Bring the Heat - New City Church

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!

Going All In | Bring the Heat | Shawndra Lucas

June 9, 2024 • Shawndra Lucas • Psalm 139:23–24, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Hebrews 4:12

What are you investing in today? This weekend Shawndra Lucas continued our BRING THE HEAT series with a message about the value of God’s word in our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The Apostle Paul is telling Timothy that devoting ourselves to the study of scripture is an investment that will pay big dividends. 1) God’s word corrects us. God’s word is the necessary voice in our lives to correct us. It doesn’t matter how long ago or how little, getting things right matters. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24 2) God’s word conditions us. Conditioning helps us to do what’s right even when we are tired or weary. It is the development of godly reflexes and reactions. “A cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.” Amy Carmichael 3) God’s word completes us. The Bible gives us a complete picture of every part of our growth and development in Christ, ensuring that we lack nothing! For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12

Welcome to Our House | Bring the Heat | Pastor Steve Andres

June 2, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Timothy 3:1–3, Hebrews 13:1–2

What does home feel like to you? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our BRING THE HEAT series with a message about an under-appreciated quality necessary to be a leader: hospitality. 1 Timothy 3:1-3 A church leader must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must be hospitable, and he must be able to teach. The Apostle Paul understood the importance of opening our homes and lives to outsiders, so he considers it a qualification for leadership. Why? 1) Home is one of the central themes in the Bible. From God’s presence in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1, to God’s presence in the Garden City in Revelation 21, the whole Bible is one long story of exile and returning home. 2) Jesus came to bring lost people home. Jesus did more than teach and heal. Most of his ministry was spent eating and sharing with sinners, ushering in the kingdom of God one meal at a time. 3) Hospitality is the practice of inviting strangers to be friends. Paul tells Timothy to practice welcoming outsiders. Ask yourself, "How can I use my home, my money, or my resources to invite someone into a deeper experience of God’s hospitality and grace?” Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

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.

We've Got the Bread | Bring the Heat | Pastor Steve Andres

May 19, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 2 Timothy 2:20–21

God wants to use you to be a blessing! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres shared a message from our BRING THE HEAT summer series. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. As we listen in on a mentoring conversation between the Apostle Paul and Timothy, we learn how we can become vessels that are useful to the Lord. 1) PRACTICE. Training is better than trying. Paul tells Timothy, “Keep reminding them…” Jesus told a story of two men who built houses. Both men heard Jesus' words, and both experienced storms. The only difference between them was that one man practiced what Jesus taught, and that was the man whose house was built on solid ground. 2) PURSUE. Add discipline to desire in order to grow. Paul instructs Timothy to flee from evil desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. Time does not always equal progress, especially when we get stuck in sin or disillusionment. The man or woman of God will find a way to pursue the things of God. 3) PEOPLE. He who walks with the wise will be wise. If all you have is people who like you, who you like and who are like you, you are missing out on the greatest workshop for holiness that God gives to us. When we are disappointed in other Christians, we learn how to be godly as we love and forgive. God is building a great house, and he wants vessels that are fit for use. How do you know which vessel is made of precious metal? When you strike them, they sing. Jesus was struck down, but he stayed true, and so became a vessel for God’s grace and mercy to sinners like us!