Embracing God's Call: Transitioning to New Beginnings

There are moments in life when God calls us out of what is familiar and comfortable, into something new and unknown. Just as Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, wrestling with questions and uncertainty, we too can find ourselves in seasons of transition—caught between the comfort of our past and the promise of our future. The story of Nicodemus reminds us that revelation from God often disrupts our status quo, compelling us to leave behind the old ways, relationships, and mindsets that no longer fit the new life God is birthing in us.

We are created for community, for connection, and for purpose. Yet, the longing for validation and acceptance can sometimes keep us trapped in environments or relationships that we have outgrown. Like a child who cannot remain in the womb beyond its time, we must recognize when God is calling us to step out, even if it means leaving behind the approval of those around us. The very things that once nurtured and protected us can become confining if we refuse to move forward.

Transition is not easy. It often means facing ridicule, misunderstanding, and even loneliness. But God’s revelation gives us the courage to detach from the familiar and embrace the unknown. When God reveals a new direction, it is not for us to seek the approval of others, but to walk in obedience and faith. Our loyalty must shift from our history to our destiny, from the comfort of the past to the promise of what God is doing now.

God’s call is always forward. He invites us to trust Him, even when the way is unclear and the old dreams seem dead. Just as Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He calls us to shed the grave clothes of our past—failure, fear, and the opinions of others—and to walk in the freedom and newness of life He offers. We cannot go back to the womb; we are called to live by faith, trusting that God is making a way in the wilderness and doing a new thing in our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True spiritual growth requires leaving behind environments, relationships, and mindsets that no longer align with God’s revelation for your life. Like Nicodemus, when God gives you a new understanding, you may find you no longer fit with the crowd you once belonged to. The courage to step out comes from valuing God’s approval above human validation. [14:09]
• 2. The longing for community and affirmation is deeply human, but it can become a trap if it keeps you from pursuing God’s unique calling for you. Sometimes, the very things that once nurtured and protected you can become confining if you refuse to move forward. Recognize when it’s time to step out of the “womb” and into the destiny God has prepared. [11:42]
• 3. Revelation from God is often the catalyst for transition. When God opens your eyes to a new reality or calling, it creates a holy dissatisfaction with the status quo. This revelation is not always understood by those around you, but it is the beginning of a necessary detachment from the old and a movement toward the new. [16:31]
• 4. Faith is not about having all the answers or seeing the whole path ahead. It is about trusting God’s promise even when your circumstances seem dead or hopeless, as with Lazarus in the tomb. God calls you to believe first, and in that belief, you will see His glory and provision unfold in ways you could not have imagined. [31:54]
• 5. The process of transformation is gradual and often misunderstood by others. As you grow and change, some may accuse you of abandoning your roots or becoming someone else. Embrace the transition, knowing that God is doing a new thing in you, and that your loyalty must be to His purpose rather than to the comfort of your past. [24:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:47] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
• [04:19] - Nicodemus’ Question and the Need for New Birth
• [05:19] - The Human Need for Community
• [08:33] - Breaking Free from Peer Pressure and Approval
• [09:33] - Culture vs. Christ in the Church
• [11:42] - Outgrowing the Womb: The Danger of Staying Too Long
• [13:33] - Nicodemus’ Transition and the Cost of Revelation
• [14:09] - Putting Away Childish Things
• [16:31] - Revelation as the Catalyst for Change
• [19:33] - Reflections on Church and Transformation
• [20:56] - The Journey of Change and Misunderstanding
• [24:52] - Embracing Transition and Separation
• [26:06] - The Irreversibility of Spiritual Birth
• [27:56] - Forgetting the Past and Embracing the New
• [29:48] - Trusting God When the Future is Unclear
• [31:54] - Faith, Resurrection, and the Glory of God
• [33:25] - Walking in Freedom and Shedding the Past
• [35:35] - God’s Faithfulness in Opening New Doors
• [36:33] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
• [38:13] - Service Conclusion

Bible Reading

John 3:1-4 (ESV) — > Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV) — > “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

John 11:38-44 (ESV) [Story of Lazarus] — > (Condensed for space) Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb after four days dead, and commands, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Observation Questions

1. What question does Nicodemus ask Jesus, and how does Jesus respond? (John 3:1-4)
2. According to Isaiah 43:18-19, what is God promising to do for His people? What does He tell them to forget?
3. In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the things that once nurtured and protected us? [[11:42]]
4. What does Jesus command to be done for Lazarus after he comes out of the tomb? (John 11:44)

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the image of being “born again” when talking to Nicodemus? What does this say about spiritual transformation? (John 3:3-4)
2. The pastor compares staying in the “womb” too long to refusing to move forward in life. What are some reasons people might resist leaving what is familiar, even when God is calling them out? [[11:42]]
3. How does God’s revelation act as a catalyst for change, according to the sermon? Can you think of a time when a new understanding from God made you uncomfortable with your old ways? [[16:31]]
4. When Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb, He also tells others to remove the grave clothes. What might the “grave clothes” represent in our lives today? (John 11:44; [33:25])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that sometimes the longing for community and affirmation can keep us trapped in places we’ve outgrown. Is there a relationship, group, or environment in your life that you sense God may be calling you to step out of? What makes it hard to leave? [[11:42]]
2. The pastor shared about times he had to value God’s approval over the approval of friends or even church members. When have you felt pressure to stay where you are for the sake of others’ opinions? How did you respond? [[08:33]]
3. Think about a time when God revealed something new to you—maybe a calling, a conviction, or a fresh understanding. How did that revelation disrupt your “status quo”? Did it require you to make a change? [[16:31]]
4. The sermon uses the image of “grave clothes” as things from our past—failure, fear, or others’ opinions—that can hold us back. What “grave clothes” do you need to shed in order to walk in the new life God is offering you? [[33:25]]
5. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” What is one area of your life where you need to stop dwelling on the past and trust that God is making a way forward? [[27:56]]
6. The pastor mentioned that transition can bring misunderstanding or even loneliness. How can you find encouragement and support when you feel alone in your journey of change? [[24:52]]
7. Faith is described as trusting God even when the way is unclear, like Mary and Martha with Lazarus. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to trust God before you see the outcome? What would it look like to take a step of faith this week? [[31:54]]