04/01/2026
04/01/2026 Sermon
# # **Sermon: New Beginnings in Christ**
**Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:22–24**
> *"To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."*
**HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!**
The world celebrates this time as a symbol of new beginnings. We often hear the phrase **"New Year’s Resolutions."** But what does the New Year truly mean to you?
As Christians, we don’t have to wait for a new year to take action or change our lives. However, honestly, when we start something new, we often fail to finish it. In the midst of failure and discouragement, we sometimes forget that we can stand up and start again.
A New Year isn’t necessarily a "special" day compared to any other, but it serves as a powerful reminder that there is a new beginning available in everything. Just as a year starts and ends, so do the various journeys of our lives.
---
# # # **1. The Past**
**Isaiah 43:18–19** tells us that who we were in the past should not determine who we are right now.
Because of **Original Sin**, we once lived in bo***ge, but we were redeemed by our Lord Jesus. Now, our true identity is found in Christ (**Galatians 2:20**). Our "old self" has been dealt with; our past cannot and should not define who we are in Him. Remember, our redemption isn't an excuse to be a worse version of ourselves, but a calling to live for His glory (**Ephesians 2:10**).
# # # **2. Former Failures**
Of course, we all experience failure. 2025 may have been your most difficult year yet, but do not let it dictate your future.
We often become discouraged by the mistakes we’ve made. Sometimes we blame God, and other times we blame ourselves too harshly. The Bible teaches us to leave the past behind and press on toward the goal (**Philippians 3:13–14**). To **"press on"** means to stay focused on your life's direction—following God’s will regardless of what you have been through—because we are looking forward to the greatest prize: our Lord Jesus Christ.
# # # **3. Living in the Present and Holding the Future**
After Moses fled Egypt for Midian because of a murder, God called him to lead His people out of bo***ge. After many rebuttals and questions, God asked Moses, **"What is in your hand?"** God then instructed Moses to throw down his staff, and it became a sign of His power. Similarly, Paul—a former persecutor of Christians—was called on the road to Damascus to become an apostle to the Gentiles (**Acts 9:26–27**).
If we look only at the past, we will likely end up full of either arrogance or regret. But if we focus on what God has placed in our "present," we will head toward His perfect plan.
---
# # # **Conclusion**
Let this New Year be a reminder that we can always start anew. Whether it is in our studies, our careers, our relationships, or—most importantly—our ministry, God is with us. Last year might have been hard, and this year could be harder, but remember that we have **Immanuel** (God with us). In Him, we can do all things.
---
