Category Archives: Individual Lesson
Be The Apple
by Scott Brown [Download MP3]
The Third Way
Jesus’s admonition to love our enemies and turn the other cheek may be mis-interpreted due to the lack of cultural context he placed it in. Find out what Jesus may have intended it to mean by looking for a third way to react to an insult to you. Continue reading
Fighting for Freedom: Interior Freedom
In this 4th of July weekend message, we talk about the importance of Liberty, especially interior liberty. The freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights don’t mean much if we don’t have an attendent interior freedom to go along with them. Continue reading
Posted in Individual Lesson
Tagged freedom, Meditation Practicum, spiritual disciplines
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Overcoming Spiritual Helplessness
The Theory of Learned Helplessness is a “theory in psychology which alludes to a human condition in which one has learned to behave helplessly even when the opportunity is restored for one to help oneself ”. Some of us have brought these tendencies into our Christian walk. We can unlearn these tendencies by recognizing them and by receiving God’s blessing by giving ourselves the gift of controlled and focused thoughts. Continue reading
The "Why" Issue and What "Peace" Has to Do With That
God promises us tribulation, trials and troubles in our life, but he also promises us peace. This is not peace as the world defines it but the “peace that passes understanding”. However certain things get in the way of our obtaining that peace, such as: pride, selfishness, past failures, the difficulties of being a Christian and lack of faith that God is leading us the best way. There is another dimension of faith that we can tap into. Continue reading
Check out some of the teachings you missed!
For those of you who are newcomers to NRCC or this website, you did not have a chance to hear many really great messages and series that Doug has delivered in 2008 like “Dancing with the Divine”, Hard Times and … Continue reading
Community Meeting: Finding Those Assigned Us
Marketing, advertising, invite your friends to church… Do these words and phrases bring up fear or revulsion inside of you? Despite this, we have something to offer to those God has assigned to us and we need to get the word out. However, NRCC is not for everyone and we want to be as open as possible so that people can self-select NRCC as the Christian community that is right for them; then we need to leave the results to God. Listen as Michelle explains what promotion steps we have already done and how we plan to continue searching in the coming months for those God has assigned to us. Continue reading
Reaching Out To God In Our Innermost Self; Centering Prayer
Spiritual discipline is any activity I can do that will help me to do (or become) what I cannot do (or become). There are kataphatic vs. apophatic approaches to spirituality. This is also reflected in how God presents himself. Centering prayer is letting go of our thoughts and surrendering ourselves. Our thoughts are not reality, they are simply our choices. What are we missing because we are not “programmed” to look for it (by our choices and/or our training)? Everything we need from God we have been given and it is within us. We should not get angry with God if we refuse to come there and meet with him to receive it. Continue reading
What to Wear This Season? Kindness
by Doug Hammack Add synopsis [Download MP3]
To What is Your Heart Tuned?
by Dawn Drew [Download MP3]