New Life Fellowship NYC Sermons

Sacramental Living: Remembering Our Baptism

In this sermon, Pastor Rich preaches through the sacrament of baptism. Whether you have already been baptized, or are considering it, this message explores what God seeks to do for and in us through our baptism. Our baptism is to impact every aspect of our lives, and our witness to Jesus.

Sacramental Living: The Bread and the Cup

We will begin the new year with a focus on the sacraments. Last Sunday, Pastor Rich preached on the significance of The Lord's Table, and how the bread and the cup are to shape our lives. We also took communion after the sermon.

Joseph: A Story of Grace

Joseph doesn't have much said about him in scripture and he doesn't have a song. But the story of Grace told through his life is still miraculous for us today.

Advent: The Song of Simeon

In this final week of Advent, we take a closer look at the life of Simeon as he waited for the Messiah. Pastor Sherin explores Simeon's encounter with Jesus when he is presented at the temple, and his response of praise. Sermon Questions (http://newlife.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sermon-questions-12.22.19.pdf)

Advent: The Angels' Song

In this Advent sermon, Pastor Rich preaches on the song the Angels sang when Christ was born. The lyrics to this song hold together two themes that are to mark our relationship with God.

The Song of Zechariah

In this second week of Advent, Pastor Rich preaches on Zechariah's song. Zechariah's story is one of waiting on God, and being surprised by God's faithfulness. As we wait for God to intervene in our lives, Zechariah (and his wife Elizabeth) teach us so much. Read through Zechariah's song and the background of his story in Luke 1:5-23. Sermon Notes (http://newlife.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sermon-questions-12.8.19.pdf)

Advent: The Song of Mary

On the first Sunday in Advent, Pastor Rich preaches through the song of Mary. Advent is a time of waiting for God's coming in Christ. As we wait, we look with hope and expectation for the world that God will create when Christ finally reigns. Mary's song gives us a glimpse of this world to come.

Stories of Gratitude and Hope

This Thanksgiving season, New Lifers share stories of gratitude, hope, and the ways God has moved in their life.

How We Got Here: A New Story

In this sermon, Pastor Rich preaches on the call of Abraham, and the way God uses him to see the world restored. In Genesis 12, we see a new story of hope and blessing that responds to the stories of brokenness and pain in Genesis 1-11. As we explore this text, we will see the ways God calls us into a new future, marked by a journey of trust.

How We Got Here: Put Down Your Bricks

In this final sermon from our "How We Got Here" series, Pastor Rich preaches on the famous story of the Tower of Babel. Rich explores the two problems that marked the building of this tower, and how these two problems continue to impact our lives and world in significant ways. The hope is that we will choose to build a life in obedience and partnership with God, for the sake of the world. Sermon Questions (http://newlife.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sermon-questions-11.10.19.pdf=_blank)

How We Got Here: Our Sin and Faithfulness

In this sermon, Pastor Rich explores one of the most famous stories in the entire Bible. He teaches on Noah's Ark and the Flood. Like the previous sermons on Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel, Noah's story is our story. Our world consistently feels like it's under water, and we need a way to rise above it. Pastor Rich shares how our lives are deeply connected to this story, and how God wants to use us to see a world reborn.

How We Got Here - Noah's Ark

In this sermon, Pastor Rich explores one of the most famous stories in the entire Bible. He teaches on Noah's Ark and the Flood. Like the previous sermons on Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel, Noah's story is our story. Our world consistently feels like it's under water, and we need a way to rise above it. Pastor Rich shares how our lives are deeply connected to this story, and how God wants to use us to see a world reborn.

CDC Sunday: Shalom of the City and the Shalom of Self

We put a pause on our regular series in order to make room for New Life CDC Sunday. This Sunday we highlight the work of our CDC (community development corporation) among the poor and marginalized. Jeremiah 29:1-14 God gives the people of God the mandate to seek the shalom (peace and prosperity) of the city. He says if the city does well, His people will do well. Sadly, this mandate is easily drowned out by the shalom of the self. In Jeremiah 29, God shows how he moves his people toward t...

How We Got Here: The Destructive Power of Jealousy

Pastor Rich continues our short series on the origins of our brokenness. He preaches from the famous story of Cain and Abel, highlighting the ways jealousy has damaged our world.

How We Got Here: Taking and Receiving

In this new sermon series, Pastor Rich explores the origin story of sin and how this story continues to be lived out in our lives and our world. Rich also explores the ways God offers freedom and healing to us as we become people who freely receive.

Sabbatical Reflections: Pathway to a Transformed Life

Pastor Rich shares his reflections from his sabbatical, offering a vision of transformation that applies to all aspects of our lives.

Sabbatical Reflections: Desiring One Thing

In this sermon, Pastor Rich shares reflections from his sabbatical on the importance of prayer. He offers a vision of how prayer forms us, as well as practical next steps to strengthen your life with God.

Distance, Presence, Silence, Forgiveness - Rich Villodas

In this dialogue, Pete sits down with Rich to discuss the four words he received while on his Sabbatical. Rich shares important insight and revelation that he hopes will have an impact on our church community.

