NewGrace Podcast

This second installment in “The Seers” series centers on the story of Noah, a man who saw with spiritual vision long before the evidence appeared. Drawing from Hebrews 11:7, the message explores how Noah responded in faith to what had “not yet been seen,” allowing God’s warning to shape his actions and sustain his obedience. As believers, we are all building something with God, and Noah’s example shows what that requires: the right tools, the right people, time, and unwavering tenacity. His life becomes a model of endurance—he finished what God asked him to do. This teaching invites us to reflect on our own calling by asking two critical questions: what happens if we give up, and what happens if we follow through? Through it all, we’re reminded that spiritual vision often looks ahead of visible reality—but faith stays the course until the promise is complete.

In this opening message on “The Seers,” we explore the biblical concept of spiritual vision—learning to see beyond the natural into the eternal. Rooted in 1 Samuel 9:9 and Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4, this teaching highlights the contrast between the temporary visible world and the unseen realities that last forever. Paul’s instruction to “look” (skopeo) at what cannot be seen invites believers into a focused, intentional way of perceiving life through faith. This episode unpacks the idea that spiritual vision isn’t abstract—it’s cultivated through a partnership of faith, inspiration, and imagination. As we learn to look past present circumstances, we begin to perceive what God is doing beyond the surface. This message challenges listeners to develop a new way of seeing—one that aligns with eternity rather than being limited by the moment.

Pastor Derek Anglin wraps up the "I Am Saved" series with this sermon exploring the ways that we rejoice and live in the joy of our coming salvation.

In the second sermon of the "I Am Saved" series, Pastor Derek Anglin digs into what exactly happened to us--and how it happened--when we accepted Christ and were saved.

In this opening message of the I Am Saved series, we answer the critical question: Why do I need to be saved? Rooted in Ephesians 2:8–9 and John 3:17–18, this sermon reveals that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not something we earn. Jesus makes it clear that the world is already in a state of condemnation, yet God’s mission is not to condemn but to rescue through His Son. Salvation is available to “whoever” believes—but that belief must be real, rooted, and fully placed in Jesus. The result is powerful: those who trust in Him are no longer condemned, but justified and secure. At the same time, the message carries urgency—those who reject Him remain condemned already. Ultimately, this sermon brings clarity and conviction, reminding us that every person stands before God either saved by grace or still in need of it, and invites us to respond while there is still time.

Christ died for our sins. He rose again in victory, but the story doesn't end there...

In this message, we explore how the real battle believers face happens in the mind, as taught in 2 Corinthians 10. Strongholds are formed by lies we’ve believed, but through prayer and God’s Word, we can tear them down and take every thought captive. You don’t have to live controlled by your thoughts—you can learn to win the war within.

n this message, we look at how faith can feel trapped when life doesn’t go as expected. Through the story of John the Baptist in Matthew 11, we see how doubt can creep in—but also how Jesus responds by reminding us of who He is and what He’s doing. Even when circumstances don’t change, our faith can be set free when we choose to trust God anyway.

In this message, we explore why people are so easily offended and how believers can break free from the trap of taking everything personally. Looking at the example of King David in 2 Samuel 16, we learn how to respond to criticism, conflict, and hurt with humility, peace, and grace instead of pride or emotion. When we remember the grace God has shown us, we can stop living offended and start living free.

Fasting is more than just abstaining from food - it's a powerful spiritual discipline that can break dependencies and create freedom in your Christian walk. When we're too full of ourselves, our flesh, and our selfish desires, fasting teaches us to say no to self while saying yes to God. By partnering fasting with prayer, we unplug from worldly distractions and tune into God's frequency. This practice helps break underlying dependencies and creates space for God to work in our lives. Whether fasting from food, social media, or other habits, the goal is shifting our dependency from ourselves to God and experiencing true spiritual freedom.

Financial stress affects nearly every household in America, including Christians who find themselves trapped in financial bondage despite their spiritual freedom. With average household debt at 130% of yearly income and 59% of families living paycheck to paycheck, many believers are enslaved by money rather than using it as a tool for God's kingdom. The Bible warns that the borrower becomes a slave to the lender, and our consumer culture traps us by convincing us that possessions equal self-worth. True financial freedom isn't about how much you make but how much you owe, and it requires renewing your mind through determination, devotion to God as the true owner of everything, and discipline through the Holy Spirit's help.

