New Beginnings Lutheran Church

We are told to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Forgiveness means paying the price for another. In other words, one person “ransoms” another person, giving something in exchange. We have been ransomed, and so we can do the same.

We pray that God will forgive us as we forgive others. God did what was necessary to remove whatever divides us. God made “reconciliation” possible.

You were caught red-handed. When your trial begins, fear and dread cause sweat to roll down your back and your temples to throb. The verdict of the judge falls like a guillotine and you sense your life is over, but she declares you, “Innocent.” You’ve been “justified”... you’ve been forgiven.

Have you ever fantasized about redoing your life knowing what you know now so that you can do it better? Forgiveness grants us the opportunity for a fresh start; the Bible calls it being “born again.”

Do you consider Jesus to be your friend? Is He your Lord? Does He rule your life? Does He rule the universe? Jesus is God exalted. He sits on the mighty throne of heaven. What does this mean for you and the church?

Would you want Jesus to be someplace in particular, or every place? I’m not sure how to answer this yet, but hopefully we can flesh this out together … with some help.

Suffering is no surprise in this world. “Hell” is not an infrequent descriptor for the hardships of life. We’ve all heard someone say that they’re, “going through hell.” Jesus really did. But what does that mean?

God’s people sought to build the temple. Christ created the Church. God’s people seek to restore a city on earth. Jesus brings to earth the City of God! God’s people were scattered around the word, but the Lord brings forth all the nations. Accompanying reading: Ezra 7 Nehemiah 1-2; 4; 6-8 Malachi 1-4 The Story, Chapter 21

It is important to know that you were born “for such a time as this.” That is what Esther’s (aka, Hadassah) uncle reminded her. God has a purpose for you. This isn’t just a self-help book trope, but the truth God lodge in every heart that beats. Accompanying reading: Esther 1-9 The Story, Chapter 20

What does it mean to put God first? For the Persian province of Judah, in the sixth century Before Christ, it was to build a temple. What timeless principles might we find in this ancient text? Accompanying reading: Ezra 1-6 Haggai 1-2 Zechariah 1; 8 The Story, Chapter 19

Divine deliverance is one thing, but pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus are quite another! Have you ever considered the reality that Jesus exists before He was born? And, frankly, what does it matter? Accompanying reading: Daniel 1-3; 6; Jeremiah 29-31 The Story, Chapter 18

When God promised a virgin would be with child, Christmas was not the immediate point of the conversation. Something more akin to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would apply to the original context of that prophecy. This all took place eight-centuries before the birth of Jesus! Accompanying reading: 2 Kings 17-19 Isaiah 3; 6; 13-14; 49; 53 The Story, Chapter 16

What if I told you that a bubble bath would cure cancer? Would you believe me? Of course not! But what if God told you that a bubble bath would cure cancer? Would you believe God? Accompanying reading: 1 Kings 17-19 2 Kings 2; 4; 6 Hosea 4-5; 8-9; 14 Amos 1; 3-5; 9 The Story, Chapter 15

When you want something really bad, but you suspect it may not be the best recourse, who do you consult? Don’t seek the echo-chamber. Seek dissenting voices to deepen your analysis. Seek contrary advice to make good choices. Accompanying reading: 1 Kings 12-16 The Story, Chapter 14

Solomon could have asked for great wealth, but instead he asked for wisdom. So God gave him wisdom and wealth. But then he fell into temptation. What can we learn from this? Accompanying reading: 1 Kings 1-8; 10-11 2 Chronicles 5-7 Proverbs 1-3; 6; 20-21 The Story, Chapter 13

We will be surprised who is in heaven and who is not. Just sayin’! David had his way with a woman, killed her husband, and God didn’t strike him dead. Nope. Accompanying reading: 2 Samuel 11-12; 18-19 1 Chronicles 22; 29 Psalms 23; 32; 51 The Story, Chapter 12

Is it ok to kill in self defense? Apparently, sometimes not. It appears that faith can lead us to spare a life of someone who doesn’t deserve it. Go figure! Accompanying reading: 1 Samuel 16-18; 24; 31 2 Samuel 6; 22 1 Chronicles 17 Psalm 59 The Story, Chapter 11

What if God gives you what you want, but what you want isn’t what God knows is best for you? Can that happen? Well, it did. And God’s people paid the price and then some. Accompanying reading: 1 Samuel 1-4; 8-13; 15 The Story, Chapter 10

Christ is Risen! Hallelujah! The hereafter is here. Eternity has arrived. The ramifications of Easter extend from forever to today. Every day of the rest of our eternal lives is it working out of what God has already worked into all of creation.

There is no Easter without Good Friday. During this service, we will have six eye-witness testimonies to God’s death in Jesus Christ. We were there when they crucified our Lord through the disciples, the soldiers, and the criminals. The mission of Jesus finds culmination in the cross and fulfillment in our hearts.

I’ll say this as often as it takes for everyone to “get it” ─if you want people in your life to experience God’s reality, pray with them! Yes, pray for them, but also with them.

NBLC used to have five rakes available for serving our community. Now we have two-to-four hundred. Some churches have a ministry van or bus, but NBLC has hundreds of cars ready for service. Do you know what I mean?

This is kind of obvious, but I’ll say it anyway: Jesus will accomplish more with two people talking to each other than two people successfully ignoring each other. But here is the real shocker, we need to lower your expectations for these conversations for them to take place!

Want to learn how to hear from Jesus? The practice of hearing from and recognizing Jesus in everyday life is what this message is all about.

Is seeing believing, or is believing seeing? Ha! For those with eyes to see, clearly Jesus is up to something. He is inviting you to notice, to believe, and to wrestle with what is unfolding all around you!