Giving Grace, 4 of 4 from June 15th, 2025

"God uses our hands to bring blessings when we open them to him."

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the Biblical principles of giving, emphasizing that Christian giving is not about obligation but about grateful, cheerful, and generous gifts according to God's purposes. Pastor Michael highlights that God uses our hands to bring blessings when we open them to Him, and that giving has benefits both for the giver and the receiver. The sermon stresses that all we have comes from God, and our giving should reflect our gratitude and submission to Christ's gospel.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 What needs do we need to share?

• 💬 What do we expect to harvest from how we have given in the past?

• 💬 How are we partnering with Jesus to introduce your neighbors to Him and inviting your neighbors to follow Him?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-14

LINKS

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Giving Grace, 3 of 4 from June 8th, 2025

"Giving is designed to improve the overall health of the entire body."

2 Corinthians 8:10-15  by Ryan Gagnon (@RyGagnon)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the importance of transparent and accountable giving procedures within the church. It emphasizes that proper handling of finances not only honors Jesus but also encourages the body of believers. Pastor Ryan highlights the need for trusted individuals to administer church finances, proactive communication about giving, and the importance of planning in advance. He  connects these practical aspects of giving to the larger spiritual context of following Jesus and participating in His mission.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 What have you intended to do but you've allowed life to get in the way? How has God been speaking to you about this?

• 💬 How is your personal stewardship of God's blessing in your life going? What if anything needs to change?

• 💬 Do you know the why, how and plan of giving at Neighborhood? If not what's stopping you?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5

LINKS

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Giving Grace, 2 of 4 from June 1st, 2025

"Giving is designed to improve the overall health of the entire body."

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 by Ryan Gagnon (@RyGagnon)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the biblical concept of giving as a means to improve the overall health of the church body. It emphasizes that giving is not just about money, but also about time, talents, and resources. Pastor Ryan highlights how giving grows our discipline, teaches personal stewardship, and reflects God's economy of abundance. The sermon encourages Jesus-followers to move beyond intentions to actions, trust God's provision, and participate in His work of blessing others.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 What have you intended to do but you’ve allowed life to get in the way? How has God been speaking to you about this?

• 💬 How is your personal stewardship of God’s blessing in your life going? What if anything needs to change?

• 💬 How have you cared for the body in the past week? If you have a need are you communicating that need?

• 💬 How healthy is the body of Neighborhood Church?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 8:10-15

• 📖 The widow's gift (Mark 12:41-44)

• 📖 God providing bread from the sky (Exodus 16:1-18)

• 📎 God speaks light into existence (Genesis 1:3)

• 📎 God sets boundaries for the ocean (Job 38:11) or (Psalm 104:9)

LINKS

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Giving Grace, 1 of 4 from May 25th, 2025

"When we have received it, we share God’s gracious generosity."

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 by by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the concept of Christian giving, emphasizing that it's not just about money but about the grace of God manifested through generosity. Pastor Michael explains how the Macedonian churches, despite their severe affliction and poverty, displayed abundant joy and generosity. He highlights that true Christian giving stems from first giving oneself to God, then to others, following Christ's example of sacrificial love.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 Whose priorities shape our spending habits?

• 💬 How are we giving ourselves to God first?

• 💬 How does God’s richness towards us change how we see our thrift towards others?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 🖼️ Sermon Slides

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

• 📖 Background on relief offering (1 Corinthians 16:1-6)

• 📖 Famine around Jerusalem (Acts 11:28)

• 📖 Story of faith in Macedoina (Acts 16-17)

• 📖 Jesus’ teaching on money & our heart (Matthew 6:21 & 24)

• 📖 Jesus’ example of generous love (Philippians 2:6-8)

• 📖 God’s demonstration of love (Romans 5:8)

LINKS

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Tripping Hazard, 3 of 3 from May 18th, 2025

"Treating leaders as if they are sus (suspect) will be the tool we use (and the Enemy helps to create) to make our very own tripping hazards."

2 Corinthians 7:2-16 by Matthew Wheelock (@matthew.wheelock.31)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the concept of spiritual tripping hazards, focusing on how believers can avoid stumbling in their faith journey. Pastor Matt Wheelock emphasizes the importance of trusting godly leadership, embracing correction, and maintaining strong relationships within the church community. He contrasts godly grief (conviction) with worldly grief (guilt), encouraging listeners to respond to spiritual guidance with repentance and positive change rather than remaining weighed down by past mistakes.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 Paul mentions 'godly grief' that leads to repentance. How is this different from worldly guilt, and how can we distinguish between the two in our own lives?

• 💬 Pastor Matt emphasized the importance of community in spiritual growth. In what ways might 'doing life alone' hinder our walk with Christ?

• 💬 Paul rejoices in the Corinthians' response to his correction. How can we cultivate a heart that is receptive to spiritual feedback, even when it's uncomfortable?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 7:2-16

LINKS

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Tripping Hazards, 2 of 3 from May 11th, 2025

"We get tripped up when we blend lesser loves with Jesus."

