DAVID - New City Church

Who's Got Next? | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

September 8, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 2 Chronicles 3:1

Are you preparing for who’s next? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres concluded our DAVID series with a message about leaving a legacy. 2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of [Araunah] the Jebusite. David’s story is the story of an imperfect person living by the faithfulness of God. In this new season, he has new questions to tackle about his heart and legacy. 1) What do you do when God says NO? David’s desire to build a house for the Lord is good, but God still says no. The man or woman of God can trust that God’s no is still for our good. 2) Can you sacrifice for what you won’t enjoy? Once David realizes that someone else is going to build the Temple, he might have folded his arms and done nothing more. Instead, he prepares for the work to be done. “The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” Nelson Henderson Even though our culture encourages a me-first mindset, God’s plan is to serve even when it doesn’t benefit. 3) Are you preparing for who’s next? David’s legacy was to prepare for someone else to build a house for God. At the same place of David’s repentance and sacrifice, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to prepare the way for us to be forgiven and set free!

For The Sake Of Your Family | DAVID | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

September 1, 2024 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo • 2 Samuel 13:11–14, 2 Samuel 13:21

This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our DAVID series with a message about how our choices impact more than just us. 2 Samuel 13:11-14 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. As for me, where could I carry my shame? 1) Your choices don't just affect you -they impact those you love. When David chose to sleep with Bathsheba, it set off a chain reaction of consequences. Disaster not only touches his life but also the lives of his entire family. The same is true when you walk with the LORD. When God blesses you, the blessing doesn’t just affect you - that blessing impacts those you love! 2) Choose to confront the issue. 2 Samuel 13:21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. Although David was angered by what had happened to his daughter Tamar, he did nothing about it. This led to his son Absalom taking matters into his own hands and killing his brother Amnon. "Avoiding conflict isn’t the same as harmony. In fact, avoiding conflict creates an illusion of harmony while the real issues continue to fester beneath the surface." John Gottman, Ph.D. Confronting the issue is an act of love. Refusing to do so is an act of neglect. 3) Choose forgiveness and when possible, reconcile. Towards the end of the story, there is a civil war between David and his son Absalom which leads to Absalom's death. All this is a result of David not wanting to confront the issue and Absalom refusing to forgive his father's neglect. This story points us to a greater example. A greater King. Jesus did for us what David couldn't do!

Failure Doesn't Have To Be Final | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

August 25, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 2 Corinthians 5:21, Proverbs 27:16, Psalm 51:10

What if you weren’t defined by your worst moments? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about how to recover from failure. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. After David’s sin with Bathsheba is exposed, he is humiliated and 1) Failure gives us a new perspective. David’s reaction to his sin is one of true humility and brokenness before God. If we fail to recognize that our sin is against God, our repentance can still be self-serving. 2) Failure might be a me thing, but repentance is a we thing. Nathan was a wise voice speaking into the David’s foolishness. When we fall, we need to listen carefully to other godly voices that can guide us. 3) Failure is never the final word for the righteous. Many people are defined by their failures. David’s deep and sincere repentance meant that his failure would not be final. Proverbs 27:16 For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. The righteous person is not defined by their falling, but by their rising. Because Jesus paid the price for every sin, we can be confident that God will give us grace to rise after falling! 2 Corinthians 5:21 God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God. Failure doesn’t have to be final!

