Join Us This Sunday!

Join us this Sunday, April 3rd, as we look at how to discover God's will when he won't tell us the future. Hope to see you there!

Casa Hogar, Ensenada, Mexico

Our church supports an orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico called Casa Hogar. Towards the beginning of each month, a team of volunteers goes on a one-day trip to Ensenada to help share God's love.

To find out how to get involved in this ministry, check out our outreach webpage here, or email us at info@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Why Guest Speakers are scheduled during the year?

(Note, this is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

Why Guest Speakers are scheduled during the year?

The quick answer is: I’m not good enough, or interesting enough, or creative enough, or energetic enough to speak every Sunday!

Dave Jacobs, a consultant to churches writes “The senior pastor is not the only voice to the church but he does need to be the main voice. A good balance is the pastor up there four or five weeks in a row and then someone else.”

I’ve found that a good balance for me is about five to six weeks, and then scheduling a guest speaker. Below are some benefits to the church and some benefits for me.

Benefits for the Church

· A more well-rounded understanding of God’s Word - Different speakers will have different takes on a passage or fresh perspective on the text. There are some topics I’m going to get pumped about, and probably overemphasize, and some I’m more “ho-hum” about, and will underemphasize. With only one speaker there is a danger of just getting the Mike Hannah version of the Bible – that’s not a good thing! A balanced diet is always good when learning God’s word.

· It gives other speakers an opportunity to develop. If one speaker fills up all the speaking slots, it doesn’t allow other people to grow and develop. The best scenario for the church is to have a team of competent speakers. That way, if anything happens to one person, God’s word will faithfully be preached regardless.

· I can make progress on other projects that are important to the church. One the weeks I speak, a big chunk of my work hours are tied up by preparing the message. On the weeks I don’t speak, those hours are freed up for me to work on other items that are helpful for the church. This might be contacting members, encouraging leaders, designing a new workshop, etc.

· You get a better lead pastor - If I don’t take a break, I get burned out, and speaking feels like going through the motions. By taking periodic breaks, when I do speak, you get a better me. That’s a benefit to the church….and also a benefit for me…. Which leads me to the next section.

Benefits for Me

· I don’t burn out and die! –The weekly process of creating and delivering a message can be incredibly draining. The truth is, after about six weeks, I’m get drained and need an opportunity to recharge. If not, I lose enthusiasm, and start to go into autopilot mode with God’s word. When I was younger I could just go and go, the older I get, the more I need to stop and rest. In the Bible there’s a pattern on six on, one off. Six days of work, one day off, six year of working the land, one year for the land to rest. So for me, an average of six on, one off seems to be sustainable. I want to be around for a long time!

· I have time to do family things – On the weekends I speak, I spend time on Saturday preparing for the message, and then Sunday I’m at church delivering the it. This makes it hard to plan family activities for when my family is off – the weekend. By having scheduled breaks, this allows weekend time for family every one and half months.

So, those are some of the reasons guest speakers are scheduled throughout the year.

Why I Break the Books of the Bible into Smaller Series

(Note, this is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

Why I Break the Books of the Bible into Smaller Series

This year we’re spending the first 8 months of the year going through the book of Genesis. When tackling a larger book, like Genesis, I’ll often break the book up into smaller series. In this case I’ve broken up the book as follows.

· Creation – Adam – Eve – Cain and Abel – Noah Genesis 1-6

· Life of Abraham – Genesis 12-22

· Life of Isaac – Genesis 24 - 26

· Life of Jacob – Genesis 27-35

· Life of Joseph – Genesis 37-45

If you look at the message schedule below, you’ll see that series are formed about the above sections.

· “Back to the Beginning” Covered Adam and Eve and the beginning of creation.

· “By Faith” is a six week series on the life of Abraham.

· “True Love” is a series on the life of Isaac.

· “Mess Up!” is a series on Jacob stealing the birthright.

· “Relationships 101” is Jacob starting a family and a new life.

· “I Had a Dream” is a series on the life of Jacob.

I break larger books into smaller sections for several reasons…

1) The book already has some natural breaks - Often a larger book (like Genesis) has natural occurring sections – In which case breaking it into smaller series makes sense.

2) Eat the Elephant – How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. It’s easier to tackle a large task in bit-sized chunks.

3) It provides some natural breaks in the church calendar – Multiple series provides a natural rhythm into the church calendar. It’s like a long driving trip cross country, rest stops are good.

4) It provides multiple entry points for new people in our service. The start of each five or six week series is a opportunity to invite new people, who will come in at the start a series, not the middle of a something that is already in progress.

5) It mixes things up – This is maybe the least important, but for people like me who get bored easily, multiple series mixes things up!

