Friday, December 23, 2011

Sneak Peek of the December 25, 2011 Worship Service

December 25, 2011 Worship Service

Christmas Eve Service: "Lessons & Carols"

A Celebration in Lessons & Carols 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

Sneak Peek of the December 11, 2011 Worship Service


At this week's service, we are continuing our Advent series, "The Gift," with our in-depth study of John 3:16. This week, we're focusing in on the words "...that He gave His only Son." And we'll see that the Gospel calls us to affirm its exclusivity, confirm its universality, and embrace its simplicity.

Here's a sneak peek of this Sunday's worship service...

December 11, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, December 2, 2011

Sneak Peek of the December 4th Worship Service

December 4, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Sneak Peek of the November 27, 2011 Worship Service

November 27, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sneak Peek of November 20, 2011 Worship Service

November 20, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, November 11, 2011

Sneak Peek of the Nov 13th Worship Service

November 13, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sneak Peek of the Nov 6th Worship Service

What makes Christianity utterly unique among the worlds religions and philosophies? Christianity 101, this Sunday, 10:30am. Make plans now to join us!

November 6, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, October 28, 2011

Sneak Peek of the October 30th Worship Service

October 30, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Sneak Peek

October 23, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Sneak Peek of October 16th Worship Service

This week, Rev. Jason Polk is our guest minister. Jason, & his wife Liz, are headed off to Ethiopia to work among AIDS victims. You can visit their site to learn more about their work.

October 16, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, October 7, 2011

Sneak Peek of October 9, 2011 Worship Service

The conversion of Paul (aka "Saul of Tarsus") was one of the most stunning turns of events in history. He went from being a misguided (& self-righteous) fanatic and dangerous bigot to someone who was stunned people by preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.

The difference?

He encountered the Lord Jesus Christ who both called him by grace and commissioned him to preach the Gospel to non-Jewish cultures. The reason you and I have the privilege of hearing the gospel is in large part due to Paul's willingness to do whatever it took to make sure the Gospel was distinguished from man-made alternatives.

Join us this Sunday as we look at one of the most convincing reasons to embrace Christianity: the conversion of a hate-filled terrorist into a preacher of God's amazing grace (Galatians 1:11-24).

October 9, 2011 Worship Service

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Lord, free us...

Pastor Scotty Smith has a wonderful prayer...
Free us to love the gospel of the kingdom and the kingdom of your gospel. Help us realize that we have only seen one leaf in the great forest of gospel riches. Free us from our little fiefdoms of self-absorbing preoccupation. Free us to invest and work, weep and dance in the advancing of your kingdom. Free us to see the glow and smell the aroma of the new heaven and new earth. Free us to know that none of our labors in you are in vain.

Free us from the many expressions of living for people’s approval. As long as we give people power to either make us or break us, we cannot love them well. Free us to forgive those who fail us; to bless those who curse us; to pray for those who shame us. Free us from needing to be needed and noticed.
Click here to read more...

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Sneak Peek of October 2, 2011 Worship Service

Lesslie Newbigin, in his book, The Open Secret, said, "The Christian commitment is distinguished in that it is a commitment to a belief about the meaning of the whole human experience in its entirety—namely, the belief that this meaning is to be found in the person of Jesus Christ, incarnate, crucified, risen, and destined to reign over all things."

This is a claim that doesn't set well in our cultural context, and we're tempted to compromise on it. But Paul calls us to stand firm seeking to please God and not the culture around us.

Join us on Sunday as we gather to worship, and open the Scriptures to examine Galatians 1:10.

October 2, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sneak Peek of September 25th Worship Service

September 25, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, September 16, 2011

Sneak Peek of September 18th Worship Service

Grace. That's what we need. That's what we're talking about on Sunday.

Boring? Not on your life.

"Grace is getting what we do not deserve. It is exorbitant, senseless, staggering. Grace takes your breath away and leaves us gasping in stunned amazement" (Kevin Harney).

Here's a sneak peek of the service on Sunday:

September 18, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Sneak Peek of September 11th Worship Service

This week we begin our study in the NT book of Galatians. This was and is an earth-shattering book where the Apostle Paul tackles any notion of adding anything to what Jesus has done to accomplish salvation.

Here's a sneak peek of this week's service:

September 11, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, September 2, 2011

Sneak Peek of September 4th Worship Service

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ~ Psalm 73

These words describe the goal of God's salvation: it's not to know things about God, but to actually know God himself and to delight in him.

September 4, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, August 26, 2011

Sneak Peek of August 28th Worship Service

Hi folks, here's a sneak peek of Sunday's service.

