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 TodayLoading Content...
Share a Link to this Message
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseRyan Sim - August 25, 2015
Tuesday - Study It - Finding Rest
In our day and age, it is hard to find rest. We are always connected and that has changed our hearts. We often feel important and needed when we can’t turn off our Blackberries, and can’t stop working. That’s today’s reality. In a different way, it was hard to find rest in Jesus’ day. It was simply hard work to survive, eat and sleep in shelter. But the Jewish people had one major distinctive, the day of rest God gave at creation, and that they had been instructed to preserve. But over time, a religious codification of law had been built onto God’s plan for Sabbath rest at creation. We see it in a story of some Pharisees, or religious legalists, and their conflict with Jesus here: On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Luke 6:1-5 ESV) Here we can see how the Pharisees had made even a day of rest into hard work. The Sabbath, even as it’s observed today, can become a strange mixture of freedom and peaceful rest, and concern and anxiety for legal compliance. For example, I have a friend who lived in Israel for a short time, who would tell stories of a mad rush to get enough food before sunset on Friday when the Sabbath began. Then she’d take long walks to visit with a friend…all to avoid operating a car. What’s more work – walking or driving? Or at Toronto’s Mount Sinai hospital there is a Sabbath elevator that stops at every floor on Saturdays, so no buttons need to be pressed. You can see how carefully work has been defined – button pushing is too much, but walking is okay. The proper way to take Sabbath rest is still debated today – including debates on how strictly Christians should apply the Old Testament laws about Sabbath as a day of worship and rest. There is a clue here in the passage we’re exploring this week, where the Pharisees are confronting Jesus about his disciples eating on what was supposed to be a day of rest. They are plucking grain left for poor travellers like themselves, and rubbing it between their hands to make it edible, which was one of 39 types of work forbidden by the teachers of the law. Note how Jesus responsds. He doesn’t laugh it off as an old throwback idea. No, he takes it somewhere different, he seems to say rest is vitally important, and that it is what he’s all about. He says he’s the Lord of the Sabbath. We saw in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ intention is not to throw away the law, nor to adopt the Pharisees’ interpretation of it wholesale, but rather to fulfill its original purpose. He reveals the point of the whole law to be…himself! Question: What was your experience of weekends growing up? Was either day set aside as a day of rest?
From Series: Work and Rest | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
More Messages Associated With "Jesus"...
Day 32 - CLUES to your calling | Ryan Sim | October 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 31 - Discovering our Gifts | Ryan Sim | October 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 30 - Work in the Christian Community | Ryan Sim | October 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 29 - Making a difference for God | Ryan Sim | October 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 28 - How much should I give? | Ryan Sim | October 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 27 - Is there a right amount? | Ryan Sim | October 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 26 - 4 Principles of Stewardship II | Ryan Sim | October 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 25 - 4 Principles of Stewardship | Ryan Sim | October 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 24 - Money: A matter of Stewardship | Ryan Sim | October 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 23 - Money: A matter of Security & Satisfaction | Ryan Sim | October 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 22 - Money: A matter of identity | Ryan Sim | October 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 21 - A New Way of Living | Ryan Sim | October 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 20 - Why join a Church? | Ryan Sim | October 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 19 - What do Churches Do? | Ryan Sim | October 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 18 - How do Churches Gather? | Ryan Sim | October 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 17 - What is the Church? - Part 2 | Ryan Sim | October 3, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 16 - What is the Church? Part 1 | Ryan Sim | September 29, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 15 - What words should we pray? Others' Words | Ryan Sim | September 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 14 - What words should we pray? Part 1 - Your Words | Ryan Sim | September 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 13 - When should we pray? | Ryan Sim | September 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 12 - What can we pray about? | Ryan Sim | September 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 11 - How does God Answer Prayer? No and Maybe | Ryan Sim | September 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 10 - How does God Answer Prayer? Yes | Ryan Sim | September 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 9 - To whom should we pray? | Ryan Sim | September 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 8 - What is Prayer? | Ryan Sim | September 15, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 7 - How the Read the Bible - Part 2 | Ryan Sim | September 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 6 - How the Read the Bible - Part 1 | Ryan Sim | September 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 5 - What is the Bible? Part 5 - Varied Literature | Ryan Sim | September 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 3 - What is the Bible? Part 3 - Authentic | Ryan Sim | September 8, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 2 - What is the Bible? Part 2 - Light and Owners Manual | Ryan Sim | September 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Day 1 - What is the Bible? Part 1 - A Letter | Ryan Sim | September 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Conclusion | Ryan Sim | September 1, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - How Much to Give? | Ryan Sim | August 31, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Giving Levels | Ryan Sim | August 30, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Attitudes | Ryan Sim | August 29, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Everything is God's, Giving is a Need | Ryan Sim | August 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Stewardship | Ryan Sim | August 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Security and