Want to Serve?

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

As believers, God calls us to make a contribution to the cause of Christ. One way we do this is by using our gifts to serve others. To find out more about serving at New Life, check out our Serving and Intro to Serving pages on our website.

Why I Like Going Through Books of the Bible

(Note, this is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

Why I like going through books of the Bible

As general rule I like going through books of the Bible during the weekend service. Over the course of a typical year, 75% of the Sundays are probably going through a book of the Bible, the other 25% are more topical in nature (Christmas, Easter, Guest speaker, etc) The following are three of the benefits of going through books of the Bible

o It allows us to study a passage in context – As we study a passage as part of a larger series, we have an opportunity to see that passage in light of the bigger teaching of that particular book of the Bible. We see what comes before and after each passage as we move along week by week.

o It promotes familiarity with a book of the Bible – If each week we jumped around and looked at one verse here, another verse there, it would harder to become familiar with the overall message and contents of a book of the Bible.

o Opportunity for members to read along – By going through an entire book of the Bible, members have the opportunity to read along. They know what’s coming next and can study ahead to better form their own understanding of the passage. This is especially helpful in larger books, when we don’t cover ever chapter in equal detail, members can fill in the blanks by studying the “non-covered” portions of scripture on their own.

There are other reasons for going through books of the Bible, as well as reasons why topical messages can be helpful. But the above are a good start.

Why I Like to Plan Ahead

(Note, this is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

Why I Like to Plan Ahead

Some pastors figure out week by week what they’ll be speaking on. I tend to have a schedule of topics that extends from six months up until a year into the future. The following are some of the reasons I like to plan ahead…

1) Intentional Biblical Diet - By laying it out, I can look at the overall balance of God’s Word that our church is getting. By having a schedule, others can have input. For example, in December of last year, I gave my proposed message schedule for the first half of 2011 to our church board members and the staff. This allows others to see where I’m going.

2) Getting a Head Start on Studying – If I know that three months from now I’m going to do a series on the life of Jacob dealing with integrity. I can keep my eyes open ahead of time for passages, stories, examples to file away for upcoming series. At the beginning of each year, I create files for the series and start collecting material along the way.

3) It helps with overall church planning – All staff members are provided with a copy of the message schedule – this allows them to plan with the messages in mind. They are able to see the start of new series, the topics we’ll cover, when guest speakers will be here, etc. It can allow from a more integrated church calendar.

4) It fits how I am wired – A big part of me is wired in a “figure it out as you go” mode. But because preparing and delivering the message is an exceptionally draining activity for me, I need this part of my life to have some structure. Speaking is the one activity (Besides counseling) that can suck the life out of me. The spiritual and creative energy that goes into the weekly message can be exhausting. Knowing what I’m speaking on, at least gives me a weekly starting point in what can already feel like an overwhelming process.

5) Subject to Change – While I plan ahead, the message schedule is always subject to change. I always want to be open to changes God may want to bring or needs of the church that should be addressed.

So… those are some of the reasons I plan ahead.

Women's Workshop Starts April 14th!

Join us as we explore the fruit of the Spirit on Thursday nights beginning April 14th. This 21-week workshop will meet from 7-9 PM in one of our kids classrooms. To sign up, just stop by the information center on Sunday or send an email to info@newlifecommunitychurch.net. There is a $15 book cost which can be purchased at the info center.

Behind the Scenes - Message Schedule

I’m currently part of a group of pastors who meet once a month via a video conference. The purpose of these meetings are to share ideas, and help each other develop as leaders. Last week one of the questions was about message planning – that is, planning out topics for the weekend service. As part of this discussion I posted my message schedule for the other pastors to view.

I thought it might be interesting to post it for you to see as well. It will give you a behind scenes look at New Life.

As you look at the schedule (which is sort of small) you will notice several things…

1. We’re going through a book of the Bible – Most of the first 8 months of the year is spent going through the book of Genesis.
2. Our study through the book of Genesis is broken into a number of smaller series – “Back to the Beginning”, “By Faith”, etc.
3. About every six weeks someone besides me is speaking.

Over the upcoming weeks, I’m going to do a series of posts to share some of the thinking behind the message schedule. The topics I’m planning to cover are….

• Why I like to plan ahead
• Why I like going through books of the Bible
• Why I break the books of the Bible into smaller series
• Why guest speakers are scheduled during the year
• Frequently Asked Questions about Message Planning

Stay tuned for more information….

Join Us This Sunday!

Join us for our sixth and final message in our series, "By Faith." This Sunday, we will look at what it means to trust God enough to give up your dream. We will be looking at lessons on faith from the life of Abraham. Hope to see you there!

