New Life Community Church, Atwater, CA

New Series: Joseph– Braving the ups and downs of Life #2 Genesis 37

NThe story of Joseph begins with dysfunctional family dynamics that set the stage for hurt feelings & deep divisions resulting in the devastation of the family torn apart & many lives turned upside down. Far from perfect role models, Jacob’s family (and Joseph himself) get off to a rocky start. Is there hope when feelings are hurt?  What can we do when bitterness takes root in us?

New Series: Joseph– Braving the ups and downs of Life #1 Genesis 50:15-21

The Bible characters revealed in the Book of Genesis are not super-heroes conquering stress-free lives. Rather, the characters are surprisingly flawed and deal with challenges that are very relatable. Joseph, the last of the main characters in the Book of Genesis, is no different.  His life is a roller coaster of ups and downs, of twists and turns, filled with brilliant successes but also devastating losses. Let’s explore together this story of past faithfulness to discover the help required to brave the ups and downs of life.

Going for Gold #2 Getting Past the Past Philippians 3:13-14

The Olympic games have entertained and inspired many of us these past weeks; be it the pageantry of the world’s best coming together, the drama of competition, or just the amazing level of skill/talent/dedication on display. But what if the challenges had been too great, or the obstacles too difficult? On numerous occasions the Apostle Paul used lessons from the field of athletics to convey spiritual truths to be applied to our lives. Today we consider His invitation to overcome the hurts of our past to pursue God’s best for us today.

Walking the Talk: Examining Your Faith Matthew 7:21-27

Today we will explore Matthew 7:21-27, reflecting on the importance of examining our walk with Christ. Discover how building our lives on His teachings leads to a strong, unshakable foundation.

New Series: “Going for Gold” #1 “Living to Win” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

On numerous occasions the Apostle Paul used lessons from the field of athletics to convey spiritual truths to be applied to our lives. As the world pauses to celebrate the best in the world of sports in the coming weeks, we’ll pause to discover how we too are invited to raise our game, to understand what is the prize worth striving for and to go for gold in life!

Summer-time Series: “The Bible Doesn’t Say That!” (part 7 of 7) The Higher Ways Isaiah 55:8-9

The Bible is filled with amazing truths to help guide our lives. We also often hear phrases that we think are from the Bible, but in fact are not and they may or may not pass the “truth-test”. Today we conclude the series & look at the phrase “God moves in mysterious ways”. Again, this saying is not in the Bible, but is it true?

Summer-time Series: “The Bible Doesn’t Say That!” (part 6 of 7) Are All Things Possible? Matthew 19:23-26

The Bible is filled with amazing truths to help guide our lives. We also often hear phrases that we think are from the Bible, but in fact are not and they may or may not pass the “truth-test”. Today we look at the phrase “All things are possible for those who believe”. While it is close to what the Bible says, without the context surrounding the phrase, it can lead to a serious misunderstanding. It is important to know where to look when we are confronted by an impossible situation.

Summer-time Series: Forgetfulness vs Forgiveness (part 5 of 6) Ephesians 4:32

The Bible is filled with amazing truths to help guide our lives. We also often hear phrases that we think are from the Bible, but in fact are not and they may or may not pass the “truth-test”. Today we look at the phrase “Forgive and Forget”. While we may be forgetful from time to time, the wounds and hurts from past events seem cemented in our memory. The Biblical remedy is to forgive, not forget, which may be the more challenging (but essential) path.

Summer-time Series: “The Bible Doesn’t Say That!” (part 4 of 6) 2 Corinthians 1:8-11a

The Bible is filled with amazing truths to help guide our lives. But there are also common phrases that masquerade as Biblical truths that can run counter to God’s truth and confuse us as believers. During this series we’ll explore several common phrases which are often mistaken for being Biblical truths. Today we look at the phrase, “God will never give you more than you can handle” and ask what can we do when life is too much to handle?

New Summer-time Series: “The Bible Doesn’t Say That!” (part 3 of 6) 1 Timothy 6:6-10

The Bible is filled with amazing truths to help guide our lives. But there are also common phrases that masquerade as Biblical truths that can run counter to God’s truth and confuse us as believers. During this series we’ll explore several common phrases which are often mistaken for being Biblical truths. Today we look at the phrase “Money is the root of all evil”. With a small twist on what the Bible actually says, this “verse” leads to a completely false view of money and the Bible. What is a more Biblical view of money (and evil)?