Embracing Newness: God's Transformative Power in Our Lives

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of newness as introduced through Jesus Christ. While the challenges of 2020, such as pandemics, economic instability, and political unrest, are not unprecedented, the incarnation of God in human form, His death, and His resurrection are truly unparalleled events. This divine intervention signifies the beginning of a new creation, a theme that resonates throughout the New Testament. The Greek words "naos" and "kainos" illustrate this newness, with "naos" referring to something chronologically new and "kainos" indicating a qualitative transformation. Jesus embodies this transformation as the new Adam, offering a new covenant, a new community, and a new commandment.

The promise of newness is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where prophets like Jeremiah spoke of God giving us a new heart. This promise reaches its climax in Revelation 21, where God declares, "I am making everything new." This newness is not just a future hope but a present reality, as God's mercies are new every morning, as stated in Lamentations. Despite the afflictions and challenges we face, God's compassion and faithfulness remain steadfast.

We are invited to embrace this newness personally. Whether it's in our character, relationships, work, or dreams, God desires to bring renewal. The question we must ask ourselves is, "Where do I want to see God do a new thing in my life?" By naming these areas and seeking God's renewal, we can experience the transformative power of His new mercies each day.

Key Takeaways:

1. Unprecedented Newness in Christ: While the world's challenges are not new, the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus are unprecedented events that signify the beginning of a new creation. This newness is not just chronological but qualitative, offering a transformative experience for believers. [06:04]

2. God's Promise of Renewal: The concept of newness is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, with promises of a new heart and a new birth. This promise is fulfilled in Jesus, who offers a new covenant and a new community. God's declaration in Revelation 21 to make everything new is a testament to His ongoing work of renewal. [08:21]

3. New Mercies Every Morning: Despite the afflictions and challenges we face, God's mercies are new every morning. This assurance from Lamentations reminds us that God's compassion and faithfulness are greater than our failures and disappointments. Each day is an opportunity to experience His fresh mercies. [10:49]

4. Personal Renewal in Christ: We are invited to embrace God's newness in our personal lives. Whether it's in our character, relationships, work, or dreams, God desires to bring renewal. By identifying areas where we seek change and inviting God's transformative power, we can experience His new mercies daily. [13:47]

5. Community and Global Renewal: Beyond personal renewal, God calls us to be agents of change in our communities and the world. Whether it's addressing racial injustice, renewing relationships, or transforming societal structures, we are invited to participate in God's work of creating a new humanity and a new world. [16:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:34] - Early Greetings
- [05:12] - Journey Review
- [05:50] - Unprecedented Newness
- [06:40] - Two Types of New
- [07:33] - New Creation in Christ
- [08:21] - Old Testament Promises
- [09:00] - Personal Application
- [10:32] - New Mercies Every Morning
- [12:19] - Living in Newness
- [13:47] - Seeking Renewal
- [15:11] - Renewal in Relationships
- [16:22] - Global and Community Renewal
- [18:08] - Family Renewal
- [19:54] - Closing Blessings

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Embracing Newness in Christ

Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 21:5 - "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'"
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two Greek words mentioned in the sermon that describe different types of newness, and how do they differ? [06:40]

2. According to the sermon, what unprecedented event marks the beginning of a new creation? [05:50]

3. How does the sermon describe the promise of newness in the Old Testament, and which prophet is specifically mentioned? [07:59]

4. What does the sermon say about God's mercies in relation to our daily lives? [10:49]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "new creation" in 2 Corinthians 5:17 relate to the idea of Jesus as the new Adam and the new covenant? [07:04]

2. In what ways does the promise of newness in Revelation 21:5 provide hope for both the present and the future?

3. How might the assurance of God's new mercies every morning, as mentioned in Lamentations 3:22-23, impact a believer's perspective on daily challenges? [10:49]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of believers in participating in God's work of renewal in their communities and the world? [16:22]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal life. Where do you desire to see God do a new thing, and how can you actively seek His renewal in that area? [13:47]

2. Consider a relationship in your life that needs renewal. What steps can you take to invite God's transformative power into that relationship? [15:22]

3. The sermon mentions the idea of a "new community" in Christ. How can you contribute to fostering a sense of newness and unity within your church or small group? [07:33]

4. In light of the sermon, how can you embrace the concept of new mercies each morning in your daily routine? What practical changes can you make to remind yourself of this truth? [10:49]

5. Think about a societal issue that resonates with you, such as racial injustice or economic instability. How can you be an agent of change in that area, participating in God's work of creating a new humanity? [16:22]

6. Identify a specific habit or character trait you wish to renew in the coming year. What steps will you take to align this area of your life with the new self described in Colossians 3? [14:30]

7. How can you support and encourage others in your community or small group to embrace God's newness in their lives? What role can you play in cheering them on? [14:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Unprecedented Newness in Christ
The incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are unparalleled events that mark the beginning of a new creation. This newness is not merely about the passage of time but represents a profound transformation in the quality of life offered to believers. Jesus, as the new Adam, brings forth a new covenant, a new community, and a new commandment, inviting us into a transformative relationship with God. This newness is a gift that redefines our identity and purpose, calling us to live in the reality of God's kingdom here and now. [06:04]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to embrace the new identity and purpose that Christ offers? How can you begin to live out this newness today?


