New Work Fellowship Podcast

More Than Meets the Eye - "There Is a Fight" (John 8:31-47) Jesus confronts the blind listeners in his world alerting them to the reality that not only is there a fight, but there is a source behind the fight. Jesus affirmed that 1) there is a devil, 2) the devil's end goal is death and destruction, and 3) the devil's primary weapon is lies.  Step one of winning the fight is understanding what Jesus understood - you have an enemy; there is a fight. Are you ready?

On This Very Spot - "One for the Road" (Acts 21-23:11) As the church explodes into the great commission - Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth - the great apostle/planter, Paul, is compelled by the spirit to come back to Jerusalem one last time. He was warned, but he was compelled. He was ready to be poured out.  This would, in fact, become the moment that launches the church to the ends of the earth. Whereas Pentecost was the spark that lit the fuse, this is the full thrust. Paul will go to Rome and the church will turn the world upside down. The church - the temple - is going on the road to the very household of Caesar himself. And to you too! Don't miss that!

On This Very Spot - "One More Time" (Acts 2) After 40 days, you come to the day of Pentecost - the day when the Spirit of God falls in power. It is Sinai all over! (Exodus 19) But this is the coming of the Holy Spirit. God is pouring out His temple to all people; Jesus is for you; Jesus came for you; He died for you. The Holy Spirit is for you; He has come for you; He lives in you! 3,000 believed that day. What about this day? One more time God is coming to you. Will you come to Him?

On This Very Spot - "This Is It" (John 19:30, 19:4--42, 20:1-18) Resurrection is the moment that everything has been building toward. Jesus is the rescuing sacrifice. He is the Passover Feast in the flesh (remember John 6:56). He is the altar of sacrifice; He is full embodiment of the glory of God - the God that could never be contained in a house. He is the untamed God who can never be put in a box. He is the greater glory. He is the salvation of all; the glory of God - and He is the only Temple! And what should be our response? Fall to His feet in worship, and then...go tell!

On This Very Spot - "Wait. What Temple?" (John 2:13-22) It wasn't His first visit to the temple, but it was the beginning of the end of His visits. John places the temple conflict early in his gospel to tell the reader - this is the reason for the coming conflict. Likely, it was at the end of His ministry, and it was the final straw that led to Jesus' death. It was a temple battle, and while it may have seemed that the great battles of the temple were in the past (when Babylon destroyed the city), the real battle came with the arrival of Jesus. He dares to speak of "destroying the temple." Now, we know he was talking about His body, but He was also talking about the temple. After Jesus, the presence of God is not just in that "very spot." It will soon be made available to every person who believes and puts faith in Jesus. What is your temple? Have you come to the temple?

On This Very Spot - "He Is Here" (Luke 2:25-49) Luke includes two early visits of Jesus at the temple. The first time, Simeon declares, "I have seen your salvation...He is the glory of [Israel]." Anna immediately erupts in praises to God. And then she talks to others about how God's rescue has come. At the end of this story - Jesus then makes another pilgrimage to Jerusalem - and this time, it is the great festival migration of Passover. Don't miss the foreshadowing of Joseph and Mary's searching for a missing Jesus - 3 days later they find him. There, in the temple, Jesus is the focus and in the middle of all the instruction. He is asking questions, but He is also answering questions.

On This Very Spot - "Temple 2.0" (Ezra 3, Haggai, Zechariah) God doesn't give up. In the face of the rebuilt temple - those who remembered the splendor of what was before, wept. It didn't compare. They were undone. But where the people saw decline and despair - God was at work. Haggai 2:9. It's pointing to Jesus.

On This Very Spot - "God Has Left the Building" (Ezekiel 10:15-22) There came a time when the people began to believe that the temple was their security blanket. They had "god" locked in and locked down. The God of the universe could never be defeated, and this was His Temple - therefore, he would never leave. This led to false security. Jeremiah and Ezekiel were rejected, in part because they foretold the fall of the temple and the departure of God's presence. God is not tied to a place or a people. Do not presume upon God.

