NMC Audio Podcast

Few would be willing to part with what's most precious to them in life. For a parent, can there be anything more precious than their child? Now, imagine the deep emotion of the Father as He gave His one and only Son, Jesus. He gave. As we conclude this series on generosity, we must ask ourselves: “Is there anything we're withholding from God when He calls us to give?”

The story of Jesus' birth is familiar and is the reason we celebrate. We wish you a Merry Christmas! But, although It's familiar, we don't want to overlook this story. Not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we welcome His generosity, looking at His life in order to live generously toward others like He has for us. 

When you think about the future, how do you feel? Anxious? Confident and expectant? Or perhaps somewhere in between? It's entirely human to feel uneasy about what lies ahead; the uncertainties of tomorrow can often be overwhelming. However, we can find inspiration in the remarkable example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who generously entrusted her future to Christ and His Kingdom.

What's your reputation? What are you known for by other people? In the Christmas story, we're introduced to a man named Joseph with a reputation for being a righteous man. In obedience to God, Joseph puts his reputation on the line for Christ and His Kingdom. Does God call on all His followers to give their reputations for His purposes?

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, once wrote, "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." There are only so many hours in a day, weeks in a year, and years in a lifetime. How will we steward the time the Lord has given us? What might it look like for you to be generous with the time you've been given? 

The heart of God is summed up in the word GIVE! From Genesis to Revelation, there’s a constant stream of God’s attribute of being a "giver." We are most like our Father when we practice generosity in every area of our lives.

We weren't created to live alone. We need each other. In a world filled with brokenness and abandonment, there are burdens too weighty to carry alone. It takes a village to raise a child. Who will be the village for children in the foster system or for children waiting for adoption? Who will be the village for families who answer the call to care for these children? The need is great, but the Church, empowered by God’s Spirit, can meet the needs.

We know recovering from a physical injury takes time and attention. Similarly, to get back to normal after a relationship breakdown requires intentionality and healing. Likewise, to feel right again after committing sin often involves a season of humility and restoration. Thankfully, it's in those sensitive, soft areas where the hope of Jesus makes all the difference. He delves into the deep tissue of our lives to get us to take steps with Him again. 

Our mission is to meet Jesus' call for all believers in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to make fully committed disciples. Today, we celebrate the goodness of God through the Let's Give It All Away offering and sharing stories of Kingdom impact through our local, regional, and global partners!

At the close of his letter, the Apostle Paul sums up everything he has been communicating to the churches in Ephesus and the larger Asia Minor area. He gives a clear, repetitive message to the community of faith: “STAND.” There will be opposition from the enemy, so the response of the Church is to STAND. We're to put on the full armor that God makes available to us through His Son Jesus Christ and STAND!