Podcast by nbccpodcast
This is the opening message in NBCC's new series, Armor Up! Pastor Hurmon challenges us to rethink who our real enemy actually is — reminding us that our greatest battles aren't ultimately against people, but against the spiritual forces working to pull us from God's purpose. Drawing from Ephesians 6, he unpacks how God has equipped believers with His armor so we can stand firm in His truth and walk in victory, whatever we're facing. If you've ever fought a battle that left you exhausted and confused about who — or what — you were really up against, this message will change the way you see every struggle in your life.
In this message, we interrogate who God is forming us to become, especially through seasons of waiting.Through our lives, God is forming us to become like Jesus. God forms us through prayer, scripture and community, expanding our capacity to love deeply and endure faithfully. The process of becoming involves waiting. It is our internal spiritual capacity to endure faithfully when we go through hard times. God does not abandon us when we are waiting, He uses waiting to form us. In seasons of waiting that can stretch years, we should ask ourselves: “What is God teaching me while I wait?”. Waiting is where God forms us into the people we're becoming. Stop trying to control timing and let God work on you in the waiting season!
In this message, Paster George Hinman discusses two stories within Mark 6: the story of Herod's banquet, and Jesus feeding the 5,000. He then illustrates how the two stories inform us about different ways we might approach our encounters with God's sovereignty in our lives. We often find ourselves in the halls of Herod, where everything is comfortable and we appear to have everything we need. However, the halls of Herod can be deceptive. While we are offered a relationship with God, we may find ourselves putting limits on God and operating from a relationship with fear, which interferes with our ability to trust God, and ultimately leads to disappointment. When we are in the halls of Herod, we must fast and deny ourselves, and follow God's will and plan for us. On the other hand, when we follow God, rather than attempting to dictate our relationship, it may at first feel as though we are in what appears to be a deserted land. However, God responds to his followers with compassion, provides community, and provides delight and provision in what at first felt like a crisis. When we find ourselves in the wilderness with Jesus, we must remember to rejoice and remember our true identity, as ransomed and reconciled to Him.
In this message, we are reminded that the Jesus Way is not simply something we practice, it is the way in which we become more like Jesus. Part of that is engaging with people at the level of their story, practising empathy and kindness and demonstrating life-changing generosity. Jesus' love is agape love, the highest form of love. Agape love is what we DO, not just what we say. Jesus loves us through people. We are also called to love others. Sometimes we have learnt to love from wounded people, so we have to unlearn false presentations of love and learn real love. Let us DO the same this week: demonstrate agape love and do life together the Jesus Way.
In this message, we celebrate fathers and look at how a generous heart is one of the greatest gifts a father can give his children. We look at the life of King David, who refused a free threshing floor and insisted on paying full price for his altar, declaring he would not offer God something that cost him nothing. Life-changing generosity happens when we give at a level that actually changes our hearts. Generosity is the truest expression of agape love — other-centered, self-sacrificing, unconditional, and redemptive. It begins with an open heart that takes responsibility without excuses, and grows into an open hand that prioritizes God first in our finances, our relationships, and our time and talent. Fathers teach their children about love by what they sacrifice. As we practice this kind of generosity, healing and transformation follow — for our families, our community, and our own hearts.
In this message, we celebrate graduates for enduring taking on new challenges to make it to graduation. We look at the life of Joseph to see how to acknowledge God through all transitions, joyous to difficult. Irrespective of the situation, God's presence goes with us through the difficult times (the pit) and the good times (the palace). We go through ups and downs in life, often unable to see the bigger pictures. Remember that God's plan is bigger than you. Hardship that Joseph experienced early in life led him on a path enabling him to provide for his family later in life. God is with us in the pit, the prison and the palace, even when we don't know why we are going through things and what will come out of it. Joseph had a strong foundation of faith and that faith allowed him to acknowledge God in all circumstances. When things are hard, it changes our attitude towards life and people. Acknowledging God helps us to live out The Jesus Way. What are we experiencing that we can say “But God!” about today?