On This Very Spot - "Solomon Raised the Roof" (1 Kings 6-9, 2 Chronicles 5-7) David so wanted to build the house of God. But that was not to be. The temple would be built not by a king of war, but rather by the king of peace. The entire dedication is a beautiful picture of God wanting to dwell with His people. The glory of the temple was spectacular! God's glory filled the temple. But all of this was a foreshadowing. Jesus Himself would embody God's presence among his people.

On This Very Spot - "David Laid the Altar" (2 Samuel 24:15-25) After David sinned (this man who is described as having a heart after God); God calls upon David to build an altar to the Lord. This altar is to be the place where sin is put aside. David declares that he will not give to the Lord that which cost him nothing. In a very real way - that is also what God does for us. He makes a way for our sin to be removed - and it cost him far too great a price. It all points to Jesus.

On This Very Spot - "The Feast is Under it All" (Exodus 12, Deuteronomy 16, Luke 2:41, Revelation 19:9) The Passover, which began in Egypt, is transported to the land of promise - just like the people. By the time you come to Deuteronomy - the festival MUST be observed "at the dedicated place of worship." By the time you come to Jesus, it is the annual pilgrimage. Through the festival, God was not only reminding the people of what was before; He was teaching about what was to come.

On This Very Spot - "He Began with Abraham" (Genesis 22) The near sacrifice of Isaac is stunning and disturbing. You cannot look at it in isolation. God is laying the foundation for all that is to follow. The path that Abraham must walk is a path that our Heavenly Father will walk. It all points to Jesus. Mount Mariah is deeply connected to both the Passover and the death of Jesus.

New Year, New You! - "New Year, Same Mission" (Matthew 25:40) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19a

New Year, New You! - "New Year, Same Gospel" (Genesis 3, Psalms 17 & 18, Luke 15) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19a

New Year, New You! - "New Year, Change Direction" (John 4:39) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19a

New Year, New You! - "New Year, New Beginning" (1 Samuel 25) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19a

Traveling Light - "Getting Past the Past" (Matthew 1:1-6 & Hebrews 12:1-2) There are three names that show up in the family tree of Jesus that are difficult: Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba. They are especially difficult if you are having family worship! For that reason, I'm not going into their life stories, but it won't take but a little while to explore their sordid history. But I'm so glad they are in there! They remind us that even Jesus' family tree had some issues. There was a history and a past that people would have liked to ignore. Just like you have a past. Just like your family has a history. But the amazing thing about the Christmas story is that Jesus makes room for you too, and through you, He writes a brand, new story. New Years is time for aspirations and hopes. The family tree of Jesus reminds us that it isn't too late for anyone. He can graft you - yes, even you - into His family tree.

Traveling Light - "Nostalgic Regret" (Matthew 1:18-25) Christmas stirs a lot of emotions in us; one of those is regret. And yet the Christmas story is much about letting go and trusting God's plan. With that vision, Joseph is like an unsung hero of Christmas. He doesn't get a speaking line in the story, but gosh, does he get a heavy load! It would have been easy for Joseph to give into bitterness or regret. The truth is Christmas can become the time that tough emotions bubble up. But we have a choice better than regret - we can TRUST that even in the mess that life becomes, God is still at work.

Traveling Light - "Beyond Distractions" (Luke 1:26-56) The stories of Elizabeth and Mary are the same and yet opposite. Mary is young and unmarried. Elizabeth is long time married yet barren. And yet through them and their unexpected pregnancies we learn to FOCUS on what really matters - who really matters - and what matters is Jesus. Is that our focus?

Traveling Light - "The Burden of Control" (Luke 1:5-17) Zechariah really had no control in life. His hopes to be a father were dashed by the time we pick up his story. But as he learns to let go and trust God - he discovers that God has for him, more than he could have ever asked or imagined. One of the struggles of our Christmas is that we want control. How about remembering that in the Christmas story - only God is in control!