Weathering The Storm: The Fruit of Patience

Patience is a gift we truly need in our world. How can we learn to stay present, stay connected and weather the storms of life? This is the final message in our Walk This Way: Fruit of the Spirit series.

Freedom, Self-Control and the War within Us

Jesus intends for all of us to be free.  Yet, you might be battling with unwanted habitual behavior that has robbed you of the full experience of freedom.  What is the role of self-control?  How can we be fully free?  This week, we continue with our Walk this Way: The Fruit of the Spirit series, as we explore the fruit of self-control.

The Fruit of Love - Pastor AJ Sherrill

The fruit of the Spirit is another way of talking about the divine life. Cultivating the spiritual fruit of the Kingdom is the path in which we best bear the image of God in the world. Within the current culture of rage, vitriol and aggression, love through kindness is a preposterous yet undeniable call of following Jesus. This sermon from Pastor AJ Sherrill is a biblical and practical teaching as to how best to cultivate a love that sends us into the world with the aroma of Christ.

Walking in Real Joy - Matt Manno

Who doesn't love to experience joy? Often the joy we're searching for is a far cry from the true joy that the spirit produces. This Sunday we'll look at a moment from the life of Paul where there seems little reason for joy and get a glimpse of what real joy looks like. 

Faithfulness: Warriors are Formed in the Winepress

Guest Speaker Valerie Althouse offers the third sermon in our Fruit of the Spirit series, focused on faithfulness.

Finding your place at the table: The fruit of Peace

Title: Finding your place at the table: The fruit of Peace Scripture: Luke 14:1,7-11 Speaker: Jacqueline Snape, Executive Pastor In the message, we explore our barriers to peace, and the hope that we have when we find our place at the table with Him.

The 7 Saddest Words in the New Testament - Pete Scazzero

In this message, Pastor Pete takes a look at this passage describing the massive defection of many “disciples” (except for the 12). We learn from this passage about the nature of discipleship – that of Jesus freeing us for a glorious future by stripping us of our limited ideas of him that are filled with our own projections and illusions.

You Are Not Forgotten - Sherin Swift

Pastor Sherin shares her journey from atheism to belief, and her undeniable encounter with God's grace. In this sermon she explores the passage in Isaiah, and wrestles with the great mystery that God is still present with us, even in the midst of profound suffering and trauma.

Encounters with Jesus: Waiting in the Boat | Aimee Fareth

In the book of John we will hear about how the disciples are waiting in the boat and get stuck in a storm. We all have storms in our lives, but in our waiting, Jesus starts doing a new thing. We welcome you to join us as New Lifer and storyteller Aimee Fareth leads us in the final message of our series, Encounters with Jesus.

Encounters with Jesus: Blessed, Broken, Given - Glenn Packiam

We are easily overwhelmed by the demands of life and the needs of others, and often feel inadequate to the task. Our lives seem too mundane or messy to matter to God and His Kingdom purposes. Yet, through the story of Jesus taking something as ordinary as bread into His hands and doing the miraculous with it, we learn to reflect on how our lives might become blessed, broken, and given.

Encounters with Jesus: Mission, Fear and Trampling Scorpions

Fear can be an obstacle to mission. In Luke 10:1-20 we see how an encounter with Jesus empowers us to conquer fear and live a life of joyful mission.

Encounters with Jesus: He Came As Grace - Dr. Derwin L. Gray

Grace is greater than we can imagine or comprehend. But grace is a gift that we can experience. Join Dr. Derwin L. Gray, Lead Pastor, Transformation Church, as he explores the beauty of God’s grace in John 4:1-42.

Encounters with Jesus: No Longer Alone - Sherin Swift

In this message, Pastor Sherin preaches on Jesus' healing at the pool of Bethesda. She explores the pain and impact of loneliness, the necessity of community, and the power God gives us to connect with those around us.

Encounters with Jesus - A Ministry of Absence

In this sermon, Pastor Rich offers words before he goes off on a 3 1/2 month sabbatical. He preaches on Jesus's ministry of absence and what it means for his sabbatical, our own rhythms and the presence of the Spirit during these times.

Encounters with Jesus: When the Wine Runs Out

Pastor Rich preaches on Jesus' first miracle recorded in the gospels, the turning of water into wine. He addresses what it means to encounter Jesus in times of crisis and how God's grace is abundantly poured out in some of the lowest moments of our lives.

Jesus is God, Right Here, Right Now! - Larry Felder Sr.

Text: Mark 4:35-41 CSB As you will see from this text, it is about much more than the calming of a storm, in reality it is about Jesus’ real identity, his deity, he is God! The disciples would come to discover this truth over time and by God’s grace so will we.

Encounters with Jesus - Just a Crumb

The book of Matthew tells the story of a Syrophonecian woman who approached Jesus as he withdrew further into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus appears to put her off, but she continues to plead for Jesus to heal her daughter, responding with “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Jesus was moved by her faith and healed her daughter. Pastor Matt leads us in a message about how this woman pressed in and hung on to Jesus and what it means for our own faith.

