New Life Community Church, Atwater, CA

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.

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#6) “The Faith And Action Connection” James 2:14-26

Surveys show that most people in America say they have faith, yet a quick check of the news would make you wonder how that can be. Here at the heart of his letter, James challenges his readers to consider what they believe and how they can respond/live because of it. Today we’ll explore some practical ways our faith should alter how we behave.

Sermon: A Faith That Works (#5) “And Justice For All” James 2:1-13

The challenge to be “doers and not merely hearers” of the word is most severely challenged in the way we see/treat those around us. Having received God’s grace, it is still natural to be selective in the way we extend that grace to others, but we are invited to “do” better.

Sermon: A Faith that Works (#4) Getting It Right, Doing It Right James 1:19-27

Toward the end of the first chapter, James notes that a faith that works will produce some very practical results. We are invited to see that true faith is not just a matter of what we think but will also be revealed in what we do. Similar to the old WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) movement, James instructs us to “do” what the Word of God says, and live in a way that reflects this true “faith”.