Great New Beginnings

Introduction. Read: Acts 3:19-21. This past week many of you began a new school year. It is interesting how new experiences can bring to us a sense of renewal and change. Whether it is a new year, a new job, or a new challenge every new thing we face brings with it a new beginning. In this text Peter speaks of a new spiritual beginning that comes when one turns to Christ. This morning let’s consider some seven examples of spiritual beginnings others in Scripture faced and allow them to lead us to consider what new spiritual beginnings might be on the horizon in our lives?

I. Abraham – Leaving a wicked and evil environment.

A.        Abraham was called to leave his homeland (Gen. 12:1-4).

B.        This was a place where his family (and perhaps even he) lived in idolatry (Josh. 24:2-3).

C.        Yet, he left all this behind him in obedience to God (Acts 7:2-5).

D.       He did this in faith, looking for a better homeland in heaven (Heb. 11:8-10).

II. Josiah – Leaving error and falsehood.

A.        Josiah was born into a time with Judah was very wicked. His family, and his nation had turned to grave wickedness . Yet when he learned the truth he courageously turned from error and led his people to do the same (2 Kings 22:8-20).

III. Esther – A new opportunity out of hardship to influence others for good.

A.        Esther lived during the second phase of exile following the Babylonian captivity. Persia now ruled, and had allowed many of the Jews to return to the land of Israel.

B.        Nonetheless, Esther as an exile is given the opportunity to become queen (Esther 2:1-4, 5-10, 15-17)

C.        Little could she have known that this opportunity would also be the means by which she would be put in a position to save the lives of her countrymen when wicked men concocted a scheme to annihilate them (Esther 4:13-14).

1.      Blessings often bring challenges with them.

2.      Challenges often bring great opportunities to influence others for good.

IV. Prodigal Son – Leaving sin and starting over.

A.        Jesus tells this parable about a son you took his inheritance and wasted it in wild or “prodigal” (which refers to wasteful, reckless, or lavish behavior).

B.        This serves to illustrate the opportunity to start over spiritually that is available in repentance toward God in Christ  (Luke 15:17-24, 32)

V. Peter & John – Leaving the familiar. 

A.        Peter and John were fishermen. They knew this work well. What would it mean to follow Jesus? What would it demand? There are some things in life that present us with uncertain challenges, but they are important enough that in spite of the anxiety brought on by the unfamiliar, we must pursue them (Matt. 4:18-22)

VI. Ethiopian Eunuch – Gaining a new Master. 

A.        This man knew what it meant to serve royalty. In obedience to the gospel of Christ he would gain a new master and a new sense of allegiance (Acts 8:26-39)

VII. Saul of Tarsus – Leaving his own sense of confidence.

A.        Saul was a man who actually persecuted Christians, but everything changed when the Lord spoke to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18).

B.        He was baptized into Christ and his sins were washed away (Acts 22:16)

C.        Everything upon which his confidence was once built changed, and he gained a new purpose in life (Phil. 3:7-11)