NMC Audio Podcast

We have the benefit and pleasure of reading the stories of the first followers of Jesus. Through the pages of Scripture, we see them as they rise and fall. We watch as Jesus interacts, teaches, and sends them to represent Him in the world. As we examine them, we wonder: "Will they see the world as Jesus hopes they will see it? Will they see how to represent Jesus and His kingdom in the world?" Gre...

In Matthew 16:21-26, Jesus shifts the focus of His ministry, revealing to His disciples that He must suffer, die, and be resurrected. Jesus then calls His followers to take up their cross and deny themselves to truly follow Him. This is an invitation for any follower of Jesus into a radical way of life—one that disrupts comfort and security. To follow Christ means to embrace the path of self-sacri...

God’s presence has a profound way of disrupting the fear that often holds us back from sharing our faith. He can transform our hesitation into boldness. When we trust in His power rather than our own limitations, we find courage to speak, knowing that He equips us for every moment. In His perfect love, fear is cast out, leaving space for us to confidently share the hope we have in Christ.

Righteousness can be described as a vehicle for God's love. It's the transport mechanism of God's mercy and justice. God acts in just and good ways as He moves toward us. It's who He is, what He does, and we are better because of it. Not only that, we are to be a reflection and continuation of His right actions in the world. But what happens when we forget? You guessed it, a divine disruption of o...

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, sometimes the secret to greater success lies in doing less. By focusing on what truly matters and eliminating distractions, we create space for God to do His best work in and through us. Embrace simplicity, cut down attachments, and watch how much more Kingdom impact will come. Less truly is more when it’s done with intention.

Regular checkups are important, whether for your car, your health, or your relationships. They help ensure everything’s working well, fix what’s off, and keep things running at their best. Today, let’s do a church checkup. Do you understand what the church is meant to be, how it should function, and your role in it? Are you actively contributing to help your church thrive?

Do you have someone in your life who just seems to drain the joy out of you? Someone who tests your patience to the limits and makes you pray for their relocation. We all have “those people” in our lives, but what if God has a purpose for keeping them there? Maybe He’s using them to do something transformative in us.

Not only is it important to develop our relationship with God, we must also take note of the ways we've developed a relationship with not-gods, what the Bible calls idols. It doesn’t matter who we are, how we're raised, or where we're from, we all have the power to create competing gods in our lives. But God, by His grace, has given us the ability and opportunities to choose to trust Him.

We’re all works in progress on the journey we call life. Where’s your journey taken you previously? Where do you find yourself currently? What’s your desired destination in the future? The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the churches in Corinth, challenges apprentices of Jesus not to be aimless or lose focus. Instead, train hard, live with great purpose, and keep your eyes fixed on a specific desti...

Few would be willing to part with what's most precious to them in life. For a parent, can there be anything more precious than their child? Now, imagine the deep emotion of the Father as He gave His one and only Son, Jesus. He gave. As we conclude this series on generosity, we must ask ourselves: “Is there anything we're withholding from God when He calls us to give?”

The story of Jesus' birth is familiar and is the reason we celebrate. We wish you a Merry Christmas! But, although It's familiar, we don't want to overlook this story. Not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we welcome His generosity, looking at His life in order to live generously toward others like He has for us. 

When you think about the future, how do you feel? Anxious? Confident and expectant? Or perhaps somewhere in between? It's entirely human to feel uneasy about what lies ahead; the uncertainties of tomorrow can often be overwhelming. However, we can find inspiration in the remarkable example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who generously entrusted her future to Christ and His Kingdom.

What's your reputation? What are you known for by other people? In the Christmas story, we're introduced to a man named Joseph with a reputation for being a righteous man. In obedience to God, Joseph puts his reputation on the line for Christ and His Kingdom. Does God call on all His followers to give their reputations for His purposes?

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, once wrote, "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." There are only so many hours in a day, weeks in a year, and years in a lifetime. How will we steward the time the Lord has given us? What might it look like for you to be generous with the time you've been given? 

The heart of God is summed up in the word GIVE! From Genesis to Revelation, there’s a constant stream of God’s attribute of being a "giver." We are most like our Father when we practice generosity in every area of our lives.

We weren't created to live alone. We need each other. In a world filled with brokenness and abandonment, there are burdens too weighty to carry alone. It takes a village to raise a child. Who will be the village for children in the foster system or for children waiting for adoption? Who will be the village for families who answer the call to care for these children? The need is great, but the Chur...

We know recovering from a physical injury takes time and attention. Similarly, to get back to normal after a relationship breakdown requires intentionality and healing. Likewise, to feel right again after committing sin often involves a season of humility and restoration. Thankfully, it's in those sensitive, soft areas where the hope of Jesus makes all the difference. He delves into the deep tissu...

Our mission is to meet Jesus' call for all believers in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to make fully committed disciples. Today, we celebrate the goodness of God through the Let's Give It All Away offering and sharing stories of Kingdom impact through our local, regional, and global partners!

At the close of his letter, the Apostle Paul sums up everything he has been communicating to the churches in Ephesus and the larger Asia Minor area. He gives a clear, repetitive message to the community of faith: “STAND.” There will be opposition from the enemy, so the response of the Church is to STAND. We're to put on the full armor that God makes available to us through His Son Jesus Christ and...

If there was anyone in history who “called it like they see it,” we would agree the Apostle Paul fits the description. He is adept at describing Jesus, grace, human relationship, and deep truths about God’s love for His creation. His writings often give clear contrasts between the best and the worst in our world. But more than simply pointing out what’s wrong, Paul gives a message of accessible ho...

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, we fix our gaze on what God has done. BUT GOD! These first three chapters set the stage for the last three chapters. In light of what God has done, we—the Body of Christ—are called to live a life worthy of that calling. Chapter four lays out practical implications for what it looks like to live as a part of the new society God is creating.

Paul's letter to the churches around the city of Ephesus repeatedly invites them to take a long look at the life-changing work of God. Jesus has done more than offer salvation from sin. His life and love have made a radical shift in how all things work together. Consider your favorite gadget or tool. Try to imagine your life without it. Just like how that device empowers your everyday existence, P...

It appears we can't help ourselves from creating division and building walls. Some do this to protect themselves, others do it to maintain power over others, and some may do it purely out of animosity. Whatever the reason, Christ’s life, death, and resurrection were meant to tear down walls and grant all access to the Father. So, Church, why the walls?

Where do we turn when darkness draws near, when our fleshly desires rage within, and when the enemy entices? There is a power. There is a power that reigns far above any other power, ruler, or authority. There is a power that can resurrect the dead. There is a power!

Chances are there are parts of your story that you love and, if you're honest, parts of your story you'd rather not bring out. There are parts of our story we broadcast through a team jersey, the car we drive, the ink on our skin, or the grey in our hair. Other parts of our story get tucked away in a journal, in a prayer, as a secret, or lost in memory.  God is a composer of a story. The Apostle P...