew 9 and the promise of Acts 1:8. This message challenges every follower of Jesus to see your life, not as random moments, but as intentional moves in God’s unstoppable mission. --- John Vermilya is the Lead Pastor of The Tabernacle, a multi-site church in...

Saul of Tarsus knew the Scriptures better than most of us ever will. He was disciplined, devoted, and certain he was right. Yet, he was still blind. Acts 9 shows us what happens when certainty collides with the living Christ. It's the story of how knowing about God becomes truly knowing Him.

What good can grace do? When God's grace showed up in Acts 4, it didn't just make people feel better—it actually changed things. Relationships shifted. Priorities flipped. A whole community got rewired from the inside out. We're exploring what happens when grace gets to work in real life, and why it might do more than you think.

The religious leaders were stunned by the boldness of Peter and John. They weren’t impressed by credentials or training. They only recognized one thing: these men had been with Jesus. What a beautiful invitation from the Lord—to simply be with Him. Our power, courage, and clarity don’t come from striving harder, but from abiding closer. When we spend time in His presence, His life transforms ours,...