New Beginnings Christian Church - FCCEM

02/22/2025

02/16/2025

Today’s Sunday Psalms verse is a natural bridge between last week’s focus on repentance—turning away from sin—and the coming week’s theme of reconciliation—restoring a relationship; making it whole again.

The psalmist says his body “wasted away” before he confessed his sin and “stopped trying to hide [his] guilt.” In response to his confession, God forgave the psalmist’s sin, which the second verse of today’s psalm says cleared his record of guilt. . . . Record cleared. Relationship restored. Reconciliation achieved.

Reconciliation is a profound and necessary biblical theme because it resets and restores our relationship with God, a connection broken by our mistakes, failures, and disregard. The arrangement between God and ancient Israel was simple: If they lived as commanded, they would be blessed. If they refused to live as commanded, . . . they needed to watch out. Comprised of nothing but imperfect human beings, Israel repeatedly earned the “watch out” status; according to Scripture, so do we. Ouch.

To make our relation with God whole again, one of two things needs to happen:
* Either we confess our sins in real time, as we make them, a fix that works until the next failure
* Or God acts to make us whole in a way that’s impervious to our imperfections, a fix that’s forever effective
To our unearned favor, in Christ God reconciles with us forever, makes us right in a way and for an eternity confessions cannot. Amen to that!

When “joy” was a week’s theme back in mid-December, we defined it as a rooted gladness, a satisfaction not created by temporary circumstances, but provided by our eternal God. Today’s psalmist reports his joy in response to his experience of God’s forgiveness, the clearing of his record. You and I may have such joy today. Not because we’re perfect people who meet heaven’s expectations, but because God long ago decided to reconcile with us, to make us whole again in heaven’s eyes. We need only accept the gift.

As you prepare for worship today, remember,
* What was done for us in Christ is still done
* Our records were and remain cleared, our sin has been placed “out of sight”
* Our standing with God was and remains restored
* Joy is and will be waiting

Be blessed.

01/01/2025

As of New Year's Day 2025, "ONEverse" moves to its own Facebook home. The first entry on the new page should be out within the hour.

Here's the URL to the new page:
https://www.facebook.com/oneverse1

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12/31/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥:
A ONEverse collection of reflections on new beginnings—fresh starts in life—in honor of our “New Beginnings Christian Church,” which ends its visible ministry at midnight tonight, continues today with some words from a psalm traditionally ascribed to King David, as his plea for forgiveness in the aftermath of his shocking affair with Bathsheba, which ultimately precipitated his even more shocking scheme that killed her husband in the battlefield so that he could have Bathsheba for himself.

Two notes about today’s verse and the original sin it reflects: 1) David’s confession functions also as a request for a new beginning. He wants to be clean—forgiven—a state he cannot achieve on his own; 2) David’s confession reveals that there are no limits to the expanse of God’s forgiveness, or at least to the nature of the failures for which we may seek God’s forgiveness. David did a horrible thing for the most shameful of reasons, but in faith, confidently cries out to God for a new beginning. Whatever the nature of your failed state can’t be much worse than his, so start crying out.

But there’s a corollary lesson to be learned from David’s new beginning search: The expanse of OUR forgiveness also needs to be large. When Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone (that is, give them a new beginning), Jesus basically said there is no limit: When people confess and repent, he taught, we must forgive.

MORAL OF THE STORY: New beginnings must come FROM us as well as TO us.

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬'𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=NLT

[NOTICE: TOMORROW(!) ONEverse will move to its own page (search Facebook for "oneverse1"), a page that currently exists, but without content other than the ONEverse logo. If you are among the several people who have discovered that page, congrats! Now here's your chance to practice patient waiting!]

12/30/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥:
In honor of our church, for the last year-plus known both as “First Christian Church of East Moline” and “New Beginnings Christian Church,” and which will end its visible ministry tomorrow, this week’s ONEverse focus is “new beginnings,” our journeys of starting over.

