This weekend, Tyler kicked off our new series, “The Gospel According to Mark.” In the Gospel of Mark, the word gospel means “Good News,” and the heart of that good news is that Jesus is King. While many people think of the gospel only as forgiveness of sins and the promise of heaven, Mark shows a bigger picture: through Jesus, God’s kingdom has arrived.

Jesus demonstrated this kingdom by healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins, and teaching with authority–showing His power over every part of life. Humanity was created to represent God but turned toward its own kingdoms instead. Jesus came to defeat evil, restore humanity, and invite people back into God’s kingdom.

Because His kingdom is now and near, the invitation is clear: “Repent of your sins and believe the Good News.”

In this Bible study sermon, Tyler explores the Gospel of Mark and its central question: Who is Jesus?

Mark opens boldly: Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of God.” But as the story unfolds, we see that He is not the kind of Messiah people expected. He teaches with authority, performs miracles, forgives sins, and draws crowds. But instead of presenting a conquering king, Mark shows us a Savior who embraces suffering, rejection, and the cross.

Mark structures his Gospel in three movements:

What makes Mark unique is how honest he is about the disciples’ failures and struggles. They misunderstand Jesus. They argue. They fall asleep. They deny Him. They run away. And the Gospel ends abruptly without neat resolution…because it leaves the decision to us.

Why? Because Mark leaves the question open for us: Will we follow a Messiah who calls us to cross-shaped, self-sacrificial love?

It’s not too late to follow!

This weekend, we wrapped up our Abide series with a powerful Lent Prayer & Worship gathering focused on the spiritual practice of Sunday worship and gathering together as the Church.

Drawing from Hebrews 10, Terrence reminded us that perseverance in faith is not an individual pursuit. We are called to encourage one another, hold fast to hope, and resist the temptation to drift. Gathering on Sundays isn’t just a habit…it’s how God sustains us. It reminds us that darkness hasn’t won, our hope is alive, and we belong to something eternal.

Sunday worship anchors us in hope, strengthens our endurance, and calls us back into God’s bigger story. May we continue to abide in Christ, not alone, but together.

Today marks the launch of our 42-Day Lent Rule of Life, a church-wide journey designed to help us intentionally abide in Christ together.

Throughout Lent, we’re inviting you to step into a simple daily rhythm–putting each spiritual discipline into practice together:

Monday – Fasting

Tuesday – Confession

Wednesday – Gratitude

Thursday – Generosity

Friday – Celebration

Saturday – Rest

Sunday – Church Gathering

To guide us, we’ve created a Rule of Life Journal to help you reflect and stay engaged each day. We’re also continuing our Bible Before Phone daily devotion that aligns with each day’s practice.

To download the Rule of Life Journal, visit necchurch.org/resources.

To join our Bible Before Phone, text "Bible" to 833-275-2412.

Our heart is for the entire church to participate. These practices are not about adding pressure to your schedule; they’re about creating space for God to shape us. We believe that leaning into these 42 days will deepen your connection with God, increase your joy, strengthen your mental and spiritual health, and draw us closer together as a church family.

Even when the practices feel simple or repetitive, we trust that the Holy Spirit will meet you in fresh and meaningful ways each day. Let’s lean in together and allow this Lent season to shape us into a more mature, unified body of Christ.

Do you need rest today?

Terrence acknowledges what we all feel…exhaustion. Whether from work, parenting, driving, lack of sleep, constant news, or simply trying to keep up with life, there is a collective weariness in our culture. While some fatigue is unavoidable, much of it stems from our own striving.

We often live like “little gods,” trying to control outcomes and earn our value. In that mindset, rest becomes optional instead of essential.

Hebrews 4 reminds us that God’s rest is still available today. True rest begins with faith–trusting God’s promises and His faithfulness. Like Israel, we miss rest when we choose unbelief. But God’s invitation still stands: “Today.”

In a culture that glorifies hustle, Scripture teaches that rest is entered, not earned. It is a gift made possible through Christ’s finished work. We don’t achieve it, we enter it by surrendering self-reliance, approval-seeking, and control.

The gospel is not only our hope for eternity; it is our invitation to experience Christ’s rest today.

Will you enter it?

The series introduces spiritual practices that help believers live more intentionally connected to God, and this week’s focus is celebration.

Celebration is not a distraction from faith but a vital expression of it. Scripture shows that God is not opposed to joyful celebration, He initiates it, commands it, and participates in it.

Tyler’s message traces celebration through the biblical story:

Christian celebration is not about indulgence for its own sake, but about honoring God as the giver of every good gift. Ultimately, the message encourages the church to embrace celebration as a spiritual rhythm, reminding us that joy is meant to be a defining mark of life with Christ, not an occasional exception.