This message reminds us of Jesus' radical forgiveness, and how it restores our relationship with God and others. Using the life of Jesus and real-life examples, we learn how forgiveness is more than just letting go of pain. It also involves reframing memories, hearing the stories of others, restoring the humanity of people who caused us pain, bringing our questions to God with honesty, and remembering that God has been through everything that we experience, and that he has not abandoned us.
In this week's message, Reverend Liz Walker shares a compassionate and encouraging word for all those dealing with feelings of being overwhelmed during these anxious times. Between a global pandemic, political division, and the everyday weight of fear, grief, and shame, many of us are quietly struggling — and most of us aren't talking about it. Drawing from John 20, Reverend Walker reminds us that even the disciples found themselves locked behind closed doors, paralyzed by fear and forgetting who they were. But Jesus walked in anyway, met them right where they were, and breathed peace into the room. That same peace is available to us today — not by pretending everything is fine, but by learning to slow down, breathe, and listen with our hearts. Catching our breath, she teaches, is where healing begins.
In this message, we are encouraged to walk out in courageous integrity. Courageous integrity is critiquing your own tribe and holding them accountable, while actively looking for what is good, admirable, or true in those you disagree with. The reason why all of us struggle with integrity is that we need something that provides us with structure and allows us to feel good about our lives. The structure comes from the load-bearing beam or spec in our eyes. What are the load bearing beams that hold up your identity? Our load makes us fragmented in our lives. We are one way in our family life and a different way in our online life. This lacks integrity: being our whole, best self in every part of our life. The good news is that God can grow our integrity. Practice spending time in God's presence, persevering on the maintenance of our integrity, and directly praying to God for strength to increase and maintain our integrity.
In this week's message, Pastor Hurmon continues our focus on the practices that help us live in the Jesus Way, breaking the power of labels by teaching us to see ourselves and others through grace, truth, story, and redemption. Inspired by the surprising biblical story of Mary Magdalene, we are asked to reflect on our own experience of the shameful labels that have affected our lives — and to remember that through Jesus' saving grace and love, those labels do not get the final word. The broken become restored, the unlovable become loved, the ashamed become forgiven, the invisible become seen, the rejected become chosen, and the failure becomes redeemed. When we practice seeing others the way Jesus sees them, we open the door for real transformation — in them, and in ourselves.
In this message, we discuss the power of kindness in a world where being mean and retributive is becoming normalized and celebrated. In a world that increasingly sees kindness as weak, we see kindness shown through patience and radical forgiveness to others as a way to show strength. Kindness is something that we extend to those who are easy to love, but also to those who are difficult to love. In addition, we are called to show kindness through radical forgiveness and patience. When we engage people at the level of story, we practice the power of kindness and show the love of God. We take the time to know, love and value others, and we search for ways to practice it in our lives, living our own lives after the example Jesus showed of being a counterpoint to the darkness of his day.
In this message, we cover being a Jesus first church doing life together the Jesus Way, practicing agape love across our differences, beginning with the people closest to us. The journey of loving more deeply across our differences begins with listening and sharing our stories. If we can start by listening and sharing stories, we can harness the power that God gave us to redeem and repair broken relationships in our lives. Our lives are a composite of stories. They carry our dreams and nightmares, traumas and wounds and our failures and triumphs. God never loses sight of our stories. Let us practice the Jesus way by loving through listening and sharing our stories!
In a divided world, love is the most powerful force in the universe — and Jesus shows us exactly how to wield it. What if the way we love others started with how well we listen? In this message, Pastor Hurmon shows us how Jesus engaged people with compassion, intention, and truth — and invites us to do the same. As NBCC launches Jesus Way Groups, we discover that the journey of loving across our differences begins not with having the right answers, but with asking the right questions and truly hearing one another's stories. The shift is simple but profound: from arguments to listening, from opinions to understanding, from talking to loving. Whether you sign up to facilitate, join a group, or invite someone to come with you, choosing the Jesus Way starts with choosing to listen first.
