New Life Community Church, Atwater, CA

Sermon: “And Finally, Look Around” James 5:19-20

James concludes his letter with a very practical call to action: “look around and restore those who have wandered.” At times, we all experience degrees of spiritual drift, and some to the point of walking away. We are called to be a place of restoration.

Sermon: Never Forget! Psalm 25

The world changed on the morning of September 11, 2001. In the wake of what is still the deadliest terrorist attack in history, the nation pulled together and pledged to “Never Forget”. But what are we to remember? As a nation, our sense of security was shaken and that normalcy has not fully returned. Where do we turn when we are insecure? The Bible clearly addresses this new reality we live in.

Sermon: A Faith that Works (#12) Effective Prayer James 5:13-18

Prayer is not rocket science, but for some reason most of us struggle, feeling we don’t pray well. That would be OK if prayer wasn’t a vital piece of our spiritual lives, but it is. Wrapping up his letter on how to develop a faith that works, James concludes not with a guilt-trip, but with the invitation to experience more of what God has for us through prayer.

Sermon: Raising Up and Letting Go Mark 10:16

“And Jesus took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”

•  Love Them
• Prepare Them
• Pray for Them

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#11) How to Hold On James 5:7-11

No one likes the “waiting game”, yet much of our life is spent waiting. Waiting on hold, waiting in line, waiting for God to answer... Yet here in the final chapter of James we are invited to take hold of the key to surviving and thriving in our faith: Patience.

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#10) What About Tomorrow? James 4:13-17

It’s beyond obvious that the choices we make today will affect our tomorrow. But it’s also true that what we think about tomorrow will affect how we live today. It is easy to miss out on the present because we are consumed with getting ready for the future. James gives us advice on how to live well, fully aware that time is not something we can control.

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#9) Can’t we all just get along? James 4:1-12

All humans yearn for relationships, yet in our relationships conflict seems to be inevitable. Today looking at chapter 4 (of the book of James) we’ll explore why conflict is so prevalent, where it comes from and how can we better navigate the key relationships in our lives.

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#8) “The Wise and the Otherwise” James 3:13-18

It is easy to get lost when you are in unfamiliar surroundings. Life can be confusing and difficult, and yet there are times we compound the difficulty by the choices we make. Sure, at the time it seemed like the thing to do, but is/was it the right path? James chapter 4 continues by pointing to a path for those who wish to break free of the self-inflicted troubles we endure.

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#7) “Watch Your Mouth!” James 3:1-12

Words are powerful and how we choose to use them reveals a lot about how deeply our faith is taking root. We’ve all been wounded by the words of others, and we’ve all spoken words we wish we could take back. Today we look at this universal challenge and some practical steps to live out of a faith that works.

Alise & Mark Juanes

ALISE and MARK serve at the House of Love and the House of Blessing in Chiang Mai, Thailand. These ministries were established by IM missionary Kim Brown to serve tribal women and children coping with problems caused by HIV/AIDS, disabilities, and migration from their rural villages to urban settings. Working through longtime IM partners, Integrated Ministries for the Ethnic Minorities Foundation and the Thailand Karen Baptist Convention, Alise and Mark’s ministry focuses on the discipleship and spiritual development of children and staff, administrative responsibilities, and community development.