By the end of the week, believers are encouraged to a practical challenge to celebrate God over a meal by (1) enjoying good food and drink, (2) sharing it with fellow believers, and (3) inviting someone they normally wouldn’t—reflecting Jesus’ inclusive table.

What Will They Remember About You?

There’s a moment in Scripture where a woman’s life is remembered… not by her words, but by her actions and the needs she quietly met. Her generosity was steady, personal, and practical. When she died, the community gathered not with words, but with tangible evidence of her impact. Her name was Tabitha.

Biblical generosity is more than giving money, it is a way of life that powerfully reflects Jesus to the world. The story of Tabitha in Acts 9 highlights how every day, faithful generosity can transform communities and draw people to God.

In a world full of outrage, noise, and quick opinions, this sermon invites us back to a simpler, braver calling… To love our neighbors, serve consistently, and to live lives so generous they become an altar for God’s power.

This Thursday, Tyler challenges us to do our part by cultivating habitual, practical, evangelistic generosity, and intentionally building it into our Rule of Life.

To help us discern where God is calling us to live generously here in the ‘Ville, Tyler offers three guiding questions. Answering even one moves you closer to God’s invitation; discovering the overlap of two or three can bring you to the center of His calling for you.

When generosity becomes personal, consistent, and embodied, it doesn’t just meet needs, it tells a story about who God is. How can I bring who I am, and who God created me to be, to bear on the needs and issues in my community?

Habitual Practical Evangelistic Generosity

There was a believer in (Louisville) named_________. They were always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. - Acts 9:36

Generosity:

– What passions are surfacing in you?

– What gifts has God given you?

– What needs are around you?

We missed you this weekend and hope you stayed safe and warm. We’re looking forward to being together again this Sunday!

This week in our Abide series, Terrence focused on abiding in gratitude, anchored in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a daily practice that keeps us connected to Christ. When we intentionally give thanks, we position our hearts to recognize God’s goodness, even in difficult seasons. We were reminded of four key truths:

Gratitude is a practice to embrace – it sustains us like daily nourishment for the soul.

Gratitude is a resource to use – we give thanks in everything, not for everything, trusting God’s presence in every season.

Gratitude is a call to obedience – it shapes us to be more like Christ and fuels generosity and service.

Gratitude is best for us – it strengthens trust, anchors our hope, and moves our faith beyond transactions into true reliance on God.

This week, we’re encouraged to practice gratitude intentionally. Choose one gratitude practice and set aside time, whether during Bible study, a lunch break, or before bed, to meet with God and thank Him for His faithfulness.

– Gratitude Walk, Gratitude Journal, Gratitude Return, Gratitude Pause, Gratitude Reframe

Let’s be a church that walks daily in gratitude, stays connected to Christ, and reflects His goodness wherever we go.

In this message from the Abide series, the church is invited into the transforming practice of confession as a vital rhythm in a Rule of Life that helps believers grow closer to God and one another.

Rooted in 1 John 1:8–10 and James 5:16, Terrence’s message teaches that confession is not about shame or punishment, but about truth-telling, agreeing with God about our sin so that forgiveness, healing, and life change can take place.

Confession is presented as a personal, communal, and relational practice, essential to spiritual maturity and freedom. Through Scripture, theology, and the example of David’s prayer in Psalm 51, the message shows that honest confession opens the door to restoration, deeper intimacy with God, and authentic community.

Where in your life do you need to bring what’s hidden into the light so God can bring healing and freedom?

This Tuesday, will you practice confession intentionally with us? Trusting that God meets us with mercy, renewal, and joy when we bring our sin fully into the light.

This weekend, Tyler launched the Abide series, focused on helping believers experience God more consistently through intentional spiritual practices. Drawing from John 15, we were reminded that fruitfulness comes not from sporadic faith, but from remaining rooted in Jesus through daily rhythms.

As a church, we are committing to a communal Rule of Life, beginning with daily prayerful engagement with Scripture and limiting our screen intake.

Over the next seven weeks, Tyler and Terrence will introduce seven additional rhythms and restrictions, which we will then practice together during Lent beginning February 23. The first discipline introduced is fasting, defined biblically as abstaining from food. Tyler invited us to fast from everything except water or plain coffee/tea on Monday, January 12, from 7:57 AM to 5:45 PM. If you missed it, we encourage to join in tomorrow or choose another day this week.

Every time you feel hunger, pause to reflect and pray. Ask:

This week, Terrence’s message centers on Luke 1 and the theme of the wrestle of joy and obedience, using Mary’s story as a model for faithful discipleship.

God meets people where they are, anticipates their weaknesses, and invites them beyond themselves for the sake of His redemptive work. Obedience is not about personal strength but dependence on God.

As we follow Him, obedience leads to deeper trust, endurance, and peace rooted in God’s faithfulness. We are encouraged to say yes to God’s invitations, trust His promises, and take the next faithful step forward.