Everyone has a way of doing life, organizations have a way, some work (like the Patriot way) some don’t work (like the Cleveland Brown way), even Jesus had a way…in fact he said “I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life…” The following values will become the framework for everything we do. This is what will be at the foundation of all that we build, and if the foundation is cracked, it won’t matter what we build- eventually, it will fall. 

These values aren’t just good for a church- they are good for life. If someone decided to live by these 7 values, I believe their life would have a solid foundation that would bring wisdom into their decisions, peace into their life, and provide a heritage for their family.

I. JESUS: is our everything

We believe Jesus is the hope of the world. Our lives are most satisfied when God is most glorified.

We exist to make Jesus famous.

II. PEOPLE: are our heart

We will do whatever it takes to get people to God. Our message is: come as you are, Christ can change you. We will give our lives to others that they may find life.

For God so loved people, so will we.

III. CHURCH: is our home

This is more than a place, it’s a people- a community of Jesus followers. God is building His House, and gathering us into it. We’re all in this together.

IV. SERVING: is our honor

We don’t have to do this, we get to do this. We are all in. We make it happen and have fun along the way. It is our privilege to bring our best. We are more than volunteers, we are passionate people.

V. GENEROSITY: is our lifestyle

Our goal, as Jesus followers, is to be the most generous people on the planet. We believe we are blessed to be a blessing. We give as a response to a God who first gave everything for us.

VI. EXPECTATION: is our approach

We believe that every Sunday is special. Our faith creates the atmosphere for awakening. We want revival, and nothing less.

VII. UNSTOPPABLE: is our nature

We are called to push, to pray, and to pioneer. We believe obstacles are opportunities in disguise. We’re not waiting to see what happens, we make it happen.

Join the Awakening.

God will always exceed your expectations, so raise them. Your brokenness is NOT fatal or final. God has a future for you, so don’t be afraid to hope and expect again, here’s how:

I. Prepare With Prayer

Prayer lays the groundwork for your expectations to be exceeded. There is power in prayer and it’s the most vital means to connect with God. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” – James 4:8

II. Lean In

Expectation demands focus. When you lean into expectation, you eliminate the chance of distractions trying to creep in and lower your expectations. Lean into prayer, lean into God’s Word.

III. Realize Your Attitude Determines The Atmosphere

An attitude of expectation causes the atmosphere to shift in powerful ways. When you respond to our circumstances with a hopeful and expectant attitude, they will change for the better, no matter what you’re going through.

IV. Respond With Mega Faith

Big faith moves God. Get your hopes up and raise your faith. The more faith you have in God’s power, the higher your expectation gets.  “And without faith it is impossible to please God…” – Hebrews 1:6

V. Say It Out Loud

Your words have power, use them to declare what you are expecting!  When your declaration matches your expectation, big things happen. “And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him’” – Matthew 11:22-23

God will never let you down. Regardless of what you have or are currently going through, when you expect the best, God delivers exceedingly better.

5 Reasons Why You Should Serve

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”” –Mark 9:35

Serving is our honor. We lay down our lives so that others can meet Jesus. In doing this, we find our purpose and serving becomes the overflow of our lives. Here are five things you need to understand about serving:

I. You were designed to serve

Yes, you! Biologically speaking, from your hands to your feet, you were designed to be a serving machine. You were built to work hard and serve hard. You have unique gifts and abilities that were placed in you by God.

II. Serving shifts society

Serving shows people that they are loved and cared for. When you are kind, you inspire kindness in others. When you give to the community, your giving provides for others. When you love, your love transforms others. 

III. Serving makes you more

When you serve, the possibilities are endless. God will transform you into so much more and you will begin to see just how much He has designed for you to accomplish. 

IV. Serving can save your life

Serve, and watch God begin to touch the broken areas in your life and bring healing in ways you could never imagine. Serving consistently over a period of time will transform your life. It’s so much more than one act; it’s the relationships you gain, the love for the church you develop, and the community you join into. 

V. Serving changes lives

The goal? To show Jesus Christ to others. The method? Serving. When you serve, you are a catalyst used by God to change the lives of more people than you can know. Imagine the impact we could have on the world if we all began to serve others as Christ did.

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If you’re wondering, “What’s my next step? How do I begin serving?”, Growth track is the perfect on-ramp to learn more about the A-Team and how you can begin to get involved. Growth Track is a four-week program that runs every Sunday at 1 PM.  You can jump in at any time and take your next step to begin serving at the church. Sign up online it’s super easy: https://atnewlife.org/growth-track/

 

“[The Good Samaritan] went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’” – Luke 20:34-35

Towards the end of the story of the Good Samaritan, we see that the injured man is brought to an inn. A place where he can rest and be healed. A place where the man can be looked after and find a home.

