Welcome to Life Church Norton!

Welcome to the Sermon Blog of Life Church (formerly New Testament Baptist Church). Feel free to listen to or download sermons from our Sunday morning services. Then click on the comments to dialogue about the messages so we can learn from each other throughout the week. You may also click on the envelope after each post to send the link to a friend.
*** We have recently become Grace Church and will no longer be posting new sermons on this blog. You can find all newer sermons by going directly to www.thatsgrace.org and search for messages by the Norton location. However, we will continue to maintain this site and all are still encouraged to comment. ***

Dec 26, 2010

Dec 19, 2010

Dec 12, 2010

Dec 5, 2010

Nov 28, 2010

Nov 21, 2010

Nov 14, 2010

Oct 31, 2010

Do You Want to Be Well? Part II

Pastor Dave Brooks brings the second half of this message begun on October 17.

Oct 24, 2010

Missionary Presentation: Emerson Family

In this service, Bill and Amanda Emerson present their call to serve the Lord as missionaries in a Guatemalan orphanage. For more information be sure to check out www.guatemerson.com.

Oct 17, 2010

Do You Want To Be Well? Part I

Pastor Dave Brooks brought this message as an Intentional Interim pastor candidate on Oct. 17, 2010.

Oct 10, 2010

Stuck Halfway

Karl Dyrli brings this message about being "stuck" between an initial response to God and fully realizing the full life He offers us. This was also the 40th anniversary weekend for New Testament Christian School.

Oct 3, 2010

To Live Is Christ

Gary Brennan brings this message about the centrality of knowing Christ.

Sep 9, 2010

Technical Transition...

If you are here reading this you are probably looking for a sermon from New Testament Baptist Church. At this time we are transferring over our web service, so there will be some delay in posting recent messages. We apologize for that, but hope to put up all missing messages as soon as possible.
You may still leave any questions or comments through the comment link on this posting.
Take care,
Karl

Aug 1, 2010

Worship Together

While we may be quick to affirm the importance of worship and the importance of community, for what reason is it important to worship together? I Corinthians 14 was addressing one of those times in which worship in the Church had unravelled into controversy. So Paul writes to correct misunderstandings and give the biblical foundation for corporate worship: the edification of the Church.
While spiritual gifts and forms of worship might remain controversial today, the foundational purpose for God's people to worship together remains the same.
Again, I'd love to hear questions, thoughts, or ideas through the comment tab below. It was an interesting experience to preach from this passage, not to mention a little tricky. I hope it blesses you.
Take care,
Karl

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Jul 19, 2010

A Wonderful Life

In this message, Paul Sargent gives a thorough biblical presentation on the wonderful life that God has so lovingly prepared for us. If we believe and receive what He offers, we find that life is a wonderful gift!

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Jul 11, 2010

Biblical Lessons on Giving

Generous giving can tend to be a sensitive issue. This message examines II Corinthians 8 and 9 to find out what the Bible actually teaches on biblical giving, God's way. Above all, giving is a chance to be like Jesus, who laid down the glory of heaven to become poor, so that we might be rich in Him forever.


II Chronicles 7:14

Steve Todaro delivers this message on the importance of being a people of prayer. Feel free to leave questions or comments as discussion starters in the comments tab below.
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Jun 27, 2010

...Them, Too?

Are there people or groups of people in your life that you would consider least likely to be disciples of Jesus Christ? In Acts 10 Peter had to make the leap across the chasm between Jew and Gentile and bring the Gospel to a group that would otherwise be dismissed. But this leap was appointed by God, as the mystery of Christ is revealed in the uniting of Jew and Gentile into one people of God.
God has been shockingly gracious to us, and now calls us to become like Him as grace-giving ambassadors for His Kingdom.

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Jun 20, 2010

Recommissioning

In John 21 we find Peter in between the resurrection of Christ and His ascension, and Peter decides to go fishing. Left with memories of his own bitter failures, left with an unsure future, Peter goes back to what he knows.
As Jesus once again steps into Peter's life as a fisherman, He has a vitally important message...once again He is calling Peter to follow Him.

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Jun 13, 2010

Great Expectations

In this message Steve Todaro points us ahead to the greatest expectation of them all: the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Great Expectation

Do you ever consider what lies ahead for us as believers in Jesus Christ? In this message Steve Todaro points us ahead to our greatest expectation of all: the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Jun 6, 2010

Special Message: Paul Sargent

On this Sunday, Paul Sargent brought a message about how our lives belong to God in every way. We were bought at a great price, and now have the privilege of living for His glory.

