A Trip Down Memory Lane | Bring the Heat | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

New City Church

A Trip Down Memory Lane | Bring the Heat | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

May 26, 2024 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo • 1 Timothy 1:12–14, Acts 9:15

How do we find the motivation to fan into flame the gifts God has given us when we are up against a difficult task? This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our series BRING THE HEAT with a message about what we should remember when we lack motivation.

1 Timothy 1:12-14

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Timothy was up against a tall task at the church of Ephesus having to stand against false teachers. Paul encourages Timothy by taking a trip down memory lane of his own life. Here is what he chose to remember.

1) Remember Jesus chose you.

Paul finds motivation by remembering that day on the Damascus Road when he was chosen by Jesus.

When speaking about Paul to Ananias in the book of Acts, Jesus said:

Acts 9:15

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Our motivation starts when we remember we are CHOSEN!

2) Remember Jesus appoints and empowers you.

Paul reminds himself he was chosen for a reason. He was appointed to service and he knew that Christ gave him the strength to do what he was appointed to do.

3) Remember Jesus' grace for you.

When we remember our past, it shouldn't bring us to a place of shame and guilt. It should propel us into a heart of gratitude every single time. Like Paul, the memories of his past sins reminded him of how great God's grace is. It was the spark that ignited his motivation behind what he was called to do.

Fan It Into Flame | Bring the Heat | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

June 30, 2024 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo • 2 Timothy 1:4–7

You can belong to Christ and still have a fire that has dwindled. This weekend Pastor Joaquin concluded our BRING THE HEAT series with a message about fanning the flame of the gift of God within us. 2 Timothy 1:4-7 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 1. Do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel or the gift you have that puts it on display! Sharing the good news of Christ stirs up our faith, and refusing to share it will cause it to dwindle. When we use the gifts that God has given us to share the gospel it keeps the fire within us going! 2. Don't ignore the Holy Spirit. Ignoring the Holy Spirit will cause our fire to fade, but embracing Him through His conviction, counsel, and calling will allow power, peace, and self control to rest on us. 3. Stay active and engaged. Staying active and engaged is tending to the fire. God has given us wood and fuel for this fire in our lives. 1. The Bible - God wants to speak to you. Read it everyday! 2. Prayer - We have his ear. Prayer transforms us from the inside out. 3. People - God uses people to help motivate and encourage us when we need it most. Don't settle for just existing! God has created you to make a difference. Now therefore GO!

Finishing Well | Bring the Heat | Pastor Steve Andres

June 23, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 2 Timothy 4:7–8

You can finish strong! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our BRING THE HEAT series with a message about running our race well. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness. Too many people start well but finish poorly. How can we, like the Apostle Paul, finish our race and remain faithful? 1) Honor the Word of God. The Bible is the key to an accurate self-understanding. To honor it, we need to study it, trust it and accept its correction. 2) Respect guardrails in your life. Have you established guardrails to keep you from drifting into sin? Guardrails can be painful, but not nearly as painful as what they protect us from. 3) Keep short accounts with God and others. Don’t wait to make things right. Keeping short accounts keeps debts from getting out of hand. 4) Aim for fruitfulness. Fruit only grows in valleys. Choose to prioritize what can build yourself and others up, even in difficult circumstances. 5) Focus on the finish line. In this race there are no winners, only finishers. If we run our race well, we get to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Fathers In Demand | Bring the Heat | Pastor Steve Andres

June 16, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Timothy 1:18–19

Fathers are in high demand! This weekend we honored dads at New City, and Pastor Steve Andres brought a message of encouragement from our BRING THE HEAT series. 1 Timothy 1:18-19 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. The Apostle Paul became a spiritual father when he stepped in to fill a gap that was in Timothy’s life. How do the best fathers influence and shape our lives? 1) Fathers CREATE moments. The Apostle Paul was able to point to a moment in Timothy’s formation when he received a gift from the Lord. Fathers are good at creating moments where sons or daughters can do business with God. 2) Fathers CLARIFY calling. Without a clear calling, gifts go to the highest bidder. Fathers are instrumental not only in identifying our unique gifts, but in speaking to the places where we should apply those gifts. 3) Fathers CULTIVATE humility. The Apostle Paul shared both his strengths and weaknesses with Timothy. Fathers who model honest, vulnerable security in the grace of Christ create a safe space for growth. 4) Fathers COVER our failures. True fathers do not step back in the face of failure. Instead, they step in. When we were at our worst, God our Father made a way to cover our failures and to carry us home. Praise God!