Celebrating all that God has done in and through New City for the last 10 years.  

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Today Pastor John and the Togo Mission Team will share with us how they shared and experienced this light in Togo.

Thanks to guest speaker Pastor Mike Veitz as he explores John 13:33-14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as 'the way, the truth, and the life.' We're reminded that our ultimate destination is not just a place, but a person - Jesus Christ. The passage invites us to consider what true paradise means, not as a physical location, but as eternal communion with God. We're challenged to examine our hearts: do we eagerly await this heavenly reality, or are we too attached to worldly pleasures? The message encourages us to refocus on Christ, understanding that He is not merely showing us the way, but He is the way. This truth calls us to make a decision about who Jesus is in our lives - not just a good teacher, but Lord and Savior.

I am the Good Shepherd, John 10 Can something be both brutal and beautiful at the same time? Is it possible for something to be gruesome...and good? When Jesus says "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep", he is saying exactly that. Expect to be encouraged as Pastor John unpacks John 10. You'll hear about a skydiving incident that went haywire, the intimacy we have with Jesus, and why our political candidates aren't our greatest hope.

Do-It-Yourself John 10:1-10   Have you ever done a DIY (do-it-yourself) project? How did it go? The problem with DIY projects is that you don't know you did it wrong until it's done wrong. And even worse, we have no one to blame but ourselves, because we did it ourselves.   While we can laugh at some of our home project disasters, maybe we should think more deeply about how DIY translates into other areas of our lives, like spirituality. Are there any parallels?   Over the next two weeks, we'll explore Jesus' statement in John 10 where he compares us spiritually to sheep. If we can humble ourselves to realize we can't do-it-ourselves, we will find a spirituality in Jesus that can handle all our flaws and idiosyncrasies.

When It Doesn't Go How It's Supposed To Go John 11 Life doesn't stick to the plan, does it? When Jesus tells his dear friend, Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life", it is in a moment where things are not going how they were supposed to go. Her brother just died, and she had warned Jesus it was going to happen. But Jesus' "lateness" to the death shows that life isn't really about things going how they're supposed to go. Rather,when life doesn't go how it's supposed to go, we can face life (and death) with certain hope.

Ephesians 3:1-13 In a world fraught with division and fear, we're reminded of God's grand plan for unity through the gospel. Ephesians 3:1-13 reveals the 'mystery' of God's intention to create a new tribe, transcending cultural and ethnic boundaries. This new family in Christ isn't just about individual salvation, but about forming a community where former enemies become brothers and sisters. We're challenged to look beyond our comfort zones and tribal instincts, recognizing that our greatest commonality is our need for God's grace. As we embrace this gospel-made tribe, we become living testimonies to God's wisdom and greatness, showing the world and even the spiritual realm the power of reconciliation through Christ.

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again."   If you really reflect on this statement, its at least a little awkward. It could even seem arrogant.   No customer who has ever come to our business leaves dissatisfied. No woman who goes on a date with me ever wishes she didn't. No fan that comes to see our sports team play ever wishes they didn't.   I mean, its bold, right? Yet, Jesus says it...that he can satisfy our hunger.

In John 15:1-17, we encounter Jesus' powerful metaphor of the vine and branches, emphasizing our need to remain connected to Him. This passage reminds us that our true identity isn't found in our accomplishments, others' approval, or even our relationships, but in being chosen and loved by Jesus. Despite our unworthiness, He calls us friends and invites us into an intimate relationship. Our role is to abide in Him daily through prayer and Scripture, allowing His love to flow through us and produce fruit. This fruit is primarily characterized by sacrificial love for others, mirroring Christ's love for us. As we reflect on this teaching, we're challenged to make Jesus our first priority and to let His love transform our interactions with others.

Guest Pastor Jimmy Dodd explores the power of community, perseverance, and faith as exemplified in the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We learn that no task is too menial when it is done in service to God, and that opposition does not necessarily mean we are outside of God's will. Ultimately, we are reminded of the extravagant grace and unconditional love God has for us, despite our flaws and mistakes.

John 2:1-11 What can we learn about prayer from Jesus' first miracle of turning the water into wine? Pastor Craig Brown will be talking about drawing closer to Jesus through prayer.

Luke 12:13-34   Da-duh. Da-duh. Do you know those terrifying musical notes from Jaws? What makes sharks so scary is that we can't see them and don't know where they are.    It is kind of like life's problems. We know they're out there, but we hope they don't find us! Thinking about this can bring worry and anxiety.    How do we live a life of faith instead of living in fear of the sharks of life finding us? Pastor John will explore Jesus' comforting words to His disciples in Luke 12.

Luke 9:23-27 & 57-62 Following Jesus is beautiful and breathtaking, but it can also be grueling and tiresome. Weary travelers on the path of Jesus may secretly admit to wanting to quit or forge an easier path. But Jesus reminds us that the path IS hard. His path to us involved Him carrying a cross, and our path in following Him involves a cross as well. But as we relearn Jesus' reasoning, we find fresh motivation to continue on the path. In this sermon, you'll hear why loss is gain, how to reprioritize family around Jesus, and what made Pastor John almost quit a hiking trip.

Acts 2:1-13 Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, but what would that mean for the early church and what does it mean today? New City member/Chaplain Chris Curtis will bring our message this Pentecost Sunday. 

Many moms, women (and people in general) wonder if they matter, and if showing up every day matters. Pastor John will open up an often skipped over passage (Luke 8:1-3) to explore how, even when women feel stretched, feeling small, or insignificant, they matter. 

Don't be like Judas. Don't betray Jesus! John 13:21-30   Simple enough. But if we think that is the only thing we can get out of Judas' betrayal of Jesus at the last supper, we'll miss an opportunity. The first opportunity we'll miss is to learn from the darkness in Judas. How did he get to the point where betraying Jesus made sense? We'll also miss the opportunity to see the light of Jesus' love for Judas, right up until the last moment.

John 14:1-7, Guest Speaker - Pastor Chan Kilgore As we navigate through the thicket of life's uncertainties, from job insecurities to the complexities of personal relationships, this conversation serves as a candid reflection on the universal quest for acceptance and justification. We share personal stories, including my family's own struggles with anxiety, and how embracing both faith and sometimes medication can be an act of grace. Discover how our intrinsic longing for belonging and validation can be fulfilled through the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.

Luke 18:9-14   What's the most common factor in marriages that dissolve? What's the acceptable, even justified, attitude to have towards your political opponents? What's so easy to see in other people, but tough to identify in yourself?   Contempt. Despising or looking down on something about others.   On Sunday, we'll explore the contours of contempt from Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.

The Office character, Ryan Howard, said, "I want guidance. I want leadership. But don’t just, like, boss me around, you know? Like, lead me. Lead me…When I’m in the mood to be led.”   Do we ever approach Jesus the same way? Pastor John looks at Jesus' call to "follow me" from Peter and Matthew's experience in Luke 5.

Guest Preacher/New City Member Chris Curtis Today we will continue our sermon series Transformed by looking at the people Jesus encounters in Luke 5 and how experiencing forgiveness is transformative. How have you been forgiven? Our radical reaction to being forgiven of our sins is to join with Jesus' followers and glorify God.