August 28, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sneak Peek of August 21st Worship Service

August 21, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Sneak Peek of August 14th Worship Service

August 14, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, July 30, 2011

August Sermon Series: Psalm 73


Have you ever looked around the world and thought it was going to hell in a handbasket? Ever wondered why it seems like evil flourishes with no check in place? Ever experienced a crisis of faith or wondered where in the world God is in all of this?

Then your not alone. A music director of Israel by the name of Asaph wrestled with some of the same questions. In fact, he almost shipwrecked his faith in a good God when he saw the prosperity of wicked people among his contemporaries. Is this the way things are supposed to be?

He captures his experience in a poem that is now a lasting part of the book of Psalms. Psalm 73 lets us in on the disorientation of his faith, as well as the resolution he came to.

Join us in the month of August at New City Church as we work our way through this fascinating poem.

Sneak Peek of July 31st Worship Service

This week pastor Mike will be preaching from Joshua 1:1-10 in a message entitled, "Living With Courage In Uncertain Times." Here's a sneak peek at the service...

July 31, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, July 22, 2011

Sneak Peek of July 24th Worship Service

This week our friend, Bryan Clarke, will be teaching us from Psalm 16.

Here's a sneak peek of the service...

July 24, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Sneak Peek of June 26th Worship Service

June 26, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Sneak Peek of June 19th Worship Service

June 19 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Sneak Peek of June 12th Worship Service

Here's what's on tap for this Sunday...

June 12, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Sneak Peek of June 5th Worship Service

Here's a sneak peek of what's happening on Sunday....

June 5, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Sneak Peek of May 22nd Worship Service

Here's a sneak peek at this Sunday's service.
We'll be looking in Scripture at the story that Jesus told about the Pharisee & the Tax Collector, and in it, we'll see the truth that God is committed to giving those who have humbled themselves a new record, a new standing before Him.

What's on tap for songs?
  • Praise the the Lord, the Almighty
  • Name Above All Names
  • Lord Most High
  • Garments of Praise
  • Jesus Messiah
  • In Christ Alone
  • How High and How Wide

May 22, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sneak Peek of May 15th Worship Service

May 15, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Sneak Peek of May 8th Worship Service

Here's a preview of this week's service.

In our series on the "Renewal of All Things," we've covered the major movements of the story of the Scriptures: Creation, Fall, Redemption. Now we're turning a corner by focusing on the last movement: restoration/ renewal. And this week's study will look at God's commitment to renewing hearts.

Take a look at the worship folder & join us Sunday, 10:30am at the Confederation Park Activity Centre, 2212 13th Street NW, Calgary.

May 8, 2011 Worship Service

Friday, April 29, 2011

A Missional Manifesto

Check out this document exploring what it means to be 'missional'.
God is a sending God, a missionary God, who has called His people, the church, to be missionary agents of His love and glory. The concept missional epitomizes this idea. This manifesto seeks to serve the church by clarifying its calling and helping it theologically understand and practically live out God’s mission in the world today. Although it is frequently stated "God’s church has a mission," according to missional theology, a more accurate expression is "God’s mission has a church" (Ephesians 3:7-13).
Read the rest here.

Sneak Peek of May 1st Worship Service

May 1, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sneak Peek of April 24th Easter Service

April 24, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Sneak Peek of April 17th Worship Service

This week, we'll be looking at the eyewitness testimony of the Life of Jesus through the eyes of Luke who wrote a two volume work on the life of the Lord Jesus, known as Luke-Acts.   In the intro to his biography of Jesus, Luke writes,
"Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught."
And in the intro to Acts, he writes,
"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen."
In our study this week, we'll hear Luke saying that we have facts, not fiction, and we have certainty, not wishful thinking. 

In the worship service, we'll sing:
  • I Give Thanks
  • You are Holy
  • Lord Most High
  • How High & How Wide
  • Thy Mercy My God
  • I Will Rise
  • Amazing Love (You Are My King)
  • There is a Redeemer
See you Sunday!



 April 17, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Sneak Peek of April 10th Worship Service

The Scriptures tell us that "when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).  At the core of Christianity is the unique claim that God entered our humanity in the person of Jesus Christ.   We'll look specifically at his introduction to history & what history itself testifies about him. 

We'll be singing some great songs:
  • Immortal Invisible
  • Name Above All Names
  • Lord, Have Mercy
  • How Deep
  • Jesus Messiah
  • How Great Is Our God
  • Before the Throne of God Above
And as always, we'll have the privilege of being welcome at the Lord's Table.   