Today’s verse comes from the introduction to the flood story starring Noah and the animal kingdom in the early chapters of Genesis. God rebukes creation due to its corruption, a stain that apparently emanates from all living things; together they have “filled the earth with violence,” God says.

The flood found in the Bible’s first book is certainly a disciplinary act, one intended to both punish bad actors and remove them from creation. But the story includes more than divine retribution; it also provides a means to a new beginning. Later in the chapter, God tells Noah to bring on board his ark a pair of every kind of bird and animal, as well as enough food to keep his family and his newly curated zoo alive. The calamity about to hit the earth will mete out punishment, but not final destruction.

New beginnings are usually necessary because our old ways have failed or have led us to unsatisfying, often destructive, outcomes. The good news from the Noah story is that even the most broken down of situations are candidates for new life. But, as God’s instructions to Noah point out, achieving new beginnings will usually require our participation.

If you’re sensing a need to start over in some area(s) of your life, please know you’re not alone; all of us have been there at times, and most of us are probably there right now. And if you need to start over, know that you can. If Noah can come back from a flood, you can find your new beginning.

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬'𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206.9-22&version=NLT

[NOTICE: Beginning Wednesday of this week, ONEverse will move to its own page (search Facebook for "oneverse1"), a page that currently exists, but without content other than the ONEverse logo. If you are among the several people who have discovered that page, congrats! Now here's your chance to practice patient waiting!]

12/29/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥:
The “city” to which today’s verse refers is Jerusalem, what the previous verse in Psalm 46 calls “the city of our God.” But Jesus called his followers the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, so for today’s ONEverse entry—and to honor the occasion of our congregation’s final worship service held this morning—the “city” is also the Body of Christ, the Church. When so read, the message is the Body of Christ—the Church—cannot be destroyed.

The people of our church need to know that. The people of a struggling Quad Cities church that accepted our invitation to welcome some of our church’s physical items into its ministry need to know that. Challenged congregations across the country and around the world need to hear this ONEverse’s proclamation: The City of God cannot be destroyed.

When the Apostle Peter confessed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of the Living God, Jesus declared that the church he built upon that confession would withstand “all the powers of hell.” TRANSLATION: The Body of Christ cannot be destroyed.

We who follow Jesus are part of something far greater, grander, and more glorious than any particular congregation, denomination, or other Christian organization. It is the more glorious creation that cannot be destroyed. Particular components of the Body of Christ, such as our congregation, are products of their eras and circumstances. In this era and our circumstances, many are forced to end their visible ministries, as our church knows all too painfully. But by God’s design, no congregation’s end can damage the city of our God, the Body of Christ.

If your home church is doing well these days, praise God! If your home church is facing numerical hardship in the form of declining attendance and diminishing financial resources, please know you have our church’s love and understanding. Please also know that you and your church will ALWAYS be our neighbors, fellow citizens of one heavenly and indestructible city.

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬'𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046&version=NLT

[NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2025, this devotional will move to its own page (search Facebook for "oneverse1"), a page that currently exists, but without content other than the ONEverse logo. If you are among the several people who have discovered that page, congrats! Now here's your chance to practice patient waiting!]

12/28/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥:
In our run-up to Christmas, we made multiple visits to Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth, and for good reason. After all, Linus read his account in the classic Charlie Brown Christmas special!

Today’s visit to Luke’s narrative offers us two declarations about Jesus, the first of which is this entry’s focus: Jesus is “a light to reveal God to the nations.” Pause for a moment of reflection on that distinction. Jesus reveals God. He’s not to be a Nobel laureate. He’s not to become a corporate tycoon or a media mogul. He’ll leave no financial riches to heirs or nonprofit charities. Jesus will reveal God to the nations, which is a life’s purpose more profound, more holy, more consequential, more necessary than all the other options combined.

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, the wisemen offer gifts to the infant Jesus because they think he’s the “king of the Jews,” surely a high order appointment, but not of the magnitude of one who reveals God. No one in history, regardless of their accomplishments or pedigree, has earned adoration and praise as does Jesus.

