New City Fellowship Sermons

Celebrating all that God has done in and through New City for the last 10 years.  

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Today Pastor John and the Togo Mission Team will share with us how they shared and experienced this light in Togo.

Thanks to guest speaker Pastor Mike Veitz as he explores John 13:33-14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as 'the way, the truth, and the life.' We're reminded that our ultimate destination is not just a place, but a person - Jesus Christ. The passage invites us to consider what true paradise means, not as a physical location, but as eternal communion with God. We're challenged to examine our hearts: do we eagerly await this heavenly reality, or are we too attached to worldly pleasures? The message encourages us to refocus on Christ, understanding that He is not merely showing us the way, but He is the way. This truth calls us to make a decision about who Jesus is in our lives - not just a good teacher, but Lord and Savior.

I am the Good Shepherd, John 10 Can something be both brutal and beautiful at the same time? Is it possible for something to be gruesome...and good? When Jesus says "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep", he is saying exactly that. Expect to be encouraged as Pastor John unpacks John 10. You'll hear about a skydiving incident that went haywire, the intimacy we have with Jesus, and why our political candidates aren't our greatest hope.

Do-It-Yourself John 10:1-10   Have you ever done a DIY (do-it-yourself) project? How did it go? The problem with DIY projects is that you don't know you did it wrong until it's done wrong. And even worse, we have no one to blame but ourselves, because we did it ourselves.   While we can laugh at some of our home project disasters, maybe we should think more deeply about how DIY translates into other areas of our lives, like spirituality. Are there any parallels?   Over the next two weeks, we'll explore Jesus' statement in John 10 where he compares us spiritually to sheep. If we can humble ourselves to realize we can't do-it-ourselves, we will find a spirituality in Jesus that can handle all our flaws and idiosyncrasies.

When It Doesn't Go How It's Supposed To Go John 11 Life doesn't stick to the plan, does it? When Jesus tells his dear friend, Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life", it is in a moment where things are not going how they were supposed to go. Her brother just died, and she had warned Jesus it was going to happen. But Jesus' "lateness" to the death shows that life isn't really about things going how they're supposed to go. Rather,when life doesn't go how it's supposed to go, we can face life (and death) with certain hope.

Ephesians 3:1-13 In a world fraught with division and fear, we're reminded of God's grand plan for unity through the gospel. Ephesians 3:1-13 reveals the 'mystery' of God's intention to create a new tribe, transcending cultural and ethnic boundaries. This new family in Christ isn't just about individual salvation, but about forming a community where former enemies become brothers and sisters. We're challenged to look beyond our comfort zones and tribal instincts, recognizing that our greatest commonality is our need for God's grace. As we embrace this gospel-made tribe, we become living testimonies to God's wisdom and greatness, showing the world and even the spiritual realm the power of reconciliation through Christ.

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again."   If you really reflect on this statement, its at least a little awkward. It could even seem arrogant.   No customer who has ever come to our business leaves dissatisfied. No woman who goes on a date with me ever wishes she didn't. No fan that comes to see our sports team play ever wishes they didn't.   I mean, its bold, right? Yet, Jesus says it...that he can satisfy our hunger.

In John 15:1-17, we encounter Jesus' powerful metaphor of the vine and branches, emphasizing our need to remain connected to Him. This passage reminds us that our true identity isn't found in our accomplishments, others' approval, or even our relationships, but in being chosen and loved by Jesus. Despite our unworthiness, He calls us friends and invites us into an intimate relationship. Our role is to abide in Him daily through prayer and Scripture, allowing His love to flow through us and produce fruit. This fruit is primarily characterized by sacrificial love for others, mirroring Christ's love for us. As we reflect on this teaching, we're challenged to make Jesus our first priority and to let His love transform our interactions with others.

Guest Pastor Jimmy Dodd explores the power of community, perseverance, and faith as exemplified in the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We learn that no task is too menial when it is done in service to God, and that opposition does not necessarily mean we are outside of God's will. Ultimately, we are reminded of the extravagant grace and unconditional love God has for us, despite our flaws and mistakes.