Many Christians live saved but not free, like birds in open cages who refuse to fly. True freedom comes through knowing God's truth, which reveals sin's destructiveness, Christ's power, and our identity as more than conquerors. While salvation opens the cage door, walking in freedom requires three deliberate choices: deciding to live free, declaring biblical truth about ourselves, and departing from old patterns. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in believers, making complete freedom possible. Yet many resist this freedom due to blindness to their bondage, comfort in familiar patterns, or confusion between religion and relationship with Christ.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:20-21 that God is able to do above and beyond all we ask or think. Nothing in your life takes God by surprise - He operates on a completely different level than we do. There's power in asking God questions rather than just making statements in prayer. When we ask questions, we demonstrate faith and create intimacy with God. Sometimes we don't ask because we lack confidence in God's ability or fear His answer. Remember what God has already done in your life to build confidence for present prayers.

Ignite Sunday! Our students and young adults had an amazing weekend at Ignite, where they were encouraged to LIVE LIT! Pastor Derek brings that idea into Sunday to share it with the whole church. What does it feel like to Live Lit?

True worship extends far beyond Sunday morning singing or church attendance. According to Romans 12:1, biblical worship means presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God in response to His mercies. This involves offering our entire being - thoughts, actions, and daily choices - as continuous acts of worship. True worship is a family experience among believers, begins by recognizing God's abundant mercies, and requires actively surrendering ourselves to Him. Rather than being limited to emotional responses or religious activities, authentic worship is a lifestyle of daily surrender where every moment becomes an opportunity to honor God with how we live.

In Numbers 32, two and a half tribes of Israel chose to settle for less than God's best, staying in familiar territory instead of entering the Promised Land. They chose their cattle over Canaan, representing how we often choose comfort over God's calling. The cattle in our lives might be jobs, relationships, money, or anything familiar that keeps us from pursuing God's abundant plan. When we settle for good enough instead of God's best, we not only limit ourselves but also impact future generations. God calls us to cross over from the wilderness of mediocrity into the promised land of supernatural living, where His presence and power transform ordinary life into extraordinary purpose.

Many Christians focus on church attendance and involvement but lack a foundational element: personal devotion with God. True devotion involves spending consistent time with God through Bible reading and prayer, just as any relationship deepens through time invested. The Bereans provide an excellent example by examining Scripture daily with eagerness and scrutiny. Effective Bible reading requires a study Bible, distraction-free environment, and focusing on quality over quantity. Prayer follows a three-part method from Matthew 6: acknowledge God as Father, align with His will, then appeal with your needs. Starting with just 10-15 minutes daily can transform your spiritual foundation and maturity.

Many Christians struggle with church commitment, but being connected to a local church is essential for spiritual growth. The enemy actively fights against church involvement because committed believers become powerful soldiers in God's army. Missing church can easily become a habit that causes you to miss divine appointments and God's movement. To break this pattern, get involved through serving rather than just attending, and build encouraging relationships with other believers. As we approach the end times, church commitment becomes even more critical for spiritual strength and community support.

True faith in Jesus is transformational and cannot be hidden. It's more than a simple prayer or one-time decision—it's a life built on the solid foundation of Christ. When genuine faith takes root, it shows in how you live, speak, and respond to challenges. Real faith is tested not on Sunday mornings, but when bills pile up, relationships crumble, or health crises hit. You can't build a lasting Christian life on borrowed beliefs or secondhand knowledge. Eventually, you need to know what you believe and why you believe it through personal Bible study, small groups, and learning from mature believers.

The Christian life is like running a race where the goal isn't to win first place, but to finish what you started. We have witnesses cheering us on—both those who have already finished their race in heaven and those currently watching our faith journey. To run effectively, we must lay aside weights and sins that slow us down or stop us completely. Weights aren't necessarily sinful but can be good things that aren't God things, while sin prevents spiritual progress entirely. God never intended for us to run this race alone; we need a community of believers as our running pack. The ultimate goal is to cross the finish line and reach Jesus, making every step of the journey worthwhile.

James 2 challenges us to examine whether our faith is dead or alive. Dead faith consists of empty words without action, like telling someone to be warm and fed while doing nothing to help them. Even demons have intellectual knowledge about God, but they remain unchanged. Living faith, however, produces tangible works that demonstrate genuine transformation. Abraham showed living faith by offering Isaac, and Rahab demonstrated it by helping the Israelite spies. True faith creates a partnership between belief and action, shaping how we lead our families spiritually, love our church, and live with purpose. The ultimate question is whether the life we're living is worthy of Christ's death on the cross.