Here's a sneak peek of the worship service for tomorrow. 


April 10, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sneak Peek of April 3rd Service

Hi folks, here's the sneak peek of the worship service this week.

April 3, 2011 Worship Service

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Calgary ranks 3rd on global prosperity score card

The Calgary Herald reports on a recent report that ranks Calgary 3rd on a global prosperity score card. 

1.  Paris
2.  San Francisco
3.  Calgary
4.  Boston
5.  London
6.  Dallas
7.  Seattle
8.  Toronto
9.  Madrid
10.New York
Calgary is back near the top of a score card that ranks prosperity in a number of cities around the world, besting all other Canadian metros on the list.
Strong population growth, a young workforce, disposable income, affordable housing and clean air helped boost the city to the number three spot on the list behind Paris and San Francisco.
That’s up from last year’s fifth place ranking, but below its first place finish in 2009, the first time the Toronto Board of Trade compiled results, using information from the Conference Board of Canada — including commute time, income equality, gross domestic product and productivity — to compare 24 major cities.
With much blessing comes much responsibility.

Last day for free audio download

Have you downloaded RC Sproul's "The Holiness of God" from christianaudio.com yet?   Today's the last day to do so.  I encourage you do get this free download.  Sproul's classic work is one of the top 5 most influential books in my life. 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Sneak Peek of March 20th Worship Service

Here you go, folks. This week we'll be looking at the next major advance in God's plan of redemption: God's commitment to crowning His Son King.

So far, we've studied God's commitment to:
  • preserve the earth for His glorious future
  • blessing every nation on the planet
  • calling a people for His own glory
Here's a sneak peek of the worship service:
March 20, 2011 Worship Service

Help for Japan

No doubt your heart has been broken over the pictures of the devastation of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan. You're not alone if you've wrestled to find words to use in prayer and have wondered what you can do to help.

There are prayers to be made and aid to be given.

Paul Kooistra, Coordinator for Mission to the World (our denomination's missions agency) sent out a letter this past week with some particular items for prayer:
  • Physical, emotional, and spiritual strength for our MTW missionaries, their churches, and the many other organizations, churches, and missionaries with whom they work
  • Comfort for grieving families, especially that they will come to know the love and comfort of Christ
  • Safety from aftershocks and radiation released by nuclear reactors
  • Shelter, food, and water for survivors
  • Wisdom and clarity for MTW regarding our immediate and long-term response
  • Restoration of power and communications
  • Financial and prayer support to be raised up across the PCA
MTW has approximately 50 adult missionaries assigned to Japan ministering on five different teams in the Tokyo and Nagoya areas. Ministeries include church planting, theological education, campus ministry, evangelism, and discipleship. And now, disaster relief.MTW has issued a Disaster Response Appeal for Japan, and MTW is committed to making strong response both immediately, and for the long term. MTW believes that God has placed her in a position of strength with the depth of the team, their broad presence, and long ministry history in Japan.

New City Church is going to take up a special collection at the end of the worship service on Sunday to go towards the Disaster Response Appeal for Japan. If you've been wondering how to contribute, please join in giving to this cause.

Check out this video posted by MTW.


MTW - Disaster Response in Japan from Go Global on Vimeo.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Sneak Peek of Mar 13th Worship Service

Here's a preview of this week's worship service. We'll be resuming our series, "The Renewal of All Things", by looking at Part 2 of our study, "Redemption: Calling A People For His Own Glory." In particular, we'll look at the passage in Exodus 20 where God gave to His people the 10 Commandments.

Why did He give these to them? Were they supposed to earn God's blessing? Were they somehow supposed to pull themselves up by their bootstraps to make themselves presentable to God? Or is something else going on here? How does this tie in with God's promise-plan to Abraham to bring salvation to every nation on the planet? Join us this week to learn the answers to these questions.

Here's what's on tap for the music:
  • Come, Christians, Join to Sing
  • God of Wonders
  • How Deep (Is Your Love)
  • Garments of Praise
  • Behold the Lamb
  • In Christ Alone
  • Praise the Father, Praise the Son
March 13, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Sneak Peek of March 6th Worship Service

This week, Pastor Frank Lanting (from Woodgreen Presbyterian Church) will be preaching at New City Church from 1 John 4:7-21.  

March 6, 2011 Worship Service

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sneak Peek of Feb. 27 Worship Service

This week, Pastor Mike will be speaking on Matthew 5:1-16 in a message entitled, "Who in the World are We? What on Earth Should We Be Doing?"

