NMC Audio Podcast

You may be carrying a heavy load this Easter season. The stresses of life, worries about finances, mental health battles, pressures at work, and on and on... But there's good news! Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, and He offers salvation, rest, joy, and peace to anyone who comes to Him. It's gonna be okay because Jesus is alive!

Sometimes we don’t understand what God is doing—and that’s okay. In John 12, even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t fully grasp what was happening. The crowds cheering at the Triumphal Entry had no idea their Messiah was riding in not to conquer by force, but to lay down His life. Confusion and unmet expectations swirled all around. But Jesus was still moving toward the cross with purpose. Just because they didn’t understand didn’t mean God wasn’t at work. When life doesn’t make sense, we can rest in the truth that He sees the whole picture, and it really is going to be okay.

In 1971, a man from central Indiana penned the lyrics of a gospel song called, "Because He Lives." When Bill and Gloria Gaither first sang the lyrics, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow," they were echoing the belief and hope of centuries of Jesus followers. Because of Jesus, we have hope that things are actually gonna be okay. But how does Jesus show us that truth, and how do we do offer the same for others? Let’s get up close and personal and see what we discover.

Praying with eyes open means being fully aware of the needs around us and responding with compassion and action. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus teaches that serving others—especially the hungry, thirsty, stranger, sick, and imprisoned—is a direct reflection of our service to Him. The passage reminds us that faith is not just about words or rituals but about actively meeting the needs of those around us. When we see a need, we're called to meet it, demonstrating God's love through tangible acts of kindness. Praying with eyes open invites us to see the world through God's eyes and respond with a heart of service.

We love the expressions and exploration of a child learning to talk. We crave hearing from the person with whom we’re falling in love. But on the other hand, we get tired of too many words. We describe some people as "chewing our ears off" or "babbling on" or "flapping their gums." We were made to communicate, and followers of Jesus are called to tell others about Him. While you may be wary of what to say and how to say it, Jesus wants each of us to name what is right in front of us, and in doing so, the world will hear about Jesus.

We’re all called to be water-walkers. We’re not called to the comfort of the boat, but a life on mission—walking on the water with Jesus and doing the impossible. 

---

Whether smuggling Bibles, feeding lepers, or working amongst a Muslim people group, Mick Veach’s commitment to share the love of God has taken him all over the world. As the Global Partners’ Area Director for Central Asia and the Middle East, he has presented the gospel in more than 60 countries. Mick serves as the lead pastor of Kentwood Community Church in Michigan.

Every person's heart is constantly trying to fill itself with something other than God. The trouble is it never works. Nothing in this world is ever enough. Jesus offers us a different path to a blessed life: the path of the pure in heart! 

---

Brad Bullock grew up in a non-Christian home, but his life was radically transformed as a teenager when he began to attend NMC with a friend. As he grew in his relationship with Christ, he felt the call to full-time ministry. Brad, his wife Kelsey, and their three kids live in Fort Wayne where he serves as the executive pastor of next generation at Pathway Community Church.

Just as for Gideon, God’s presence with us is the key to victory. 

---

Geoff Eckart lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Arianna and their three daughters. He’s the lead pastor at Daybreak Church in Hudsonville, MI, and the founder and CEO of Never The Same, a national youth ministry organization with a vision to see new generations transformed in Christ. Geoff is also the chairman of the board for the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

We were created to enjoy rich community with others, but how can we as Christ-followers dive deeper in relationship with each other? In the midst of a solitude and loneliness epidemic, followers of Jesus have a roadmap in the Bible of how to “one-another.” 

---

Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, a nonprofit organization created to develop emerging leaders. His work grew out of 20 years of serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. He has written over 35 books, been featured in multiple articles, and appeared on national broadcasts to talk about leading multiple generations in the marketplace.