A New Creation: Living God’s Promise of Renewal

Isaiah’s vision of a new heaven and a new earth is not just a distant hope, but a living promise that God is actively working out in our midst. In a world aching with violence, division, and despair, God’s word through Isaiah breaks in: “Look, I am creating…”—not “I have created,” but “I am creating.” This is an ongoing, dynamic work. God is not discarding the world, but redeeming and restoring it, inviting us to participate in this holy renewal. The pain and brokenness we see—wars, injustice, environmental destruction—are not the final word. God’s dream is for a world where joy, justice, and peace reign, where no one labors in vain, and where all creation is healed.

This vision is not escapism. God’s promise is not to whisk us away from the world’s troubles, but to dwell with us and transform the world from within. Our faith is rooted not in despair, but in relentless hope that God is alive and at work. The same creative power that spoke order into chaos in Genesis is still speaking today, calling forth justice, love, and welcome. We are not passive recipients of this promise; we are invited to be co-creators, to let God’s grace transform us so that we, in turn, become agents of transformation in the world.

The process of sanctification—God perfecting us in love—is not just about individual salvation. It is about the renewal of all creation. When we live as people changed by Christ, the world cannot help but be changed as well. God’s dream is not for a select few, but for all people and all creation. We are called to build communities marked by equity, inclusion, and care for the earth, to stand against the old world of division and injustice, and to embody the peaceable kingdom Isaiah describes.

This is a challenge: will we be content with the world as it is, or will we partner with God in the work of new creation? The promise is not that we will escape brokenness, but that God is with us, making a way forward. The best of all is that God is with us—transforming, renewing, and inviting us to be part of the story of redemption. Let us live as resurrection people, carrying the seeds of new creation into the world, trusting that God’s love is making all things new.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s New Creation Is Ongoing and Participatory God is not finished with the world; the work of new creation is happening now, and we are invited to join in. This means our daily choices, relationships, and acts of justice and mercy are part of God’s redemptive work. We are not spectators but co-laborers, called to embody hope and healing in tangible ways. [23:07]
• 2. Transformation Begins with Grace, Not Despair The foundation of renewal is not our own striving, but God’s grace that transforms us from within. When we allow God’s love to change us, we become vessels of that same love to others. Despair is not the end; grace is the beginning of all true change, both in us and in the world. [29:34]
• 3. Salvation Is Communal and Cosmic, Not Merely Personal God’s dream is for the redemption of all creation, not just individual souls. Our faith calls us to care for the least, the lost, and the earth itself, building communities of justice, inclusion, and peace. True salvation is not about escaping the world, but about participating in its healing and restoration. [37:04]
• 4. Living the Resurrection Means Active Engagement To be a resurrection people is to refuse complacency with the world’s brokenness. We are called to challenge injustice, lift burdens, and bring hope where there is despair. Our lives should reflect the reality that God is making all things new, and we are part of that unfolding story. [46:58]
• 5. God’s Presence Is the Heartbeat of Hope The assurance that “God is with us” sustains us through every trial and empowers us to persevere in the work of new creation. This presence is not abstract; it is the living reality that enables us to love, serve, and hope, even when the world seems unchanged.
  
  ** [50:04]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [23:07] - God’s Promise of New Creation
• [25:47] - Not Escapism, But Transformation
• [27:45] - God’s Creative Power in Chaos
• [29:34] - Grace That Transforms and Renews
• [31:26] - Sanctification of People and Creation
• [33:52] - Building the New Creation Together
• [37:04] - Salvation for All, Not Just Some
• [38:35] - The Challenge of Authentic Faith
• [41:42] - Isaiah’s Vision: Equity and Inclusion
• [44:00] - The Peaceable Kingdom Realized
• [46:58] - Living as Resurrection People
• [50:04] - God’s Presence and Our Hope
• [55:03] - Prayers for Healing and Renewal
• [57:22] - Letting Go and Embracing Grace
• [66:17] - Our Role in Lifting Burdens
• [70:27] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

Isaiah 65:17-25 (NIV) — “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.
Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.
They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.”

Observation Questions

1. What are some of the specific images Isaiah uses to describe the new heaven and new earth? ([23:07])
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between God saying “I have created” and “I am creating”? ([25:47])
3. How does Isaiah’s vision contrast with the reality of the world the people were returning to after exile? ([23:07])
4. What does the passage say about the relationship between people, their work, and the land in God’s new creation? ([33:52])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says God is not discarding the world but redeeming and restoring it. What does this suggest about how Christians should view the world’s brokenness and their role in it? ([25:47])
2. The phrase “God is creating” is ongoing. What does it mean for believers to participate in this ongoing work, rather than just waiting for God to act? ([29:34])
3. The sermon mentions that salvation is not just personal but communal and cosmic. How does this challenge the way people often think about faith and salvation? ([37:04])
4. The vision of the wolf and lamb feeding together is described as restoration, not fantasy. What does this image communicate about God’s ultimate goal for creation? ([44:00])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us: “Are we content with the old world of division and injustice, or do we really want to be a part of what God is doing in recreating a new heaven and a new earth?” What is one area in your life or community where you have been content with the status quo? What would it look like to partner with God for change in that area? ([41:42])
2. The pastor said, “Despair is not the end; grace is the beginning of all true change.” When you look at the brokenness in the world or in your own life, do you tend to respond with despair or hope? What would it look like to let God’s grace transform your response? ([29:34])
3. The sermon calls us to be “co-creators” with God. Think of a recent decision or action you took—how could you have approached it differently if you saw yourself as partnering with God in new creation? ([31:26])
4. Isaiah’s vision includes justice, equity, and care for the earth. Is there a specific way you can practice justice, inclusion, or creation care this week? What step will you take? ([41:42])
5. The pastor said, “When we have our lives changed by the overwhelming love of God, we want other people to know that love.” Who in your life needs to experience God’s love through you right now? How can you show it to them in a tangible way? ([46:58])
6. The sermon reminds us, “The best of all is God is with us.” How does remembering God’s presence with you change the way you face challenges or discouragement? ([50:04])
7. The process of sanctification is described as God perfecting us in love, not just for our own sake but for the renewal of all creation. What is one habit or attitude you sense God wants to transform in you so you can better participate in his work of renewal? ([31:26])