The Church is like an inn. It’s a place where you can belong if you are broken. Perhaps you are beat up. Maybe not physically, but in your mind you are struggling with things like depression, addiction and feelings of “I do not belong”. Or, maybe you are confused about what kind of a place Church is, and you question whether or not it can change you. It can, and it will.

When you come to church, it doesn’t matter HOW you come, because you will leave different. The pressure is off to feel like you have to “fix” yourself before you come here. You are welcome here. The Church is a place where Jesus brings us together in a community of extraordinary love, and we can’t wait for you to experience this love. There is nothing like God’s house!

The Church is your home until Heaven, and we believe that God as your healer will bring you into an “inn” where you can continue the healing process- a house where you can feel like family, and a building that feels as warm and welcoming as your own home. This is why we have crews. Crews are communities within New Life where you can join a group of other people in your shoes and experience community together. You don’t have to completely healed to join a crew, and that’s the beautiful thing: You can still help people who also need the visit the inn, even when you are not fully healed yourself!

When we are in the process of healing, God begins to call us to also be a helper to others. Now that you have been introduced to the home, it is time to show others. Welcome them home.

https://atnewlife.org/crews/

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus lays out an incredible story about being a neighbor to others. The premise is simple: A man is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, where he is beaten by robbers and left for dead. A priest sees him and passes by on the other side, and a Levite does the same thing. Finally, a Samaritan sees him, takes pity on him and tends to his needs. He bends down, pours on oil and wine, and pays for his recovery at a nearby inn.

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This Samaritan had a heart for people, just like Jesus has a heart for you! Perhaps you are in the same situation. Maybe life has beaten you down, and you find yourself on a road you never thought you’d be on. Maybe it’s a sin cycle, or a tragedy that has struck, and now you feel alone.

It’s not the end. Jesus sees you. As a matter of fact, Jesus sees you because He’s LOOKING for you. He chose to come from Heaven to Earth just for you, and He’s going to begin to bind your wounds and make you whole again. Jesus will not pass you by. He is the one who is going to bend down and take care of you when no one else will. He will be your neighbor!

Not only is Jesus our neighbor, He also empowers us to be good neighbors to others in their times of difficulty too. The lawyer in the parable asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor”? The better question is, “Who can I be a good neighbor to”? If we all came together and made the decision to help those in need around us, we would change the world. We are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. When others look over people in need, we must stop and show mercy.

Ask yourself today: Who can I be a good neighbor to?

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.This is what love looks like.” – Augustine

Everybody has an opinion about Jesus. When you look at our world, you realize everything stems from His life. Our calendar is separated by His birth and death. Our morals stem from the principles He preached while on Earth. Our very government is built on Christian principles and beliefs. One thing stands out for certain- there is no one like Jesus Christ. Here are some noteworthy observations from people in history…

Henry G. Bosch has made this observation:

“Socrates taught for forty years, Plato for fifty, Aristotle for forty, and Jesus for only three. Yet the influence of Christ’s three-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who are among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures, yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo de Vinci received their inspiration from him. Jesus wrote no poetry, but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by him. Jesus composed no music, still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in their hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in his praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble carpenter of Nazareth.”

-Henry G. Bosch

Napoleon Bonaparte said:

“I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte (French General, Politician & Emperor (1804-14). 1769-1821)

Albert Einstein noted:

“No man can read the gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. Theseus and other heroes of his type lack the authentic vitality of Jesus.” — Albert Einstein

Bach signed all his works with Soli Deo Gloria (“Solely to the glory of God”)

Vincent Van Gogh made this observation:

“It is a very good thing that you read the Bible… The Bible is Christ, for the Old Testament leads up to this culminating point… Christ alone… has affirmed as a principal certainty, eternal life, the infinity of time, the nothingness of death… He lived serenely, as a greater artist than all other artists, despising marble and clay as well as color, working in living flesh. That is to say, this matchless artist… made neither statues nor pictures nor books; he loudly proclaimed that he made… living men, immortals.”  —  Vincent Van Gogh

 

You’re created by God to show Jesus to the people around you. God didn’t call you to live an unprovoked life. He wants you to be provoked by the Holy Spirit to bring change, to bring Jesus, to others.

Jason was one such person in scripture who was provoked. He gave shelter to Paul, Silas, and Timothy when they were in Greece. While Paul preached and reasoned with the scholars, Jason kept them safe from harm.

However, the Jews became furious and began to riot. They attempted to drag Paul and Silas from Jason’s house but they were not there. Instead, they dragged Jason to the marketplace and began to accuse him of turning the world upside down with the Gospel.

