Message: “What Do You Treasure” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” Money and possessions reveal the human heart like nothing else does. The lie of our day is: the more I have in my hands, the happier I’ll be in my heart. But both studies and our own experience tell us that’s simply not true. Money is a tool, much like a knife. Is a knife good or bad? It depends on who’s wielding it (a surgeon or a madman?). Jesus teaches us that as citizens in the new kingdom, it’s important for us to have the right treasure, right lens, and right master. The message is clear: invest your life in what really matters!
Read MoreMessage: “Pray Like Jesus” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” It’s amazing that out of everything the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them how to do (walk on water, turn water into wine, resurrect the dead, cast out demons) they ask Him how to … pray? What follows is a pattern of prayer that’s remarkable not for its length, but for its exquisite depth. Jesus teaches us that prayer is personal–we come to God as our Father, not as a distant deity. We come to Him in adoration and worship for His greatness and love. We petition for heaven to breakthrough in our lives, marriages, families, careers and neighborhoods. We ask for our daily needs with boldness, seek forgiveness with confidence, and beg for deliverance from the snares of our enemy. In this way, we plug into God’s presence and power in our lives. May we increasingly become a people of prayer at New Life as we learn the ancient ways of Jesus!
Read MoreMessage: “Are You Dancing With Hypocrisy?” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” As we step into chapter 6, Jesus is going to shift into some practical instruction surrounding 3 core spiritual disciplines: giving, prayer, and fasting. The primary focus here is on taking off our spiritual masks and learning to genuinely love God rather than trying to impress people. As citizens of the new kingdom of Jesus, we should give generously & quietly. We should pray sincerely and for the approval of our Heavenly Father. And finally, we should fast to please God and tap into His presence and power, rather than to impress our peers. So many of us fall into the subtle trap of hypocrisy, but Jesus came to free us from the chains of mask-wearing and people-pleasing!
Read MoreMessage: “Oaths, Retaliation & Love” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” The last couple of weeks in the Sermon on the Mount have been pretty intense as Jesus has peeled back the layers on several controversial topics like anger, lust, marriage, and divorce. This week, we’ll hear Jesus finish the last 3 of his “you have heard it said, but I say to you…” statements as He tackles oaths, retaliation, and love for our enemies. As people who belong to the Kingdom of Jesus, we are to be truth-tellers, entrust justice to God, and love the very ones who detest us. In these ways, we show that we belong to another Kingdom…and the only way we can live so radically, is with the help of Jesus as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Read MoreMessage: “Marriage & Divorce” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.”
Read MoreMessage: “Guard Your Heart” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” In the last section of this famous sermon, Jesus told His hearers that they would never enter the kingdom of heaven unless their righteousness exceeded that of the Pharisees. This week, He shows us what that deeper righteousness looks like. He tells us that an outward obedience that simply conceals a heart that is far from God is not what He’s after. The commands in the Law prohibiting murder and adultery might seem like some of the easiest to keep, and yet Jesus exposes us at the heart-level, so that He might point us to the new hearts we need that are only found in Him!
Read MoreMessage: “Jesus, Gender, and the Church” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Basics.” There are few issues in culture today that have generated more confusion than the topic of gender. Contrary to the popular thought of the day that gender is merely a social construct, the Scriptures teach that gender is actually a beautiful part of God’s good design for His glory and our flourishing. Men and women are equal in dignity, value, and worth, and yet have been given distinct functions in the church and home. Men and women together, with all of their unique differences and strengths, most fully display the goodness of God to the world around them. While Scripture teaches that the office of elder/pastor is reserved for certain qualified men, we believe that both men and women receive the full allotment of spiritual gifts. Our desire is to see our church flourishing as both women and men are fully empowered to use all of their giftings to the fullest both inside the church, and outside the four walls to expand the kingdom of Jesus far and wide!
Read MoreMessage: “Celebration Sunday 2024” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Standalone Messages.” Practicing the spiritual discipline of gratitude has always been a key marker of God’s people. As a church, we have so much to be grateful for over the past year. God has been big in and through our faith family! And yet, the mission isn’t finished. As Jesus reminds us in the parable of the hidden treasure, His kingdom is like a treasure so valuable, that it’s worth giving up everything to obtain. It’s like a pearl you’d sell everything you’ve ever owned to get your hands on. The truth is, we all give our time, treasure, and talent to that which we value most. So let’s leverage 2024 to help those in our circles of influence find & follow Jesus, and let’s link arms together as we advance the mission of King Jesus as a church family in Asheville and to the ends of the earth!
Read MoreMessage: “Law and Gospel” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” As Jesus moves from teaching about being salt & light in a dark and decaying world, we shift into a section of this most famous sermon that helps us understand how to read the Bible. Jesus is reminding us of the total truthfulness of Scripture down to the smallest detail, even in the Old Testament. In fact, all of Scripture points to Jesus. That’s why He could say that He’s the fulfillment of the law. And yet, obeying the law without a new heart and the power of the Holy Spirit is impossible. Which is the whole point! In Jesus, we get a new heart and His Spirit which empowers us to obey not from a place of duty, but from a place of pure delight!
Read MoreMessage: “Salt and Light” from Chris Dillon
A message from the series “Sermon On The Mount.” Last week we saw Jesus launch the Sermon on the Mount with a section called the beatitudes. If the kingdom principles found in the beatitudes seem somewhat theoretical, the next section on salt & light makes it all very practical. You see, in Jesus’ day–two foundational pillars of everyday life were salt & light. While salt preserves, flavors, and even ignites thirst–light illuminates. Jesus is telling us not to lose our saltiness or hide our light. As disciples of Jesus we called to preserve a decaying world and shine as light into the darkness so that others might know the true source of life and light: Jesus Christ!
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