New Life Community Church, Atwater, CA

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Sermon-”That’s Hilarious! (the joy of giving)”

The desire for the “happier life” is often limited by what we feel we are missing or what we fear we won’t have. We are so thankful for what God has provided. We say we trust Him because He is always faithful. Yet there remains an uneasiness that I won’t have enough. This makes financial giving hard, and yet the Bible invites us to give “cheerfully”. How can we actually do this and what happens when we do?

”The Believers’ Guide to a Happier Life” (part 6) Philippians 4:10-13 Sermon-”Enough Already!”

We desire the “happier life”, but there seems to always be something missing. No matter how much one might have (or how little), the ‘mirage of more’ always steals away our sense of contentment. Today’s Super Bowl broadcast will showcase some clever advertisements and all of them will try to convince you that you’ll be happier if you buy their product, but will you? Bombarded, how can we find the proper balance through it to a path of happiness?

”The Believers’ Guide to a Happier Life” (part 5) Ephesians 4:26-28 & 31-32 Sermon-”Free at Last!”

For many, our path to a ’happier life’ is littered
with traps from the past. It’s easy to get angry,
and then to become bitter if we allow the past to
stick with us. Today we explore how the Bible
guides us beyond clinging to resentments and into
a transformed life through the amazing grace of
God.

”The Believers’ Guide to a Happier Life” (part 4) Matthew 11:28-29 Sermon-”Running on Empty?”

“Exhausted”, “weary”, “worn out”, “empty”- such are the words that often describe our day-to-day lives. Whether we are physically fatigued or emotionally exhausted (or some combination of both) many constantly feel they are always behind without enough time (or energy) to ever catch up.  Life is intended to be more than weariness.

Perhaps more “rest” is the key to “restoration”, and that is what Jesus offers.

”The Believers’ Guide to a Happier Life” (part 3) Luke 10:25-27 Sermon-”No Man is an Island”

One of the tragic effects of the pandemic of recent years was the heightened sense of isolation.

But the pandemic didn’t create loneliness (for it has been the cultural trend for much of this last generation) and the pandemics conclusion does not by itself fix the problem. There is a deep part of our humanness that requires interaction with others and yet we are prone to pull away. The path to being happier may be found within the community that the Body of Christ is intended to be for us.

”The Believers’ Guide to a Happier Life” (part 2) Philippians 3:10-14 Sermon-”No Regrets”

We love starting a New Year and the fresh start it offers. Unfortunately, we often feel that struggles of the past just follow us into the “New”.  The Bible teaches us to keep our heads up and our eyes forward, but also what to do with the past that sticks with us.

”The Believers’ Guide to a Happier Life” (part 1) Matthew 6:25-34 Sermon-”Breaking the Worry Cycle”

Starting the New Year is filled with hope, but also a good bit of uncertainty of what lies ahead. Anxiousness and worry flourish in uncertain times, and as they grow, our lives do not flourish. A happier life awaits us if we could somehow worry less, but how?

“Keeping Christmas All the Year Through” Luke2:22—35

For all the build-up of getting ready for Christmas, we are often quick to move on to the next thing. True, our celebration of Christmas falls on a singular day, yet the power of Christmas is intended to encompass every day of our lives.

Today we’ll note that in the Gospel, Luke doesn’t rush off the Christmas event but pauses to introduce us to two often overlooked characters, Simeon and Anna, who will help us approach the uncertainty of the New Year.

Advent Series: Making Room (Part 5) “The Most Amazing Gift” Matthew 1:20—25

The waiting is over, Christmas has arrived! Part of the excitement of Christmas is the gifts that have been awaiting us beneath the tree are now unwrapped in all their glory. Gifts are part of our Christmas experience, and not just those we have/will unwrap from under the tree.

Christmas is about the most amazing gift ever given; the gift God wrapped up for each of us. Today we’ll consider the gift and consider how to make it our own.

Advent Series: “Making Room (part 4)” LOVE Matthew 1:18-24

With Christmas nearly upon us and Advent nearly complete, we continue to prepare our hearts. It is a busy time, a full time, sometimes a chaotic time, but what is the core reality we seek? It is about God’s love; His love for us and His love through us for those around us. This week we look at his gift to us, and the way we play our part in the love of Christmas.