In this message, we are called to love one another as a “Jesus First” church. This means our highest loyalty is to His command to love, rising above our political parties and cultural tribes. We can do this by engaging in both personal and interpersonal practices. Personally, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we develop the capacity to love, the character to endure, and the spiritual "muscle" to follow Jesus. Interpersonally, we treat the neighbor, the stranger, and the enemy with the love we have cultivated personally. Love actually "works”: it is effective, it heals, and it changes things where politics and coercion fail. But love is also "work”: it requires the interpersonal practices of the Jesus Way. Who will we choose to love at NBCC?
This message centers on Pilate's question—“Which Jesus do you want?”—challenging us to examine the versions of Jesus we often create to fit our own desires, whether for power, success, comfort, or control. It reveals how, like the crowd, we can be influenced by self-interest and distorted faith, yet reminds us of the stunning truth: Jesus took our place in a great exchange of love, dying for us while we were still sinners and rising again so we could live transformed. In response, we're invited to trust the real Jesus, receive His sacrificial love, and follow His way by choosing to love others beyond every divide.
Pastor Hurmon brings together the heart of everything we've been practicing these past 40 days — Sabbath, solitude, prayer, fasting, and scripture — with two powerful callings that complete the journey: community and witness. Using the simple yet profound invitation "Come and see for yourself," Pastor Hurmon reminds us that growing closer to Jesus isn't a solo journey. It happens in faithful, grace-filled communities where our stories — the messy, broken, and redeemed parts — are heard, honored, and woven into something greater. Whether you're a longtime follower or someone quietly asking "Who is Jesus, really?", this message is for you. Come and see for yourself.
In this 4th message of our “Becoming” series, Pastor Hurmon helps us to deepen our understanding of the spiritual practice of fasting. This sermon explores how abstaining from food helps us to offer ourselves more fully to God. When we experience a deep hunger, we sharpen our spiritual discernment, increase our compassion, and create new space for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Whether you are seeking a deeper connection with Jesus or looking for a way to intensify your prayers with greater impact, this message offers powerful steps to increase your engagement with God and his rewards.
This message focusses on the practice of prayer in our lives. Prayer was a vital path of Jesus' earthly life, demonstrating how we can navigate the most difficult moments of our lives. Prayer is possible because God is relational. Sometimes, we struggle to pray because we don't believe it will make a difference, we don't feel worthy, or we don't slow down long enough. But our prayers are always answered with either a yes, no, or wait. Always, but especially when we are stuck, we should ask God what to pray for. After listening, we can ask for help, give thanks, or open our eyes to the wonder of God so our hearts don't grow numb. Consider taking 15 minutes to pray each day during this fasting season!
God's Answer For My Exhaustion by NBCC Podcast
In this fourth message in the Faith@Work series, we use the story of Jesus' encounter with Zaccheus the tax collector to discuss God's radical acceptance for us and how that story models our call to be radically accepting of others. Following Jesus' example, the first step in radical acceptance is to understand that we are called to reach out to those who are flawed, and who may even find themselves unworthy of connection with God and others. In some cases, the first step is to see that, even in our flaws, we recognize our need for a relationship with God, and His calling on our lives. Our second step is to be with those people where they are, and our third step is to model what a better path forward might be. This calling models our own faith journeys: we are sinners, saved by God's grace, and not by our own works. However, our calling does not end with our salvation. We are influenced by that same grace to follow God's plan and to influence others on the same journey.
In this message, we are reminded that God always sees us, even when we struggle to see how He is constantly working in our lives. We all desire to be seen, heard and valued no matter what. We often forget that God sees us before we can even see What we receive from God becomes what we practice with others. Paying Attention to the words, feelings, and experiences of others is an act of LOVE. Let us follow Jesus' example and practice seeing others by noticing the invisible in others, stopping to engage with them and being a blessing to them through presence, encouragement, prayer, and help. Who can you practice seeing this week?
In this powerful MLK weekend message, Pastor Herman connects the biblical story of Gideon with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, revealing how faith operates courageously in frightening times. Through Scripture and personal testimony, we explore three essential practices: being honest about our fears, being honest about our doubts, and practicing courageous integrity—being willing to look inward at our selves and our community, while also being able to celebrate the good in those we disagree with. Just as God used ordinary, oppressed people in the civil rights movement to change the world, He declares to each of us: "I'm sending you" to be agents of hope and healing in our spheres of influence.
