A New Direction

Isaiah 43 18“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

God Loves New Things. Wineskin. Jerusalem. Creation. Covenant

We’re here today. To start something new. --- God wants to do something new.

A lot of work, prayer, sweat and faith went in today

But we’re excited about the New Thing

Some here today for support, curiosity, or in search of a new church.

Maybe you’ve been hurt by a church, Christian, spouse or a friend or a stranger

We’re happy you’re here. Maybe you’ll experience a new thing.

We are for the churches in this town.

We want to help work and build on what churches are already working & building

In the wilderness? There’s a Road In the Desert? There’s a river.

1. New Direction- Ezekiel 46:9 (NKJV) "But when the people of the land come before the Lord on the appointed feast days, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by way of the gate through which he came, but shall go out through the opposite gate.

God has a direction for us…and it’s forward.

Notice here…if you go in the North gate…Go out the south.

No reason to go back…MOVE FORWARD.

We should move forward & meet people where they are, not where we want them

We want to be a church that realizes there’s a different way to Bridge the Gap

But Shane “People need Jesus”!!! Of course they do… but that’s not all

They need us…Support, acceptance, comfort, empathy, hope,

Are you here today, and you need someone? Wanna be the someone- we’ll let ya

IF you’re here today hoping for a new church home, you BETTER love people

Or you’ll be sick of us in about a week.

Jesus is the answer, for heaven- PLAN OF SALVATION

…but his people are glue for this life

Let’s move forward. Children of Israel. Lot’s wife. 2

2/3’s of God’s name is GO!!!

2. New Vision- Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV) 18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

To move forward, and get over things- we need a new vision

A new vision of what?

A. Of God

You can’t serve a God, and you think he doesn’t like you

That he’s on our side. He’s for us. Rom 8:31 “If God is For us..”

Jesus said in John 14: “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father”

Whatever Jesus looked like on Earth, Is what God Looks Like

B. Of ourselves

How do we know what something is worth? PRICE!

Cars, TV, Clothes, Mortgage… Have a worth…by the Price

So what is your pricetag. What value did God place on you?

John 3:16…..

Quit thinking you’re worth nothing…You cost God everything!!!

C. Of Others

When we have the right view of God, and we know what we’re worth,

WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE PATH AND VALUE OF OTHERS

3. New Life John 10:10 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

The Bible is about life. Jesus is about life. Churches and Christians about death.

Heaven. Heaven isn’t a goal..It’s a destination. Hold you under baptism

So we can rest assured…If our life looks like death…It’s not God

When life…New Life…Hopeful Life…Good Life…Begins to happen- THAT’S GOD

The Bridge will exist, for the same Reason Jesus existed … To GIVE LIFE

Everlasting Life? Yes…We will teach the saving power of Christ

But also, help with everyday life.

The Bridge begins to day…Moving forward…Getting Over…

New Direction. New Vision. New Life.