2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

SUMMARY

This sermon warns against the "tripping hazard" of blending Jesus with lesser loves or idols. Using 2 Corinthians 6, Pastor Michael emphasizes the importance of fully surrendering to Christ and not allowing anything to take God's place in our lives. The sermon concludes with a call to repentance and putting God first in all areas.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 What idols are we most distracted by?

• 💬 Have we surrendered our life to Jesus?

• 💬 What compromises are we allowing for in our surrender to Jesus?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 🖼️ Sermon Slides

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 6:11-16a

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 6:16b–7:3

LINKS

• ▶️ The News is Good playlist

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Tripping Hazard, 1 of 3 from May 4th, 2025

"Jesus wants us to walk with Him wholeheartedly, free from obstacles like closed hearts."

2 Corinthians 6:1-13 by Orrin Witt

SUMMARY

This sermon urges believers not to receive God's grace in vain, emphasizing the urgency of responding to the gospel now. Pastor Orrin Witt challenges the congregation to open their hearts wide to God and others, using Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 6 as a model. The sermon stresses that a faith that hasn't changed you probably hasn't saved you, and encourages vulnerability and authentic relationships within the church community.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 What is one barrier in my heart keeping me from God’s grace?

• 💬 How can I respond to God’s call “today” instead of delaying?

• 💬 Who can I open my heart to this week in my church family?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 🖼️ Sermon Slides

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

• 📖 The Urgency of God’s Grace (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

• 📖 The Integrity of God’s Work (2 Corinthians 6:3-10)

• 📖 The Call to Openness (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)

LINKS

• ▶️ The News is Good playlist

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

The News is Good, 4 of 4 from April 27, 2025

"The good news begins and ends with Jesus who is remaking all things."

Colossians 1 & 3 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the transformative power of Christ's work in transferring believers from the domain of darkness to His kingdom. It emphasizes that while Christians still live in a broken world, they are called to live as citizens of heaven, putting to death old sinful habits and embracing Christ-like virtues. The message underscores the importance of community in Christian life and the ongoing process of being renewed in Christ's image.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 Are we trusting Jesus to make us citizens of His kingdom?

• 💬 What old habits are we putting to death?

• 💬 How are we encouraging others in their life with Jesus?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 🖼️ Sermon Slides

• 📖 Read Colossians 1 (Colossians 1:13-23)

• 📖 Read Colossians 3 (Colossians 3:1-17)

• 📖 We do not have to sin (Romans 7:5-6)

• 📖 We can do things pleasing to God (Ephesians 2:10)

• 📖 We love God when we believe and obey (1 John 5:2-5)

LINKS

• ▶️ The News is Good playlist

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

The News is Good, 3 of 4 from April 20, 2025

"The good news is that Jesus’ death & resurrection mean God can give us true life."

Mark 15-16 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

SUMMARY

This sermon explores the core message of Christianity: the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. It emphasizes that God's plan to restore a broken world is not through a set of rules or philosophy, but through the person of Jesus Christ. Pastor Michael explains how Jesus' death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection offer true life to all who believe, providing a way for humanity to be restored to God's original good creation.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 Where have we been looking for a satisfying life?

• 💬 Are we trusting Jesus for our life?

• 💬 Who are we telling about the life Jesus came to make possible?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 🖼️ Sermon Slides

• 📖 Read Mark 15:12-41

• 📖 Read Mark 16:1-8

LINKS

• ▶️ The News is Good playlist

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

The News is Good, 2 of 4 from April 13, 2025

"The good news is that God Himself died to give us mercy."

Genesis 3 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

SUMMARY

This sermon examines the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, explaining the process of temptation and sin. Pastor Michael emphasizes God's mercy in not destroying Adam and Eve. Instead God provides a way for redemption through Jesus Christ. The sermon concludes that "God's mercy is good news" and His justice makes this good news shine, as He Himself paid the penalty for our sin.

REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• 💬 How have we tried to pass blame for our sin to others this week?

• 💬 Who else is being impacted by my rebellions against God?

• 💬 How right does our anger look in the light of God’s mercy?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

• 💾 Download a transcript of this message

• 📰 Blog Summary for this message

• 🖼️ Sermon Slides

• 📖 Read Genesis 3:1-13

• 📖 Read Genesis 3:14-24

• 📖 We would expect an angry and vengeful god to make curses fall on them hard and fast – but instead He curses the rest of creation (Romans 8:20, 22)

• 📖 Sin-confused human logic now worships good things God made rather than the good and very good Creator God Himself (Romans 1:20-25)

• 📖 His patience in our rebellion gives all of us every opportunity to find life. (Romans 3:4)

• 📖 Read 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

LINKS

• ▶️ The News is Good playlist

• Website

• Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

• Donate

• Podcast

• Music by Blue Dot Sessions