John 2:1-11 What can we learn about prayer from Jesus' first miracle of turning the water into wine? Pastor Craig Brown will be talking about drawing closer to Jesus through prayer.

Luke 12:13-34   Da-duh. Da-duh. Do you know those terrifying musical notes from Jaws? What makes sharks so scary is that we can't see them and don't know where they are.    It is kind of like life's problems. We know they're out there, but we hope they don't find us! Thinking about this can bring worry and anxiety.    How do we live a life of faith instead of living in fear of the sharks of life finding us? Pastor John will explore Jesus' comforting words to His disciples in Luke 12.

Luke 9:23-27 & 57-62 Following Jesus is beautiful and breathtaking, but it can also be grueling and tiresome. Weary travelers on the path of Jesus may secretly admit to wanting to quit or forge an easier path. But Jesus reminds us that the path IS hard. His path to us involved Him carrying a cross, and our path in following Him involves a cross as well. But as we relearn Jesus' reasoning, we find fresh motivation to continue on the path. In this sermon, you'll hear why loss is gain, how to reprioritize family around Jesus, and what made Pastor John almost quit a hiking trip.

Acts 2:1-13 Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, but what would that mean for the early church and what does it mean today? New City member/Chaplain Chris Curtis will bring our message this Pentecost Sunday. 

Many moms, women (and people in general) wonder if they matter, and if showing up every day matters. Pastor John will open up an often skipped over passage (Luke 8:1-3) to explore how, even when women feel stretched, feeling small, or insignificant, they matter. 

Don't be like Judas. Don't betray Jesus! John 13:21-30   Simple enough. But if we think that is the only thing we can get out of Judas' betrayal of Jesus at the last supper, we'll miss an opportunity. The first opportunity we'll miss is to learn from the darkness in Judas. How did he get to the point where betraying Jesus made sense? We'll also miss the opportunity to see the light of Jesus' love for Judas, right up until the last moment.

John 14:1-7, Guest Speaker - Pastor Chan Kilgore As we navigate through the thicket of life's uncertainties, from job insecurities to the complexities of personal relationships, this conversation serves as a candid reflection on the universal quest for acceptance and justification. We share personal stories, including my family's own struggles with anxiety, and how embracing both faith and sometimes medication can be an act of grace. Discover how our intrinsic longing for belonging and validation can be fulfilled through the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.

Luke 18:9-14   What's the most common factor in marriages that dissolve? What's the acceptable, even justified, attitude to have towards your political opponents? What's so easy to see in other people, but tough to identify in yourself?   Contempt. Despising or looking down on something about others.   On Sunday, we'll explore the contours of contempt from Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.

The Office character, Ryan Howard, said, "I want guidance. I want leadership. But don't just, like, boss me around, you know? Like, lead me. Lead me…When I'm in the mood to be led.”   Do we ever approach Jesus the same way? Pastor John looks at Jesus' call to "follow me" from Peter and Matthew's experience in Luke 5.

Guest Preacher/New City Member Chris Curtis Today we will continue our sermon series Transformed by looking at the people Jesus encounters in Luke 5 and how experiencing forgiveness is transformative. How have you been forgiven? Our radical reaction to being forgiven of our sins is to join with Jesus' followers and glorify God.

"Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?" In January of this year, the X/Twitter account for Elmo checked in with his followers. Elmo wasn't ready for the hopeless responses. It turns out, no one was doing well. Is there hope in the hopelessness? Resurrection Sunday says "yes", there is incredible hope. It is a hope that has evidence, a hope that shows God isn't distant from the hopeless, and a hope that you can personalize.

On Good Friday at TY Park, we reflect on Jesus, the Sinless Sacrifice. You'll hear about "which one was not like the others" and how someone gave their life for John's dad.

