Charis New Testament Church

What if everything you've been told about your relationship with God has been backwards? Pastor Chad boldly unpacks Romans 5 to reveal a revolutionary truth that transforms how we see ourselves and our Heavenly Father. Rather than viewing ourselves as enemies God reluctantly tolerates, Chad demonstrates through Paul's teaching that we have peace with God through Christ—the war is over, and reconciliation is complete. His unique perspective challenges traditional doctrines like total depravity, showing instead that sin entered the world's system, not our nature, making us victims of sin rather than enemies of God. Chad connects this powerful revelation to our daily struggles, urging us to stop performing for God's acceptance and start receiving His abundant grace by faith. Just as Abraham was declared righteous before any religious works, we too access God's grace through faith alone—our ticket into His unmerited favor. With passionate conviction, Chad calls us to embrace our true identity as children of the King who can reign over sin and circumstances. Stop seeing yourself as "just an old sinner"—you are justified, reconciled, and deeply loved. This week, when guilt whispers lies about your worth, remember that faith is your access into grace, and you're already standing in it right now.

Can righteousness really be earned through religious performance, or is there a deeper truth that liberates us from endless striving? Pastor Chad tackles this revolutionary question by examining Abraham's story, revealing that our spiritual forefather was declared righteous by faith before he was circumcised—making him father to both Jews and Gentiles through belief, not bloodline. The pastor's powerful insight cuts through religious confusion: "We are not a bunch of sinners saved by grace. We have been saved by grace and now we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." This transforms everything about how we approach God—not as orphans desperately trying to earn acceptance, but as heirs already justified by Christ's finished work. Abraham faced impossible circumstances at 100 years old yet believed God could resurrect dead situations, and the same resurrection power that raised Jesus can bring life to your dead dreams, relationships, and faith. Stop performing for approval you already possess. Identify one area where you've been working for wages instead of receiving grace, and choose to believe that you're justified not by your actions, but by faith in the One who conquered death itself.

When was the last time you asked yourself whether what you have is truly enough? Pastor Tom opened with a powerful truth that sparked this entire message: "Contentment isn't when we have enough—it's when what we have is enough." Through the lens of Paul's declaration in Philippians 4, Tom revealed that contentment isn't some mystical spiritual gift we receive, but rather something we must intentionally learn. Just as Paul learned to live with little or much, with full stomachs or empty ones, we too can discover the secret of thriving in every season through Christ's strength. Tom's vulnerability about his own parenting journey—from dreading diaper changes to treasuring his daughter's final high school moments—illustrated how easy it is to wish away the present while missing its hidden gifts. He challenged us with three practical pathways to contentment: seeking first God's kingdom instead of chasing worldly necessities, cultivating gratitude that focuses on what we have rather than what we lack, and embracing generous living that breaks the grip of materialism. The church needs people who've learned this secret—families struggling financially, empty nesters adjusting to new rhythms, and young adults overwhelmed by comparison culture. Don't let another season slip by in discontentment. This week, choose one area where you'll practice gratitude, seek opportunities to serve others, or take a step toward generous living.

What if everything you've been trying to prove to God, you've already received from Him? Pastor Chad shattered religious performance by exposing the radical truth of Romans 3: your righteousness isn't earned through spiritual scorecards or heritage—it flows from Christ's finished work alone. Addressing Jewish believers who mixed Old Covenant law with New Covenant grace, Paul demolished the myth that circumcision, lineage, or perfect obedience could make anyone righteous before God. Chad's powerful revelation struck at the heart of modern Christianity: we're not employees earning God's approval, but beloved children learning to walk in the righteousness freely given to us. The law's purpose wasn't to save but to reveal our desperate need for a Savior, while the Spirit convicts us of the righteousness we already possess in Christ. When guilt whispers "try harder," Chad urged us to declare boldly: "I am already approved in Christ!" This isn't motivation for spiritual laziness but fuel for radical transformation—living from acceptance, not for it. Stop performing for a position you already hold and start walking in the covenant reality that your unfaithfulness cannot nullify God's faithfulness to you.

