A worshipping community of missional theologians

Church Vision Intro
Acts 2:42-47 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

As a church we hope to become a worshipping community of missional theologians. But what does that mean?
This week as we introduced this series, we answered that question - at least in brief. We see in this passage that the 1st church was devoted to:
Worship - celebrating communion together, attending the temple together, and praising God together. Worship was a way of life, not a weekly event.
Community - the first church "did life together." They were devoted to fellowship, koinonia fellowship. They shared their lives - their money, possessions, sorrow, joy...
Missional - By missional I mean that we will be a church engaging in Jesus' mission as we go through life. The first church had favor with all the people, favor with their city. They had favor (at least in part) because they not only told people about Jesus, they also lived like Jesus, and loved like Jesus. And the Lord added to their number daily.
Theologians - The 1st church was devoted to the Apostle's teaching. God desires that we know Him. He makes himself known through nature (general revelation) but perhaps more so, he has revealed himself through His Word. He has done so, so that we might know Him. Theology is simply the study of God. Like the 1st Church, NCCd will be a church of theologians - mommy theologians, daddy theologians, banker theologians, doctor theologians...

In the coming weeks we will unpack each of those essentials to personal spiritual health, and corporate personal health.

Life in the Light of the Gospel - Phil 3:12 - 4:1

12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

We wrapped up our Philippians study this week by talking about the great freedom that the Gospel brings to our lives. here's what we saw...
Living in the Light of the Gospel means:
1) We Live BECAUSE we are His.
We cannot earn the right to be a child of God - We cannot work hard enough or good enough to maintain a place in his presence. We don't live IN ORDER TO BE His.
This Frees us from a life of fear - fear that our works are not enough.
Instead - we live BECAUSE WE ARE His
2) We live life FORWARD.
We forget what lies behind - namely our sins.
Like Paul we a) Understand that forgiveness is NOT based on works (Romans 4), b) Understand that forgiveness is forever (Psalm 103), c) Understand that We are Robed in Righteousness (Philippians 3:9)
Rather than being frozen by the guilt of our past - the Gospel frees us to live life foreward - to press on to the prize that is set before us - Jesus!
3) We Live as Sojourners.
Our citizenship has changed. We are not citizens in this world - this country - this city - our citizenship is heaven. Ours is a different kingdom and we serve a greater king - Jesus.
This frees us from worldly pursuits - power, possessions, people... We are free to live as foreigners in a land that isn't our own!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS...
It appears that this weeks message may NOT have been recorded. If you weren't there, you just missed it!

The Heart of the Gospel Philippians 3:1-11

What a great passage! In the context of Paul's battle with the Judaizers who added the Law to Jesus, Paul takes us deep into the very heart of the Gospel!
To the religious Judaizer Paul says - I have more reason than any of you to have confidence in the flesh! By YOUR standards, I am far better than you. Yet, none of these matters of the flesh matter - they cannot satisfy God's righteous requirements. Be the best that you can be - do all the good that you can do - and it isn't enough. As bad as that sounds, the good news is that Jesus has accomplished for you what you cannot! So, Paul says, in the light of Jesus and the righteousness that is mine - IN HIM by faith - I count all my works as dung! The Gospel is about what He has done for us.
We looked as well at all that Paul had and had accomplished in a worldly sense. He had a great family and the right blood line. He was from the right tribe. And he was a Pharisee - which came with a great deal of power and authority and privilege. Paul had accomplished much of what we pursue in our jobs, in our relationships - with our lives. And in the light of the glory and beauty of Jesus all those things looked and smelled like dung! Paul found Jesus to be his joy and satisfaction - all that he needed for life and forever more! That too is the heart of the Gospel!

Not only will our fleshly works not satisfy God, our fleshly works won't satisfy us either! The good news is that Jesus satisfies both!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 3:1-3 Beware of the Religious Dogs

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:1-3

This week's passage serves as a great warning for us: a warning to fight the tendency we all have toward religious rules and away from the true Gospel, and it is a warning to stay away from those who teach a false gospel.