Hosanna! Today is Palm Sunday. What a complicated moment the first palm sunday was. Jesus was celebrated with Hosanna's as he entered the city of Jerusalem sitting low on a donkey. By Friday the crowds would be yelling "crucify him" as he was cast out of the city and lifted high on a cross. We all suffer. Is it arbitrary or can we find purpose and hope in suffering? Jesus knew He would face suffering and death when he rode into Jerusalem. Through the lens of Jesus' suffering, we will explore that our suffering is not without meaning in God's grand design and that Jesus understands our pain.

In John 4, Jesus meets a woman who's life is a mess. She is a spiritual outsider who does everything she can to avoid dealing with her shame. But Jesus takes her to the bottom and meets her there with the kind of grace that transforms her life.

What's your agenda for Jesus? Like what do you want him to do for you? We all have things we pray about asking Him to work for us. But do you know that Jesus already has an agenda for Himself? He has a mission he is trying to accomplish. And his agenda is to involve you! Join us as we look at Jesus' agenda: Grace for you. Grace beyond you.  We will be in Luke 4:14-30.

What do a Pharisee and a prostitute have in common? Debt. Unpayable debt.   Robert Kent Hughes says: “If you are unable to pay, it does not matter how great the debt is…This doesn't mean that men and women cannot improve themselves or their character to some extent, but rather that they cannot wipe their status as debtors - sinners.”   Pastor John starts our new series "Transformed: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel" by opening Luke 7 and a very awkward social situation. You'll understand how seeing your sin, rather than minimizing it or maximizing other's sin, is a key to enjoying Jesus.

As we look back on our sermon series and the choices we want to make as a church, we can easily feel overwhelmed and “at capacity.” But stepping into choices of formation is more about being something than merely doing something. And when we examine our capacity to be full or energy and love, we realize that we don't have the resources in ourselves. But God…   This will be a special interactive sermon designed to help us reflect, pray and receive fresh encouragement on what we are called to this year as a church.     

We often achieve an identity in order to belong. But Christianity is completely different. 

We all want a church where we belong to people we bond with deeply. But is the church ONLY that? Or is the church called to not only bond and belong to one another, but blend across lines we wouldn't normally cross. Jesus is in the business of bringing people from all tribes, tongues and nations into one people in the church. In our polarized moment, are we living our lives on board with his vision? Or do we just want church to be with "our" people?

Love is... a feeling? our duty? something we fall in? A quote from the movie "Dan In Real Life" says, "..Love is an ability." That quote isn't far from how the Bible talks about love. Love is a SUPERNATURAL ability... In this fourth sermon in the series "Formed to Flourish", Pastor John talks about "love" the mark of the Christian.

Fewer and  fewer people are prioritizing "church". Many find fulfillment and meaning elsewhere and  say they just don't need church. Some find attending church inconvenient, or just get out of the rhythm of it. Some have experienced the mess that church can be, and just don't have the energy.    Those things are all real. The book of Hebrews was written to a group of people tempted to avoid the church gathering because of the persecution and loss of status it would bring. And even in the face of that very real hardship, the author of Hebrews encourages the people "Choose the Church Gathering". Don't let your reasons keep you from worshiping Jesus with the people of Jesus.   Join us as Pastor John explores the power, purpose and pledge of people choosing the church gathering.

What has the greatest weight in your life? We are all pulled to live our life towards something greater than ourselves that we think will bring the fullest life possible. Maybe that's a career, an identity or status, or an experience. Those things form us as we pursue them for a full life.   As followers of Jesus, we are called to give Jesus the greatest weight in our life. This is called 'worship'. Join us as we explore what it means to Choose to Worship Jesus in all areas of our lives.

What is bringing you joy?  Sometimes anxiety, a sense of duty, or being constantly distracted can crowd out Gospel joy in our lives. BUT...Jesus cares about joy, is coming after you with joy, and cares about YOUR joy. Gather with us as we start our new series FORMED TO FLOURISH: Choose the Path to Thrive.

Happy New Year! Can you believe it's 2024!? On the first Sunday of the year, Pastor John will recap 2023 and share the vision for New City in 2024.

Today we reflect on 2023 and stories of God's goodness and mercy throughout the year in lives of our congregants.

