Newchurch Podcast

You can unsubscribe from almost anything with one click. Can we treat people the same way? "We want the benefits of family… without the inconvenience of people." "Without friction, there's no growth." We've been trained to think like consumers: What's in it for me? Does this work for me? Should I find something better? What if belonging isn't about finding the perfect place… but learning how to stay?

What if the moment you thought everything was falling apart… was actually the moment everything was being made right? In this message, we explore one of the most misunderstood moments in history—a moment that looked like loss, confusion, and absence… until it wasn't. Why do we assume something is wrong when things change? Why do we think something is missing when God may be doing something better? If you've ever felt like something important is "gone"—this message might change how you see it.

Turns out adulthood does not involve all the very specific problems Saturday morning cartoons led us to believe. Honestly… kind of disappointing. But you know what does show up? A life that doesn't go the way you expected. Palm Sunday was like that too. Everyone thought they knew exactly what Jesus was about to do… and they couldn't have been more wrong. "They weren't wrong about the Messiah coming. They were wrong about what He came to do." They wanted a king to fix their problems. Jesus came to die for their sins. Not what they were expecting. Exactly what they needed. If you've ever looked at your life (or God) and thought: "This is not what I was expecting…" Yeah… this one's for you.

This week, we wrap up our Five Capitals series with a message that gets uncomfortably practical: Physical & Financial Capital—your time, your stuff, your money, your presence. Yeah… that part. Before you start thinking, "Here we go, church just wants my money," take a breath. This isn't about guilt. It's about something deeper. "The church doesn't start with what we bring. It starts with what God gives." From potluck tables to Apollo 13, this message explores how ordinary things—food, homes, conversations, generosity—become the "infrastructure" God uses to change lives. "Macaroni and cheese is the gooey infrastructure of the mission." We all love generosity… until it costs us something. "We trust God with our eternity… but maybe not access to our bank account." But what if the point isn't pressure… it's freedom? "We don't give to be accepted. We give because we already are." This message is about: living open-handed instead of afraid showing up instead of sitting out bringing what you have i

Most people assume the church runs on a few "professional Christians." But that's not how God designed it. What if the church actually runs on everything you know… everything you've learned… and everything you're good at? (You.) This week we talked about Intellectual Capital—the knowledge, skills, and experiences God has already placed in your life and how He wants to use them for His mission. A few lines from the message: "Everything you know. Everything you've learned. Everything you've practiced over the years. That's your kung fu." "Some people know how to fix engines. Some people know how to build things. Some people know how to explain complicated ideas so they can actually be understood." "The question isn't whether you have something to bring. The question is whether you're willing to bring it to the table." This message is for you.

You can have 1,200 followers, three group chats, a full calendar… and still feel like nobody actually knows you. That's the world we live in right now. More connected than ever. More lonely than ever. We don't need another podcast, another hot take, or another perfectly curated church service. We need people. Real relationships. People who notice when we walk in the room. People who remember our name. Because here's the truth: "Church stops feeling like an event and starts feeling like family the moment someone says, 'Hey… I'm glad you're here.'" This week we're talking about Relational Capital — the relationships God uses to grow faith, build the church, and bring people to Jesus. Because the Gospel usually travels along the roads of relationship. You're always welcome to join us: https://www.NewChurch.Love Please Help support more content like this by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.

After this week's message someone told me, "The part about letting the Spirit work instead of doing it all myself… that's where I'm stuck. I feel like a hamster on a wheel." Maybe you do too. We hear, "Stop controlling. Let God." But what does that mean? Do we just stop trying? Jesus never tells us to stop moving. He tells us to stop being the engine. There's a difference between running from anxiety and abiding in trust. That difference changes everything.

It's our 11th birthday. Which means we're officially old enough to think we know everything… and still young enough to need a ride. This week we're talking about growth — not the kind that's about numbers on a screen, but the kind that decides whether the Gospel keeps moving forward or quietly fades into the background. Paul writes 2 Timothy knowing he's about to die. He doesn't make a five-year plan. No leadership conference. Just a final charge: Are we passing the baton… or just holding it? Are we running our race — or coasting? And here's the tension: "Christ will preserve His Church. But whether we're part of that mission is something we'll answer for." It's hopeful. It's direct. It's a rally cry. Hit play. Let's run. www.NewChurch.Love

Romans is the book you read and then think, "Well… that escalated quickly." It's the book that calmly says things like, "None is righteous." "You can't fix this." "Your best effort still isn't enough." Which is not usually how you start a motivational talk. Romans is also the book that says, "But now…" "There is no condemnation." "Nothing can separate you from the love of God." So if you've ever wondered: Why Christianity isn't just self-improvement Why trying harder doesn't bring peace Or why Paul sounds like he's arguing with everyone at once This letter is for you. Today we're doing a flyover of Romans—not because it's simple, but because it's essential. And fair warning: Paul is going to take apart everything we trust to make ourselves feel okay… before giving us something better. You're always welcome to join us: https://www.NewChurch.Love Please Help support more content like this by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.

What if the thing you're worried about… is something God isn't worried about at all? A lot of us grew up believing that strong faith attracts God—and weak faith pushes Him away. So we spend our lives checking our sincerity, measuring our consistency, and wondering if we're faithing hard enough for Jesus. But what if that whole framework is off? This sermon is for the person who takes Jesus seriously—but quietly wonders if they're doing good enough. For the person who wants to be faithful, but isn't sure their faith measures up. For anyone who's ever left church asking, "Am I okay with God?"

