Sermons Archive - New Horizons Foursquare Church

In this second message of the Temples series, Pastor Andy Lovelace helps us see how places that we visit and the habits we practice point us to worship of life without limits. In contrast, Jesus points us to a Kingdom that calls us to use self-control so that we can truly experience life to the full.

The church is more than an organization or ministry. As the Apostle Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12, the church is the Body of Christ. Pastor Andy Lovelace explores what it means for us to be Christ's body and what our role is in it.

In this final message about God's faithfulness, Geri Lovelace shares how the new covenant in Jesus tells us just how committed God is to establish relationship with us.

God shows us His faithfulness by leading us with His presence and giving us meaningful worship that is not confined to a place.

God continues to show His commitment to people by making a covenant with the people of Israel. After delivering them from Egypt, they come to Mount Sinai where Moses meets with God and they learn what it will take for them to be His people and for Him to be their God.

To be the family of God means that we actually live in step with one another. Instead of the view of “survival of the fittest” or “spoils go to the victor”, the Bible teaches that we keep with one another in both our empathy towards one another and our physical care for each other.

Not only does the Bible give us the encouragement to gather together, but it also provides instruction about what should happen when we gather. This is not just a church service liturgy, but rather a way of life for us to experience community together.

The idiom ‘make a mountain out of a molehill’ communicates that sometimes we are prone to overreact and make a big deal out of something small. In contrast to this idea, Christians are encouraged to give and receive grace as we work at not giving or taking offence. This is a critical discipleship practice when we think about growing in community and living life together in Jesus Christ.

This first message of the new series, 'Life Together,' focuses on Jesus' teaching and example in love. While some people would want to emphasize the importance of teaching as a primary method of identifying disciples, Jesus points to the important of how His disciples love one another.

Andy Lovelace finishes our series on the Book of Revelation as we look at what it looks like when God is reigning on the earth. From His throne flows a river that brings restoration and healing for all peoples who have their names written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation chapter 7 gives us a picture of what it looks like when all those who have declared Jesus Christ as Lord are gathered around the throne. Pastor Andy invites us to see what it will look like when every believer is finally around the throne.

In Revelation chapters 4 and 5 we are invited into a moment unlike any other. John looks and sees the throne room in heaven. As he looks around he hears the sound of the Lion from the Tribe of Judah, but when he turns he sees a slain lamb. Derek Lofing shares with us this image as he teaches what it means to worship the God upon the throne.

In Jeremiah chapter 29 we are reminded that captivity isn't a place to diminish and disappear. Instead, like Israel, we can flourish in the midst of difficult times and become a blessing while in a strange land, knowing that our deliverance is coming in Jesus Christ.

The letters to the seven churches that are in Revelation chapters 2 & 3 have real application to the audiences they were written to. Similarly, as we read them in our current setting, we don’t have to try and imagine how they might apply to us as well because the same types of issues are faced in churches all over the world, even in this modern era.

John receives a vision of Jesus that leaves him 'as though dead', but Jesus doesn't leave John in fear; rather, he encourages him.

The Book of Revelation is one that draws extremely diverse responses from people. On one side, you have people who use it as a book of codes to decipher and unlock future events. On the other side, you have people who avoid it altogether because the visions and writings seem too weird. In truth, Revelation is a book that asks you who you will worship. Will you worship the spirit of this age or will you worship the Eternal One?

One of the strongest influences upon the church has been the entertainment environment and adoption of some practices within the church. This shift has caused some people to view their role as attendee instead of minister. Pastor Andy takes time in this message to reinforce the Biblical idea that all Christians are called to do ministry together.

Many Christians feel the weight of accurately portraying God to others. This sense of responsibility is also seen in what we approve or disapprove of. Pastor Andy emphasizes how our influence to affirm image is strongest when we are living in step with the Holy Spirit and sharing the Gospel not judging the world.

The Bible teaches that we are to show the image of God, but often we see other images in ourself or other people. Like a carnival mirror or an APP that shows us a warped image, we see something much different than God when we try to mirror the images of this world. Pastor Andy helps us identify and avoid false images.

In this opening message of the series, Image of God, we focus on the significance of what it means that people are in God’s image compared to something else being the image of God.

When facing change, the tension within us can be so strong that it pushes and pulls us away from God and others. Pastor Andy gives insight to how Scripture and the Holy Spirit moves us from a place of being anxious to being restful with Jesus.

For thousands of years, Christians have been regarded as a ‘peculiar’ people because of their high value for life and yet holding to the belief that this life as we know it is only temporary. At the center of this value is the belief in and conviction for living in light of the resurrection. Pastor Andy points us to the resurrection of Jesus as the pathway to living freely and lightly with a high value for life.