What does Christmas mean? Richard Beck says that the arrival of Jesus means we come finding ourselves already loved. What does this simple truth mean for us today?   "Incarnation" by Richard Beck I arrived to find myselfalready loved. A forgiveness preceding, exceeding my first crime and my last. A prior mercy, a predestined grace. Anticipating my shame a welcome offered, a healing before the pain. I had imagined it to be my task to close the distance between us, to cross the chasm, scale the height. My fault dictating my duty, though futile and impossible. But I looked up hearing the angels sing to find You already here.

Life is hard and circumstances constantly change. But yet the Bible tells us that you WILL rejoice! How can we have joy in the midst of hardship and uncertainty? Guest speaker Brad Schmidt unpacks John 16:16-24 and brings us the good news that we can have the perfect joy that Jesus offers. #advent #joy #rejoice #joyfulheart #christmas #jesus

Jesus promised the church to give us a supernatural peace that is radically different from what the world promises.  A lasting peace.  A complete peace.  A peace that goes beyond our understanding.  How do we get that kind of peace?    

What is hope? One author called it "wishing for adults". Is hope naivety about the darkness of the world? Or something much more powerful. Join Pastor John as he explores the hope of Advent. Due to technical difficulties, their is no video on this sermon and the sound quality is low. Our apologies.   #advent #hope #adventhope #john1 #sermon #christmastime

New City ministry partner Pastor Macklann Basse from Togo, West Africa preaching from Ephesians 5:15-20.

As the people of God return from exile to Jerusalem, then find they still have problems, they're still sinful & rebellious, and they're not really home. This week we conclude our series "Faith for Exiles" by exploring themes from Ezra and Nehemiah. We'll learn how faith for exiles means longing for something beyond this world for our ultimate hope.

Prayer, pride and plans. In Esther part 2, we learn the dramatic conclusion of the story, as well as learn how God operates behind the scenes for the benefit of his people. 

Do you know how many times God shows up in thet ten chapters of Esther? None. Zero. Not once. Because of this, many have wondered if the book of Esther even belongs in the Bible. But in age where God seems absence, the absence of God speaks volumes for how to walk through cultural exile in a broken world.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Is this verse a personal guarantee of God's blessing? Or is it a reminder of something greater when we don't see the blessing? Join us this Sunday as Pastor John unpacks Jeremiah 29.

On New City's 7th anniversary celebration at a public park, Pastor John opens up 1 Peter 2 to prep two people for baptism and show how crazy the Gospel is for God's people living as cultural exiles.

The idea of having FAITH has become ambiguous. Today we will be looking at Daniel 3 to explore how authentic faith makes you go against the grain because of true knowledge of the character of God.

We are continuing in our series Faith for Exiles wrestling with questions such as...how can we live with faith in an often hostile and unfamiliar culture? And how can we live in joy when on foreign soil? We will be looking at Daniel 1:1-8, Psalm 137:1-4, and 1 Peter 2:9-12.

Thank you to our guest speaker Josh Olmann who kicked off our new sermon series. Josh preached from Genesis 50:14-20 in the story of Joseph. Joseph's life embodies what it means to be an exile and a reflection of the exile in Christ who came to save the life of many. Due to a power outage during the worship gathering, this is an abbreviated version of Josh's full message.

The Gospel (re)defines relationships by creating a culture of unity. This "oneness" is rooted in our togetherness in Jesus and plays out as the people of God embrace certain actions and impulses.

NT Wright says, "God wants real people, not puppets. The renewal of life he offers, in the sphere of marriage as everywhere else, will come through the willing, intelligent obedience of wholehearted women and men who think out what it means to be loyal to God and to other people, especially to their marriage partner, and who take steps to put it into practice." Explore Matthew 19:1-12 with us as we see what Jesus' words have to do with divorce, gender and even same sex attraction! #marriage #relationships #christianliving #christianity #jesus

Friends...it is amazing that  Jesus calls us this. The Bible also shows us that friends are necessary in the Christian walk! Proverbs 18:24 "One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother."