New Beginnings Lutheran Church

**SOUND ISSUES - TUNE IN AT 32:14** The End is *hear*! Blessed are those who hear the words of Revelation. This notorious book is not so much a prophecy foretelling future times as forth-telling the promises of God to people living through troubled times.

The language we use is shaped by who we are. From what part of the world do we come? From what part of the country? Are we teenagers or seniors? Rural or urban? Are we “hip” or not so much? How can God use your particular lingo to communicate with others His great Gospel message?

Things aren’t always what they seem. What seemed life-giving to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden actually ushered in a reign of death. But through His death on the cross, Jesus ushers in an even more powerful reign of life.

When introducing people to Jesus today, we face lots of scrutiny. We all too often confuse God’s part and our part. Too many feel the need to have all the answers to people’s questions—to defend our beliefs. But only one response is needed.

Anyone hungry? Everyone eventually. We all feel a craving that even transcends food! That’s why we agree with the D.T. Niles quote: “Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.” Got bread? Know Jesus?

Do you want to condemn others? Of course not. You wouldn’t be invited to any parties if you acted like that! God did not send Jesus to condemn the world. Jesus came to love the world. This is what “our mission” is—the same as Jesus’ mission: to share God’s love with the whole world! JOHN 3:1-17 // 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?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said t

How good is it to put on a pair of glasses or contact lens with the correct prescription for the first time and see the world with better focus? How does seeing more clearly change the way we interact and live in our world? COLOSSIANS 3:5-11 (12-17) // Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and p

Have you ever experienced weeks and months that tend to blur together? You look back over the year, and you do not see progress or growth in your life? Looking at your faith walk, does your growth every feel like a blurred optical illusion? COLOSSIANS 2:1-15 // For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See

Do you ever feel that you live your day to day life with a lack of focus easily becoming distracted with the mundane? How much does a lack of focus cost our families, our relationships, our employers? How much do distractions cost the church or our faith walk? What are you focused on? COLOSSIANS 1:15-22 // He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he

I’ve heard marriage is a competition between two people to see who can forgive the other more. The competition is real, and it is with everyone you encounter! There is one secret to forgiveness that you must learn to make it work; we will discuss this next.

The Bible says it. That settles it. Or does it? Ask a hundred people to describe how to be a Christian and you’ll find a hundred answers. So is variety the spice of faith, or is most everybody wrong except a few (maybe you?). Or do you doubt we can even know? ROMANS 14:1-23 // As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, sin

Which sin is worse: to compare or not to compare? Careful how you answer or you’ll be comparing! It’s like saying you’re humble—immediately pride slips into the room. That’s why we need to read the Bible as a mirror more than binoculars. LUKE 18:9-14 // He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Praise List: b

Here is a guilt trip: If you were accused of being a Christian, would you be found guilty? It all depends on how well you could keep your Christian faith a secret. Wait? People can’t be secret Christians, can they? The answer isn’t as easy as you might think. JOHN 19:38-42 // After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Praise List: bit.ly/3ghdjs6

“People are like drunks on horseback, set right on one side only to topple over to the other.” Martin Luther is thought to have said some version of that unflattering statement. It’s true, though. We can be legalists one moment and libertines the next. MATTHEW 5:17-20 // “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Praise List: bit.ly/2LyvHib

The social pain of loneliness, like pain, results in observable behaviors. Unfortunately, when we feel lonely, we begin to think and act in self-defeating ways. We can become anti-social and the symptoms reinforce the disease. But there is a cure. EPHESIANS 4:25-32 // Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to

Being alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. In fact, many pleasurable and productive actions often involve solitude: research, endurance exercise, art, and prayer. These actions are done alone, and with others. We are called to do both. JAMES 5:13-18 // Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Social isolation has an adverse impact upon your health comparable to high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, or smoking. Therefore, it is more important than ever to regard others as more important than yourself, right? Wait. How does this work? I’m healthier if I care more for others than myself? PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8 // So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found

Roughly 60 million people in the United States experience loneliness as a major source of unhappiness in their lives. If only they could all get together! But let’s face it, getting together and staying together are two very different experiences. How can we stay together? EPHESIANS 4:1-7 // I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Check out today's worship playlist here: bit.ly/3bmmi8v

Loneliness is an empty feeling; hence the expression, “Lonely as the grave.” Strange how you can be lonely in a crowd. Equally strange: the word lonely doesn’t have an antonym. You can be social, affable, even beloved, but still lonely. How can we cure loneliness? Paradoxically, the solution is an empty grave! 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18 // But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with

Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. Which of the seven devotions connected most with you? Why? 2. How does that devotion speak to your relationship with Jesus? Do any other people in your life come to mind as a point of application for you? What would the Lord want you to do? 3. How would you summarize the overall message from Good Friday for a friend who doesn’t quite get it in 1-3 sentences?