Have you ever had an idea of how something was supposed to turn out? Perhaps you had big dreams and expectations for the way your future was supposed to go . . . but then life happened and your plan went off the rails. And then, all of a sudden, that great hope that was once so alive is now on life support. But what if you could begin again? A fresh start, a new life . . . a fresh canvas upon which God can make something new and beautiful, filled with endless possibilities. This past weekend, we celebrated Easter as Pastor Doug shared how the resurrection of Jesus can change our lives and give us hope for a new future. Watch the video below to see a few highlights from the teaching and share it with your friends via social media. To watch the message in its entirety,
click here.
For the Note Takers
Let’s recap some of the key talking points from Pastor Doug’s teaching this weekend:
When life happens and things fall apart, we have three choices:
- Give up
- Live an unfulfilling, less than average life
- Look for a way to begin again
Don’t Mistake the Chapter You’re in for the Whole Story: Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross . . . seemed like the end of the story. For the disciples, it was the death of a teacher, prophet, friend, mentor, and the hope of a better tomorrow. It was the crushing of three years of expectation and hope. But, as we now know, it was not the end of the story. It was only the beginning.
For us today, no matter where we’ve been, no matter what’s happened, no matter how dark and hopeless things may seem, we can be confident that this is not the end of the story. We can be confident that “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven–and the future starts now” (1 Peter 1:3-4 MSG)! Because of the resurrection, we have a hope that can never be extinguished or crushed, we have a beautiful future that can never be taken from us, and we have the unconditional love of God from which we cannot be separated.
If You Went Back and Erased All the Mistakes You’ve Made, You’d Erase Yourself: You can’t go back and erase the past. You can’t change what has happened to you, what you’ve done, or what led you to where you are today. But that doesn’t mean God can’t redeem it and work it out for good in your life and the lives of others. God didn’t erase the pain and memory of Good Friday; He redeemed it and turned suffering into glory. Today, we know we can’t go back, but we can turn the page and step into a new chapter, we can allow God to redeem our past and make beauty from the ashes. The question is: Do you want to begin again?
Dreams Aren’t Just Born . . . Sometimes They’re Born Again: Do you want to be made whole? Do you want to experience the fullness God intends for you? Stop repeating the past . . . start walking in the future God has for you.
You are one step, one decision, one risk away from a totally different life!
- One payment at a time, you will get out of debt.
- One class at a time, you will finish that college degree.
- One workout at a time, you will feel healthy again.
- One conversation at a time, you will fall back in love.
- One day of serving others at a time, you will discover your God-given calling.
Quote to Remember: There is a dream implanted in your spirit by the Spirit of God. If you’re willing to surrender and take steps of faith, you will see the ripple effect in your life.—Pastor Doug Sauder
Begin Again: Spring Classes
Begins Sunday, April 8 | Times and Locations Vary by Campus
What if you could begin again in an area of your life that hasn’t exactly gone as you planned? Starting this Sunday, take a class that will empower you in one of the following key areas—spiritual growth, family and marriage, finances, or evangelism.
Click here for more info.
A Look Ahead
Join us on Wednesday for an incredible night of powerful worship and heartfelt prayer as we reflect on God’s goodness and worship Him together. As a church family, we will pursue God’s heart and lift up His name!
This weekend, we’ll be concluding our study of the Sermon on the Mount as Pastor Doug shares a message from Matthew 7:1–29. Learn how to build a rooted, blossoming, lasting life of faith.