Paul (or God, through Paul) calls those who would add the Law to Jesus - Dogs, Evildoers (workers of evil), and mutilators. He contrasts those who teach "works of the Law" with the "true circumcision," true followers of Christ. He says that we (the true circumcision) worship by the Spirit (not by works of the Law or the Flesh) , Glory in Christ Jesus (not in works of the Law or the Flesh), and put NO confidence in the flesh (because we know that it is Christ who has worked for us, is at work in us, and works through us).

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

The sermon is up for streaming or download - HERE.

Philippians 2:5-11 Joy in Communion

Our verses today came in the context of Paul's call for living out the fruit of the Gospel in the community of believers (2:1-18). Paul uses Jesus as our example for such living.
Paul reminded the Philippians and reminds us of the humility of Jesus - who set aside the fullness of his glory and equality with God to take on the flesh of His creation. He lived a life of humility and suffering and calls His followers to the same life. Communion reminds us that we are to participate in such a life of humility, sacrifice, and even death.
Paul also spoke of how Jesus has been exalted and given a name above all names. At His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. As Jesus has defeated death we have a great hope for our future - a future that includes our own resurrection and forevermore with Him - creation redeemed.
Communion is a way in which we are reminded of the Life of Jesus and reminded of our future hope. While Communion does NOT save us and is NOT REQUIRED for our salvation, it is a means through which we commune spiritually with Jesus and participate with Him is His life, death, and resurrection.

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 2:1-18 Joy in the Gospel Community

Our passage comes in the same context as 1:27-30 - Walking worthy of the gospel. We talked about the radical call of God for the community of Christ followers. We are to be incredibly different - a community who loves one another unconditionally, who shares the same passion and drive, who walks in humility, and a community who is not only concerned with themselves but who is also genuinely concerned for others as well. Paul's "list" is not simply a religious list of do's and don'ts, rather it is a glimpse of what it looks like when the gospel of Jesus Christ is bearing fruit in the community. It is the outworking of this process - God has done a great work for us in Christ - God is doing a great work in us in Christ (transformation) - and God is doing a great work through us > that is the fruit of the gospel that Paul wrote of. So, this is not a "list" of religious things that we MUST do in order to be Christ followers, rather it is the fruit of Christ working in and through his followers.

Got questions or thoughts from this message - post them here!
Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Gospel Joy in our Midst!

Today we took a short break from our Philippians study for a great reason - the baptism of Jessica Enclard! Today we celebrated God's work thru the Gospel in our midst. Anny shared some of her Gospel story and recent baptism - then as I taught on baptism I was joined by Jessica and her friend Melissa. Here's the sermon rundown:

1) Baptism Does NOT Save Us and is Not Necessary for Salvation
By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone

2) Baptism Is a Public Profession of Faith
Here Jessica shared her Gospel story - Great job Jess!

3) Baptism is An Experience of Communion With Christ
a) In Death (Romans 6:3-4; II Corinthians 5:17)
b) In Resurrection
1. To A New Life (Romans 6:4-7; Eph 2:1-5)
Melissa and Jessica shared about the transformation
that has taken place in Jessica
2. To a Forever Future With Jesus (Romans 6:9-10; I Cor 15:50-55)
______________________________
1. What did you hear God saying today?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday as a streaming video.

Phlippians 1:27-30 Joy in the Gospel Mission

Today's passage comes in the larger context of Paul's joy in the advance of the Gospel. Over the past couple of weeks we have seen Paul's joy as the gospel is advance by others - even those with bad motives, and Paul's hope and expectation that he would also advance the Gospel in his own body, whether he lived or died.

As Paul thought about the possibility of his death, and never seeing his friends again, Paul writes that the one the thing he hopes to hear of the church of Phillipi is that they are standing firm, striving together for the faith of the Gospel. He desired to hear that these believers were united in their passion, drive, and desire for the advancement of the Gospel. Paul's joy in the face of death - in these verse is tied to the Philippian's advancement of the Gospel.

Today gave us a great opportunity to talk about New City's mission and vision as well. We talked about 2 models of church - Attractional and Missional and New City's desire to be a missional church - a church who knows and is engaged in the Gospel Mission of Jesus Christ.
(click here for more on attractional and missional churches).