What an accusation, what a compliment! May we all be people accused of turning the world upside down for Jesus. When God calls us to turn the world upside down, we ourselves change, our coworkers change, our city changes and the world changes. After all, it is God Himself who not only gave us breath, but everything else and this includes our calling in the body of Christ:

“Rather, He (God), gives everyone life and breath and everything else” Acts 17:25

You have nothing to fear. The God who created you has also empowered you to show Jesus to the world. You are equipped with the Holy Spirit and the very breath of God to turn the world around you upside down. This week, look and pray for opportunities for God to use you like he used Jason. When we are intentional about others, God uses us mightily.

 

Your life is God’s most valuable gift God to you. When we choose to believe in God, we are projected into an upward journey of eternal life. Throughout the journey, God gives us the keys to wisdom to live a more abundant life and as we implement these keys, our lives change for the better.

“Give & It Will Be Given”
God empowers us to be a source for others. The world may not operate by this principle but Got teaches us that when we give to others, we actually reap the reward.

“Do Unto Others”
God created us to be a channel of blessing for others. When we get around other people, they are blessed because God lives inside of us. This is a key to abundant life: we are blessed with the ability to do good, not evil to others.

“Be Quick to Listen”
The Bible encourages us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. This is a conscious decision on our part, a kernel of truth from scripture that can help us avoid many difficult situations. Being slow to anger is sometimes harder than it looks, but with the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to choose patience.

“Guard Your Heart”
Our hearts were designed to be a wellspring of life and God calls us to pay careful attention to guard it. We all need to question ourselves when we feel certain emotions, such as, ‘Why am I aggravated?‘, or ‘Why am I worried?’.  God will teach us how to guard our hearts from these toxic feelings.

God’s Word is full of truths and keys to wisdom to help us live our best life for Him. Only God knows what you’re going through. Ask him to guide you through all of life’s situations, using the keys of wisdom.

There is tremendous power in giving God all the glory when He performs a miracle in our lives.

We see in 1 Kings 15, Elisha was offered material possessions for the miracle God performed in healing Namaan of leprosy.  Instead, Elisha’s desire was to give God glory and use the miracle to show God’s healing power to others. The desire to see God magnified made room for the anointing on Elisha’s life.

Many times, we’re confronted with this same choice: receive the glory for yourself, or give glory to God. Here’s how we can give God the glory and reap the benefit of doing so:

• Whenever confronted with the opportunity to talk about your life, boast about Christ’s goodness in your life!
• Freely share how good God is in all of your circumstances, even the ones you’re still waiting for God to change.
• Resist the temptation to take an ounce of credit, give all the glory to God.

When we choose to focus on God and all that He’s done,  we help others see who He is. When you point to Jesus, you will begin to see breakthrough and victory not just in your own life, but in the lives of others.

In the midst of a miracle, God gets the glory!

Psalm 115:1 “Not to us Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Worship is one of the key foundational truths that you must understand if you are to walk with the Lord for the long haul.  Pastor Steve Boyce shared an incredible definition of what worship is:

“Worship is an outward expression of love toward God, coming from your spirit.”

– Pastor Steve Boyce –

However, worship is not something that should be put on the sidelines, we are to PUSH into worship.  It’s something to be actively pursued. But when you push and press into worship, God continues to work in you and set you free.

Sin tries to keep you in captivity, but as you worship the Lord, you are delivered from the things that try to hold you down and hold you back. Worship helps you to push past your old nature, your feelings, your pride, and false religion.  

Here are 4 important things to remember when pushing into worship:

Worship invites the presence of The Lord

Salvation is about walking into the deeper things of God but sometimes we have to usher it in.  When worship happens, God’s presence comes into the midst of His people and brings with it all the gifts of His Spirit: joy,  peace, deliverance, liberty and more.

If you need these things in your life, begin worshiping God and invite Him into your life and see if things don’t start to change.

Worship creates an atmosphere of Power

In the Bible, Jehoshaphat was preparing for an enormous battle and instead of sending the warriors first he decided to send out the worshippers.  This is how we should approach our own battles, before rushing in with our own thoughts and plans, we should worship Him and give him control.

Worship invites God’s power into our lives to help us to fight against the resistance that faces us daily.  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Worship is a declaration of Ownership

Worship shows the world Who we belong to.  Our outward worship declares that God reigns over our lives and covers every aspect of it.  When we worship we are fully surrendered to Jesus and we find ourselves in Him. We express that we are children of God. In fact, our worship can help others to find freedom as well. If we are known for anything may it be for unashamed worship.

Worship changes the Atmosphere

Worship changes things.  When you begin to worship the Lord in the midst of trial, you’ll begin to see things shift.  Worship in your home, at work, on your commute and you’ll see God’s hand begin to work in every situation you face.

Never be ashamed of what worship is or what worship does. Be unashamed, worship and proclaim God’s love over every aspect of your life.

To help you live this lifestyle of worship, we put together a Worship Playlist for you, your friends, and your family to enjoy.  Apply these worship principles each day and watch God move in a big way.

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

– Psalm 42:4 –