New City Fellowship - Chattanooga: Charlie Davidson

An Ardent Desire To Know Christ

Charlie Davidson — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

An Ardent Desire To Know Christ

Series: Miscellaneous

Preacher: Charlie Davidson

Sunday Morning

Date: 11th January 2026

Passage: Philippians 3:1-16

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The Christian journey often feels counterintuitive to our natural desires for comfort and self-preservation. When Jesus commanded His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, these words challenged everything we instinctively want to do. However, Paul's experience in Philippians 3 demonstrates that these seemingly harsh commands actually lead to the greatest treasure possible: knowing Christ intimately.Paul had every reason to boast in human achievements. His religious credentials were impeccable - circumcised on the eighth day, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, zealous enough to persecute the church, and blameless under the law. Yet he counted all these accomplishments as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. This wasn't mere religious rhetoric; Paul used a word that essentially means garbage or waste, emphasizing the worthlessness of earthly achievements when compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ.True knowledge of God is experiential rather than merely intellectual. It involves following Christ daily, not just learning about Him academically. This intimate relationship should become so consuming that our selfish desires are swallowed up in one overwhelming passion: to know Him more. The journey requires community with other believers, as we cannot know Christ fully in isolation. Through relationships involving love, forgiveness, comfort, and generosity, we experience Christ more deeply in our daily lives. While our desire to know Christ may fluctuate, it's not our strength that sustains us but God's grace working within us.

The Gospel Will Be Proclaimed

Charlie Davidson — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel Will Be Proclaimed

Series: Miscellaneous

Preacher: Charlie Davidson

Sunday Morning

Date: 26th October 2025

Passage: Matthew 24:3-14

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The gospel of the kingdom is good news, not good advice - it announces what God has done for us through Jesus Christ rather than telling us what we must do. This message transforms us into people who are forgiven, redeemed, acceptable, and unconditionally loved by God. Jesus promises this gospel will reach every nation before his return, and believers are called to participate in this divine mission. Whether through going overseas, supporting missionaries, or sharing locally, every Christian has a role in spreading this life-changing message. The urgency comes from not knowing when Christ will return, making it essential that we actively participate in God's plan to reach the world.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

Charlie Davidson — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0100

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

Series: Miscellaneous

Preacher: Charlie Davidson

Sunday Morning

Date: 10th August 2025

Passages:

Psalm 107:1-32
Psalm 107:43

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Psalm 107 powerfully illustrates God's steadfast love through four vivid scenarios of distress and deliverance. This loyal, unfailing kindness appears as a theme throughout Scripture, mentioned about 250 times in the Old Testament. It represents God's covenant love that endures regardless of circumstances and is not based on human worthiness.The psalm presents four different situations: people wandering in desert places, those sitting in darkness due to rebellion, those sick because of their foolishness, and sailors caught in terrifying storms. In each case, we see the same pattern: people experience distress, they cry out to God, He delivers them, and they respond with thanksgiving. Some suffering comes from living in a fallen world, while other distress results directly from rebellion against God, yet God's steadfast love responds to all who cry out.The ultimate demonstration of God's steadfast love is found at the cross, where Jesus was forsaken so that we might experience God's steadfast love forever. Our appropriate response to such love includes repentance, thanksgiving, and intentional reflection on God's goodness. Whatever desert, prison, sickness, or storm we face, His love remains constant—not because of our worthiness, but because of His faithful character.