In this message, Elder Jonathan Thomas reminded that trials are a part of our life and walk with the Lord. They are real and come in many shapes and forms, but they are also temporary. When going through trials, we must remember that they are necessary in shaping our faith, deepening our relationship with God. Going through trials reminds us that we have a living hope and that we have community, which means that we don't have to go through trials ourselves. We should also remember that God has given each of us grace to support members of our community going through trials. Reach out to your community and share your grace that is compatible with their trials during this period.
Join Pastor Hurmon Hamilton for this powerful Christmas message that explores what it truly means to live with peace—not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of God's shalom in every aspect of our lives. Through the story of King Herod's disturbing response to the birth of Jesus, Pastor Hamilton challenges us to examine whether we are "peace disruptors" or people who bring peace to our homes, workplaces, and communities. Learn the transformative prayer: "Come Jesus, come. Heal me where I'm broken. Increase your peace in me." This isn't just a message about personal comfort—it's a call to justice, compassion, and representing Christ in a world that desperately needs His shalom. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, dealing with difficult relationships, or seeking to understand how Christmas speaks to today's challenges, watch now and discover how to live with God's peace flowing through you to others.
Aim Your Life At What Matters Most by NBCC Podcast
Whether you're overflowing with gratitude or yearning to discover it, Pastor Hurmon Hamilton's "Forever ThankFULL" offers a transformative perspective on living with lasting thanksgiving. This final message in our "Crazy Gratitude" series, we explore what it means to be "Great Full"—discovering a type of gratitude that sustains you through both joyful and challenging seasons, shaping how you speak, connect with something greater than yourself, and reflect hope to the world. Join us to find encouragement that meets you exactly where you are and invites you into a life marked by enduring gratitude.
In this message, we are reminded to maintain our Crazy Gratitude and ensure it is God-centered gratitude. With God-centred gratitude we live with the awareness that all of life is a gift from God and filled with the grace of God. Maintaining a spirit of gratitude is difficult, but when gratitude disappears from our daily life, entitlement moves in. We should declare that we trust God even when we don't like or understand our circumstances. Let us practice God-centered gratitude by continuing our gratitude journal this week!
In this message, we are reminded that life is a gift of God's grace, so we should look at life through a lens of gratitude. Gratitude is a mindset, heart posture and worldview. We are encouraged to have crazy gratitude, being thankful for grace so deeply and consistently that it transforms how we see, think, and live. Crazy gratitude allows us to dance when life is painful, remember and celebrate God's goodness and never stop praying. Let us renew our joy by practicing gratitude! Write down three things you are grateful for each day for the next 30 days.
Through the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Pastor Valerie Webb reminds us about how a relationship with God can allow us to survive hard times. We are all made for worship, and who we worship has an effect on how we experience life. When we worship God, we know that God is able to deliver, and is our shield and safe place, something that we cannot create for ourselves. The God we worship is worthy of our trust, and walks with us in the fire. Through trusting God when we are delivered, and when it feels like we aren't, we are able to find peace in even the hard times.
Go With The Strength You Have by NBCC Podcast
In a world filled with uncertainty and searching hearts, Pastor Hurmon Hamilton delivers a powerful message about the most life-changing decision you can make—discovering the unconditional love found only in Jesus Christ. This sermon reveals three revolutionary truths that set Christianity apart: God comes looking for you (rather than you searching for Him), God sacrifices first (demonstrating His love through Jesus' death on Calvary before you even know Him), and God measures down to meet you (becoming flesh to understand and heal your deepest wounds). Through compelling illustrations including the movie "Good Will Hunting," Pastor Hamilton shows how Jesus becomes our "secure attachment"—the source of real, eternal love that heals us from the inside out and transforms us through grace, not perfection. This message offers hope for anyone struggling with feelings of being unloved, questioning what makes Christianity different, or ready to experience the healing power of God's unconditional love.