Baptism Rescheduled for March 27th!

Due to the rain, we resceduled our March 20th baptism for this Sunday, March 27th. Join us this Sunday at the home of the Bourbinay's to celebrate and support those getting baptized. The baptism will start at 1:30 PM. Come out to show your support to those who are making this important step of faith.

Click here for a printable copy of the directions.
Maps will also be available on Sunday at the Information Table.

Thanks to Our Office Volunteers!

Each week we have a group of people who volunteer in the church office. We want to thank...

Melanie Green
Jennifer Mulholland
Jenny Loomis

If you would like to find out about volunteering during the week send us an e-mail at info@newlifecommunitychurch.net

We're on a Mission

We’re On a Mission.

Around New Life you’ll hear the phrase “On Mission”. There’s a reason. Our goal is to help people live “On Mission” for Jesus Christ. If you’re new to our church, we want to give you idea of what being “On Mission” is all about. So with that in mind, read on!

What does it mean to be on mission? A “On mission” person is someone who understands and engages in the mission Christ has given our church.

What is our church’s Mission? Our purpose is to reach people for Christ and get them grounded, growing and on mission. That is our picture of what a disciple-making church looks like

What does an “On Mission” Person Look Like? An on mission person is someone who embraces and lives out our mission of being “grounded, growing, on mission”. Those three words have specific meanings for us. So let’s look at a quick snapshot of what a grounded, growing and on mission member looks like.

Someone who is grounded in Christ…
• Places their faith in Christ’s finished work
• Experiences assurance of salvation through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Publicly declares their faith through Baptism

Someone who is growing in Christ…
• Understands the faith essentials
• Embraces the discipleship essentials
• Pursues opportunities for growing together in Christ

Someone who is on mission for Christ…
• Make a commitment to the body of Christ
• Makes a contribution to the cause of Christ.
• Pursues their unique role in the mission of Christ

Will you be on mission with us?

To find out more about how to be "On Mission" at New Life, check out our webpage here.

Commiting to Christ

Do you want to find what it means to be a follower of Jesus? If so we want to help you take the next step. We’ve prepared some helpful materials that show what the Bible says about becoming following Christ. These self-study materials will assist you in taking the first steps to growing spiritually. To receive these materials, or to talk to someone in person, please contact us at connect@newlifecommunitychurch.net. You can also check out our online information.

Japan Relief

Interested in helping with relief efforts in Japan? Check out Samaritan's Purse, the organization led by Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son). You can find out more here.

Saint Patrick

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here is a little backstory on Saint Patrick himself.

At the age of 16, Saint Patrick was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland where he became a slave to the chieftain of Ulster. One night, after six years of slavery, Saint Patrick heard a voice, "Behold, thy ship is ready." He traveled two hundred miles on foot to a place where he knew no one and had never been. He wrote in his autobiographical account, "After this I took flight, and left the man with whom I had been six years; and I came in the strength of the Lord, who directed my way for good; and I feared nothing till I arrived at the ship. And on that same day on which I arrived, the ship moved out of its place."

Patrick made his way back to Britain, found his family, and could have lived out the rest of his life in relative comfort in the land of freedom. But in 432 AD, he had another vision. He saw a man coming to him from Ireland carrying innumerable letters. "And I read the beginning of the letter containing 'The voice of the Irish.' And while I was reading aloud the beginning of the letters, I myself thought indeed in my mind that I heard the voice of those who were near the wood of Foclut, which is close by the Western Sea. And they cried out thus as if with one voice, "We entreat thee, holy youth, that thou come, and henceforth walk among us." And I was deeply moved in my heart, and could read no further; and so I woke."

Saint Patrick went back to Ireland as a missionary. No outside religion had penetrated Ireland in a thousand years. Saint Patrick founded more than 300 churches and baptized more than 120,000 people. His ministry was so influential that he came to be known as the one who "found Ireland all heathen and left it all Christian." (From the Batterson Blog)

A New Workshop for Women!

Join us as we explore the fruit of the Spirit on Thursday nights beginning April 14th. This 21-week workshop will meet from 7-9 PM in one of our kids classrooms. To sign up, just stop by the information center on Sunday or send an email to info@newlifecommunitychurch.net. There is a $15 book cost which can be purchased at the info center.

Join us this Sunday!

Join us for week five in our series, "By Faith." This Sunday, we will look at what it means to trust God enough to tell the truth. We will be looking at lessons on faith from the life of Abraham. Hope to see you there!

Children's Offering

Each weekend, children have an opportunity to give an offering in our Kidzlife classes. This is an opportunity for kids to learn giving to God at an early age. We invited parents to use this as an opportunity to share this important value with their kids. If you have any questions, please contact our children's staff at kidzlife@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Are you a Generous Giver?

