Newsong Fellowship

Stories from Love Our City: Pastor Lindsey interviews the team who went to Reynosa, Mexico last December and they share the highlights of this new opportunity in partnership with Strategic Alliance. / Pastor Lindsey also interviews Danielle Adair who is leading out in Newsong's participation in World Vision's 2019 Global 6K for Water coming up on May 4th. Pastor Dave closes the service by exploring some of the challenging dynamics that often accompany the modern day interpretation of the cross and it's relationship to what's often communicated as "the gospel".

For over 2000 years, people from all races, backgrounds, cultures, political and economical perspectives have been drawn to the cross. While fully aware that it represents one of humankind's most horrific torture devices, it's worn as jewelry, printed on t-shirts and bumper stickers, carved and painted by renowned artists and displayed in beautiful cathedrals around the world. While we have some understanding of its purpose in history and faith, there's a mystery to it that is rich and complex and full of possibility for seeing the world in a whole new light. How can it continue to transform our lives now... some 2000 years later?

While God desires for us to experience prosperity, the biblical wisdom tradition provides insight into significant ways in which that is different from our general cultural understanding

Anger may be the most misunderstood, and as a result, most destructive emotions in our lives. How do we recognize and heal from our own destructive anger and how do we learn how to deal with it when it's directed at us?

The most difficult aspect of wrestling with our anger may be learning how to be wise in our feeling and expression of anger. Understanding it's relationship to love is where that journey begins

In our faith tradition, communities sometimes have a tendency to want the "one, correct way" of reading scripture. But our sacred stories can offer so much truth, so much beauty, and so much wisdom when we allow the story to turn and reveal new perspectives. Today, we will joyfully re-member one of Jesus' parables that guides us closer to God's vision for all of creation; a vision of generosity, healing, and full celebration.

Of all the subjects in the book of Proverbs, understanding how to be wise with our words is addressed more than any other topic outside of wisdom itself. Words are the building blocks of all reality and have tremendous power for life and death. What does it look like to learn to use our words in such a way that we, and those around us, can flourish?

In the ancient near east it was understood that pursuing wisdom would lead to the best experience of life. To accumulate wisdom meant that you were seeking to understand how things really are and how they're interrelated so that you can make the right decision. That's what it meant to be wise. They also had language for those who did not pursue wisdom. They were called fools. What does it mean, according to the Scriptures, to be a fool?

According to the ancient wisdom traditions, wisdom is a path. The journey is always step by step, right foot, left foot... One grows in wisdom by taking the next right step. While everyone's path is unique in some ways, there's a path that everyone walks at some point, and this path in particular can lead to great wisdom

If every decision that will have a significant impact on your life requires wisdom, the question becomes: "How do I get wisdom?" (The recording from last week's series opener is not available due to technical issues. We apologize for the inconvenience! )

God often invites us into transformation through disruption as he did in a defining moment with Peter. What new thing will God want to do through you in this upcoming year through moments of disruption of defiance?

Two different times Jesus is asked the question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" His response provides insight for each of us seeking to experience the overflowing life of the Kingdom

Jesus' invitation for us to experience an overflowing, abundant, eternal life begins with a certain way of seeing the world... and your life in particular

In all of the recorded words of Jesus in Scripture, there is more emphasis on what he has to say about how we view and manage our resources than any other subject, except for the Kingdom. It's clear that Jesus knows something about our nature that we often can't see for ourselves

In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus throws out what appears at first glance to be a random thought, but turns out to be critical insight for experiencing the overflowing, abundant life he offers

Jesus keeps insisting that there's a better life, an abundant and overflowing life that's available to everyone... And in the opening lines of the prayer he teaches us to pray, he points us to the substance and source that lies at the heart of that very life

The prophet Elisha stood boldly and stared down the full force of the Aramean army. Death was knocking on his door, quite literally, but what is most puzzling, spectacular, confusing, and awe-inspiring is his response. The prophet bore witness to a hope defiant. It's the kind of hope that changes the world, and it might be exactly what we need today.

Pastor Dave closes the series by taking a look at how the Church has lost traction in shaping culture and how living from the right narrative makes all the difference

The "good news" that Jesus kept announcing and inviting people to experience was revolutionary and transformational for both the individuals who chose to "follow" him and, in turn, the culture where it took root. However, in our day and our culture, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this is rarely the case. What are we missing?

The number one criticism of the Church, by far, from those looking in from the outside is that Christians have done immense harm in their actions and their words in regards to those within the LGBT community. What would it look like to respond as followers of Jesus?