John 15:1-8 • January 4, 2026 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor Scripture calls us to a radically different approach to spiritual growth than what our culture teaches. Instead of trying harder, doing better, or creating elaborate strategies for improvement, Jesus Christ invites us to simply remain. As we navigate this year, the invitation isn't to strive harder but to stay connected, allowing God's life to flow through us and produce fruit that glorifies Him.

John 15:9-17 • December 21, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor Love isn't just another emotion we're supposed to muster up—it's the very power source that lights up everything else in our spiritual lives. We can try so hard to manufacture hope, peace, and joy on our own, only to find ourselves exhausted and empty. But here's the truth: love is the greatest of these because it's the source from which everything else flows. Biblical love isn't the casual 'I love mac and cheese' kind of love ...

Luke 1:39-56 • December 14, 2025 • Gray Clary, NRHC Discipleship and College Pastor What if joy isn't just about putting on a brave face when life gets hard? Luke chapter 1 challenges us to reconsider what joy truly is. Often, we treat joy as emotionless contentment or stoic endurance. But the truth is that joy is a genuine emotion—happiness, gladness, delight—rooted not in our circumstances but in the permanent presence of Jesus. Joy is both received as a gift and actively drawn from as a we...

Ephesians 2:12-17 • December 7, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor

Advent • Lamentations 3:17-26 • November 30, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor

Lessons from the Life of David • I Chronicles 22:6-10 and 29:1-20 • November 23, 2025 • Dan Johnston, NRHC Elder God owns everything, and we are merely temporary managers of His resources. Biblical generosity stems from understanding two fundamental roles: God as the owner of all things and humans as stewards entrusted with managing His resources for His purposes. True generosity is not defined by the amount given, but by the spirit in which we give—willingly, joyfully, and wholeheartedly. Th...

Lessons from the Life of David • 2 Samuel 7:1-18 • November 16, 2025 • Brett Day, NRHC Church Planting Resident We don’t repay God—He lavishes His gifts upon us. When David, at the height of his prosperity, desires to build a house for God, God completely flips the script. Rather than accepting David's offer, He reminds David of all He has already done and promises to build David an everlasting house: a royal dynasty ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The message is clear: God has done for...

Lessons from the Life of David • 1 Kings 1-2 • November 9, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor There is a profound truth that we often resist – we’re not in control, and we never really were. King David, at the end of his life, - frail, cold, and surrounded by unfinished business – invites us to see ourselves in his life. Every person dies with unchecked boxes on their list, unsolved problems, and unresolved relationships. Scripture doesn’t shy away from these uncomfortable realities but in...

Lessons from the Life of David • 2 Samuel 24 • November 2, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor

Lessons from the Life of David • Psalm 63 • October 26, 2025 • Brett Day, NRHC Church Planter in Residence Trials can either make us bitter or better, depending on how we respond to them. Through the lens of Psalm 63, written by David while fleeing from his son Absalom in the wilderness, we see that the worst circumstances can bring out the best character when we choose to seek God. While David's best circumstances often brought out his worst character (such as adultery and murder), his worst...

Lessons from the Life of David • 2 Samuel 18 • October 19, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor Exploring 2 Samuel 18, we confront the sobering reality that, while forgiveness is always available, we cannot erase our past sins. The narrative of David and Absalom illustrates how our actions can create consequences that extend beyond ourselves and affect future generations. David’s earlier sin with Bathsheba triggered a cascade of events, ultimately resulting in civil war and the loss of his s...

Lessons from the Life of David • 2 Samuel 9 • October 12, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor

Lessons from the Life of David • 2 Samuel 11-12 • October 5, 2025 • Dan Johnston, NRHC Elder David’s greatest moral failure in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 is a picture of human fallibility and divine grace. It reminds us that even those closest to God’s heart can fall into sin. It challenges us to recognize our own vulnerability and the importance of keeping short accounts with the Lord. David’s adultery and subsequent cover-up serve as a stark warning – it can happen to anyone. Yet God’s relentless p...

Lessons from the Life of David • 2 Samuel 6 • September 28, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor The story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem reminds us that God's holiness is both dangerous and life-giving. It emphasizes the importance of approaching God with reverence, obedience, and humility, while also highlighting the blessings that come from properly honoring God's presence. Scripture challenges us to consider how we respond to God's holiness in our own lives.

Ephesians 4:1-16 • September 21, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor

Lessons from the Life of David • I Samuel 24-26 • September 14, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor 1 Samuel 24-26 invites us to explore the profound lessons of waiting for God's timing. Through David's encounters with Saul, we witness the struggle between human impatience and divine purpose. David's restraint in the face of temptation to take matters into his own hands serves as a poignant reminder for us all. Scripture challenges us to consider how often we rush God's plan or manipulate c...

I Samuel 18-20 • September 7, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor

Lessons from the Life of David • I Samuel 17 • August 31, 2025 • Dan Johnston, NRHC Elder The true giant in 1 Samuel 17 isn’t Goliath, but God Himself. This story reminds us to view our personal struggles and obstacles through a spiritual lens, recognizing that God is greater than any challenge we encounter. As we face our own giants - be it depression and anxiety, addiction, or strained relationships - we're encouraged to stand firm in faith, knowing that our God reigns above it all. Like Da...

Lessons from the Life of David • I Samuel 16:1-13 • August 24, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor The story of David’s anointing as king reminds us that God’s perspective often differs radically from our own. While we tend to judge by outward appearances, God looks at the heart. We're encouraged to remain faithful in our current circumstances, understanding that God can use ordinary people and situations for extraordinary purposes. The parallel between David's seeming insignificance and Ch...

Nehemiah 1-13 • August 17, 2025 • Chad Merrell, NRHC Lead Pastor God uses brokenness to stir a burden within us that, when surrendered to Him, becomes faith in action. Nehemiah’s story of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls isn't just ancient history—it serves as a blueprint for our own spiritual journeys. Our awareness of brokenness, both in ourselves and in the world around us, can be the very thing God uses to activate us for His purposes. Nehemiah challenges us to stop hiding our brokenness or k...