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May 30, 2010

Examples for Us

Do you ever feel like some of those Old Testament stories just feel a little bit...distant? I mean, how is God's punishment of the nation of Israel relevant to you and to me? Well, I Corinthians 10 answers that question loud and clear: these things happened as examples and warnings for us. This message digs back into the Old Testament stories to discover what exactly we are supposed to learn. That message is this: we tend to take sin far too lightly.

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May 23, 2010

The Presence of the LORD

If God is everywhere, then what does it mean for God to be present with His people? In this message, we examine Exodus 33, in which God proposes to fulfill His promises to Israel without His presence with them. This caused all of Israel to mourn, since nothing compares with the presence of the LORD.
It is the same for us. As Christians, as a church, we must like Moses be prepared to say, "LORD, if your presence does not go with us, do not let us leave this place." His presence with His people is what its all about.
Feel free to leave thoughts and comments.
Karl

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May 16, 2010

Where is your hope?

As King David was driven from Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion, in one powerful moment he looked back and wept over the city. As the one man who represented the best of humanity's hope, he tasted the bitterness of that disappointment. Contrast that with the entrance of King Jesus into that same city, who wept over the people He loved so deeply. As God in the flesh, He brought an entirely new category of hope...eternal hope.
In this message, Chet Jobert points us as a church to the centrality of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes from such a centered perspective.

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May 9, 2010

Happy Mothers Day!

Steve Todaro brings this message about the importance of living a legacy of faith in the Christian home. Thanks, moms and grandmoms, for your critical role of investing the Kingdom of God into all of our lives!

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May 2, 2010

How Did I Get Into This Mess?

Do you ever ask yourself that question? In the book of I Samuel we find in the life of Saul an example of what can happen when we refuse to repent in response to sin. Eventually, even if we started off really well, we might end up asking, "How did I get into this mess??" In Saul we find a negative example, but in the power of the Gospel we have a reminder that our lives need not be that way. Through repentance, forgiveness, and new life, God conquers our sin and gives us a new start.

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Apr 25, 2010

Face to Face With Jesus

Today we welcomed Dr. Doug Fombelle, Dean of Bethel Seminary of the East. He brought a message from I Corinthians that calls us back to consider the personal confrontation with Jesus Himself in which God communicates to us His truth, love, and instruction. For those of you who at one point came to hear the voice of Jesus as He called you to be his child, that same Shepherd continues to love and teach His sheep according to His ways. Our job is to tune our hearts to listen for and respond to His voice.
Feel free to leave comments and reflections.
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Apr 18, 2010

Something Better

Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith," a place to go and browse the incredible lives of Old Testament believers who lived by faith. Yet at the end of the chapter, the spotlight turns to each of us, "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
How can that be? These impressive examples aren't given for us to marvel over, but to exceed. After all, post-resurrection believers now know the Name above every Name, have the power of God working in them, and are themselves the holy dwelling places of His Spirit.
Do you feel like your life is "something better" than Abraham, Joshua and Moses? If not, look at how Hebrews 12 describes the life of faith, the race well run, and enjoy the awesome privilege of fixing your life on Jesus Christ.
(Sorry the audio is a bit quiet this week.)
Karl
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Apr 11, 2010

My Heart: Cluttered or Clean

In this message, Gary Brennan brings us through an understanding of David's spiritual life as reflected in Psalm 51. May we all consider carefully the condition of our hearts before God.

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Apr 4, 2010

Is the Resurrection Hard to Believe?

Happy Resurrection Day!
...but do we ever have a hard time believing that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is actual, literal, and crucial? This message takes an honest look at those questions, and in the end we can rest assured that the resurrection of Christ is rationally and historically quite believable.

Mar 30, 2010

The Week of Destiny

Jesus fulfilled an enormous list of prophecies, taught some incredible lessons, and performed some amazing ministry in that last week in Jerusalem leading up to His crucifixion. It was truly a week of destiny.
Steve Todaro brings this message.

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Special Service: May 21

Below find the audio from a very special service of prayer and worship with our annointed guest, Troy Bourne. On this day, we sought together the face of the Lord and set as a goal to humble ourselves before Him. I have been thinking since that day of what a wonderful blessing this brings. As James 4:10 instructs, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." In other words, the blessing of humbling ourselves before God is that God Himself becomes our help, our support, our strength and shield. We don't have to rely on puny resources such as circumstances, health, energy, sleep, or caffeine to be our strength. GOD is! It is always worth it to humble ourselves before Him, since nothing compares with being lifted up by God Himself.

Feel free to visit Troy's website at www.jirehscopeministries.org

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Mar 14, 2010

Good Criticism?