We'll sing the following songs...
  • Sing Alleluia
  • Children of Light
  • Amazing Love (You Are My King)
  • A Shield About Me
  • O The Wonderful Cross
  • Jesus Messiah
  • Immortal Invisible

February 27, 2011 Worship Service

Long more and more to see Jesus...

"The more you know about Christ, the less you will be satisfied with superficial views of Him; and the more deeply you study His transactions in the eternal covenant, His engagements on your behalf as the eternal Surety, and the fullness of His grace which shines in all His offices, the more truly will you see the King in His beauty. Be much in such outlooks.  Long more and more to see Jesus." 
~ CH Spurgeon

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Sneak Peek of Feb. 13th Worship Service

This week we'll conclude our four week study of "God's commitment to blessing every nation on the planet" with a rather unusual and perplexing story. Some would call it quite disturbing. God's challenges Abraham to seemingly thwart His purpose of blessing the world by offering his son, Isaac--the promised child, the miracle child--as a sacrifice.

What is going on here? How can God do this? Why doesn't Abraham flinch? How does this tie in to God's commitment to bring out the restoration of all things in Christ? Join us on Sunday to find out.

This week we'll sing some great songs in our worship service:
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • Come Thou Fount
  • Be Unto Your Name
  • Let Us Love & Sing & Wonder
  • Behold the Lamb
  • I Will Rise
  • Lord Reign in Me
Check out the worship folder...

February 13, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Sneak Peek of Jan. 30th Service

Here's a sneak peek of the service this weekend.

Note: We'll be singing an amazing new song, "All I Have is Christ." Check out a video of the song here if you are unfamiliar with it.


All I Have Is Christ from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

We'll be looking at the subject of belief & doubt, especially as it is portrayed for us in Genesis 15, where God reaffirms his intentions to bless Abram and through him to bless every nation on the planet. We'll look at a very strange covenant ritual (at least to our eyes) in which God takes upon himself a curse if he should fail to bring about the promised world-wide blessing in Christ.

January 30, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, January 22, 2011

20 Somethings Taco Feast

New City Church is extending an invitation to our 20-somethings to a Taco Feast & John & Heather's house this Sunday at 1:30pm.   Come with an appetite & enjoy some good company while getting to know other 20-somethings. 

Sneak Peek of Jan. 21st Service

This Sunday, we'll continue in our series of studies on "The Renewal of All Things" by looking at the next stage of God's plan of redemption. Over the last two weeks, we seen God's commitment to preserve the earth for His glorious future. Now, God sets in motion the particulars by calling, surprisingly, a 75 year old man and his barren wife in order to ultimately bless the world in Christ.

We have a great line up of songs, including...
  • Better is One Day
  • Sing Alleluia
  • Agnus Dei
  • Our Great God
  • Jesus Messiah
  • Revelation Song
  • Thy Mercy My God

And of course, we'll enjoy communion at the Lord's Table.

January 23, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Sneak Peek of Jan. 9 Worship Service

Here's a sneak peek of this week's worship service.

We'll be resuming our series over-viewing the story of Scripture.   This week's study is from the account of Noah.   Particularly, we'll dive into the issue that is very difficult for many people to process:  the Justice of God.   Isn't the fact that God is supposed to be loving exclude the idea that God could be wrathful?   Or is it possible that you cannot have one without the other?

We'll be singing...
Call to Worship
  • Come Christians Join to Sing
  • All Creatures of our God and King
Confession
  • Lord Have Mercy
Response to the Gospel
  • Thy Mercy My God
Communion
  • Great is Thy Faithfulness
  • How Great is our God
Offertory
  • Salvation Belongs to our God
January 9, 2011 Worship Service

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Assimilating Scripture

I love this quote from Eugene Peterson:
“Christians feed on Scripture.  Holy Scripture nurtures holy community as food nurtures the human body.  Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love….”

Do you have a plan to assimilate Scripture in 2011?   There are a number of plans available to help you do just that.   Plans that range from reading a chapter a day to 10 chapters a day, from reading the New Testament in a year, to mastering books of the Bible.  Check out this collection of reading plans to find one that fits you and your personality.  

At New City Church, we use the English Standard Version in our worship services.   You can click over here to find 10 different reading plans using the ESV. 


[HT:  Justin Taylor]

And here is a pdf of a Bible checklist in which you can check off the chapters as you read them.  [source:  Mars Hill Church]

Listening to Scripture.  Did you know that you can listen to the Bible read out loud?   Check out these resources:

Bible.is :  with options for a dramatized or normal reading + multiple languages
ESV : each chapter has an option to be read by a narrator