Two thousand years ago, a baby was born who would change everything about our world. This wasn't just any ordinary child, but the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy about a coming Messiah. God chose to enter our world as a helpless infant because Jesus needed to experience the full scope of human existence to serve as our substitute. Jesus holds unique distinctions - He was the only person to schedule His own birth, was conceived by a virgin, and received a celestial welcome from heaven's host. Isaiah reveals Jesus as both a gift and a governor, carrying the weight of all rule and authority upon His shoulder. He rules over three realms: Hades, Heaven, and Humanity, and will return as the conquering King. The baby who changed everything continues to transform lives today as our source of true peace.

Life often forces us to climb mountains we never expected to face. King David's journey up the Mount of Olives teaches us powerful lessons about persevering through difficult circumstances. When David fled Jerusalem after his son Absalom's revolt, he climbed barefoot with a broken heart, but he didn't climb alone. Every summit requires a climb, and God places people in our lives to make the journey with us. The higher we climb, the better our perspective becomes, allowing us to see God's faithfulness in ways we couldn't understand while in the valley. When clouds get thick near the summit, we must trust God's perfect timing and provision, knowing He's working behind the scenes while we climb.

Paul's instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks 'in everything' doesn't mean being grateful for every situation, but finding reasons to thank God while in difficult circumstances. Gratitude is God's will for every believer and should be our offering to Him through the fruit of our lips. Modern brain science confirms that practicing gratitude releases feel-good neurotransmitters, reduces stress hormones, and can actually repair brain tissue. When we anchor ourselves in appreciation both toward God and others, we align with His will and position ourselves for abundant living. The challenge is to become a 'thanker' rather than just a 'thinker' by expressing gratitude daily to God and the people in our lives.

King David's affair with Bathsheba reveals a deeper issue than adultery: discontentment with God's provision. David's moral failure began when he disengaged from his God-appointed duties and allowed his eyes to wander beyond God's blessings. His single look led to adultery, murder, and deception. God confronted David, reminding him of His faithfulness in positioning, protecting, and providing for him. The story teaches us that discontentment acts as a gateway to other sins, while true contentment comes from worshiping God for who He is, not just what He does.

The story of Barabbas reveals the profound truth of substitutionary sacrifice. During Passover, Pilate offered to release either Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious criminal. The crowd chose to free the guilty man and crucify the innocent one. Barabbas was released from judgment, prison, and punishment - experiencing the same freedom offered to every believer. We are all like Barabbas, guilty before God yet offered complete freedom through Christ's sacrifice. Jesus took our place, bearing the punishment we deserved. This divine exchange demands a response: we can either reject Jesus and try to pay for our own sin, or receive Him as our substitute and experience true freedom.

In this sermon from John 14:1-7, the pastor addresses Jesus's words to His troubled disciples during His final hours before crucifixion. Jesus had just delivered devastating news - one would betray Him, Peter would deny Him, and He was leaving them. In their state of confusion and distress, Jesus offered hope by telling them not to let their hearts be troubled. The pastor explains that many Christians today experience similar internal turmoil and anxiety, feeling overwhelmed by various life circumstances. However, Jesus provides the same hope today through four key statements that can help believers find peace in troubled times.The message centers on Jesus's declaration that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. The pastor emphasizes that true hope for troubled hearts comes not from horizontal, worldly solutions, but from a vertical, eternal perspective focused on Christ. He challenges listeners to move beyond surface-level knowledge about Jesus to an intimate, personal relationship with Him as the only path to peace, both in this life and for eternity.

Matthew 6:33

Peter's journey back to the boat represents how believers can drift away from God's plan and return to old ways of living. After denying Jesus three times by an enemy's fire, Peter eventually went back to fishing, taking other disciples with him. But Jesus pursued him, appearing on the shore and building a restoration fire. By this fire, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, giving him opportunity to declare his love where he had once denied. When we find ourselves distant from God or living in spiritual complacency, Jesus is on the shore building a fire of restoration, ready to revive what has died in our spiritual lives.

Pastor Derek Anglin preaches from Ephesians 2 about the transformative power of God's grace in people's lives. He addresses the question 'What happened to them?' when people notice dramatic changes in those who have encountered Jesus. The sermon explains that before salvation, we were spiritually dead in our sins, walking according to the ways of the world and under Satan's influence. However, God intervened with His rich mercy and great love, making us alive with Christ even though we were dead in our trespasses. This transformation is entirely by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast. The pastor concludes with a powerful illustration of grace as a rescue boat that comes to save a drowning person who cannot save themselves, emphasizing that God's grace pursues us even when we resist, and salvation comes entirely through His power and initiative.