Satisfaction | Ryan Sim | August 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Power and Identity | Ryan Sim | August 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Getting In and Out of Debt | Ryan Sim | August 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Credit Scores | Ryan Sim | August 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Payday Loan Rules | Ryan Sim | August 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Payday Loan Interest Rates | Ryan Sim | August 15, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Loan Sharks: Don't Get Bitten | Ryan Sim | August 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Reading Debt Fine Print | Ryan Sim | August 10, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Calculating Debt APR | Ryan Sim | August 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Financial Jargon | Ryan Sim | August 8, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Comparison Shopping | Ryan Sim | August 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Smart Shopping | Ryan Sim | August 3, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Your Money Saving Tips | Ryan Sim | August 2, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Budget Surprises | Ryan Sim | August 1, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Start your Budget | Ryan Sim | July 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Spending Diary | Ryan Sim | July 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Increasing Income | Ryan Sim | July 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Reducing Spending | Ryan Sim | July 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Overspending | Ryan Sim | July 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Savings | Ryan Sim | July 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Priority Expenses | Ryan Sim | July 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
Money: Basic Budgeting - Expenses | Ryan Sim | July 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
We Are...Transformed - Thursday | July 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Transformed – Wednesday | July 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Transformed - Tuesday | July 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Transformed - Monday | July 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Made New - Thursday | June 30, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Made New - Wednesday | June 29, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Made New - Tuesday | June 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Made New - Monday | June 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...One - Thursday | June 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...One - Wednesday | June 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...One - Tuesday | June 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Gifted - Thursday | June 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Gifted - Wednesday | June 15, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Gifted - Tuesday | June 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Gifted - Monday | June 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...At Peace - Thursday | June 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...At Peace - Wednesday | June 8, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...At Peace - Tuesday | June 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...At Peace - Monday | June 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Protected – Thursday | June 2, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Protected - Wednesday | June 1, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Protected - Tuesday | May 31, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Protected - Monday | May 30, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Spirit Led – Thursday | May 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Spirit Led – Wednesday | May 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Spirit Led - Tuesday | May 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Spirit Led - Monday | May 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Love - Thursday | May 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Love – Wednesday | May 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Love - Tuesday | May 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Love - Monday | May 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Community - Wednesday | May 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Community - Wednesday | May 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Community - Tuesday | May 10, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Community - Monday | May 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Generous - Thursday | May 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Generous - Wednesday | May 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Generous - Tuesday | May 3, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Generous - Monday | May 2, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Healers - Thursday | April 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Healers - Wednesday | April 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Healers - Tuesday | April 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Healers - Monday | April 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Free - Thursday | April 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Free - Wednesday | April 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Free - Tuesday | April 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Free - Monday | April 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Messengers - Thursday | April 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Messengers - Wednesday | April 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Messengers - Tuesday | April 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Messengers - Monday | April 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Changed People - Thursday | April 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Changed People - Wednesday | April 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Changed People - Tuesday | April 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
We Are...Changed People - Monday | April 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
Jesus Is...Crucified - Thursday | March 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
Jesus Is...Crucified - Wednesday | March 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
Jesus Is...Crucified - Tuesday | March 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
Jesus Is...Crucified - Monday | March 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
Jesus Is...Forgiving - Thursday | March 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
Jesus Is...Forgiving - Wednesday | March 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen |