New Life Church Kalamazoo with Pastor Dan Smith

What does it really mean to walk in truth? In week two of the Confident Faith series, we continue through the book of 1 John and look at what real faith actually produces in the life of a believer. This message unpacks the tension between grace and obedience, reminding us that Jesus is our advocatenot our excuse. When we truly know God, our lives begin to reflect Him. Obedience becomes evidence. L...

What does real faith actually look like? In this message, Pastor Dan kicks off the new Confident Faith series in 1 John by challenging us to move beyond just saying we believe in Jesus and start living lives that actually reflect Him. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. So the question is not just whether we believe in the light, but whether we are actually willing to live expose...

Happy Easter! In this powerful Easter message, Pastor Dan shares the hope of the resurrection and what it means for every one of us. Because of Jesus, Easter brought anew dawn, a new day, and a new life. So many people have gotten comfortable living in spiritual darkness, carrying shame, sin, brokenness, and old identity. But the resurrection of Jesus changed everything. The light came on. The pri...

How can you actually live in victory as a Christian when life feels like defeat? In this message, we walk through Romans 8 to showhow to live in victoryand why God truly wants you to win in Christ. If youve felt stuck on a spiritual treadmillfighting the same sin, the same mindset, the same discouragementthis sermon is for you. Pastor John unpacks four powerful meditations from Romans 8 that move...

This powerful message confronts us with a fundamental truth about marriage: we cannot fix what God designed using our own strength alone. Just as a pilot must understand the laws of aerodynamics to fly a plane successfully, we must understand God's design and laws for marriage to experience the fulfillment He intended. The central revelation here is that knowing biblical principles isn't enough���...

The Law of Planning reveals a profound truth about marriage that many of us overlook: knowing what to do isn't enough���������we must actually do it. Drawing from the book of Proverbs, we're called to consider the ant, a creature that works diligently without constant supervision, storing provisions and planning ahead. This wisdom challenges us to examine our own marriages. We plan meticulously fo...

What does the Bible say about sex in marriage? In this powerful message, we look at Gods design for sexual intimacy through the lens of1 Corinthians 7:15and discover that sex within marriage is not shameful, selfish, or cultural: it is sacred, powerful, and created by God. This teaching confronts one of the most misunderstood gifts God has given humanity: sexual intimacy in the covenant of marriag...

How should a Christian wife treat her husband? This message unpacks what the Bible says about a wifes power in marriage, and how respect, wise help, and inner strength can build a strong, godly home. If youve felt confused by cultural messages about marriage, submission, feminism, or power, this teaching brings clarity from Scripture with practical steps you can apply immediately. In Week 5 of the...

This message explains Christian marriage roles and what the Bible says about a husband���������s calling in marriage. If you���������ve ever wondered what biblical headship really means���������or struggled with cultural confusion about masculinity and leadership���������this teaching brings clarity straight from Scripture. In this sermon, we walk through God���������s design from Genesis to Ephes...

What happens when your spouse gets leftovers instead of priority? In this message, we unpack the biblical Law of Priority from Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19, and Ephesians 5 ��������� and why marriage must become your primary human relationship above parents, kids, work, hobbies, and friends. If your parents get a vote and your spouse only gets a notification��������� priority is already broken. You���...

What if the struggles we face in marriage aren't because the institution itself is broken, but because we never truly understood what it was designed to be? This powerful exploration challenges us to reconsider marriage not as a human contract or romantic fantasy, but as God's first and most sacred institution���������a covenant relationship that mirrors the very nature of the Trinity. Drawing fro...

At the heart of this teaching lies a profound truth that challenges our deepest assumptions about love, marriage, and fulfillment. We encounter the powerful story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well, a narrative that transcends cultural barriers and speaks directly to our spiritual thirst. This woman came daily to draw water, engaging in a repetitive cycle that sustained her physical life...

This powerful message confronts us with a question we often avoid: how close is too close to temptation? Drawing from James 1:13-15, we're challenged to examine the four-stage progression that leads to destructive patterns in our lives���������desire, deception, disobedience, and death. The sermon doesn't shy away from naming specific struggles: sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, idolatry, addi...

