THE WORD
The foremost emphasis at NLC is the Word of God. We don’t water it down or try to manipulate its truths in order to make it more popular. It is preached, examined, declared, and proven effective by those who test the precepts therein. The Word is infallible and contains God’s mind and perfect will for our lives. In Isaiah 55:11 it says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” The NLC leadership desires that every home represented victoriously overcomes through the power and authority found within its pages.
AN ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN
God is very passionate about humanity. The atmosphere at NLC is charged with faith and joy as we respond to His love. People in the congregation may worship in a variety of ways at any given moment: singing, raising hands, silence, laughter, standing, bowing, weeping, and/or shouting for joy. We passionately pursue God’s presence so that everyone may encounter Him and be changed.
This Is why…
We lift our hands.
“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Ps. 63:4) “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” (Ps. 134:2) “I spread out my hands to you, my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” (Ps. 143:6)
We offer audible praises unto God.
“Shout with joy to God..” (Ps. 66:1) “..Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” (Ps. 95:1) “Shout for the joy of the Lord…shout for joy before the Lord, the King.” (Ps. 98:4,6)
We pray for the sick.
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” (James 5:15-15)
The church prays together for specific needs.
“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them’.” (Acts 4:24)
We allow the gifts of the Spirit to operate within the church.
The gifts were given by the Holy Spirit to operate within the Church body for the purpose of edification. “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification…Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel…How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Cor. 14:5, 12, 26)
FACE VALUE
The bible says that God is love. God doesn’t simply possess the capacity to love, He IS love. From the Word we also learn what true love is. Yes, it’s hospitality, generosity, compassion, selflessness. When you come to NLC you may be offered a smile, handshake, or hug if you invite that type of greeting. The families are truly hospitable, and desire to operate in the purity of God’s love as we interact with others; for we are ambassadors of Christ. We also know life isn’t always pretty or easy. God’s love is much deeper than a forced smile or handshake. We desire to cultivate a culture of authenticity. One that when someone asks how you are, you don’t feel pressure to put on a fake smile and pretend everything is OK.
We are normal people, with real problems, who serve a living God capable of meeting all our needs according to His riches in glory.