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Introduction: Everyday brings a new beginning to the remainder of our lives. A person that has reached the 70^th birthday has had 25,568 new beginnings. God gives them to us—but how we used them is what counts.

A. His birth was a new beginning—Virgin birth.

B. His ministry and the effect on those around Him.

1. Apostles had been fishermen, etc., and Jesus changed them into great servants for Himself.

2. He gave them the commission to carry His message to all the world (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).

3. When they stumbled during His time on earth, such as fleeing when the soldiers came to crucify Him, He forgave them readily and did not hold it against them, talk about them to others, turn away from them, not speak to them, etc., as we do to each other today. Instead he offered them a new beginning as leaders in His church.

4. He gave them the forgiveness they needed although the Bible has no record of them asking Him to forgive them. He did not turn His back on them, instead He turned them into useful servants. He did not run them off, He lifted them up.

 

A. The Samaritan woman—John 4.

B. The adulterous woman—John 8 (Ken Medema tape).

C. The blind man—John 9.

D. The 10 lepers—Luke 17:11-19.

E. His life was spent making life better for others (John 10:10) and left us an example that we should follow His example (I Peter 2:21-24).

A. How have we used this year?

1. Have we helped in the work of the Lord?

2. Have we been a hindrance?

B. Have we used our tongues as an instrument of praise and prayer to God and to our Lord or as a two-edged sword on fellow-Christians? Or have we done both?

C. Have we given as we were prospered? (I Cor. 16:1,2).

D. Have we used our life as a vessel of service?

E. Have we obeyed Gal. 6:9-10?

F. Are we facing the end of this year with a bag of hard feelings or ill will toward someone? If so, it is time to lighten our load by forgiving and forgetting as the Lord has done for us.

G. It is time for a new beginning. It is a time to move on to greater works for the Lord.

H. Have we spent more time talking about and feuding over things for which we felt we or someone else was done wrong than we have in teaching the gospel of Christ to an alien sinner?

I. Have we heard one side of a story and repeated it? Perception is so important. Example of the three blind men and an elephant.

J. We have spent so much time lately on what we want or what we think someone else should do that we seem to have lost sight of our major purpose for being in the church. We are Christians, not to be petted and coddled, but to strap on the armor of God and fight the good fight of faith. We need to stop thinking so much about ourselves and seek and teach the lost and to edify the saved.

A. Surely, we do not wish to continue as we are now! Let us ALL resolve to work hard for the Lord and do His will.

B. Let 2003 be a year of forgiving, healing, growing in love and good works in order to build up the church here and in our mission works.

C. The new beginning compels us to obey the new commandment that Jesus gave for His disciples in John 13:34,35.

D. If you are not a Christian—new beginning (John 3:1-7), a new creature or creation (II Cor. 5:17).

E. If you are a Christian and need a new beginning (James 5:16).

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