Most Christians don't struggle with belief. They struggle with connection. If you've ever wondered why your faith feels thinner than it used to… why patience runs out by Tuesday… why love feels more like effort than overflow… This sermon isn't about trying harder. It's about staying connected.

We talk about love all the time—but we usually mean like. We love chocolate. We love our favorite song. We love people who are easy to love. But that's not what Jesus means when He says, "Love one another." In this sermon, we flip love right-side up and ask what it actually looks like when love costs us something, shows up in ordinary life, and gets handed to people who didn't earn it. As it turns out, "The fruit of the Spirit is not for you—it's for the people God puts in your life." And that changes everything about faith, work, family, and the way we treat each other. Most of us understand the assignment, we just refuse to do it. This message digs into the Fruit of the Spirit, Lutheran theology of vocation, and why "We know the assignment. We just refuse to do it." It's honest, a little uncomfortable, and deeply freeing—because the Gospel reminds us that "You are not the source. You are not the goal. You are the delivery system." You don't need more love in your life—you need to give it away.

In this quick flyover of the Book of James: 1. Have you ever noticed his way of teaching sounds more like Jesus than any other epistle in the New Testament? 2. There's a lot of reminders that believing the right things are actually doing the right things are not the same things. 3. You'll want to put some ice on those bruises after you listen. Part of the Making Sense of the Bible series where Pastor Frank covers an entire book in one sermon. More here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlX1sT616PgaswRu7_jYb5MHZLKIgGbgx  Join us at NewChurch: www.NewChurch.Love 

Most of us don't struggle to believe in God. We struggle to believe that this moment isn't the whole story. When life hurts, we assume it's final. When the world feels broken, we wonder if God lost the plot. But the Bible isn't a collection of random stories or inspirational quotes. It's one story—honest, messy, and stubbornly hopeful—from beginning to end. Here's the line to hold onto today: If you ever find yourself in a bad situation, that doesn't mean the story is over. And this one's worth writing down: The only difference between a tragedy and a happily ever after is where you stop telling the story. Today we're going to take a flyover of the Bible—from Genesis to Jesus—to see the story God has been telling all along… and why your story is going somewhere good.

Christmas is usually presented as a season for people who have it together—full houses, happy endings, and neatly wrapped joy. But the story we're given in Scripture tells a different truth. In this Christmas Eve message, we meet a God who comes not for the successful, but for the weary… not for the confident, but for the fearful… not for the winners, but for those who feel like life hasn't worked out the way they hoped. Through the words of Isaiah, the promise of the angels, and the story behind A Charlie Brown Christmas, we'll see how God's good news meets us in our disappointment, loosens our grip on false security, and gives us a gift we never thought could really be for us. This is the good news of great joy—for losers like us. "Faith doesn't make suffering disappear—it just means suffering doesn't get the last word." "Life keeps handing us empty boxes." "Sure, it's the same gift He gave you last year—but it's still the best."

Today's message is from Angel Hart. Angel shares a story about Chuck E. Cheese that turns out to be more theological than you'd expect—and reflects on what's been surprising and formative during his time at seminary in St. Louis. At the heart of the message is a simple but challenging question: What kind of theologian are we really—and who is forming whom? Is God shaped by our expectations, or are we being shaped by His Word and the cross of Christ? Mic-drop lines you'll hear today: "The theologian of glory doesn't just live out there—he lives in me." "The Christian life isn't about getting God on my terms, but surrendering to the One who loves me." Let's listen as Angel points us again to Christ crucified—the wisdom and power of God.

Christmas is supposed to be peaceful. So why does it feel like emotional dodgeball with people you love? Some things aren't funny when there's an empty chair. Some relationships didn't magically heal this year. And some of us are just trying not to take the bait at dinner. This message isn't about fixing your family. It's about the hope that God is fixing the world. "You may not be able to heal the fractures in your family, but you can refuse to make them deeper." Grace and peace.

If your soul has been living off spiritual junk food — approval cravings, doom-scrolling, porn, perfectionism, hustle culture, and "Christianity but without the cross"... This week's sermon is basically God shaking us by the shoulders and shouting: "Stop eating out of the trash — dinner is ready." Mic-drop lines: • "We are allergic to grace. We hate grace." • "The gospel is a party where you bring less than nothing and end up getting everything." • "Only Jesus says, 'It is finished. I did it for you.'" • "Some people imagine heaven is a 24/7 worship concert. I hope there's at least snacks." If you're hungry for something that actually satisfies — this is the feast of grace.

Your Christmas tree is doing more theology than half the internet. No, really. It's a giant glowing symbol of why you feel restless, why you ache, and why Jesus came. Let's talk about it. Bring your nostalgia and your need for hope. You're always welcome to join us: https://www.NewChurch.Love Please Help support more content like this by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.

This is a dive into Paul's farewell in Acts 20—the part where grown men ugly-cry on a beach because ministry actually mattered to them. If you've ever wondered why people drift, why it hurts, and why your life is always preaching even when your mouth isn't… yeah, we're going there. Mic drops: • "Some of us are leading people into spiritual danger simply by doing nothing." • "Freedom is doing what you want—after Jesus changes what you want." Come get humbled. And encouraged. And maybe spiritually jump-started. You're always welcome to join us: https://www.NewChurch.Love Please Help support more content like this by texting the word "Give" to 832-400-5299.