NHCC Sermons & Teaching

1 Peter 2:9-12, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ————— As we begin to look at the second chapter of 1 Peter, we recognize that we are called to grow in salvation. We begin as infants. From there we “are being built up” into a spiritual house. The implication is that we should grow in Christlikeness, by learning to put aside sins. ————— What a high and holy calling we have in Christ! It’s amazing, that God can take often misguided and clueless people like us, yet dress us as living stones, and make us a part of this global spiritual temple that He’s been erecting for 2,000 years. ————— We should frequently revisit and recite these truths Peter teaches about our identity (for the enemy of my soul often comes and flails with lies about our identity.) But we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood and a holy nation—even though in our time on earth we are but strangers, sojourners, and exiles. ————— The sobering truth we must face is: if we will be living as royalty in eternity, then it would be wise to start attempting to live that way now.

1 Peter 1:14-16… As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Verse 15 and 16 can seem daunting, at first. The command to be as holy as God seems like an impossible task. But God isn't giving us a hopeless requirement. It's helpful to look at the passages Peter is quoting from to better understand what the word "holy" means to God. God's desire for His people was to be like Him, and He is holy. That's still His desire. The holiness commanded here is found in what Peter has already written in this letter. That is, God has already made us holy in Christ. He has already set us apart and saved us. Now he calls us to make choices that reflect who we already are. In other words, Christians are called to change our conduct to fit our identity. As holy people, we shouldn't be "okay" with our sin. We shouldn't accept falling into the old patterns. We are to act as holy people act. Will we make perfectly sinless choices in this life from here forward? No. We still rely on God's grace and forgiveness.

James 4:14b, What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. At the beginning of 1 Peter, the author, one of Jesus’ disciples, reaches out to a community of believers spread throughout the known world. It’s likely these believers were Gentiles and citizens of the Roman Empire, but Peter calls them “God’s elect exiles.” They are God’s chosen foreigners who have been scattered and dispersed throughout the Empire and, their other shared experience was that they had been enduring all kinds of hardship. Every believer in Jesus is an exile. No Christian has citizenship in this world because God has chosen to give us a Kingdom in Him. Peter adds we’ve been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for both obedience and sprinkling with blood (1 Peter 1:2). Each of those phrases is another way to tie Gentiles into the story of God’s chosen people. Because of these things, it is inevitable that we will face different kinds of hardship, but those hardships themselves can serve a purpose in our pursuit of holiness. The sobering truth is that if we never deal with hardship, we may not be pursuing a life of holiness strenuously enough.

Timothy 2:13, …if we are faithless, He remains faithful— ————— Join us this Sunday as we kick off a new sermon series over the book of 1 Peter entitled "Holy Living in a Hostile World." In a society that often opposes our beliefs, this series will explore how we can live out our faith boldly and authentically. ————— In this first week, Frank presents an introduction to the book, the circumstances surrounding its writing, as well as a look at the author himself, Peter, and how his relationship and calling from the Savior affected him as a follower of Jesus Christ. Circumstances that help to shape his message to Christians then and today. ————— Since this week’s message is merely the introductory message, it would be a great chance for you to invite someone not only this week but next week as well as we start digging into the Word in a little deeper.

Acts 4:20, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” ————— Easter (Resurrection Sunday) has ended. The pictures have been taken to commemorate the day. Perhaps, families have gathered and now gone home. A week is passed and now we head back to church on Sunday. ————— Of course, the significance and impact of the Christ’s Resurrection has not diminished. The promise that was fulfilled in the empty tomb has not suddenly become nullified, nor has the miracle somehow lost its amazement. ————— But has anything changed for us? Admittedly, we would hope so, but that really truly depends on us. The aforementioned significance and impact on those first century Christians was obvious. They simply could not stop talking about it and telling others about it. Why? Because the power of the Resurrection was and is life-changing. The truth of it begs for testimony from those whose lives have been changes and for those whose eternity has been secured.

Revelation 21:5, And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ————— One of the incredible truths about Christ’s resurrection is that it confirms for us that such resurrection is not only possible, but promised through His grace. Of course, until that time comes when we have resurrected bodies, we have the opportunity and directive from the Father to be more like Christ. ————— As Frank will illustrate on Sunday through his message, when we accept Christ’s offer of forgiveness, we are not done. We continually work toward becoming more and more a reflection of our risen Savior.

