NMC Audio Podcast

Oftentimes, we look at Jesus and ask or even wish that He fulfill our personal agenda. Jesus is not as interested in our agenda for Him, as he is in His agenda for us.

It seems like nothing could be worse than nothingness. Seriously, what good could ever come out of being alone, being in the dark, being out of the loop, being the last one standing? How can something come out of nothing? In counterintuitive ways, God repeatedly teaches Elijah a valuable lesson—a lesson that gives him the perspective he needs to face what is in front of him.

Elijah is one of the most well-known Old Testament figures in the Bible. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Elijah shows up as the representative of all the prophets who came before. As prominent as he is, the Scriptures give us only a few snapshots of the events of his life. But one thing is for sure: Elijah knew how to pray untamed prayers. Do you?

If anyone has a reason to praise or to have a heart overwhelmed with gratitude, it is the follower of Jesus. Thank You, God, for loving us so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus, for dwelling among us, teaching us how to live, and ultimately for taking our sin and our shame to the cross. Thank You for the promise of Your Spirit and for future resurrection. We have a reason to praise. Thank You, Jesus!

It’s an (almost) impossible thing to imagine that the God of the universe is interested in people like us. And not only is He interested, but He extends an invitation to us to participate! What could we possibly offer that would please Him? The answer may surprise you, but it won’t disappoint you.

Common to each of us is the experience of comparison. And if you’ve ever disqualified yourself from something (either publicly or privately), your reasons likely stem from seeing yourself not as good as ______________. (You fill in the blank.) But we are invited to much more than the habit of personal/early disqualification. Today’s snapshot of Moses at Mount Sinai is filled with encouragement for those moments we want to back away from what is coming our way.

Life is full of highs, lows, and everything in between. Moses, one of the key figures of the Old Testament, gives us access to his story, both the highs and the lows. Do you see your story in his story? Stuck between different worlds, Moses is faced with a decision. To what or whom will he identify himself with and how will that affect every part of his life? 

In Romans 12, God gives us a clear picture of what Christians should look like at the root level. If you’re ready to move from “in” to “all in,” then you’re ready to become a Romans 12 Christian. God is willing to go deeper and grow you into a real disciple. Are you ready?---Chip Ingram is the teaching pastor and CEO of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. A pastor for over thirty years, Chip is the author of many books, including "Holy Ambition," "Discover Your True Self," "True Spirituality," "The Real God," and "The Invisible War." Chip and his wife Theresa have four grown children and twelve grandchildren and live in California.

An in-depth look at Psalm 16 and how David’s own words mirror our Christian experience today.---Garrett is the Prayer and Teaching Pastor at Asbury Church in Madison, AL. With a background in itinerant speaking and college campus ministry, Garrett is passionate about multi-generational spiritual awakening through prayer. Outside of ministry, his hobbies include reading fiction, eating Mexican food, exercising, and watching the MCU.

God desires for us to move towards holiness and closeness to Jesus. How do we feel empowered to continue chasing after Jesus, especially when it seems difficult or He feels far away? What sin may be slowing down our momentum? Hebrews 12 gives us practical steps to follow Jesus more closely every single day.---Rodney was elected President of the Missionary Church in 2023. He has been a credentialed minister in the denomination since 2009 when he planted OneLife Church in Knoxville, TN. Rodney is passionate about the multiplication of disciples, churches, and networks (both locally and internationally) and developing the next generation of leaders to lead Kingdom expansion in unique and creative ways.

Jesus has come, not only to set us free from the guilt of sin, but to save us from the shame of sin. Chris Bounds preaches on the debilitating problem of shame and how Christ has come to set us free from it. ---Chris is a Professor of Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary. Before teaching at Asbury, he taught for more than a decade in the School of Theology and Ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University. He’s an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, where he served as an associate and senior pastor for eight years. Chris and his wife Tamara have two children.

Who am I? This is one of the greatest questions that we will ask in this life. Where do you draw your identity from? We have many different forms of identifying who we are based on relationships, occupation, education, race, religion, interests and so on and so forth. But at your very core, who are you?

Love is a fashionable word. We hear it repeatedly in music, in poetry, in the Scriptures, and even when eating our favorite pizza. If repetition helps get a point across, John is definitely trying to get our attention and educate us about love—true love. God is love, but what about us?

The wise sage, John, abruptly ends his letter to the church. His final words are short and to the point. He tells the beloved disciples of Jesus to keep themselves from idols. That’s it. Why would John choose to finish his letter that is full of assurances in such a way? 

It’s a great learning moment when an old, wise sage sits down in his chair and shares seasoned wisdom with the children. That’s exactly what John does in 1 John. As he comes closer to the end of his life, he wants those new in the faith to experience God’s perfect love flowing through them. He wants them to experience incredible joy. Most importantly, he desires for them to know freedom from the tyranny and pain of sin.

Who doesn’t want to be loved? There is an innate desire in all of us to be seen and known in an intimate way. Our souls crave the love of God, but there is also a need to be loved in communion with our brothers and sisters. That loving communion with brothers and sisters is what John describes as evidence that we have relationship with God. So why do we often get it so wrong?

John describes in stark contrast the present circumstances of a group of believers in Jesus. His words accentuate the pressure they face, he reminds them time is ticking away, and he encourages them to apply the truth they have accepted to their everyday life. But a choice remains. The hours of our days are not unlike theirs, and we too have the same choice—Option A or Option BE.

Abide. Remain. Dwell. Live in. Stay. Over twenty times, John writes of this idea in his short letter to the church. This state of being or concept of remaining directly connects to John 15, where Jesus also encourages his followers to stay connected to him. So, Church, what does it look like to abide, remain, dwell, live in and stay with Christ? 

The book of 1 John is a challenge and encouragement to the Church. John is reminding the Church of the sufficient work of Christ on the cross and the implications for holy living. John is encouraging the faithful followers of Christ to hold steady in the face of opposition and false teaching. We are people of light and love.