1. What did you hear God saying through the message?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 1:19-26 Gospel Joy in Suffering & Death

Tough week of sermon prep getting ready for this passage - the reality of death. I shared a few of my own experiences with families and individuals dealing with death. I talked about 2 individuals who were facing death:

Lisa - a twenty-something that I met in a hospital ICU room. Lisa was involved in a terrible car accident and doctors weren't sure of whether she would make it or not. Her eyes were filled with terror when I met her. Lisa knew that she might not make it and she was horrified.

Linda - had been fighting cancer for a year. She knew that her type of lung cancer was almost always deadly. In the face of death - through weakness, baldness, and sickness - Linda was always positive, always encouraging others, always serving, and praising Jesus. Linda was my living example of Paul's words - to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The difference in these 2 women facing the reality of death was the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Lisa knew that she was about to die separated from God - a sinner. Linda knew that if she lived on she would do so serving and magnifying Jesus. But Linda was also ready to die, knowing that to do so would put her in the presence of Jesus - he great God and Savior. The Gospel and the theology of the Gospel (including heaven and hell) gave Linda great hope every day she lived and hope for forevermore!

So here are a few questions -

1. What did you hear God saying through the message?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Phil 1:12-18 Joy in the Gospel's Advance

This week we looked at verses 12-18 and talked about the great Joy that Paul had as he considered the advance of the Gospel. Even though his circumstances were far from prefect and gave every reason to be anything BUT joyful, here Paul was - REJOICING! We talked about how Paul saw the bigger picture of God's redemption story unfolding around him, how that story now includes us, and how God's plan of redemption not only includes us being saved and redeemed - but it also includes us being redemption ambassadors. The sermon should be in the next day or two on the media page of www.newcitydowntown.org if you missed it.

1. What did you hear God saying through the message?

2. What does that mean?

3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?

4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?

5. How can we help?

Gospel Transformation (1:3-11)

Philippians 1:3-11

Today's message was a continuation to Paul's intro to his letter. We saw an incredible statement of confidence from Paul in verse 6: 6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The confidence of this statement is anchored in God Himself. It is God who started this Gospel Transformation Process - God who continues it - and God who will finish it!

* How did the confidence of Paul's statement impact you?

* We also talked about 3 terms related to the process, do you remember what they mean?

- Regeneration - Who regenerates sinners?

- Sanctification - Who sanctifies believers?

- Glorification - Who glorifies us in the day of Christ?

While the confident statement that God is at work in His children and will be faithful to complete that work brings assurance and encouragement, we were also challenged by some things.

Paul SAW Gospel Transformation at work in the Philippians - I listed 3 ways, do you remember any of them?

We were also challenged with the questions -

If Paul knew of NCCd, would he make such a confident assertion about us?

If he knew your family, would he make such a statement?

If he knew you, as an individual, could he say with confidence that God was at work and would finish His work?

Finally we saw that what took place in the Philippians and does in true believers is a radical transformation! We are not driven by religion or rules to "DO" all the right things -

What is it that drives us? Empowers us? Enables us?

How is this different than religion?

How did God speak to you through His word today?

If you missed this weeks sermon, it should be available on the "media" page of NCCd within by Monday or Tuesday.

Philippans 1:1-2

I'm posting early this week - Saturday afternoon - in case anyone visits before Sunday!
So, here's how it works...
I have some questions from the main ideas of Sunday's sermon to stimulate thought and open discussion. So think about the questions - answer any that you want to, ask whatever you want to, and share what you will! Remember, your questions and thoughts will encourage others! Let's go! Post in the "comments" at the bottom of this post.

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Sunday's sermon focused on one main phrase: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi. Paul calls the Philippian believers saints.


* We talked about the historical setting of this letter, particularly about WHO the letter was written to. What do we know about the Philippians, particularly as it relates to their "sainthood?"


* When it comes to being a saint, what does "Religion" require of a person? (Here's a hint: we talked about the Catholic Church's requirements and about "the list.")


* What does the Gospel require of a person?


* We heard several other passages from the apostle Paul about the benefits of being in Christ. Can you list some of those benefits? (here's a couple to get you going: eternal life, justification)


* It was said that Religion leads to one of two things, Pride (because you keep your "list" better than others) or Despair (because you cannot keep the "list" though you try).

> Have you found this to be true in your own life?



* How is the Gospel different, what should the Gospel lead to?


* How did God speak to you this week?