New Beginnings Lutheran Church

Personal ambition is lauded by our culture, but many of us do not dream small enough. When Jesus’ disciples had dreams of grandeur, He shut them down and pointed to unlikely candidates for esteem. Perhaps, with God’s help, we can want less.**For the best uninterrupted livestream experience, participate in this week's sermon at nblc.net/sermons

Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.**For the best uninterrupted livestream experience, participate in this week's sermon at nblc.net/sermons

Ever feel like you don’t know enough to effectively share your faith? Jonah delivered a terrible sermon to Nineveh, leaving out critical information (apparently), but somehow God used a reluctant prophet to reach a whole city!**For the best uninterrupted livestream experience, participate in this week's sermon at nblc.net/sermons

God’s grace comes to us in many forms. For Jonah, grace had scales. As God’s prophet looked forward to death rather than to heed God’s call, God’s grace devoured him in the depths of his rebellion.

Isn’t it ironic that unbelievers believe better than believers? Jonah, a member of God’s chosen people and a prophet, no less, was going off-grid to avoid obedience to God’s call. But pagans did exactly what God told them to do.

Is new always better, or should we stay with the old ways? God declares He is doing something new, but what does that mean for you? Prepare this 4th of July weekend by reading Isaiah 43.

Do you like surprises? God’s Word is full of them. We’re not talking about fortune cookie predictions drawn from the Bible by randomly opening and placing your finger on God’s Word for today. Today a divinely planned Word will be applied to your life.

What makes something a miracle? Do you still see them today? Read Luke 7:11-17 as we seek to understand the power of Jesus’ words that make the dead come alive again.

Trials. Family vacations have been described as ‘plans to induce Stockholm Syndrome.’ God is not abusive, but he redeems the pain of life to form in us a stronger attachment.

Study. Study is more than being studious. We lean into the Word for sustained, joyful reflection upon the object of our devotion: God. And this Word nourishes and sustains our faith. AND today we will celebrate the God inspired FAITH STEPS of various members of our faith family.

Prayer. We spell it: T.A.L.K. We could spell it S.E.E.K.I.N.G. Or we could spell it: K.N.O.C.K.I.N.G. However you think about prayer, for most of us it is God-ward looking. Jesus says that’s a good perspective to have.

Life experiences are frequently used by God to form and fashion us as disciples. Often these determine our interests and passions. What do you take for granted that may actually be a unique qualification for living out your calling in life?

Square peg, round hole? You know what that means: not fitting in. But we all have a fit. We all have people and places we are meant to be. On the flip side, there are gonna be people and places we do not fit. And that’s ok.

One person’s treasure is another person’s trash? Yikes! Can Christians value different things so vehemently as this adage sounds? Apparently we can. But, after a couple thousand years, we’re learning how to better relate, right?

Just in Missouri, 390 birds flit from yard to yard, from bluff to plain. God certainly expressed Himself through diversity. So why do we struggle so much with conformity to a cookie-cutter model of discipleship? Let’s not.

Christians are not hamburgers. Ray Kroc leveraged assembly line technology to improve fast-food and then franchised McDonald's. God didn’t assembly line you. If God made everybody different, let’s not.

Consider the various resurrection accounts. Jesus unveiled the best possible news the world has ever seen with a slow drip method. The Lord appeared to different people differently. How does Jesus relate to you?

There is no Easter without Good Friday. We resume a rich tradition for this service by listening to the seven words of Jesus spoken from the cross and hearing their significance for us today.

We learn how important prayer is even when we know the answer is no. Jesus had the cross in his sights from before the creation of the world, but still He travailed in prayer as He approached it.

How might this enormously familiar event foster greater hunger in our hearts for what Jesus gives? We easily take this meal for granted, but the historical context you may not know brings new flavor.