Day 2: God's Promise of Renewal
The theme of newness is deeply embedded in the Old Testament, where God promises a new heart and a new birth. This promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who establishes a new covenant and forms a new community of believers. Revelation 21 echoes this promise with God's declaration to make everything new, highlighting His ongoing work of renewal in the world. This divine promise assures us that God is actively involved in transforming our lives and the world around us, inviting us to participate in His redemptive work. [08:21]

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you long for God's renewal? How can you invite Him to begin this transformative work in you today?


Day 3: New Mercies Every Morning
Despite the challenges and afflictions we face, God's mercies are new every morning. This assurance from Lamentations reminds us that God's compassion and faithfulness are greater than our failures and disappointments. Each day presents an opportunity to experience His fresh mercies, allowing us to start anew with hope and confidence in His unwavering love. This daily renewal is a testament to God's enduring commitment to His people, offering us strength and encouragement to face whatever comes our way. [10:49]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: How can you intentionally recognize and embrace God's new mercies in your life today? What practical steps can you take to start each day with a renewed sense of hope and gratitude?


Day 4: Personal Renewal in Christ
We are invited to embrace God's newness in our personal lives, whether in our character, relationships, work, or dreams. God desires to bring renewal and transformation, inviting us to identify areas where we seek change and to invite His transformative power into those spaces. By doing so, we can experience His new mercies daily, allowing His presence to shape and guide us in every aspect of our lives. This personal renewal is a journey of growth and discovery, leading us closer to the heart of God. [13:47]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you feel God is calling you to renew? How can you actively seek His guidance and strength to bring about this transformation?


Day 5: Community and Global Renewal
Beyond personal renewal, God calls us to be agents of change in our communities and the world. Whether it's addressing racial injustice, renewing relationships, or transforming societal structures, we are invited to participate in God's work of creating a new humanity and a new world. This call to action challenges us to look beyond ourselves and to engage with the world in meaningful ways, reflecting God's love and justice in all that we do. By doing so, we become part of His redemptive plan, bringing hope and healing to a broken world. [16:22]

Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's work of renewal in your community or the world? What specific action can you take this week to reflect His love and justice in your surroundings?

Quotes

God came to earth in human form and was born in a manger and died in a cross and then especially on the third day that he rose again the resurrection now that was unprecedented and that means that god who began everything with creation is beginning everything again in recreation. [00:05:54]

We've been looking at how god is beginning things new in jesus and the advent brings that newness and we looked at how in the new testament there's two words for new, naos like neo-neo-orthodoxy the new orthodoxy, and then kainos naos is for something that is chronologically new that is recent but kind of says something that's qualitatively new. [00:06:40]

Jesus is the new adam he is the second man uh he brings in mark we're told people's response to him was this is a new teaching with authority and jesus says i give you a new commandment. Jesus offers to people a new covenant and then he begins a new community with his disciples. [00:07:33]

Paul says if anybody is in christ if you become his friend if you begin to follow him, you are a new creation the old is gone paul says the new has come and god wants to give you a new song god promises to give you a new name a new identity a new relationship together with him. [00:08:21]

In lamentations we read in the third chapter, i am one who has seen affliction and i resonate in that with new ways this year partly because of errors that i have made partly because of things that have happened to me, and then there's just this catalog and you might think of 2020. [00:09:00]

Yet this i call to mind and therefore i have hope because of the lord's great love, we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new there's that word they are new every morning great is your faithfulness so i say to myself the lord is my portion i will wait for him. [00:10:32]

In other words my capacity to generate failure sin and disappointment is exceeded by god's capacity to generate new mercies every morning including that christmas morning in bethlehem including now this morning his mercies are new this morning. [00:11:19]

The question is where do i want to see god do a new thing in 2021 where do i want renewal in my life and sometimes it's helpful to name that and put a stake in the ground to say i want to go after that i want to pray about that one and to cheer each other on with it. [00:13:47]

Maybe it's in my character my habits colossians 3 this wonderful passage talks about dealing with anger and desires and lust and lying and put off all those things we have put off the old self with its practices and are putting on the new self that is being renewed in the knowledge of the image of its creator. [00:14:21]

Ephesians 2 says that jesus is tearing down the dividing wall of hostility and his purpose is to create one new humanity no more us versus them god knows even in the church sometimes we can turn the human race into us versus them christians versus non-christians or whatever. [00:16:22]

One of the great images of newness in the new testament is the promise that god will bring a new jerusalem coming down out of heaven and then we think about cities in our world what would it be like if there was a new washington anybody here want to see a new washington god to bring renewal to politics maybe that's your sphere. [00:17:59]

God is a god who brings newness and he will do a new thing in your life in my life in 2021. I want to say thank you for all of you who have been part of this journey it's been such a gift to me to be able to be involved in this and kind of a new way to be involved in ministry. [00:20:17]

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Transcript
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