Peter's decision to walk on water reveals what it means to truly follow Jesus - sometimes we must leave the safety of our comfort zones. The boat represents life lived apart from Jesus, where we rely on our own understanding rather than faith. Peter had three things that enabled him to step out: the desire to be wherever Jesus was, God's word telling him to come, and the will to act on that word. Jumping ship means being willing to step out despite difficult conditions, discouraging people, and personal costs. Many people miss opportunities to experience the impossible because they wait for perfect circumstances or listen to voices that discourage extraordinary faith. The Christian life isn't about playing it safe - it's about stepping into God's supernatural calling, even when it means giving up control and predictability.

In Luke 5, Jesus transforms Peter's night of failed fishing into a miraculous catch, but the real miracle was the invitation to follow Him. Peter had to leave behind three things: his failures that defined him, his fear of being unworthy, and his anxiety about trusting God with his future. The boat represented Peter's old life - his identity, security, and limitations. When Jesus called him to follow, Peter had to make a choice between the familiar boat and an unknown future with Christ. Following Jesus isn't about adding Him to our existing life, but about forsaking our old ways to pursue something greater. God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called, using unlikely people to accomplish His purposes.

Jesus taught that loving our neighbor means caring for anyone within our reach, not just those who live next door. Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, He illustrated three qualities of neighbor love: deep compassion that moves us to action, devoted care that crosses boundaries to help others, and distinctive cost that requires sacrifice. Like the Samaritan who helped a wounded stranger despite cultural differences, we're called to open our eyes to the hurting people God places in our path. Once we've experienced healing ourselves, we're meant to become healers for others, following Christ's ultimate example of sacrificial love.

The story of Jericho in Joshua 6 teaches us powerful lessons about spiritual warfare. Just as the Israelites faced physical walls, believers today encounter spiritual strongholds—fortified ways of thinking that prevent us from claiming God's promises. These walls might be negative thinking, doubt, or community resistance to change. God's strategy for victory involves persistent prayer (circling our problems), following His presence, and declaring victory before seeing results. When the Israelites shouted in faith while the walls still stood, God brought them down. This pattern shows us how to overcome obstacles through faith, obedience, and praise—even before we see our circumstances change.

In the Parable of the Great Supper from Luke 14, Jesus illustrates God's invitation to humanity through the story of a host who prepares a banquet. When the initially invited guests make excuses not to attend, the host sends his servant to invite the marginalized—the poor, maimed, halt, and blind. This represents how God extends His grace to all, especially those society rejects. The parable works on practical, personal, and prophetic levels, showing God's persistent pursuit of relationship with us despite our excuses. The message remains urgent today: there's still room at God's table, and we're called to compel others to accept this divine invitation.

Jesus looked at crowds and saw souls in need of compassion - people who were distressed and dejected like sheep without a shepherd. As Christians, we're called to see beyond the superficial aspects of others and recognize their eternal value. God's compassion reaches the world through us as the body of Christ. While the harvest is abundant with people ready to hear about Jesus, workers are few because many have signed up for church attendance rather than service. The solution is to pray for workers and then become those workers ourselves, taking concrete steps to reach those around us who need Jesus.

We all face giants in life - those seemingly insurmountable obstacles standing between us and God's plan. These giants are formidable and intimidating, using fear to keep us from the battlefield. To defeat these giants, we need three key characteristics: tenacity to persist despite criticism, testimony that builds confidence from past victories, and a target focused on God's glory rather than just personal victory. David demonstrated all three when facing Goliath, refusing to be discouraged by negative voices, drawing strength from previous battles with lions and bears, and fighting so that everyone would know that Israel has a God. Remember that the battle belongs to the Lord - your giant, regardless of its size, fits in the hand of your God.

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul reveals his experience of being 'pressed' beyond measure, teaching us that even spiritual giants reach breaking points. This pressure serves a divine purpose - to shift our trust from ourselves to God who raises the dead. When life crushes us like olives pressed for oil, God is more interested in the pure faith that emerges than our comfort. Finding hope in overwhelming circumstances comes through remembering God's resurrection power, reflecting on His track record of deliverance, and understanding that true deliverance often happens within difficult situations rather than removal from them. The pressure you feel today may be God's way of bringing you to the end of self-reliance.

