New, Week 1: New or Improved

((Revelation 21:4-5) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” “If you want God to do something new, you can’t keep doing the same old thing.”-Mark Batterson Title of message:  New or Improved? (2 Corinthians 5:17) (TLB) When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! We change our lives: 1. By changing from the OUTSIDE IN or by changing from the INSIDE OUT. 2. By DOING SOMETHING different or by BEING SOMEONE different. (Hebrews 10:16) (NLT) “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: (Hebrews 10:16) (NLT) I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Hebrews 10:17) (NLT) Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” (Hebrews 10:19-20) (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. (Hebrews 10:21-22) (NLT) And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:23) (NLT) Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (Hebrews 10:24) (NLT) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:25) (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Let us go right into the presence of God Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm Let us think of ways to motivate one another Let us not neglect our meeting together In order to become NEW we must ask ourselves: 1.    Am I worshipping intimately? (John 4:23) (NIV) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (James 4:8) (NIV) Come near to God and he will come near to you. 2.    Am I feeding daily? (Joshua 1:8) (NLT) Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Psalm 119:105) (NLT) Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 3.    Am I serving faithfully? (1 Peter 4:10) (NIV) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 4.    Am I connecting regularly? (James 5:16) (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (2 Corinthians 5:17) (TLB) When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!