Are you growing as a generous giver?

Our church believes there are a handful of discipleship essentials that form the foundation for following Christ. They include activities like spending time with God, sharing your faith, serving others. One of these discipleship essentials is generous giving. If you want to know more about giving, check out the giving section of our website. If the practice of giving is new to you. Listen to one of the following messages, and begin taking steps to grow in your giving.

Meet Our Board Members

Ron Burleson

Mark Alspaugh

The church board provides corporate governance and fulfills the roles that are legally required by corporate law in the state of California.
They serve in the following ways:

1. Approving the finances of the church
2. Monitor legal/corporate issues
3. Provide accountability and support for the Senior Pastor

Baptism on March 20th!

Join us on Sunday, March 20th to celebrate and support those getting baptized. The baptism will start at 1:30 PM at the home of the Bourbinay’s. Come out to show your support to those who are making this important step of faith.

Click here for a printable copy of the directions.
Maps will also be available on Sunday at the Information Table.

February Giving Update 2011

How did we do in the month of February?


We met our budget for the month of February!


How much does it “cost” to run the church?


In a 4 Sunday month, it takes a minimum of $30,803. This is the bare bones fixed costs of keeping the doors open. It allows us to pay the bills and fund a minimal amount to our ministries.

How much was the actual giving for the month?


The giving for February was $30,953.57. This surpassed our minimum budget of $30,803.

Is there anything else I need to know?


If you’re someone who regularly gives to God at New Life: Thanks! Your giving makes a difference.


If you’re someone who is not yet giving: Make a decision to get involved. Take the first step toward the biblical practice of giving. You can find out more about giving here.


And for everyone: Please take time this week to pray for the finances of both our church family, and the individual families that make up New Life.

Don't Forget to Change your Clocks this Weekend!

Don't forget about the time change this wekkend. Spring Forward starts this weekend, so make sure to set your clocks one hour ahead this Saturday Night, March 12th.

Join Us This Sunday!

Join us for week four in our series, "By Faith." This week, we will look at what it means to trust God enough to leave the junk behind. We’ll be looking at lessons on faith from the life of Abraham.

The topics in the series include:

* Trusting God Enough to Step Out in Faith

* Trusting God Enough to Believe the Impossible

* Trusting God Enough to Wait Until the Right Time

* Trusting God Enough to Leave the Junk Behind

* Trusting God During the In Between Times of Life

* Trusting God Enough to Tell the Truth

* Trusting God Enough to Give Up Your Dream

March Leader's Rally on March 14th

Join us for our March leader’s rally. The meeting is on Monday, March 14th at 7:00 PM. Pizza will be served starting at 6:45 PM. We look forward to seeing all of our leaders there. If you have any questions, please contact your staff leader.

Can You Lend a Helping Hand?

The Bible says, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17). There are members of our community, and even our own church family who are in need. If you would like to find out practical ways to help, check out our webpage.

Mexico Outreach

Our church supports an orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico called Casa Hogar. Towards the beginning of each month, a team of volunteers goes on a one-day trip to Ensenada to help share God's love.

To find out how to get involved in this ministry, check out our outreach webpage here, or email us at info@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Small Group Communion

Christ calls us to take communion “In remembrance” of Him (Luke 22:19). We serve communion from time to time in our weekend services and large group settings, but the primary place communion happens is in our small groups. Communion takes place in the groups monthly, usually on the fourth week of the month. So if you’re not plugged in to a small group, get involved. You can find out more about groups by checking out the small group webpage.

Student Winter Camp

Here are a few pictures from our studet winter camp at Alpine Meadows this past weekend.


Thanks to everyone who was praying for our trip. God did some amazing things in the hearts of our students this weekend!

Join Us This Sunday!

Join us for week three in our series, "By Faith." This week, we will look at what it means to trust God enough to wait until the right time. We’ll be looking at lessons on faith from the life of Abraham.

The topics in the series include:

* Trusting God Enough to Step Out in Faith

* Trusting God Enough to Believe the Impossible

* Trusting God Enough to Wait Until the Right Time

* Trusting God During the In Between Times of Life

* Trusting God Enough to Leave the Junk Behind

* Trusting God Enough to Tell the Truth

* Trusting God Enough to Give Up Your Dream

God's Kitchen

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

Our church helps feed those in need on the second Wednesday of each month. We do this through a partnership with a local organization called "God's Kitchen" For more information contact Ingrid Mirander at ingridmirander@yahoo.com or sign-up at the Information Table. You can also check out our website for more information on serving locally.