John 3:3, Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” ————— When we consider Christ’s love for His bride, the church, it can sometimes be easy to forget that He has a great compassion for each of us individually. There are many stories of phenomenal growth in the New Testament church. Yet, within all these stories of the crowds of people coming to accept Christ as Savior, there is one tucked into Acts chapter 8 that reminds us of each person’s importance. ————— This Sunday, Frank focuses on this unique conversion story in his message. Its two-fold lesson highlights the importance of of both the one sent with the Gospel and the one who needs to hear that same call to grace and salvation.

Philippians 2:14-15… Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world… ————— Often, when we face criticism, the knee-jerk reaction is to become defensive and, possibly to begin pointing a finger at the flaws of our critic. Mind you, it is not necessarily a good thing is someone is constantly critical of others, nor is all criticism constructive. In fact, some criticism can be rather destructive. ————— So how should we respond to criticism as a believer in Christ. First and foremost, we need to humbly consider if the criticism is in any way, warranted. We cannot presume in our pride, that we are somehow beyond reproach and have nothing in our lives worthy of criticism. ————— Also, even in those moments when we deal with people who are being critical of us or or actions without merit, we are still called to be forgiving as our Father is forgiving—remembering that we have also had our moments of weakness when we may have unjustly criticized someone else.

Acts 4:35… There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. ————— Sadly, the perception some have of the church is that we are simply an organization with our hands open, asking for donations. Also, sometimes even within the body of Christ, there is a feeling that if you ever mention giving or offerings that it can be intrusive and/or bothersome. ————— The problem with this perception is that it completely avoids the sobering truth, that there are those in need who have no other alternative than the generosity of the Christian family. While we can have an understanding that there have been those who have exploited this truth for selfish purposes, it is reckless to simply generalize all churches and all Christians as selfishly motivated. The truth is, the majority of Christians who ask for and offer offerings do so out of a desire to reflect Godly generosity. Frank shares such an example from the early church this Sunday, as the family of God offering sacrificial gifts to make sure that the needs of the whole body were addressed. God’s grace had moved them from a place of ownership of what they had to a place of stewardship of that which God had given them for the purpose of providing for His whole family.

Acts 2:42-47, And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. ————— Ask most people what a church is and you will get a variety of answers. For many people, it is a building or structure in which people come to worship or congregate for the purpose of community and fellowship. But as the old saying goes, “We don’t go to church… We ARE the Church.” ————— Of course, that old cliche does not fully explain what it is to be “the Church.” To fully grasp that concept, we must go back to the foundations and beginnings of the church in the New Testament. In this next sermon series Frank will focus on those first Christians that made up the body of Christ. In doing this together, perhaps we will catch a glimpse of the devotion to Christ and knowing more about Him, as well as their love and encouragement for each other. ---------- We invite you to join us and hear the message and find out more about how it applies to our lives as followers of Christ. In fact, we hope that as you join us and hear the Word of God taught, that His Spirit would guide you into an understanding that helps you to grow in wisdom and in truth.

The old saying goes, “…those that can’t teach.” A tongue-in-cheek remark about those who have skills to do certain things resort to teaching if that are not able to succeed at their craft. This marginalization of the skill of teaching is, in fact, unfounded. ————— When it comes to our faith and spirituality, we are dependent on teachers who lead both by instruction and example. For many of us, a parent, family member, youth leader, etc. was our first teacher when it came to the beginnings of our faith. But throughout the maturing of our faith, different teachers partnered with the Holy Spirit to make an impact on our lives. ————— The truth is, not matter how far along in our faith we are, we need teachers to guide us. But there is another truth—no matter how far along in our faith we are, someone needs us to be a teacher to guide them. ————— Join us this Sunday, as Frank dives into this fourth and final aspect of the Great Commission... to TEACH... from Matthew 28:18-20.

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ————— Is baptism required for our salvation? Is there a right or wrong way to baptize? Is there a right or wrong time to be baptized? Over the years, there is certainly a variance in the beliefs about baptism. Of course, there is a proper way to approach these questions about baptism—look to the Scriptures and allow them to speak for themselves. ————— When we do that, it is incumbent upon us not to be driven by traditions, but rather by our obedience to the Word of God. As the old cliche goes, “I know there is a God, and I know I am not Him.” Thus, we must not add to or take away from the Bible teaches about all subjects, including baptism. ————— Join us this Sunday, as Frank dives into this third aspect of the Great Commission... to BAPTIZE... from Matthew 28:18-20.