In this Good Friday message, Pastor Andy Lovelace describes how Jesus’ death upon the cross was a powerful act that broke the stronghold that sin held on humanity. No longer captive to sin, we join Him in overcoming sin’s destructive work in the lives of others.

The saying, “There is strength in numbers,” communicates the ideas that common ideas, thoughts, and even group presence can have a powerful influence. There are ways in which this is helpful, but can also keep us from living fulling as God desires.

As a new creation in Christ, we are given the privilege of speaking life to those around us. Pastor Andy Lovelace invites us to change our old way of speaking about people and things, and instead of corrupt thinking and talking, we build others up.

As we conclude the series, “Spiritually Grown”, we take time to reflect on the different ways that Jesus teaches us to stay with Him. Pastor Andy provides an overview and points us to ways we can apply these lessons to our own discipleship.

In this beautiful passage from John 17, Jesus prays for the disciples. We have confidence in Jesus’ prayers because we know that He always prays what the Father wants. This same ability to pray in agreement with the Father can be our experience and Andy Lovelace shares with us how that happens.

Jesus warns the disciples that persecution is going to come, but He also encourages them that they will have the Holy Spirit who will lead them in truth. This reality is critical for us as we navigate the issues of relativism and ‘real’ and ‘fake’ truth.

In this well known passage of Scripture in John 15, Jesus gives clarity around the Father as the caretaker of the vine, Himself as the vine, and His disciples as the branches. Pastor Andy goes into more detail about how we can and must bear fruit in our life with God.

In John 14 we read that Jesus defines love as our ability to hear from Him and then do what He speaks. Pastor Andy Lovelace helps connect our disicipleship pathway to this powerful pathway of love with our Savior.

Jesus asks a pointed question when Thomas asks to see the Father. Jesus’ reply is, “Do you not yet know me?” At some point in our life, every person is confronted with the decision of just having an experience with God or truly wanting to know Him.

Experiencing life with Jesus introduces us to a new family. That doesn’t mean that we discount or dismiss our family of origin, but it does invite us to discover a new root from which our lives can grow.

Growing spiritually means that we are not being weighted down by carrying offenses. Pastor Andy talks about the washing of feet is an invitation to wash away offenses.

Often times when we want to grow deeper it requires that we get beneath the surface to make lasting changes. Pastor Andy Lovelace explains that this is true in our lives and it's true in the church as well.

We prepare for the future in a lot of ways, but are we prepared for the plans that God has for us? Pastor Andy Lovelace directs our attention to what makes a person's faith weak, and what makes for a strong faith that positions us to be ready for doing God's work.

In this week between Christmas and the New Year, we have a special opportunity to hear from God about how to detach from those things that don't allow us to make room for God.

When we introduce ourselves we typically tell others what we do, who we know, or where we're from. When God introduces himself the first thing he wants us to know is that he is a God of faithful love, kindness, and generosity. This is how he introduces himself to us.

When the angel told the shepherds that there was good news of great joy, they were pointing to the birth of Jesus. It was a long awaited moment in history. For some, it isn't good news, nor does it bring great joy. Pastor Andy explains why joy comes for some and not for others.

In this second message of our Advent series, Andy Lovelace gives the encouragement to be a peacemaker and not simply avoid conflict.

In this first message of the Advent season, Pastor Andy Lovelace points us to the idea that Christian hope is not the same as being optimistic. Instead, the follower of Jesus looks to His way and His timing for hope, not in circumstances.

When some people would tell you that the year 2020 is a total loss, Carolyn Nenne provides teaching that directs our focus away from escaping 2020 and instead discovering how sowing thanksgiving can help us find new growth.

The glory that Jesus receives is because He is has accomplished the work that the Father gave Him to do. But even more than that, there is a glory that Jesus has because of the oneness He shares with the Father and Spirit. It is this glory that He gives to His church, but only if we're living in unity.

The way that many people try to obtain peace is through controlling the circumstances surrounding their lives. However, the Christian receives peace as a gift that is imparted even when conditions aren't peaceful.

There are times when conflicts arise between our citizenship in heaven and our citizenship on earth. Thankfully, the Bible gives us instruction for how to live in any culture and still be faithful to the Kingdom of God.

In the Kingdom of God we are invited to rule with God. This invitation moves us away from a culture of consumption and towards fruitfulness and multiplication. Our role in the world is to bear the image of God and be a life-giving expression of God to the world as we fulfill this multiplying life.

Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God had come to earth. This wasn't an abstract idea, but Jesus regularly taught about what it looks like when God's kingdom comes. Pastor Andy Lovelace communicates that when we accept Christ as King, we also accept and promote His platform.

People often say that to avoid controversy we should avoid discussions about faith and politics, but when Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God He spoke in very political terms. Descriptions about the Kingdom and His own role as King had many people asking questions about the political implications of Jesus’ ministry, and it should stir the same questions for us today.