The Promise Is Closer Than You Think | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

August 18, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Samuel 30:3–4, Jeremiah 1:12

This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about holding on to God’s promises! 1 Samuel 30:3-4 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. After decades of waiting on God’s promise, David seems further away from its fulfillment than ever. How do we stay steady when we can’t see God moving? 1) God’s plan is not about efficiency. It’s about fruitfulness. More Psalms were written in the wilderness than any other setting. Sometimes God’s plan is to take us the long way so that we can be more fruitful. We handle OBEDIENCE. God handles OUTCOMES. When we can’t see the destination, we still have a way that God has called us to walk. Trust that His way is best! 2) Steward what God provides. Hope for all he promised. David took care of the families that he led, fighting to rescue them. But he continued to look for God’s promise of the throne of Israel. 3) Don’t give up. The promise is closer than you think. The enemy of our souls will whisper in our ears that God has forgotten his promise. Don’t believe it. The enemy doesn’t win if you get discouraged or hurt or heartbroken. He only wins if you quit. God will do everything he said he will do. Jeremiah 1:12 I watch over my word that I should perform it. Three days after David rescues the families that had been taken captive, the crown is delivered to him and God’s word from many years earlier is realized. If David had quit, he would never have seen the promise! Jesus faced his darkest moment on the cross, when it seemed that all hope was lost. But it was precisely at that moment when he was closer than ever to the fulfillment of his mission to bring forgiveness and life. Don’t give up!

How To Keep Your Heart Clean | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

August 11, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • Psalm 52:8–9

How do you keep your heart clean (even when you’ve been done dirty)? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about how to heal from hurts. Psalm 52:8-9 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the faithfulness of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good. Everyone will GO through hurt but not everyone will GROW through hurt. What does David’s prayer teach us about how we can handle our deepest wounds? 1) “As for me.” Start with me. Just because we’ve been unquestionably wronged does not mean we are unquestionably right. Start with the humble examination of whatever part of this that we need to own. 2) “I trust in the faithfulness of God.” Leave room for God to work on your behalf. David trusted that God would take care of him. This is the trust that sets us free from the need to retaliate or take revenge. 3) “I will praise you because you have done it.” Make space for purpose in your pain. God is able to take what was intended for evil and use it for good. You can thank him in advance for how he will use this hurt to heal others. 4) “I will wait on your name.” The best fruit takes time to grow. Olive trees grow slow, but they bear a lot fruit. David knew that it would take time for fruit to come from his hurt, but he was willing to wait. God is able to help us grow and flourish through every season!

The Power of Friendship | DAVID | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

August 4, 2024 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo • 1 Samuel 18:1–3, 1 Samuel 18:4, 1 Samuel 19:1–2, 1 Samuel 19:4, 2 Samuel 9:1

The power of friendship! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our DAVID series with a message about friendship. 1 Samuel 18:1-3 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. David, a man after God's own heart, and Jonathan, a man faithful and committed to the Lord, shared a special friendship in the Lord's sight. Here is what we can learn from them: 1) A friend affirms God's calling on your life. In 1 Samuel 18:4, we see Jonathan's remarkable act of faith and friendship: "And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt." As the son of King Saul, Jonathan was next in line for the throne. However, God had chosen David instead due to Saul's disobedience. Rather than being resentful, Jonathan honored God's decision by giving David his royal garments and weapons, symbolizing his wholehearted support for David as God's chosen king. 2) A friend protects. 1 Samuel 19:1-2 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself." True friends care deeply about each other's safety and well-being. They will go to great lengths to protect one another from harm, just as Jonathan did for David. 3) A friend speaks well of their friend. 1 Samuel 19:4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father... Despite having much to gain from David's death, Jonathan refused to speak ill of him. Instead, he advocated for David's life, spoke well of him and defended his innocence. 4) A friend keeps their promise. After Jonathan's death, David honored the covenant he made with him: 2 Samuel 9:1 "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" David sought out Jonathan's remaining son and treated him as his own. David's love for his friend was selfless and unconditional, motivated by genuine affection and loyalty. 5) Jesus: The Greatest Friend. The story of David and Jonathan highlights the power of true friendship, but it ultimately points us to the greatest friend of all, Jesus. While we should strive for friendships like theirs, we might feel lonely at times. However, that's not true—Jesus embodies all the qualities of the perfect friend and more. He is God, reaching out to be your friend.

