NMC Audio Podcast

When the church talks about doing life together, it has a singular, plural, and plural meaning. There’s always impact, commitment, and growth in my life. There's something that develops and grows and shines the love of Christ in our group settings. And there's an additional outpouring that happens as we do life together. Paul describes it to the church in Rome, and we're invited to imagine it happening in (and through) our lives as well.

You could sit in the same seat for 20 years and still have almost no one in this room know what’s happening in your life. Romans 12:14-16 is where Paul names what it costs to close that gap. What would it cost you to let someone get close enough to actually require something of you? And what if the distance you've been protecting is the very thing keeping you from what you actually want? 

Looking at Romans 12:9-13, we'll explore the necessity for Christian community. We're saved INTO a family, and the Apostle Paul gives a powerful series of commands on what life together should look like and be shaped by. What's Paul's foundation for this radically loving community? God has loved us, so we love each other. 

Drawing from Luke 5:1-11, this message explores Jesus' call to His first disciples and what it means for believers today. Through the story of the miraculous catch of fish, we'll see how Jesus calls ordinary people into His extraordinary mission, invites His followers to work together for the gospel, and sends them into every sphere of life to reach others with the hope of Christ. 

How can something so familiar be so valuable? Without question, Psalm 23 is one of the favorite and most familiar of all the Psalms. There’s something about its imagery, relatability, and depth that causes us to come back to it time and again. What more could we possibly learn from it? What else does David hope we’ll notice? Is there another reminder God wants to share in these well-worn verses? Surely there is.

We encounter another shift in verse five of the twenty-third Psalm. The LORD becomes the Host of all Hosts. He goes above and beyond in a stunning manner. Lord, you would do that for me? God, I’m just grateful for you.

Verse four is a total change in tone from the previous three verses. We're first introduced to green pastures, quiet waters, and paths of righteousness. Sounds nice, right? However, in striking contrast, verse four introduces us to the valley of the shadow of death. The valley is dark, daunting, and full of potential evil. We all have valley lows, but to whom will we turn to in our greatest times of trial?

It’s not uncommon for something small to affect great change. Two words can do it. “I’m sorry” can diffuse a giant disagreement, and “I do” seals a man and woman together in marriage. A five-minute wait at a “fast food” restaurant tests one’s patience. And just eight seconds makes or breaks a bull rider. David offers something in 36 seconds that can change our lives if we're willing to trust.

David paints a picture of a Shepherd who lovingly provides what His sheep can't provide for themselves: true rest. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters.” Sheep don't naturally rest easily. They're fearful, anxious, restless, and distracted. Yet the Good Shepherd removes fear, calms the chaos, provides, and gently leads us to peace.

Psalm 23 begins with a staggering declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd.” David doesn't place his confidence in circumstances, resources, or even himself. His trust is rooted in the eternal God who feeds, leads, guards, and sustains His people. Even in crisis, trust psalms like Psalm 23 declare confidence in the faithfulness of God. The greatest comfort of Psalm 23 isn't the green pastures or still waters, but the Shepherd Himself.