Charis New Testament Church

What's in a name? Far more than we realize, especially in God's kingdom. Pastor Chad unveils the profound spiritual significance of names in Scripture, where they weren't mere labels but declarations of destiny and nature. Through an fascinating exploration of Genesis 5's genealogy, we discover how even a list of names prophetically points to Christ - from "man appointed to mortal sorrow" to the "blessed God who came down." Most importantly, Jesus has given believers access to His own name - the name above all names - following His death and resurrection. This divine authorization carries unprecedented spiritual authority and privilege, though many Christians today treat it as just a prayer closing. Through Christ's name, we've been given a new identity and destiny that transcends our past labels of failure or shame. The kingdom of God operates through family relationships rather than religious rules, and our position as children of God grants us the right to use Jesus' name with power. This revelation calls us to step into our true identity and authority as kingdom citizens, using Christ's name not as a mere formula but as the expression of our new nature in Him.

What does it mean to truly live as God's beloved child? In this powerful message, Pastor Chad unpacks how the Kingdom of God operates through family relationships rather than religious obligation. Drawing from Jesus' teachings, he explains that God created humanity not for servitude, but for loving fellowship as His children. Through Christ's sacrifice, we've been freed from our "orphan mentality" and given a new identity as righteous sons and daughters. Pastor Chad challenges common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit's role, revealing that He convicts us not of our sins, but of our righteousness in Christ and empowers us to destroy the works of darkness. The sermon culminates in a liberating truth: believers have been "pre-forgiven" and can walk in complete confidence before their Father. This fresh perspective on Kingdom living invites the church to stop hiding in guilt and shame, and instead embrace their true identity as God's beloved family, bringing Heaven's reality to Earth through lives transformed by grace.

In a powerful exploration of kingdom living, Pastor Chad unveils a transformative truth: the kingdom of God has no past—only His story. Rather than focusing on condemnation, Pastor Chad reveals that the Holy Spirit's role isn't to convict believers of sin, but rather to convince us of our righteousness in Christ. Drawing from Sarah's story in Scripture, he demonstrates how God rewrites our history when we repent, showing that our past literally ceases to exist in God's kingdom. The message culminates in a liberating revelation: we must close the door to our past and focus forward, understanding that God isn't a God of second chances, but of new beginnings. This fresh perspective challenges believers to embrace their true identity as citizens of a kingdom where only the present and future exist, empowering them to walk in freedom and confidence.

Have you ever wondered what true freedom in Christ really means? In this powerful message, the pastor unveils how Jesus didn't merely perform a "prison transfer" but came to set us completely free. Drawing from Galatians 5:1, he emphasizes that Christ's ultimate purpose was freedom itself – not to make us slaves to religion, but to transform us into willing bondservants who serve out of love. Through vivid examples from Scripture, the pastor contrasts living by rigid rules versus living by the law of love, explaining how genuine love for God and others naturally fulfills all commandments. He challenges the common misconception that Christianity is about following a set of regulations, instead painting a picture of God's kingdom as a family bound by loving relationships. The message culminates in a stirring call for believers to embrace their freedom in Christ while choosing to serve Him wholeheartedly as bondservants – not out of obligation, but from a place of received and reciprocated love. This fresh perspective invites us to examine how we're living: Are we trapped in legalism, or walking in the liberating love of Christ?

What does true freedom in Christ really look like? In this powerful message, Pastor Chad challenges traditional religious thinking by exploring how the kingdom of God operates through freedom, not bondage. Drawing from Paul's bold declaration that "all things are lawful" (1 Corinthians 6:12), he reveals how many Christians live under unnecessary religious rules and traditions that Jesus never intended. Through vivid examples and Scripture, he shows how fear-based legalism has created burdens that God never meant for His children to carry.The pastor shares how genuine freedom comes from knowing Jesus personally and being led by the Holy Spirit, not from following man-made regulations. He emphasizes that God relates to us as a loving Father who wants His children to mature in freedom, not live in fear. Using practical examples about cultural Christian taboos, he demonstrates how legalism often masks underlying fears and lack of trust in God's transforming power.The message concludes with a powerful call to examine what rules we've added to our faith walk and to embrace Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:29-30 to take His easy yoke and learn the "unforced rhythms of grace." True kingdom living is found in relationship with Jesus, not religious performance.

