Love has been called one of the building blocks of a happy life. Every human being has a deep-seated desire to love and be loved. The Bible teaches that God doesn’t just embody love…but that He actually IS love. This Christmas season, we’re reminded that Jesus came into the world driven by a relentless love for His people. When we experience this type of love, God enables us by the power of His Spirit to become conduits of His love to others around us. This Christmas season, let’s soak in the love of God that Jesus ushered into the world in the 1st Advent, while looking for ways to share that love with those around us!

Peace. Such a simple word, but something that seems so unattainable in our broken world full of pain, anger, disappointment and sadness. And yet, God’s design for His people has always been peace. From the garden in Genesis to the consummation of God’s Kingdom in the book of Revelation--shalom--real peace, is a gift designed for those who love Him. In a season of chaos and busyness, advent reminds us of the peace Jesus came to bring. Peace with God, peace with others and peace of mind can all be found in the person and work of Jesus alone. Do you long for peace during this season? Press into Jesus, the Prince of Peace who gives freely to all who are weary and in need of rest.

Throughout church history, the advent season has been one of the most anticipated & celebrated times each year for those who follow Jesus. The word advent means: coming or arrival. We’re both celebrating the 1st advent of Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago, and anticipating His 2nd advent when He will return to make all things new and right. The first advent theme we’re pressing into this season is hope. Our culture is operating in a hope deficit right now. The world seems dark, cold, violent--in much the same way it surely seemed the night Jesus was born into our broken world. But God has always been a God of hope, and as His people--we are a people of hope. If your hope has been lost, or even if it's just begun to dwindle a little--the advent season is the time to reclaim your unshakable hope in an unshakable king. Hope has arrived!

DNA - R.E.A.L. Worship - Rich Miller, Guest Preacher 11.28.21 by New Life of Asheville

As we continue in our DNA series discovering some of the core fundamentals of the Christian faith, we can’t skip over the theme of biblical community. At New Life, authentic community is one of our 4 core values. The reality is, many Christians in Western culture struggle to live out the great commandment and the great commission precisely because they’ve neglected the call to live in authentic, christian community. By looking at the early church in Acts as well as a strong command in the book of Hebrews, we can build out a healthy view of our call to community as the people of Jesus. The truth of the matter is that authentic community serves as the springboard into fearless mission and multiplying disciples. It’s as vital to spiritual health as oxygen is to physical health. Even with all its challenges and flaws, authentic community is a gift from the Lord for our good and His glory!

Last week we launched our DNA series by looking at one of our four core values: multiplying disciples. This week, we unpack another New Life core value: fearless mission. The most common command in scripture is some version of: “do not fear!”. Fear seems to be one of the most common and besetting problems in the human heart. Before we fully engage in the mission of God, we have to deal with the fear that keeps us from all that He has for us. Once we begin living fearlessly, we can jump into engaging people and cultures that so desperately need the freedom only Jesus provides. Joining Jesus in His mission of reconciliation is the abundant life every follower of Jesus was created for! The glorious mission of Jesus awaits the fearless heart.

Vince Lombardi, one of the most decorated coaches in NFL history, famously began every football camp by holding up a football and saying: “gentlemen, this is a football.” Continuously going back to the fundamentals is crucial to success in almost every arena of life. Our Christian walk is no different. We begin our DNA series by looking at one of our four core values: multiplying disciples. It’s been so easy the last couple of years to get distracted with political debates, virus concerns, and even good things like church activities, that it can be easy to forget the foundational principles that drive our faith. Jesus opens and closes the gospel of Matthew with a clear and direct call to become disciples and make disciples. This is an indispensable part of the DNA of every Christian and at New Life, we want to be relentless about multiplication in all that we do!

As we put a wrap on our AND series during mission month, we’re going to look at one of the most neglected aspects of mission: vocation as mission. God instituted work in the garden before the fall, meaning work was part of paradise and not a curse resulting from sin. Seeing our vocation as worship and leveraging our work as mission is absolutely key to the church accomplishing the great commision of Jesus. We’ve all been supernaturally and strategically placed where we are to be salt and light to those around us. The only real question for the follower of Jesus is this: how will you use your vocation to press forward the kingdom of Jesus in meaningful and creative ways for the good of others and the glory of Christ?

Mission: Inward and Outward - Rodney Howell, Missions and Outreach Pastor 10.24.21 by New Life of Asheville

This week, we had a guest pastor "Rafiq" from the Middle East. For safety concerns, no video is available, but you may hear the message here!