The first incident from Jesus’ adult life reported by the Gospels is his baptism. As he rises out of the water, a voice from heaven says, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Later in his ministry, Jesus treks up a mountain with Peter, James, and John, where God’s voice from a cloud repeats the “dearly loved Son” identifier, and then directs the disciples to “listen to him.” Why? Because he reveals God.

We live in an age of rampant distrust of government and other institutions. In fact, our culture seems determined to doubt the existence—or at least the definition—of truth itself. To such a cauldron of chaos, Jesus comes to reveal God. In far more personal terms, to YOUR cauldron of chaos Jesus comes to reveal God. Prepare to listen to him . . . and be blessed.

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬'𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202.25-35&version=NLT

[NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2025, this devotional will move to its own page (search Facebook for "oneverse1"), a page that currently exists, but without content other than the ONEverse logo. If you are among the several people who have discovered that page, congrats! Now here's your chance to practice patient waiting!]

12/26/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥:
Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

Today’s verse offers a bit of a feint away from the full content of the story in which it arises, the encounter Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Jesus have with Simeon in the temple when the new family goes there for Jesus’ circumcision.

Just prior to this report of the parents’ amazement, Simeon describes Jesus as God’s salvation, “a light to reveal God to the nations,” and “the glory of your people Israel!” High praise. No wonder they’re amazed. But in the succeeding verses, the mood shifts dramatically. Simeon says Jesus is “destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise.” Though he has been sent as a sign from God, Simeon says, many will oppose him. And finally, because of this newborn salvation, the “deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed,” and a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. Yikes.

Christmas is filled with bright colors, decorative displays, and genuine pleas for peace on earth. This can be a hopeful season, but the Bible doesn’t allow us to rest on the manger’s laurels. It quickly pivots away from angels, shepherds, and wisemen in order to challenge us to pursue the Kingdom of God.

We’ll explore some of the early teachings of Jesus next week, but for now, respect the story out of which today’s story arises. Simeon’s testimony celebrates Jesus as God’s gift, but then spares no candor when pointing to the consequences of that gift. Jesus is SO much more than an angelic baby cooing in Bethlehem’s midnight straw. He’s God’s most senior representative and spokesperson who will announce God’s intentions for the world and invite/challenge/command us to offer ourselves fully to their completion. More ominously, Jesus will not take “no” for our answers!

The point of today’s entry is not to disrupt your seasonal cheer, but to infuse it with a bit of biblical realism. Simeon’s word to Mary and Joseph accurately depicts the complicated mix Jesus will grow to embody: He will be a generous, compassionate, caring, healing presence, who, once we accept his empowering grace, will expect us to live as advocates for the Kingdom into which we have been granted membership.

In the language of Christmas gifts, think of this as analogous to parents gifting their kids with a new puppy, and allowing one and all to frolic and play their Christmas Day away, BUT THEN sitting their kids down for the critical advisory that the puppy comes with responsibilities: You will help us feed, water, and walk the dog. Owning a dog, you must learn, requires more than just playtime.

Simeon correctly notes that following Jesus will be more than Christmas Eve awe and wonder. A LOT more. But don’t fret! It’ll time and energy well spent.

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬'𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%203.25-35&version=NLT

[NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2025, this devotional will move to its own page (search Facebook for "oneverse1"), a page that currently exists, but without content other than the ONEverse logo. If you are among the several people who have discovered that page, congrats! Now here's your chance to practice patient waiting!]

12/25/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥:
On this blessed day of praise, adoration, and gratitude, we allow the angels to speak for themselves.

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬'𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202.1-20&version=NLT

[NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2025, this devotional will move to its own page (search Facebook for "oneverse1"), a page that currently exists, but without content other than the ONEverse logo. If you are among the several people who have discovered that page, congrats! Now here's your chance to practice patient waiting!]