BIBLE LIBRARY

A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon

By Ekombe Hau -
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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Every time a new year comes close, something in me start feeling that weird mix of excitement and heaviness. Maybe you know the feeling too—like you’re standing at this invisible doorway. One foot in the old year (the stuff you want to forget but somehow still sticks to you like stubborn glue), and the other foot stepping into something you still can’t see clearly. And sometimes you’re hopeful, sometimes you’re scared, sometimes you’re… well, both at the same time. I was thinking about all that while reading some Scriptures again, and honestly, it hit me harder this year. Maybe because life been kinda loud lately, or maybe because I’m tired of pretending everything always makes sense. But the Bible does this thing, right? It sneaks into the parts of your heart you thought you cleaned up, and suddenly you realize God is trying to talk to you again. Even if it feels like you weren’t exactly listening. S...
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The New Testament – A Journey into the Heart of the Gospel

By Ekombe Hau -

The New Testament – A Journey into the Heart of the Gospel

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash


You know, sometimes when we hear the words “New Testament” we think of this neat, little second half of the Bible that is all about Jesus, church, and love. And yeah, it’s true, but also it’s so much more than just that. It’s a story, it’s a promise, it’s an unfolding of God’s plan that reaches into every part of human life. It’s like a continuation, but also a fresh beginning.

The Bible is divided into two main parts — the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament deals with God’s covenant with Israel, the law, the prophets, the history of the people of God before Christ came. But the New Testament, it’s about the fulfillment of what was promised before. It’s the climax. It’s where the Messiah, Jesus Christ, steps right into the story in a way that changes everything.

The Beginning of a New Covenant

Let’s get this straight — the word Testament basically means “covenant” or “agreement.” The New Testament, then, is the new covenant God made with humanity through Jesus Christ. No longer just law and sacrifices through the temple, but grace through faith in Him. This covenant is written not on stone tablets but in human hearts.

And this shift is big. It’s like going from an old operating system to a whole new, upgraded one — except this isn’t about technology; it’s about the soul.

Structure of the New Testament

The New Testament is made up of 27 books. They were written by different people under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, across different years, different locations, but all telling one big story. The order is generally like this:

  1. The Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

  2. The Acts of the Apostles – or simply “Acts”

  3. The Epistles (letters) – written by Paul and other apostles

  4. The Book of Revelation – the prophetic and symbolic final book

The Gospels – Four Views of One Savior

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These four books are like four different camera angles on the same incredible event. All are about the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but each has its own style and focus.

  • Matthew – Written with a Jewish audience in mind, showing Jesus as the promised Messiah. You see a lot of Old Testament references here.

  • Mark – The shortest gospel, fast-paced, gets straight to the point. Shows Jesus as the Servant-King.

  • Luke – Written by a doctor, very detailed, with an emphasis on compassion and outreach to the marginalized.

  • John – Deep, theological, more about the meaning of Jesus’ life and less about the exact timeline. Talks a lot about love, light, and eternal life.

The Gospels are the core — without them, you wouldn’t understand the heart of the New Testament.

Acts – The Birth of the Church

After Jesus ascends to heaven, the story is far from over. In the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit poured out on the apostles at Pentecost, and boom, the church is born. Miracles happen. People are healed. The Gospel spreads like wildfire from Jerusalem to Rome.

Peter takes leadership early on, then later Paul becomes a central figure as he travels, plants churches, writes letters, and faces all kinds of persecution.

Acts is like the action movie of the New Testament.

The Epistles – Letters from the Apostles

These letters make up most of the New Testament. Some are addressed to churches (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians), others to individuals (Timothy, Titus, Philemon), and others to all believers in general (Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude).

Paul wrote many of them, guiding believers, correcting errors, encouraging faith, and explaining theology. They’re personal, they’re sometimes tough, sometimes warm, but always pointing back to Jesus.

Revelation – The Final Vision

Now, this book… it’s like stepping into another realm. Revelation is filled with symbols, visions, and prophecy about the end times, the return of Christ, the final defeat of evil, and the creation of a new heaven and earth. It’s not always easy to understand, but its main message is clear — God wins in the end.

Themes of the New Testament

When you read through it, you’ll see some big themes repeating.

  1. Jesus is the Messiah – The promised Savior who fulfills the Old Testament prophecy.

  2. Grace through Faith – We’re saved by God’s grace, not by our works.

  3. The Kingdom of God – Not just in the future but breaking into the present through Christ.

  4. Love as the Greatest Commandment – Love God, love people.

  5. Hope in Eternal Life – Death isn’t the end for those in Christ.

Why the New Testament Matters Today

It’s not just an ancient book. It’s alive. It’s relevant. It speaks into our struggles, fears, and hopes. It’s not about giving us a “religion checklist” but about introducing us to a Person — Jesus.

Without the New Testament, we might still be wondering if God’s promises would ever come true. But here, we see them fulfilled. We see God’s love made visible. We see what it looks like when heaven touches earth.

A Story That Demands a Response

The New Testament doesn’t just tell a story so we can nod politely and move on. It calls for a response. Either we believe and follow Jesus, or we walk away. There’s no middle ground.

The early disciples dropped their fishing nets, left their tax booths, abandoned their old lives to follow Him. That same call comes to us today.

My Thoughts on Reading It

Honestly, when you first read it, some parts will feel easy and beautiful — the miracles, the parables, the acts of kindness from Jesus. But other parts? They’re challenging. Jesus talks about taking up your cross, loving enemies, forgiving endlessly. That’s not easy.

But that’s the thing — the New Testament isn’t a fairy tale where life becomes perfect instantly. It’s a real-life account of God meeting us in our brokenness, changing us from the inside out, and promising a future where all will be made new.

The New Testament is God’s love letter, history book, spiritual guide, and prophetic vision all wrapped into one. It’s the good news. It’s the reason Christianity exists at all. And if you let it, it will change your life in ways you couldn’t imagine.

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