New Hope Community Church - Our Church Blog

What is a Carnal Christian?

9/26/2019

First Corinthians 3 talks about this problem that existed in the church then and still is a problem to this day. "Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 For you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?" A carnal Christian is a person who has accepted Jesus as the only way of salvation but they are still living as if Christ is not the Lord of their life. A serious committed follower of Jesus will desire to follow after the leading of the Holy Spirit and not after the sinful nature that ruled their life before. Carnal means fleshly or sinful nature. When a Christian is not acting as Jesus would then they are being carnal.

Should I leave the Catholic church?

9/18/2019

The terrible sexual abuse scandals have caused many to ask this question. Let me say that every denomination, every church organization have gone through some kind of scandal. The best reason to leave is not because of the scandals that have recently happened. Jesus taught how to deal with people within the church who have sinned and done wrong things. The reason to leave a church is when that church is no longer adhering to the Scriptures. When a church is in disagreement with what the Bible says regarding salvation by faith alone in Christ, then it has ceased truly being the church. When a church is changing or excusing what God calls sin into something that now needs to be accepted it is time to leave that church.

How can I help my adult child who has a serious addiction?

9/11/2019

This hurts the heart of any parent to see their child trapped in an addiction. This addiction affects the person physically, emotionally and spiritually. God created us as a three fold being, body, soul and spirit. All three areas need to be addressed for a person to truly experience complete and total freedom. Jesus began his earthly ministry but proclaiming that He came to set the captives free. The most important area of captivity that needs to be addressed is the spiritual. There is a spiritual demonic enemy that needs to be rendered powerless along with dealing with the physical and emotional parts of a person. To help begin with prayer. Prayer for your child to admit they have an addiction problem. Prayer they will realize without accepting God's plan and purpose for their life they will be powerless to overcome this addiction. Prayer they will be willing to summit themselves to the steps it will take to walk in the freedom the Lord wants them to have. Love your child, pray for them but you can't enable them to continue in this addiction.

What is this "Hope For The Hopeless" meetings being held in different churches?

9/5/2019

A group of Charlotte area pastors have formed a group called Charlotte Area Evangelical Churches and they are sponsoring these meetings that are open to the community. These meetings are being held at a different church every night at 7 p.m. from Sunday September 15 through Wednesday September 18. Sunday will meet at Charlotte New Faith Nazarene on Lovett St, Monday at Celebration Church on South Cochran, Tuesday at New Hope Community Church on West Harris and Wednesday at Lawrence Ave United Methodist Church. Adults will meet and enjoy live music with a message of hope, ages 4-12 will have a youth program, nursery will be provided. Come one and all and bring a friend to hear a message that will inspire, challenge and provide answers to some of life's toughest questions. I am excited about being a small part of bringing these meetings to our community.

Where do you stand on the LGBTQ issue?

8/29/2019

First, lets make sure everyone knows what this acronym stands for: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer. My stand is that I must hold firm to the word of God. God has always revealed in His Word, the Bible that any kind of sexual practices outside of the marriage between one man and one woman is against God’s plan. Sex before marriage, sex after marriage but not with your spouse are all practices that God calls sin. There are only two genders and that is determined by your DNA when God created you. You are either male or female, it is a scientific fact. God’s love and forgiveness is available for every person LGBTQ or not, who is willing to confess their sin, repent and accept Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord over their life.

Is it okay for a Christian to be cremated?

8/22/2019

I talked with a local funeral director and he said that almost 50% of people are being cremated now. In some countries almost 100% of the people are being cremated. The Bible doesn't say anything for or against cremation. Because we are created in the image of God it seems only fitting that the body of a deceased person be treated with dignity and respect. In Genesis we are told that God told Adam that because of sin “you will return to the ground for out of it you were taken; For dust you are and to dust you shall return.” Whether it is by burial or cremation this body will return to dust. The promise for the believer is that the moment our spirit leaves this body we go to be in the presence of the Lord.

Does the Koran talks about Jesus Christ?

8/15/2019

Yes, it does. The Koran was written over 600 years after the death of Christ. Although there are several references to Christ being the son of Mary, a prophet, one who brings revelation of God. It does not teach that Jesus was God in the flesh, crucified, buried and resurrected as all major Christian beliefs agree on. The Koran calls Jesus a true prophet but it was Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. The Koran does not agree that salvation from sin comes only by grace through faith in Jesus. Jesus is either the Lord or a liar, He can’t be both. Jesus said, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”. The Koran is a false teaching and is opposed to the true teaching of the Bible.

In light of these mass shootings what should be a Christian’s response to carrying a weapon?

8/8/2019

These shootings are terrible and our prayers are with the families that have suffered loss. When Cain killed Abel, God didn’t blame the rock, He held Cain responsible. The rock, the weapon didn’t do anything. The problem was with the heart of Cain. When Jesus was approaching the end of His earthly ministry this is what He told His disciples. “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!” Luke 22:36. Jesus encouraged them to carry a sword apparently because where they would go could be dangerous. This world is filled with evil people who will try to hurt or even kill you and your family. We have the responsibility to do all we can to protect ourselves and the people we love. We must always take a stand against evil and stand for what is good.

What does it mean “Generational Curse”?

8/1/2019

Jesus said that the thief, speaking of the devil, “comes to steal, kill and destroy”. There are times when the enemy, the demons of hell, bring curses and calamity upon a life or into a family. Unless a person rebukes and renounces that demonic presence not only can they continue to be active but they can even be passed on to the next generation. To stop this ”Generational Curse” takes a true born again believer who will pray with power and authority in the name of Jesus commanding all demons and curses to be broken and removed. These curses can be manifested as addictions, negative mindsets or other such things as reoccurring sickness etc. The good news is that Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy.

I was at a church and I heard the pastor say that “Everyone needs to be justified and sanctified.” What does that mean?

7/25/2019

Both of those words are used in the Scripture but are not common phrases in everyday conversation. I try to practice what I call the K.I.S.S. method when preaching, Keep It Spiritually Simple. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” To be justified using the K.I.S.S. method means “just-as-if-I-never-sinned”. 1 Corinthians 6:11 “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Sanctified means “set apart for God.” To put these two together, justified and sanctified means that by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are forgiven just as if you never sinned and are now to be set apart to live your life for God. I hope that helps.