January 9, 2022 | Renew Part 2
January 9, 2022 • Pastor Ken Cline
The Gospel is the only thing that will transform and renew–its’ the solution for all human problems. John. 3:16-18 states clearly that those who BELIEVE will inherit eternal life. What will get you to heaven? Not information but transformation.
Two trees were in the middle of the Garden of Eden. One was the Tree of Life; the other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve chose information over life, condemnation and death instead of life, love, and all good things. We need to believe that Jesus died for our sins. We all desperately need renewal, which can only be found in Him. John 3:18 states that whoever believes is not condemned.
Paul, in Romans 1:16 says that he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was his desire and passion. It should also be our desire and passion to serve others as believers. If not, are we really followers of Christ?
In Matt. 13, Jesus tells the parable of the seeds and soils. The seed is the Gospel, and the four types of soils are the hearts of those who hear. We must pray for Jesus to open our ears to the Gospel. The first type of soil was where the hearer hears the good news but has no understanding. The enemy steals from a heart that is hard. We must pray before we share the Gospel. It needs to be received in good soil. We can pray the scriptures as we read. The second type of soil (rocky) is where the hearer hears and receives with joy, but trouble causes it to die. We must be a part of a church and be discipled to avoid becoming like this soil. The third type of soil (thorny) is where the hearer hears, but worries, distractions, and the love of the world choke out the seed. This is a major problem with the US church–money, hobbies, and “affluenza” (too much stuff). Godliness with contentment is great gain. The fourth type of soil, the good soil, is where the hearer hears and understands the word. He loses all things to gain Christ (Phil 3:7-8). Jesus is number one. Through the process of discipleship, a harvest of multiplication over time happens. The fruit of a transformed life appears.
We are to reach out and serve “the least of these” (See Matt. 25:31-43.) But who are the least of these? According to some commentators, they are missionaries. (See Jn. 1:5-8, Gal 6:9-10, I Tim. 6:18-19, and Matt. 25:41-43.) If you didn’t help the least of these, you won’t enter the kingdom! If you want to change the world, believe and share the Gospel, and do it as a servant, as Jesus was.
There are many ways as members of New Life that we can serve the least of these. Here are some ideas. Give to missions using the Renewal pledge card to pledge. Be a blessing to Piti Pami. They need $500 to help with a medical clinic in Haiti. This need could be met if 10 families pledged $50 each. New Life always needs more people to serve at the church building. Two ministries right now in need of more volunteers are the Widow’s Ministry (see Janet Jacoby or the New Life App) and the Clean Team (volunteers to help keep the building clean). Go to the New Life app to find out where other help is needed.
Matthew West has a song out now titled “What If?” Some of the words encourage us to “Love a little harder.” Will you consider doing that through a missions pledge, giving to needs in Haiti or serving at New Life?