The word "criticism" seems to bring a negative connotation most of the time. Yet if criticism is given from a pure heart and received by a teachable spirit, it can end up being a force of great goodness and blessing in our lives, both individually and as a church. This message explores the good, the bad, and the ugly truth about criticism. If we develop the wisdom described in Scripture, then God can use criticism as an instrument to actually build up His people through love and mutual service. Feel free to leave comments.
Karl

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Mar 7, 2010

Perfectly United

In I Corinthians 1 through 3, the apostle Paul challenges the church in Corinth to be "perfectly united in mind and thought." Is anyone else impressed by how enormous that is? How is that even possible?
The problem in Corinth was the influence of worldly attitudes toward those who serve in the church, which led to division and ran the risk of "the cross of Christ being emptied of its power." Pretty serious consequences.
So one requirement for the Church to be the Church is that no one person gets elevated to the place where only Jesus belongs.
Feel free to leave comments.
Karl


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Mar 1, 2010

The Living Church

In this message Steve Todaro brings a message about the Church as Jesus intended.

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Feb 21, 2010

Biblical Eldership

In this message Steve Todaro brings a message on what Scripture teaches about pastors in the local church. As a church devoted to the Word of God, this pertinent message brings us to what God teaches on the subject. Feel free to leave thoughts and reflections in the comments.

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Feb 14, 2010

The Church in 3 Directions: Part II

OK, so God has called His Church to live in worship (upward), fellowship (inward), and evangelism/service (outward.) As we study the Scriptures it turns out that all three are not only indispensible, but inextricably linked. And the next question is, if we HAD to pick one as a priority over the others, which would we be most likely to choose? Do you have a favorite?
After answering that question, look at the shocking words of Jesus in Matthew 5:23, 24. Perhaps our priorities don't match up to those of Jesus as readily as we might think. This message is a call to the priority of brotherly reconciliation and acceptable worship. And yes, the order IS significant.
I would love any reflections you may want to leave in the comments.
God bless,
Karl

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Feb 7, 2010

Discover, Not Determine: The Church in Three Directions

"Who are we, really?" This question probes the philosophical foundations of our existence, and when it comes to finding an answer there is no better place to turn than the revealed Word of God. As we investigate the Scriptures to see what the Church is all about, we find that God has designed His people to live in three directions: Upward, Inward and Outward. Upward is our holy relationship of worship with God Himself, Inward is the call to love and community, and Outward is the mission of evangelism and service. Each of the three is essential, and this two part sermon investigates what Scripture teaches in these areas. The focus is on Hebrews 12 and I Peter 2. Feel free to leave comments, questions or reflections.
Karl

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Jan 31, 2010

Discern, Not Decide

In Numbers 13 and 14 we find the dramatic events at the edge of the promised land.  God told Moses to send 12 Israelite leaders into the new territory, a land that He was going to deliver to them.  When the 12 came back, ten had reasoned arguments why they should not advance into Canaan, while two claimed they should.  This is a prime example in which the majority doesn't, or shouldn't, rule.  Ten decided what they thought should be done.  Two correctly discerned the will of the Lord.
For all of God's people, our lives, our churches, our every choice is to be one of discerning His direction, not of deciding what we think should be done.  This message walks through this story, so you may want to have a Bible handy if you're listening to it.  I'd appreciate any thoughts or reflections.
May God help us all to know, hear, and heed His will for our lives.
Karl

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Jan 27, 2010

January 24, 2010: Isaiah 58

As we watch on the news the gripping tragedy of the disaster in Haiti, it is easy to think of the insurmountable list of serious needs throughout our world. Instead of being overwhelmed, God has called us to live out our faith with trust, hope and perseverance.
Isaiah 58 was delivered to religious people who had lost their true love for God. In indictment, Isaiah declares that on the very day of their religious fasting they exploit the helpless. This is worthless religion.
So what is the key to keeping our faith from becoming worthless religion? The answer is to DELIGHT in God Himself.
I would appreciate any thoughts or comments as you read Isaiah 58 and listen to this message.
Take care,
Karl

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Jan 16, 2010

January 17, 2010: Jesus, the Bread of Life

Jesus describes Himself as the Bread of Life. In John 6 we find Jesus in conversation with those who were following Him with confused motives. Yes, they wanted to hear Him, but even more than that they saw Jesus as the means toward the end of getting food. As vital a necessity as food is, Jesus Himself is the eternal food that is far more precious. Jesus loved them too much to let them keep their focus there, and a very interesting conversation ensues.
Give John 6 a good read, listen to the message, and please feel free to leave comments and reflections.
God bless,
Karl

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