New City Church

Stephen recommended this song and we’re planning to start singing it tomorrow. Here’s a demo with lyrics which may help you learn the song quicker if it’s unfamiliar to you. Enjoy!

His Glory & My Good (Lyrics) - CityAlight (Live) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28But far be it from ...

It ain't about flippin' tables…

it ain’t about flippin’ tables – New City Church it ain’t about flippin’ tables Today J-T Shepherd's Pen By now you’ve heard about the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The outcry has been over the decision to have a group of LGBT+ folk seated at a table, with the person seated at the center having a halo. Further, the Greek go...

You were chosen before the foundations of the world were laid. You have been adopted as sons of God, recipients of His inheritance. You are redeemed, forgiven. The riches of God have been lavished on you. You are united with Christ, sitting with him at the right hand of God. Once dead, now alive in Christ—not dependent on anything we have done. You are His workmanship created for good works. You have the surname of God, you have the power of his Spirit living within you. You are filled with the fullness of God! — Dave Vermilye

The truth is we are inter-dependent citizens of a better kingdom that will last forever. It is a kingdom where none of us is independent and on our own. In this kingdom ruled by a King who emptied himself and took on the form of a mere slave that he might elevate us to adoption as sons, none of us has to go it alone. Wherever we work, wherever we live, whatever energy we have, whatever resources have been entrusted to us are used in this kingdom for the glory of our King and for our good. — Jt Richards

We have available the unlimited strength of God. So why do I want to do it on my own? — Dave Vermilye

New City Church, Tomorrow we’re planning on singing another new song based upon a Psalm. We tested it out at our worship night earlier this summer. For those who missed that night, here’s a video with lyrics so it won’t seem completely new to you.

Be gracious to me, oh, God
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
'Til destruction of the enemy goes by
Be gracious to me, oh, God

Be merciful to me, my King
There's a darkness in this cave surrounding me
When the swords are drawn and spears and arrows fly
Be merciful to me, my King

You are exalted, oh, God above the heavens
Come let Your glory cover the Earth
You have saved me from the roaring lions
Awake my soul to love You, awake my soul to sing

Be faithful to me, my Lord
Protect me when the enemies draw near
Though they set their nets before me in the night
Be faithful to me, my Lord

You are exalted, oh, God above the heavens
Come let Your glory cover the Earth
You have saved me from the roaring lions
Awake my soul to love You, awake my soul to sing

I will sing for all You've done
You have changed my life
Rescued me from the grave
Kept me safe through the night

You are exalted, oh, God above the heavens
Come let Your glory cover the Earth
You have saved me from the roaring lions
Awake my soul to love You, awake my soul to sing

Songwriters: Adam Daniel Westlake / Maclean Paul Hays / Britton Chase Hardcastle
© More Songs From Wellhouse, Songs From Wellhouse

Awake My Soul (Psalm 57) — The Worship Initiative — Lyric Video Not my song or my background!Song: The Worship InitiativeBackground: churchofJesusChrist.orgThanks for watching :)

Jt Richard’s’ sermon on Ephesians 6:5-9, “Submitting to One Another — Part Three” from our current series “Sit, Walk, Stand: A study in Ephesians” is available:

Submitting to One Another—part three – New City Church Submitting to One Another—part three Today J-T Richards Ephesians Show Audio Player Save Audio Save PDF Ephesians 6:5-9 Series: Sit, Walk, Stand: A study in Ephesians

We are inter-dependent citizens of a better kingdom that will last forever. It is a kingdom where none of us is independent and on our own. In this kingdom ruled by a King who emptied himself and took on the form of a mere slave that he might elevate us to adoption as sons, none of us has to go it alone. Wherever we work, wherever we live, whatever energy we have, whatever resources have been entrusted to us are used in this kingdom for the glory of our King and for our good. -Jt Richards

You and I are not freed from the slavery of sin so that we can go and do whatever we want. We are freed from service to sin that we might live as citizens of his kingdom. The difference is we are freed from a cruel master who seeks only to steal, kill, and destroy, and we now serve a Master who loves us and pursues us and lays down his life for us. -Jt Richards

We forget that we are all, each one of us, slaves to something: either slaves to sin or we have been rescued by the Lord Jesus and are therefore his bondservants. There is no other category. -Jt Richards