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ---------- What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Is it merely one who believes in Christ? One who commits to him in baptism for the forgiveness of sin? Actually, discipleship involves more than simply believing in Him and even more than making a commitment to surrender to Him through baptism. ---------- Instead, discipleship is the growth of a Christian to maturity in Christ. It is a process or investment in becoming more and more like Christ in how we live, the choices we make, the priorities of our lives, etc. Discipleship is an ongoing effort that continues throughout my lifetime and eventually, leads us to equip others to be disciples as well.

Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ----------- What does it mean to be a witness? In a court of law, it refers to someone who tells the complete truth, testifying to what they saw or heard. While these elements are part of being a witness in the kingdom of God, when Jesus said, "you will be My witnesses," it implied so much more. ---------- Jesus was not merely suggesting that we passively repeat facts we have seen, heard, or learned, but that we should actively go and share this truth with those willing to listen. Indeed, we should share it even with those who might initially or ultimately refuse to listen. We are not alone in this endeavor, as the Holy Spirit accompanies us to prepare the way and to convict hearts. ---------- This Sunday marks the start of a new sermon series, led by Frank, centered on Christ's directive to proactively disseminate the Good News throughout the world.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! In this final message from our current sermon series on Colossians, Frank breaks down the final greetings from the Apostle Paul to his readers. In this salutation, Paul reveals the necessity of relationships with other believers. The assistance, encouragement, leadership, discipleship, etc. is vital for the newest of Christians as well as those who have been serving the Lord faithfully for years. ---------- We are reminded that it is essential for us to always be thankful not only for the opportunities we might have to minister to others, but also for those who have and continue to minister to us. This sweet fellowship is exactly the way God intended for the body of Christ, His family, to function.

Luke 2:13-14... suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” ---------- It is so easy at this time of the year to get distracted. With presents, lights, special programs, trees. wrapping paper, bows, travel, etc. the focus of our attention can be pulled away from what is most important. ---------- Frank's message Sunday challenges us to recognize that Christmas is all about Jesus. The entry of our Savior into the world was all about fulfilling God's redemptive plan and not creating a holiday for time off of work and school. Let's always be sure to make sure we keep Christ as the focus of Christmas as we enjoy the trappings of the season, but never let them become a distraction from worshiping and honoring Him.

Matthew 5:13-14, You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ---------- One of the things that is tempting to do more and more is to withdraw from personal contact. As people become known more by their social media personas, the term "influencer" becomes more en vogue. It allows us to present the version of ourselves without the nagging issue or actual communication. ---------- But as Christians, we are called to embrace society. Certainly, we are not encouraged to embrace the morality of our culture, but we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The impact we should strive for is make a difference in people's lives and influence others for Christ.

Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. --------- The old familiar tune, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, reminds us of the importance of repentance in following after Christ. That verse affirms this with the words, "The world behind me, the cross before me," as a commitment to lasting change that occurs with genuine repentance. ---------- It is not simply a matter of recognizing our sinfulness and telling God we are sorry about it. It is allowing Godly sorrow to lead us to a state of repentance, as the Apostle Paul wrote in one of his letters to the church in Corinth. The expected effect of a repentant heart is a lasting change in the direction of one's life. Sin doesn't magically disappear, but the the desire to repeatedly engage is sinful activity should wane and temptation should not have the pull on our lives as it once did because of the change of heart that has occurred.

Why do we celebrate Christmas? Does the story of Christmas matter? Most everyone knows the Christmas story, or at least parts of it. We’ve seen the holiday specials, sung the carols, and heard the popular Bible verses. We know about the manger and the angels and the wise men. Those details truly matter and many of us can recite those details, especially those in Matthew and Luke, but the details from John also matter. Specifically those that point directly to the deity of Christ. ---------- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. --John 1.1-2 ---------- This was not just a random child being born at a serendipitous time and in an indiscriminate location. He was God becoming human for the specific purpose of bringing Good News to all men. A living, breathing embodiment of the Gospel… the Word of God!

Colossians 2:6-7... Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ---------- The only way a ship survives a storm is by setting down its anchor on a firm foundation. When the winds blow and the sea threatens to carry the ship out to sea, the only security the sailors have is by securing their anchor in solid ground. ---------- Even so, where we place our anchor will determine whether we survive the storm. Is your anchor in your career, social status, possessions, or abilities? Or have you anchored yourself on God and His Word? When you are anchored in Christ, He will be able to still the storm in your life. While sometimes God allows us to go through trials to grow us, He can also take away the trials in our lives if we seek Him. When the storm clouds begin to roll in, we should immediately seek His will in the matter. ---------- Whether God’s will is for you to endure the trial or for it to be removed, anchoring yourself in Christ and seeking His will is always the best plan of action.