This message confronts one of the most stress-inducing areas of our lives: finances. But here's the liberating truth���������our money struggles aren't really about math; they're about lordship. Drawing from Proverbs and the teachings of Jesus, we're challenged to examine where we've taken control instead of surrendering to God's wisdom. The sermon explores three transformative decisions: running...

We live in a world that constantly demands our yes���������to every opportunity, every request, every good thing that comes our way. But what if our greatest spiritual struggle isn't saying no to bad things, but saying yes to too many good things that crowd out the best things? This message challenges us to examine the chaos in our schedules and recognize that we don't have a time problem���������...

This message confronts us with a powerful truth: most of us don't have a resource problem���������we have an order problem. Drawing from Romans 12:1-2, we're challenged to stop conforming to the pattern of this world and instead be transformed by renewing our minds. The central concept of 'margin' emerges as the space between what we have and what is vital, or more simply, choosing what matters mo...

Know God. Find Freedom. Discover Purpose. Make a Difference. This is the vision of New Life Church, led by Pastor Dan Smith and based in Kalamazoo, MI.Subscribe to our channel for weekday updates from Pastors Dan and Kelsey Smith and the NLC team! NEW LIFE CHURCH SERVICE TIMES: In-person: 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:30am | 5115 Portage Rd Online: 10:00amTo support this ministry and help us continue to...

The Christmas story takes on profound new dimensions when we understand the political and spiritual earthquake that occurred at Jesus' birth. We discover that the Magi who traveled from the east weren't just following a star on a whim���������they were descendants of wise men who had been taught by the prophet Daniel during the Babylonian captivity, over 600 years before Christ was born. Their jou...

This message confronts us with a powerful truth: God has a specific vision for each of our lives, and missing it means missing out on His extraordinary blessing. Drawing from Proverbs 29:18, we're reminded that where there is no vision, people perish. The sermon uses the striking story of Olympic rifle shooter Matthew Emmons, who hit the bullseye perfectly but on the wrong target, losing his gold...

This message confronts us with a powerful truth about stewardship and readiness: everything we have belongs to God, and He's watching what we do with it. Drawing from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, we're challenged to examine whether we're actively investing what God has entrusted to us or simply burying it in fear. The sermon reveals that Jesus spoke about money, wealth, and generosity...

Imagine receiving an invitation to the most spectacular wedding celebration in history���������complete with lavish food, royal attire, and the honor of celebrating with the king himself. Now imagine turning it down. This message takes us deep into two powerful parables from Matthew that reveal the stunning truth about God's invitation to us. Through the parable of the wedding feast and the parabl...

At the heart of this powerful message lies one of the most defining questions ever asked: 'Who do you say that I am?' This question from Matthew 16, posed by Jesus to Peter, cuts through the noise of secondhand faith and cultural Christianity to challenge us at our core. We're confronted with the reality that knowing Jesus as Savior is only half the equation���������He must also be Lord. The messa...

In this powerful exploration of Matthew 4:12-16, we discover that Jesus intentionally withdrew to Capernaum, one of the darkest regions of His time, to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy that people living in darkness would see a great light. This wasn't accidental���������Jesus didn't avoid the uncomfortable or the broken places. Instead, He entered them with purpose, demonstrating that the light of Chris...

In this powerful exploration of authentic faith, we journey through Matthew 7:15-23, where Jesus delivers a sobering warning about the difference between appearing religious and actually knowing God. The central message challenges us to examine whether we're simply performing Christianity or genuinely living in relationship with Christ. Jesus uses the metaphor of fruit-bearing trees to illustrate...

This powerful message confronts one of the most misunderstood teachings in Scripture: Jesus' instruction not to judge. Rather than a blanket prohibition against discernment, we discover a profound spiritual principle that runs throughout both Old and New Testaments���������measure for measure. From Jacob's deception leading to his own betrayal, to the Egyptian Pharaoh's cruelty returning upon his...