When you trust in Jesus for salvation, you experience a spiritual resurrection similar to Lazarus's physical one. This transformation makes you a watched person as others observe whether your faith is genuine. You also become a wanted person, facing opposition from those threatened by your changed life. Most importantly, you become a witnessing person whose very existence testifies to Christ's power. Your transformed life can lead others to believe in Jesus without you needing to preach—simply by demonstrating the reality of spiritual resurrection through authentic living.

When God ignites a revival fire, it's unmistakable and transformative. The early church in Acts 2 demonstrated how to sustain this divine flame through four key practices within small groups: continuing steadfastly in doctrine (deep biblical teaching), fellowship (authentic community), breaking of bread (communion), and prayers (corporate intercession). These practices weren't complicated but proved profoundly effective. Small groups create environments where believers can go deeper than what's possible in large gatherings, helping the fire spread from person to person. The revival that began at Pentecost continued because believers committed to these practices, showing us that sustaining spiritual fire requires intentional connection and commitment.

Biblical clarity on spiritual gifts reveals that prophecy and tongues are meant to edify the church, not create division. Prophecy involves speaking words that build up, exhort, and comfort others, while tongues is communication beyond our ability to express—enabling deeper communion with God. Both gifts operate differently: prophecy edifies the church publicly, tongues with interpretation edifies publicly, and tongues alone edifies the believer privately. These gifts should be exercised in an orderly manner, with love as the foundation and edification as the goal. The Holy Spirit distributes these gifts to build up the body of Christ, not for personal validation or attention.

God has always had a heart for cities because they are filled with people He loves. Isaiah 62 provides a framework for urban transformation through three key actions: preparing for people to encounter God, reaching out to the unbelieving, and reclaiming what God intended for our cities. We must reject negative stigmas about our communities and instead see problems as opportunities for kingdom impact. City transformation requires the entire Body of Christ working together, with each church playing its unique role in reaching different people. By praying for our cities, addressing community needs, and building relationships across differences, we can participate in God's vision for urban renewal.

The Word of God has transformative power that can completely change your life when received not as human words but as divine revelation. Unlike changes driven by external circumstances that only modify specific areas, God's Word can transform every aspect of your being. It comes in two forms: the Revealed Word (God speaking audibly, through His Spirit internally, or through others) and the Recorded Word (Scripture). When we truly welcome God's Word—expecting it, opening ourselves to it, and accommodating it in our hearts—it works effectively within us, producing salvation, surrender, sanctification, strength, restoration, and abundant joy. The simple formula for life transformation is to receive God's Word and do what it says.

True worship goes beyond tradition, location, or religion as Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman in John 4. Authentic worship happens in spirit and truth - connecting with God through our reborn spirit while aligning with His revealed truth. Our spirits must be alive through salvation to truly worship, and our worship must be grounded in God's truth. When we worship, we submit our authority to God, symbolized by bowing down. The Father actively seeks those who will worship Him this way, making worship not optional but necessary for believers who desire to know God intimately.

Jesus uses the parable of new wine in old wineskins to teach us about embracing God's fresh work in our lives. Old wineskins represent outdated mindsets and habits that can't accommodate God's new blessings, while new wine symbolizes the fresh opportunities and growth God offers. When we remain set in our ways, we miss out on what God wants to do. To experience God's new work, we must be open to stretching beyond our comfort zones, upgrade our mindset through Christ, and pull down mental strongholds that limit us. God has fresh touches, anointings, and opportunities waiting for those willing to become new containers for His work.

Pastor Derek speaks on how God helps us in and through our times of need.

Joshua 1

In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus teaches us the profound importance of children in God's kingdom, rebuking His disciples for preventing children from approaching Him. Jesus emphasizes that we must receive God's kingdom with childlike faith—pure, trusting, and wholehearted. This passage challenges us to examine whether we're 'bringers' who lead children to Jesus or 'blockers' who hinder them. With statistics showing most people accept Jesus before age 13, we must prioritize children's spiritual development through prayer, investment, and authentic role modeling, creating environments where their faith can flourish.

Our spiritual hearts, the source of our faith and God's love, face three major threats: Satan's attacks, worldly influences, and our own sinful nature. These threats create spiritual heart conditions that parallel physical heart problems: inflammation from Satan's lies, clogging from worldly values, and inherent flaws from our sinful nature. Healing begins with submitting to God, being honest about our condition, approaching God with humility rather than pride, allowing the Holy Spirit to examine us, and being completely transparent with God. By guarding our hearts as Solomon advised, we can ensure God's grace flows freely through our lives.

Pastor Robert Altman visited and preached on Malachi.