In this last message of the “Be a Blessing” message series, we are reminded that after blessing us, Jesus wants to make us a blessing by blessing others through us. We can do this by being a friend to others, showing empathy and curiosity to others, and sharing our Jesus story. Whichever circumstance we are in, our purpose is to serve God by being a blessing to others. When we focus on this mindset, God will make us an instrument right where we are. We always have the possibility to be a blessing in our church. Remember that what God has called us to do, we can only accomplish together. Consider being a blessing to the church community by signing up to serve.
In this final message of the "Be a Blessing" series, Pastor Hurmon sums up what we have learned over the past few weeks about receiving and being blessings in the acronym B.L.E.S.S. (B) - Begin with prayer. Pray each day "Lord Make me a Blessing." (L) - Listen with Love. We must listen to God's calling on our lives and listen to other people around us by slowing down, giving others our full attention, reflecting what we hear back and asking clarifying questions. (E) - Encourage with kindness. The act of kindness that comes with encouragement is a real-life superpower. It means doing what we can with what we have, where we are, showing gratitude to those who serve us, acknowleding the work of others with our words and our presence, and seeing and engaging with those who feel unseen. (S) - Serve with generosity. The blessings that come to us are meant to flow through us. Generosity is the ability to see a need and act without conditions. In order to be generous, we look for practical ways to meet others' needs. (S) - Share your story to give hope. Finally, we should share the stories of our blessings to give to others hope. We practice sharing our stories with Christians, and we become comfortable sharing with others who do not know Jesus to give encouragement to them and us.
In this powerful message from our Be A Blessing series, Pastor Ja'Mell Agustin reminds us that God invites us to be a blessing to others through faith in action, just as Paul and Silas demonstrated through their prayers and praise even in their darkest moments. Whether through prayer, acts of service, or words of encouragement, our faithful response to God's call can create ripples of blessing that impact lives for eternity. The time to act on your faith is now - don't wait to seize the opportunities God places before you to care for others and share His love, as even small acts of faithfulness can lead to profound spiritual transformation. This message will inspire you to trust God and step into His promises that offer saving grace to all who believe.
In this message, we are reminded that we are not called just to receive blessings, we are called to be a blessing. Jesus calls us to carry light, not despair. We are told to be light carriers by practising the Jesus Way. This includes critiquing our own tribe, celebrating each other, practising empathy and lamenting together. It's okay to acknowledge feelings of fear, powerlessness, and grief. After you have acknowledged your feelings, reorient yourself. Remember that no follower of Jesus is hopeless or powerless. Ask God to make you a blessing to others every day this week!
In this final message of the ‘What's In A Name?' series, we learn about El Gibbor: The MIghty One who fights for us and Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace. God's strength is divine and He steps into our physical, emotional and spiritual battles. We don't have to fight alone, the mighty God that we have fights for us and with us. God's peace for us does not depend on our circumstances. That peace comes from us knowing that he is with us. We need to trust His power and walk in courage. Once we do, we'll have peace in our hearts. Remember to trust in God's power this week and feel the peace of God in your heart!
In this second message of our new series, "What's in a Name?", Associate Pastor Ezemdi Chikwendu shares how God reveals Himself as El Roi (the God who sees) and El Shaddai (God Almighty) through His faithful care for both the prominent and marginalized figures in Scripture. We hear that He intimately knows and provides for all His children. Through the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, we see how God's covenant promises extend across generations, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ and including all who put their faith in Him. Just as Pastor Ezemdi experienced God's sovereign guidance and provision in his own journey, God invites each of us today to trust Him as our Lord, knowing that He sees us, understands our struggles, and stands ready to show Himself mighty on our behalf.
In this message, we kick off the “What's In a Name” series, looking at Yahweh (I Am) and Jehovah Jireh (God will provide). There is depth, meaning and power in a name and that is no different with God. Throughout scripture, God is revealed through names that reflect His heart, power and care for us. Yahweh delivered His people from slavery and oppression. That is who he was, is and is to come. Yahweh hears your cries and sees your suffering. Call on Yahweh and he will act. God is a provider, and comes through for us in many life situations. God sees you, he hears your cry and has provided a way for us to be with Him. Reach out to God and He will provide!
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