What if your religious résumé is actually keeping you from God? Pastor Chad exposed the shocking hypocrisy of Jewish believers who judged others while committing the same sins—proof that external performance means nothing without heart transformation. Using basketball coach wisdom and lottery winner analogies, he reveals how God's kindness isn't permission to stay stuck but power to change from the inside out. Ready to stop performing and start transforming? This message will challenge everything you think makes you "good enough" for God. Don't miss this heart-circumcising truth!

What happens when God's truth becomes our truth? Pastor Chad takes us deep into Romans 1, where Paul addresses a church caught between two worlds—the familiar traditions of the Old Covenant and the revolutionary power of the New. In first-century Rome, Jewish believers faced relentless persecution while wrestling with profound questions: What does it mean to follow Jesus? How do we live this new life? Pastor Chad reveals how Paul wasn't just writing theology—he was addressing real people experiencing real struggles, much like our own. The apostle longed to impart spiritual gifts, not mere information, because Christianity is meant to be lived powerfully, not just studied academically. Chad challenges us to move beyond powerless religion toward the abundant life Jesus promised, identifying areas where we're not experiencing God's salvation—His complete deliverance in relationships, finances, purpose, and peace. The gospel isn't just about heaven someday; it's about transformation today. Don't settle for spiritual entertainment or empty religious performance. Stop hiding behind church activities while Monday through Saturday remains unchanged. Ask yourself: Am I experiencing the power of God in every area of my life? If not, what aspect of the gospel am I not fully believing? The same gospel that saved you has power to heal, restore, and establish you as unshakeable. Will you suppress this truth through compromise, or let it transform everything? Your life depends on your answer.

What if God's greatest works happen not when our plans succeed, but when they completely fall apart? Pastor Chad launches a powerful new series through Romans by revealing how Paul wrote this world-changing letter while his own dreams lay in ruins. Paul planned to travel from Jerusalem to Rome to Spain as a free missionary, but instead found himself arrested, imprisoned, and ultimately executed in the very city he hoped to visit. Yet through these broken plans, he penned the letter that has shaped Christian faith for two millennia. Chad challenges us to stop waiting for perfect circumstances before we obey God, reminding us that we don't need to see the whole staircase—just the next step. The same resurrection power that raised Jesus is available today, not someday when everything makes sense. As we begin this Romans journey together, we're called to embrace our identity as bondservants by choice, serve as Christ's ambassadors right where we are, and trust that God's plans are better than ours even when they don't look like it. Stop putting off obedience until your life lines up perfectly—move forward in faith anyway, because the gospel isn't just good news for the future, it's power for right now.

What if the miracle you've been waiting for isn't just about going to heaven someday, but about living under a risen King today? Pastor Chad revealed the revolutionary truth that Easter isn't merely about resurrection—it's about coronation. When Jesus walked out of that tomb, He wasn't just proving His divinity; He was launching God's new creation and declaring His reign over all of earth. This changes everything about how we live Monday through Saturday. Chad challenged us to stop trying to control every aspect of our lives and instead surrender to the King who rules through love, not force. His throne is a cross, His crown is thorns, and His subjects are volunteers. Because Jesus reigns now, we can forgive the unforgivable, hope in hopeless situations, and bring Kingdom values into grocery store meltdowns and workplace temptations. We're not just waiting for heaven—we're ambassadors of a new world that has already begun. The tomb is empty, death is defeated, and the King is asking you the same question He asked Thomas: "Do you believe this?" Not just intellectually, but enough to stake your life on it? Today, stop defining yourself by your worst mistakes and start living like Jesus is Lord—because He is.

Life can be challenging, and the more self-centered we are, the more challenging it becomes. In this message, we’ll expose some self-centered mindsets, and see that a Christ-centered life brings true freedom from ourselves.

Life can be challenging, and the more self-centered we are, the more challenging it becomes. In this message, we’ll expose some self-centered mindsets, and see that a Christ-centered life brings true freedom from ourselves.