Encounters with Jesus - Amazing Grace, Amazing Faith

We begin a new series entitled, "Encounters with Jesus." Over the next 2 months we will explore various stories from the gospels that highlight the ways Jesus encountered ordinary people and what it means for our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Rich preaches on the amazing grace of Jesus and the amazing faith of a Roman Centurion.

How Free People Live: You Shall Not Covet

In this Ten Commandments series finale, Pastor Rich preaches on the 10th command, “You shall not covet.” In a world that is marked by discontentment and an endless fascination with more, God’s final command is a path to true freedom and joy.

Resurrection Sunday

On this Easter Sunday, Pastor Rich preaches on the good news of Jesus' resurrection. In this passage, Jesus encounters two men who have experienced profound disappointment. The Risen Jesus finds them and helps them to make sense of his life and history as they knew it. If you or someone you know has experienced disappointment, this Easter sermon is for you.

Good Friday Contemplative Service

You Shall Not Steal, You Shall Not Give False Testimony - Rich Villodas

We continue our sermon series through the 10 Commandments. Pastor Rich explores the 8th and 9th commandments together. He explains how these two commands damage community and the ways God calls his people to be marked by stewardship and honesty.

GRC2019: The Spirit of Reconciliation - David W. Swanson

The ministry of reconciliation requires us to reckon with sociological realities and systemic injustices. But the first multicultural church testifies that true reconciliation begin with the power of the Holy Spirit. What does it look like to depend on the Spirit within this nation’s legacies of white supremacy, genocide, and systemic racism?

GRC2019: Finding God's Story in Our Story, Culture, and History - Nikki Toyama-Szeto

In Acts 17, Paul challenges the Athenians to take a look at the ways that God is revealing himself in their history, culture, and story. God’s story is intertwined with the stories of his people. God uses history and culture, in surprising ways to reveal his character and his heart.

Episode 266: How Free People Live - You Shall Not Commit Adultery

In this sermon, Pastor Rich preaches on one of the commands that often reminds us of the wounding we have experienced or observed in others. The 7th commandment was given to remind the people of God that their lives were to be marked by fidelity, love, and loyalty. Sadly, the people of God in the story of scripture, and throughout history have often fallen short. Pastor Rich also explores the power of sex, the call to faithfulness, and the ways that God's grace moves towards us when we fail.

Episode 265: GRC2019: Pete Scazzero - Going Beneath The Surface of Racism

For the past 31 years, New Life Fellowship Church has been one of the most multiracial churches in North America. This happened out of an intentional, beneath-the-tip-of-the- iceberg approach to discipleship that deeply informed our approach to race and the gospel. (In fact, the development of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship around the world happened out of the crucible of racial reconciliation.) From the creation of speci c tools (e.g. genogram your family, incarnational listening, clean g...

Episode 264: GRC2019: Mark Charles - The spiritual price of the Doctrine of Discovery

Throughout his ministry Jesus was adamant that his kingdom was not of this world. He responded sharply whenever his disciples tried to mix his teachings with worldly power. But, in the 4th century the heresy of Christian Empire prevailed. This plenary session examines the deep spiritual cost of rejecting the teachings of Jesus that was necessary in order to create a dehumanizing doctrine of discovery.

Episode 263: Do Not Murder

Sermon Questions (http://newlife.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/semon-questions-3.31.19.pdf) In this message, Pastor Rich explores the 6th Commandment, “Do not murder.” In a world of anger and violence, this commandment is one we need to pay special attention to. Rich explores some nuances of this commandment that go beyond what might be apparent. Visit us at NewLife.nyc (newlife.nyc)

Episode 262: GRC2019: Can You Drink The Cup? - Rich Villodas

Any attempt to address the connection of the gospel to matters of racial justice and reconciliation requires a spirituality marked by a “cruciformed” imagination. The death and resurrection of Jesus points to God’s great act of reconciling all things. It is out of this place that followers of Jesus are called to imitate him as we seek to build communities marked by truth, mercy, justice, and forgiveness. In this session, Rich Villodas explores the various “cups” we must drink to be people mar...

Episode 261: Honor Your Father and Mother

In this sermon, Pastor Rich explores the 5th Commandment, Honor your father and mother. For many, this commandment contains many challenges due to the complexity that often marks our families. Pastor Rich highlights some of the important nuances of this commandment aiming at helping us see the liberating ways God wants to work in our lives.

Episode 260: Becoming World Class Christians - Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil

In this powerful message, Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil declares that the world is waiting for us and to get ready to be deployed as world class Christians.

Episode 259: How Free People Live - Remember the Sabbath

Pastor Rich continues our sermon series on the 10 Commandments. He offers some fresh perspective on the ancient practice of Sabbath-keeping. Sabbath-keeping is one of New Life's most important values, and through this message, we hope you will start the journey of keeping Sabbath or deepen it.