In short, what Paul is doing in our text is showing us how to be like Jesus, even in an
unjust and wicked culture. The truth is Jesus is OUR Lord and Master. Paul frequently refers to himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. And what sort of Master is he? He is the kind of Master who submits to his servants by giving himself up for them. Jesus is the sort of Master who takes on the form of a servant—a slave—and humbles himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. -Jt Richards

Though [we] were once outsiders for not being part of the people of Israel, in Christ [we] have been adopted into God's new people, his church, for God has taken from Jew and Gentile and has created a new category, a new humanity that replaces these old categories. -Jt Richards

Be like Jesus. -Jt Richards

Do you see how Paul undercuts the very idea of slavery? Treat this runaway slave in the same manner you would treat me, an apostle of the Lord Jesus. Slaves, for their part, must obey their masters as those who are truly working for the Lord Jesus, but they do so as those who are equal in dignity with the apostles! -Jt Richards

Those who belong to the Lord have an identity in Christ, even if their earthly status is lowly. -Jt Richards

The very idea of "owning" a person is incompatible with Christian faith. By addressing slaves as responsible agents Paul undermines the very foundation of slavery itself. -Jt Richards

Any economic system that relies on the subjugation of people is a broken. economic system that is contrary to God's created order. It is in the midst of the brokenness of this world, with political and legal and social and racial and economic injustices everywhere, that we are called to live faithfully. -Jt Richards

On its face, slavery is an upending of God's good world. It is an attack on the image of God in man. -Jt Richards

Highlights from worship today.

Jt Richards’ sermon on Ephesians 6:1-4 “Submitting to One Another — Part Two” from our current series “Sit, Walk, Stand: A study in Ephesians” is available here:

Submitting to One Another—part two – New City Church Submitting to One Another—part two July 15, 2024 J-T Richards Ephesians Show Audio Player Save Audio Save PDF Ephesians 6:1-4 Series: Sit, Walk, Stand: A study in Ephesians

Jt Richards’ sermon on Ephesians 5:22-33 “Submitting to One Another—Part One” from Sunday is available:

Submitting to One Another—part one – New City Church Submitting to One Another—part one July 8, 2024 J-T Richards Ephesians Show Audio Player Save Audio Save PDF Ephesians 5:22-33 Series: Sit, Walk, Stand: A study in Ephesians

It's not how…it's WHO.

it’s not how—it’s who – New City Church it’s not how—it’s who Today J-T Shepherd's Pen There are strong opinions about preaching. I know guys who insist on a particular method of preaching—this usually means preaching extemporaneously, off the cuff and without a manuscript. I recently saw a post on social media insisting that one ...

Recent highlights from worship.

Whether you have gone through divorce or you know someone close who has, you can recognize the terrible rending that takes place. This illustrates the importance of marriage. If it were no big deal, divorce wouldn't hurt the way it hurts, even when it is necessary. Even in a failed marriage we see the faithfulness of Christ, for this will never be the outcome of his union with his bride. -Jt Richards

The truth is even the best marriages are only a hint of what is to come. Many…have experienced the rending of divorce. Even in this we see hope, for something deep within us recognizes how a marriage that failed was meant to point us to something greater. Because marriages are always between two sinners the picture it paints can be an inaccurate picture, but even in this there is hope. -Jt Richards

In Christ we have the intimacy with God that marriage reveals to us. Just as a husband and wife become one flesh, so we become partakers of God's divine nature in Christ. -Jt Richards

In Christ we have boldness and access with confidence to God… Christ has taken us into the most holy place, into the direct and immediate presence of God. Whereas the old covenant sacrifices had to be repeated daily by a distinct priesthood, when Christ offered himself as a sacrifice, he sat down for his work was finished. He therefore ushers in a better covenant, one that is dependent on him and his faithfulness rather than on us and our faithfulness. -Jt Richards

We desire…intimate connection. Marriage…unites a man and woman together. Marriage illustrates for us what God intends for us with him. In some mysterious way a husband and wife become one flesh through marriage. [In a similar way] we experience union with Christ. We are united with him in his death, burial, and resurrection. Peter says we become partakers of the divine nature. -Jt Richards

It isn't that the husband is the boss who gets his way. It is that the husband has the greater responsibility to love and sacrifice for his wife. In this way husbands submit to their wives as Paul instructs us all to submit
to one another. -Jt Richards