New Life Community Church, Atwater, CA

Sermon Series: Make Room (#4) Make Room for Jesus Luke 2:1-7

When Mary and Joseph arrived at a crowded and busy Bethlehem to register for the census, they found no room available for them to give birth to the baby Jesus (Luke 2:7). As we approach Christmas, we also find our lives/world are full and busy, with little room for the gifts of Christmas offered to us.  So, what is Christmas at its core?   What should be our most important take-away?  What are we invited to make room for that will truly change the world for us? It is simply Jesus.

Sermon Series: Make Room (#3) Make Room for Confidence Luke 1:46-54

When Mary and Joseph arrived at a crowded and busy Bethlehem to register for the census, they found no room available for them to give birth to the baby Jesus (Luke 2:7). As we approach Christmas, we also find our lives/world are full and busy, with little room for the gifts of Christmas offered to us. In the “Song of Mary” we see how the joy of God’s gift and His presence can transcend our difficult circumstances, giving us new

confidence to live more fully for Him.

“Make Room for Peace” Luke 1: 26-38

When Mary and Joseph arrived at a crowded and busy Bethlehem to register for the census, they found no room available for them to give birth to the baby Jesus (Luke 2:7). As we approach Christmas, we also find our lives/world are full and busy, with little room for the gifts of Christmas offered to us. This week let’s press the pause button on the growing pre–Christmas pressure.  Returning to the 1st chapter of Luke, let us discover the path to peace in the midst of chaos.

Sermon Series: Make Room (#1) “Make Room for the Unexpected” Luke 1: 5-20

When Mary and Joseph arrived at a crowded and busy Bethlehem to register for the census, they found no room available for them to give birth to the baby Jesus (Luke 2:7). As we approach Christmas, we also find our lives/world are full and busy, with little room for the gifts of Christmas offered to us. Over the course of this next 4 weeks, we’ll seek to better “make room” for Him and all He has to offer us. Today we begin with

the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth as they struggled with and found blessing in the unexpected.

Guest Speaker: Chaplain David Martinez Message Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13 "From Brokenness to Breakthroughs"

Welcome Chaplain David & Alia Martinez!

Chaplain Martinez has been ministering with the Merced County Jail Ministry since 2023. He shares“One of the Blessings is to see first hand the transformation of the men as they turn to Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill their lives”.

Merced County Jail Ministry

“Transforming Lives from Jail to Jesus”

The Shining: Shining like Stars in the Sky Philippians 4:10-13 #7 The Secret to Shining

The world is dark, and our present circumstances can be hard, so how can we

shine like stars in the night sky? As we wrap up the letter to the Philippians today (and conclude the series), Paul reveals the “secret ingredient” for a life that exudes the light of Jesus shining through us.

The Shining: Shining like Stars in the Sky Philippians 4:4-7 #6 Anxiety, Peace and a Thankful Heart

There are a couple of facts that are unavoidable: #1 Life is filled with uncertainties and #2 uncertainty can cause anxiety. The world’s response to anxiety is to pursue certainty, but because of fact #1, those attempts will ultimately fail. Paul offers a different path in the fourth chapter of Philippians, one that will in fact lead to peace.

Philippians 3: 1-11 #5 The Heart of the Matter

Our ability to shine will always come down to how we allow Jesus to be seen in and through us. Still, it is tempting to want to be noticed, to have one’s worth affirmed, to have our accomplishments recognized by the world around us. Paul notes that despite all our many attempts at goodness, there is really only one thing that matters.

The Shining: Shining like Stars in the Sky Philippians 2: 12-18 #4 Grumblin’, Rumblin’ & Stumblin’

Our ability to shine will always come down to how we follow Jesus, allowing Him to be seen in and through us. Some of the more difficult barriers to overcome are a number of very common habits that are deeply ingrained in us.

The Shining: Shining like Stars in the Sky Philippians 2:1-11 #3 The (humble) way

Because of the law of gravity, we say “What goes up, must come down”. Paul describes a spiritual law of getting to where God wants you to be, via the path of humility. As we read the second chapter of Philippians today, let’s finish this together: “What goes down….”