In this series, we’re trying to wrestle with how significantly Jesus changes a life.  Jesus himself described it as someone starting over, being born again.

One of the first Christian leaders, Paul, said it this way in 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.”

This might make it sound like a one time thing, but it’s actually just the beginning of constant transformation.  Here’s how Paul put it in Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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.“

Like when a baby is born, all kinds of development suddenly kickstarts – breathing air, feeding by mouth, seeing unfiltered light, and more.  No longer in the womb, a baby’s mind and body start transforming to adapt to a new world.

In coming to earth as Jesus, then dying and rising again to destroy death’s power over humanity,  God has reset the world.  We can be born afresh into a new world – the kingdom of God.

If you’ve never accepted his offer to reset your life, to make you a new creation, then it’s quite simple.  Tell Jesus, then tell someone else.

Start by telling Jesus.  Simply pray, and ask him to let you start over.  Apologize for all the things you’ve said, done and thought to turn away from him, and tell Jesus you want to turn back to him.

Then tell others.  First, let me know, and another Christian in your life who can support you.  Then, tell the world, by being baptized.  We are about to celebrate Redeemer Church / Redeem the Commute’s first baptism on February 8th, and we’d love for you to be next.  This is the way to show on the outside what God is already doing on the inside.

Then follow this series to learn how Jesus intends to transform each area of our lives.  How we adapt to the kingdom of God, even in the midst of a world where others haven’t.  We’ll look at these key areas of life:

  • Reset Goals (this week)
  • Reset Time
  • Reset Money
  • Reset Work
  • Reset Body & Food
  • Reset Sex & Marriage
  • Reset Family
  • Reset Compassion
  • Reset Nature
  • Reset Divisions
  • Reset Death

Challenge: Life Plan for 2014.  http://www.brianhowardblog.com/how-to-write-a-life-plan/

Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community – so check out today’s reading here.

Read the Bible in Sync Today

Ryan Sim - June 4, 2013

Tuesday - Study It - Judgement

Jesus said this about judgement: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV) This is one of the best known, but most misunderstood and abused sayings of Jesus. Often people will quote this passage to suggest Jesus says no one should ever judge anyone else. It makes it seem like Jesus was saying to turn a blind eye to injustice, brokenness, hurt in our world. One take on why people quote this passage, is that when we see other people hurting, we often love ourselves too much to tell the truth…we want no pain for ourselves so we let others hurt, and use this as an excuse. Jesus is not saying there should be no courts of law, no one should help another person out of a bad situation they don’t recognize. How do we know? He judged. Right in this passage, he spoke about hypocrites. He expected his followers to judge, discern, too. In the Sermon on the Mount, he told them to be more righteous than Pharisees. Later, he speaks about false prophets. He wants his followers to see the difference - to judge. You can also see, right here in this passage, he commands his followers to engage in judgement: to be aware when there is a speck in someone’s eye. So what's the difference, between good judgement and bad judgement? Good judgement is to see truth, then speak the truth in love. A healthy critique based on standards we can both recognize and try to follow is okay. As Paul said in Romans 14:4: 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. (Romans 14:4 ESV) The problem is when people go looking to judge others by standards they don’t keep. This turns to harsh self-righteousness, as if we are becoming the master of others. We all do it – if someone criticizes us – we will immediately look for a way to criticize them. We'll see more tomorrow, but first, Question: What is difference between critique and judgement?

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