In a powerful exploration of divine love and self-worth, Pastor Chad challenges us to confront a profound truth often overlooked in Christian circles: before we can truly love others, we must first learn to love ourselves with the same unconditional love God has for us. Drawing from Matthew 22:36-38, he reveals how religion's emphasis on human depravity has obscured our inherent value as beings created in God's image. Through a compelling analogy of God's investment in humanity – trading Jesus for us – Pastor Chad illustrates our immeasurable worth in the Father's eyes. This revolutionary perspective dismantles the performance-based, conditional love many Christians harbor toward themselves and others, explaining how fear and control have replaced the freedom and affection that should characterize Kingdom relationships. The message culminates in an urgent call to embrace vulnerability, reject isolation, and demonstrate Christ-like love through genuine affection and connection within the church community. As Pastor Chad powerfully concludes, only by accepting and living from God's unconditional love can we fulfill our destiny to transform earth into a reflection of heaven.

What does it truly mean to live in God's unconditional love? In this powerful message, Pastor Chad challenges our traditional understanding of how we relate to God's love, emphasizing that we must first receive and experience His love before we can truly love Him or others. Drawing from Scripture, he explains that God's kingdom is fundamentally one of love - not a love we strive to earn, but one that has been freely given through Christ. Pastor Chad confronts the "orphan mentality" that plagues many Christians, who constantly try to prove their worth to God, and instead points to the transformative truth that God's love is completely unconditional and unearned. Through personal examples and biblical insights, he illustrates how living from God's love, rather than for it, radically changes our relationship with Him and others. The message culminates in a compelling call for believers to stop trying to love God through religious duty and instead focus on receiving and believing in His perfect love, which naturally leads to authentic worship and service. This fresh perspective on God's kingdom of love offers hope for those caught in performance-based Christianity and invites them into a deeper experience of God's unconditional acceptance.

Have you ever wondered what it means to truly represent Jesus in today's world? In this powerful message, Pastor Tom unpacks how we are called to be living reflections of Christ, just as Jesus perfectly represented the Father. Drawing from John 12 and Luke 4, he illuminates how Jesus consistently declared His identity and mission - and how we're empowered to do the same. Through the compelling metaphor of being "God's masterpiece" from Ephesians 2:10, Pastor Tom reminds us that we're created anew in Christ to accomplish the good works He planned long ago. He challenges listeners to align their thoughts and words with God's perspective, emphasizing that we're equipped with the same Spirit that empowered Jesus' ministry. The message culminates in a stirring corporate declaration of identity in Christ, reminding believers that they are righteous, empowered, and positioned to manifest God's kingdom on earth. Will you step into your divine identity and let Christ's light shine through you?

What if everything we thought we knew about revival was actually holding us back from experiencing God's kingdom? In this powerful message, Pastor Chad challenges traditional religious thinking by asserting that we don't need to wait for revival – we simply need to live as normal Christians in God's kingdom. Drawing from Scripture, he explains that Jesus didn't perform miracles because He was God, but rather as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit, setting an example for us to follow. Pastor Chad reveals how religious misconceptions about God's sovereignty and revival have created unnecessary barriers between believers and their full potential in Christ. The key insight is that God is primarily relational, not controlling, and He responds to those who draw near to Him. Rather than waiting for special movements or prophetic words, we're called to mature in our faith by taking personal responsibility for our spiritual growth. Pastor Chad urgently calls the church to shift from a revival mindset to kingdom living, emphasizing that transformation comes from the inside out as we focus on Jesus and allow His presence to increase in our daily lives. It's time to move from being average Christians who compare themselves to others to becoming normal Christians who reflect Christ Himself.

Here's a compelling 175-200 word summary of Pastor Chad's sermon:What if everything we've labeled as "revival" is actually just normal Christianity? With this provocative question, Pastor Chad challenges our understanding of what it means to live as followers of Christ. Drawing from Scripture, he boldly declares that he doesn't believe in revival – not because he doubts God's power, but because the New Testament presents supernatural living as the standard, not the exception. Through powerful illustrations comparing "average" versus "normal" Christianity, Pastor Chad reveals how we've mistakenly used human averages rather than Jesus as our measuring stick for spiritual life. He emphasizes that Jesus set the bar for normal Christian living, and anything less is actually abnormal. The sermon weaves together biblical examples from Acts and the Gospels to show that the early church never spoke of revival – they simply lived in the power of the Kingdom daily. Pastor Chad calls believers to stop waiting for some future spiritual awakening and instead take personal responsibility for manifesting God's Kingdom now. His urgent challenge: start seeing yourself not as someone waiting for revival, but as someone carrying revival within you. Through practical examples of healing, deliverance, and spiritual authority, he shows how every believer can shift from being a spiritual thermometer to becoming a thermostat that changes atmospheres for God's glory.