NMC Audio Podcast

The first followers of Jesus were not unlike you and me. Like them, we have a place, we're surrounded by people, and we also have problems. As we look into the living room of a woman named Mary, we can learn lessons about trusting Jesus in the everyday aspects of our lives—both big and small. What's the reputation of her home? And how will our own homes be known?

In the story of Mary and Martha, we discover that serving Jesus is about more than what we do; it’s just as much about how we do it. While Martha was busy serving, Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His words. Let’s examine our own hearts, consider what truly motivates our service, and ask whether the means by which we pursue God’s vision align with His heart. Because ultimately, the better way begins not with doing more for Jesus, but with being with Him.

Mary was young, ordinary, and largely unknown. Yet God chose her for something far greater than she could've imagined. When the angel Gabriel announced God’s plan, she simply responded with humble, willing obedience: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” God loves to work through ordinary people who are willing to say yes. Nothing is impossible with God. 

What does it mean to truly know love, and what happens when that love takes hold of you? Paul says it grips us and is compelling. But where does it place us, how does it steady us, and what does it do with our waiting? Let’s discover the grip of Christ's love.

“Zeal in the day-to-day is about being alive to the important things around us. It is about being awake to God, aware of His presence and calling especially in those hidden moments of

our day.” —Uche Anizor, "Overcoming Apathy"

“The spiritual life is neither an art nor a science. To arrive at union with God, all one needs is a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, do nothing but for His sake, and to love Him only.” —Brother Lawrence, "The Practice of the Presence of God"

Ever wish you could see people differently—past the annoyances, the assumptions, the judgments? And do you ever wish people would see you without those same obstructions? Jesus makes it possible! We're diving into what it means to be compelled by His love, constrained by grace, and made completely new. Come see with new eyes.

Someone will always seem better, faster, or more impressive than you. And somewhere, someone is quietly questioning why you do what you do, or why you say what you say. When that happens— and it will—what will shape your identity?

One of the most relatable moments in the gospel narratives is when a hurting father utters these words to Jesus: “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” Are you struggling to be compelled to live for Jesus instead of yourself because of doubt or unbelief? Faith in Christ requires just that—faith. Are you convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died, and rose again from the grave? Are you convinced that the way of Jesus is the better way? 

Are you awake to God? Paul says that the love of Christ should compel us. When we truly grasp what Jesus has done for us, we can’t keep living as if life is all about us. His love changes our direction, our priorities, and our purpose. We no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who died and rose again for us. The question is simple: What would change if the love of Christ truly compelled the way you live?