New Life Church - Fayetteville

Pastor Mason's message centers on God as Jehovah Rohi, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” revealing His deep care, guidance, and protection for His people. Like sheep, we are prone to wander, fear, and attempt to lead ourselves, yet only the Good Shepherd knows what’s best for us. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, not only protects and provides for us—He corrects us in love to bring us back to the right path. Through stories, Scripture, and reflection, the message challenges believers to stop striving to lead their own lives and instead fully submit to the Shepherd’s voice. Ultimately, it reminds us that Jesus is still pursuing the lost, calling each of us by name, and carrying us home to safety and abundant life in Him.Sermon Recap:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1viLnitxq77qPNKspsP3BZTmUo3uZ6dOxGtj8bZZc6h8/preview?tab=t.0

Pastor Brandon Cotten joins us this morning as we open a new series on the names of God. Our relationship with God is a familial connection rather than a transactional business arrangement. Through Christ, Christians are adopted as children of God, with full inheritance rights, unconditional love, and direct access to their Heavenly Father. Pastor Brandon challenges us to move beyond a fear-based, performance-driven spiritual approach to understanding God's love as parental, nurturing, and unconditional.

Pastor Mark Pagley finished out the vision series today with this sermon “Just One More Soul.” We see through Luke 15, three parables given by Jesus. The parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. All of these stories have three things in common: something in the right place, something in the wrong place(lost), and a person representing God. We learn from these parables God’s focus is the same - a heart focused on the lost. This was the original design for following Jesus, and if our version of following Him does not lead us to reaching others…it’s not the right design. We can’t allow distance in our following of Jesus, because that’s when we lose focus and our heart changes. The “end-times” kind of christianity can either be us rowing away, content in our own salvation, or risking everything to go get one more soul. What will you choose?

This week we talk about Pastor Seth’s message “It’s Go Time” and how easy it is to let blessings become excuses that keep us from full obedience to God. Between hilarious Sunday moments and some real talk about obedience, we share stories of worship, family, and learning to go deeper in friendships and faith.We remind ourselves that every good gift from God is meant to be used for His glory — not as an excuse to stay comfortable.

Pastor Seth explores the challenging concept of true discipleship. While Jesus extends a wide invitation to all people, He also presents a narrow expectation of complete surrender. Centered on Luke 14 and John 5, following Christ requires more than passive participation—it demands active transformation. God invites everyone to His table, but discipleship requires a willingness to change, give up everything, and move forward from our past limitations. Grace is free but growth will cost us! The prayer is simple “God. Change. Me.”

It’s Go Time! This is a critical moment for the church to act, not coast. God has called us to Go, go out and reach those who aren’t in “the house” yet. Drawing from Luke 14's parable of the great banquet, this passage challenges believers to overcome excuses, embrace God's call, and actively participate in spreading the Gospel. It is evident there are global and local signs of spiritual awakening, significant Christian conversions, missionary work, and church growth! As believers, we need to respond with hunger, humility, and a willingness to reach out to broken and marginalized people.

Our words matter. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. What we say reflects what’s going on in our hearts, and our words can either build up or tear down.In this episode, we explore how words spoken decades ago still impact us today, why even “joking” can cause harm, and how encouragement can shift lives. The tongue is like a spiritual check engine light—what comes out of our mouths reveals the condition of our hearts.Speak life and speak truth as light in a world full of darkness.

This week, our founding pastor Rick Bezet came and shared on how to grow up spiritually. The book of James talks a lot about how we can mature in our faith in so many ways. Some key aspects for those who are mature in their faith is that they: Choose joy, stay in God’s pace and place, practice gratitude daily, and always are building the kingdom with new souls.

The parable of the prodigal son is one of Jesus’ most famous stories—but it’s not just about the prodigal. In Luke 15, we also see the other family members in the prodigal’s story, what we can learn from them, and also lessons about the lost sheep and the lost coin. Who are we most like—the prodigal, the older brother, the father, or even the religious leaders looking on?In this episode, we talk about what it means to be lost and found, how the coin represents those inside the house (a picture of the church), and why rehearsing our apologies is different than true repentance. God calls us not just to make it right—but to be transformed by His grace.

The Next-Generation is ON FIRE for God. It is so evident in our ministries weekly, and in the way we see them live boldly for God. This Next-Gen Takeover Service was designed to show you what God is doing and how you can be involved. It doesn’t take qualifications, it takes a willing spirit. There will always be another generation and God is asking us to get in the game now. We all have been gifted with unique ways to invest into God’s Kingdom and impact generations!

The Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15 tells us of God's unconditional love and grace. The message highlights how God pursues both those who have wandered far from Him (the younger son) and those who have become self-righteous (the older son). No one is a "lost cause" in God's eyes, and He continually seeks to restore and welcome back those who have strayed, whether through active rebellion or pride.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night…” (Joshua 1:8). In this episode, we talk about what it really means to meditate on God’s Word and fill our minds with Scripture.From Joshua’s call to courage, to how meditation strengthens our faith, we’ll explore why dwelling on God’s Word leads to transformation and intimacy with Him. Whether you’re new to spiritual disciplines or seasoned in your walk, meditating on His Word will help you slow down and fix your thoughts on the Lord.

“What do I do, when I don’t know what to do?” Joshua's transition after Moses' death helps us understand this question we all face in our life. Trusting in God's promises, remaining obedient, and maintaining a "whatever, whenever" attitude of faith helps us approach any and all situations with the best odds. Pastor Seth encourages us to cling to God's promises, allow God to instruct you, and respond to challenging times with love, forgiveness, and God-Confidence.

Matthew 5:9 says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." The sermon today emphasizes that conflict is inevitable in human relationships, but how we respond to conflict is what matters. Pastor Seth provides practical guidance on addressing conflicts by looking inward, moving towards pain rather than avoiding it, pursuing reconciliation, and extending forgiveness as Christ did. As Christians, we are called to be intentional about resolving conflicts with love, humility, and grace, recognizing that our response can either point people towards or away from Christ.

Pastor Seth emphasizes that marriage is God’s idea and a divine design meant to reflect His love and unity. A healthy marriage doesn’t happen by chance—it requires intentionality, communication, transparency, forgiveness, and a Christ-centered foundation. Couples are challenged to fight for their marriage rather than with each other, to be mindful of who and what they are spiritually "yoked" to, and to create a culture of love, honesty, and grace. The message encourages spouses to forgive quickly, avoid secrecy, and pursue purity and mutual respect, recognizing that marriage ultimately points to Christ’s relationship with the Church.

Pastor Seth talks about singleness. As Paul lays out in 1 Corinthians 7, the singleness is not a bad thing, but a purposeful season of life where singles can focus on personal growth, spiritual development, and serving God without distractions. This sermon encourages everyone to view their current life stage as a valuable opportunity for self-discovery, preparation, and dedication to serving the LORD, rather than merely a waiting period for marriage. Marriage is not required, it is not simple, but we can focus on the LORD and find our worth in Him regardless of where we land in relationships. Our focus is the relationship with the Father!

As we dive into a new series (Fully Devoted Families), Pastor Seth talks about the importance of intentional spiritual alignment and building a life centered on God's standard and guidance. Life is built either by default or by design. But we must focus on avoiding distractions that can lead to spiritual destruction. The visual of a plumb line demonstrates spiritual alignment. A house(person) will fall the way it is leaning,so we must rely on God's word as the standard for our life, recognize our own brokenness, and continuously realign ourselves with God's purpose to run this race of life well.

Pastor Justin Free dives into Abraham's faith test in Genesis 22, where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac. Our faith is revealed through trials, God tests faith not to break us as believers, but to reveal our spiritual depth. There are three key ways God tests faith: through love (what we treasure most), obedience (our willingness to follow God's commands), and surrender (letting go of control). True faith emerges within us as we trust God's character even in challenging, seemingly impossible circumstances.

Pastor Mason explores the fifth commandment — “Honor your father and mother” — with both joy and tenderness, recognizing how honoring parents can be easy for some and deeply painful for others. It acknowledges that while obedience may come naturally in healthy family dynamics, many struggle due to wounds from neglect, abuse, or broken relationships. Mason emphasizes that God's command to honor parents is not conditional on their behavior but is a reflection of our obedience to God Himself. Honoring looks different at each stage of life: through obedience as children, respect as adults, and care as our parents age. The message weaves in stories, personal reflection, and the importance of forgiveness, urging listeners to soften their hearts and remember their own brokenness. Only through God's grace can we truly honor those who may not seem worthy of it — just as Christ forgave us when we didn’t deserve it.

Pastor Chad Denmon shares the powerful story of Jesus and a man with leprosy, showing us God's unconditional love and ability to restore broken lives. Jesus does not shy away from human brokenness, but instead walks toward those society has rejected. The story of the leprous man illustrates how surrender, humility, and faith can lead to complete restoration that Jesus wants to do in our own lives. This man had only heard of Jesus’s miracles, yet he didn’t need to see to believe what Jesus could do in his life. Jesus is not only capable of healing but is fundamentally willing to heal, restore, and transform individuals regardless of their past or current circumstances.