New Work Fellowship Podcast

“The Gift of New”

Isaiah 43:19

 

What do you do with the gift of new?

 

1)Thank God

         v14a, “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:…”

 

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

 

2)Remember God’s Great Deeds

v19, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? …” (See also v16-17)

 

3)Forget about it!

v18, “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”  

 

Amos 5:5, “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.”

 

4) Get ready to take the leap

            v19, “…I will create rivers in the dry wasteland”

 

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

 

Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we night ask or think!”

 

There’s a place that’s as clean as a mountain stream

That’s as bright as an April morn,

There’s a place for rebuilding broken dreams,

There’s a place where hope is reborn.

There’s a place that is open to all this day,

It’s the place that He gives to all men,

There’s a place that is only a step away,

It’s the place of beginning again.

 

Final Thought: The gift of new is always God’s grace to you.

 

The World Needs a Stable Influence

We Need Jesus

Luke 2:1-7

 

Why do I need Jesus?

(1) Because this World is Beyond me

• v1, “the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken…”
• John 3:31, “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.”

(2) Because I have a History

• v4, “...because Joseph was a descendant of King David…”
• Isaiah 1:18,“Come now, …  says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
• John 15:15, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
• Isaiah 62:2, “And you will be given a new name by the LORD ’s own mouth.”

(3) Because I am a Work in Progress

• v4b, “…he had to go to Bethlehem … He traveled there from the village of Nazareth…”
• 1 Peter 1:18 (MSG), “Your life is a journey …”
• Psalm 18:36, “You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.”

(4) Because I only have so much time

• v6, “…the time came …”
• Galatians 4:4-7, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” 
• 2 Corinthians 6:2, “For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.”

Final Thought: Today, is the best day to come to Jesus.

The World Needs a Stable Influence

We Need a Shepherd

Psalm 23

 

 

1. Shepherds must be fierce in protecting their sheep. Sheep, left to themselves, make poor shepherds. (1 Sam. 17:34-36; Luke 15:4-7)

 

2. Sheep bear the marks of their shepherd. (Psalm 23:2-3, 5; Gal. 5:22-23)

 

3. Shepherds bring life to their flock. Sheep cannot livewithout a shepherd. (Psalm 23:6; John 10:10)

 

Final Thought: When the Good Shepherd calls, do you answer? (John 10:14-16, 27)

The World Needs a Stable Influence

We Need a King

1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13

 

 

What is a king?  An anointed leader entrusted with a placeand a people.

 

• The world wants a king. (1 Samuel 8:1-9, 19-21)

 

• We need a king because:

 

1. We need to be cared for and protected. (1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13)
2. We need to be in a covenant. (2 Samuel 5:1)
3. We need guidance. (2 Samuel 5:2)

 

• We have an everlasting King because:

 

1. God promised to send a king.(Psalm 2:1-3, 7-80)
2. God sent the king: Jesus. (Matthew 3:16)

 

Key Question: How will you respond to Jesus as your King? (John 3:26-36)

 

Final Thought:  Jesus is the King.  Will you step into your rightful place as one of His people? Will you follow Christ, the king, today?

The World Needs a Stable Influence

We need a Righteous Judge

Judges 19:30

 

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

 

“Sin will take you fartherthan you want to go, keep you longerthan you want to stay, and costyou more than you want to pay.”

 

How do you live in a Broken World?

 

#1 Sit in the silence of stunned shock

               “Think about it!”

 

                There is absolutely, absoluteright and wrong.

 

#2 Cry out forJustice

               “What are we going to do?”  (See Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 13:4, 1 Peter 4:17, Romans 3:10-12)

        

              Justice is needed; so begin with yourself.

#3 Stand with the Righteous Judge

             “Who’s going to speak up?" (See John 5:22,28-29)

 

              God knew you would need a Savior. That’s why He defeated death and sent Jesus.

 

God knew you would need a Righteous Judge. That’s why He sent Jesus to judge sin rightly—and make you right.

The World Needs a Stable Influence

We Need a Savior

Genesis 35:16-20

 

God’s work in and around Bethlehem begins long before Christ’s birth and reveals his plan to save the world from sin and death.  (Micah 5:2)

1. The reality of death shows us we need a savior. (Genesis 35:16-20) 
   1. Death reveals our true need.
2.  The reality of God’s plan reveals Jesus is the savior you need. (Jeremiah 31:13-17) 
   1. God reveals life in Christ in the midst of death brought about by sin. 
      1. Ephrath – ash heap; fruitfulness (Isaiah 61:1-3) 
      2. Bethlehem – house of bread (John 6:35-40)
3. The hope of Christ shines so bright because of the darkness of sin. (Matthew 2:1-6) 

Final Thought: The darkness of death reveals the light of Christ.  Do you see it?

Miracles Happen

This is Our Story: Healing in Marriage

Esther 4:1-5:8

 

 

Miracles:  “Miracles are not contrary to nature but only contrary to what we know about nature. ” – Augustine

 

1)   When faced with… (Esther 4:1-5:8)

1. …a difficult decision, Esther called on the community of God’s people. (4:1-16a)
2. …what she thought was the end, Esther was obedient to God’s will. (4:16b – 17)
3. …the king, Esther found grace. (5:1-7)

 

2)   Key Question: Where is the miracle? 

What must have seemed miraculous to Esther looked like simple obedience to God.

 

3)   A biblically healthy marriage…

1. …is worked for, not found. (Romans 12:17-18) Repentance & Forgiveness are two of the most important disciplines of marriage.
2. …is made up of two biblically healthy believers. (Deuteronomy 30:19) Biblical Priorities - God, life, marriage/family, work, and friends.
3. ...consists of biblically healthy communication. (James 1:19)

 

Final Thought: Obedience to the Gospel is the miracle your marriage may need.

 

 

Miracles Happen

“This is my story”

Luke 17:11-19

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.

“They are plans for good and not for disaster,

to give you a future and a hope.”

 Jeremiah 29:11

 

“Let all that I am praise the Lord;

may I never forget the good things he does for me.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”

Psalm 103:2-3

 

The Purpose of a miracle is always: to point toward God

 

“Miracles are not in contradiction to nature.

They are only in contradiction with what we know of nature.”

- Saint Augustine

 

What can we know about Miracles?

 

1. Know something about the Miracle Maker

 

 

2. Know something about the Miracle Man

 

 

3. Know something about the Miracle Moment

 

 

 

Final Thought: God wants to work a miracle in you—so that your life becomes a signpost pointing others to faith.

Extraordinary God / Ordinary People

“God Has More”

Ruth 4 

 

Ruth in Summary:

“Now all glory to God, who is able,

through his mighty power at work within us,

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:21

Chapter 1: Plans fail

Chapter 2:  God prevails.

Chapter 3: Be Patiently Bold

Chapter 4: God Has More

 

God Has More Promises:

#1  Whereas we live under the circumstances of life, God’s providence holds more.

 

Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

Acts 17:26, (NCV)“God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live.”

 

#2  When I’m tempted to follow my heart, God’s way is way better.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

 

Jeremiah 17:9, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”

 

#3  The best that life has to offer isn’t about me it’s about we. Refuse to go solo.

 

#4  Do not exalt yourself, instead Trust God to Lift you up.

 

1 Peter 5:6, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”

 

 

Final Thought: When plans fail; God prevails! Be patiently bold, knowing that God has more!