Don't You Dare Compare | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

July 28, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Samuel 18:6–7, Psalm 34:10

Don’t you dare compare! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about comparison. 1 Samuel 18:6-7 When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” The tipping point in Saul’s life and leadership was when he fell into the comparison trap. Why is this so toxic? 1) Comparison strangles our joy. How many times have we lost our joy because we were focused on another person’s blessings and not our own? Psalm 34:10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. God is faithful, so we can be confident that if we lack something in our lives, it’s not good for us now! 2) Comparison stunts our growth. Comparison is that sideways energy and effort that doesn’t move you forward in God’s purpose for you. It is wasted time and energy. 3) Comparison steals our focus. It’s so freeing to know God’s plan for me, because not only can I focus on my own assignment, but I can trust God for the resource to walk it out!

The Making Of | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

July 21, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Samuel 17:40, Ephesians 2:10

God’s promises come with a process! This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about the making of a man or woman of God. 1 Samuel 17:40 Then David took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. Before David ever found victory on the battlefield against Goliath, he had to learn some important lessons that we can learn as well. 1) Destiny comes wrapped in the ordinary. David was not planning to face off against the giant, he was simply following through on his assignment to deliver some cheese. It was faithfulness in the ordinary that brought him to a moment of great importance. 2) Private victories protect against public failure. David had confidence in this moment of public testing because of the private victories he had experienced over the lion and the bear. Take care of your bears and lions! 3) God equips you with gifts custom-fit for your assignment. When Saul gave David his armor, David was wise enough to know that if we can’t walk in something, we can’t war in it either. Make sure you understand and steward the gifts God has given you. 4) Trust and availability go hand in hand. David knew that Goliath was not the only giant in the Philistine army. When he chose five stones from the river, he was making himself available for the next fight as well. 5) God prepares the worker AND the work. God wasn’t just working to prepare young David. He had already prepared the battle for victory. Long before we reach our moments of testing, God has been preparing the work to be done. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. God has given you a promise, now be faithful in the process!

God Has A Plan | DAVID | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

July 14, 2024 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo • 1 Samuel 16:13

He knows what He is doing! This weekend Pastor Joaquin continued our DAVID series with a message on embracing God's plan. 1 Samuel 16:13 "Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.." 1. Stop mourning what didn't work When God rejected Saul, Samuel grieved over what was. But when our hope and trust is solely in God, we avoid getting stuck in the past, and can embrace the new things God is doing. 2. God uses unexpected things and people Our plans are built on what we see and know, but God sees beyond our limitations. When it was time to anoint a new king, everyone focused on Jesse's seven sons, but God chose the one everyone overlooked. Unlike Samuel, God can see beyond what is in the physical and will use the unexpected things and people to achieve his plans and purposes. 3. Accept God's strategy and timing God didn't reveal the entire plan to Samuel all at once; instead, He provided just enough direction for the next step. Even after being anointed, David didn't become king until 15 years later. The time in between is formative. The time it takes and the limited information you have are what God has prescribed for the perfecting of your faith so that you might know the fullness of God.

A Heart After God | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

July 7, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Samuel 13:14

You can have a heart after God! This weekend Pastor Steve started our DAVID series with a message about the contrast between kings Saul and David. 1 Samuel 13:14 Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” Saul lost the blessing and favor of God over his life, and God chose David because he was a man after God’s heart. What happens in our lives when we have a heart after God? 1) We move from fear to trust. When God didn’t meet Saul’s expectations, Saul acted out of fear and pride. What do you do when your expectations aren’t met by God? Do you still trust him? 2) We move from expediency to integrity. Expediency is about valuing convenience over what is right. Are you prepared to remain faithful to God even when it seems impractical? 3) We move from accolades to obedience. Saul wanted the approval of his people more than the approval of God. Compared to David’s sins, Saul’s sins might seem small. But what made David special was the deep sadness he felt when he sinned. This tenderness and repentance was what marked David as having a heart after God. David only points us to the one who models and gives us a true heart for God - Jesus!