FOM Notes

A New Name

Part 1 of 4 in the series “Brand New”

January 6, 2008 Pastor Scott Oldenburgh

SOME THINGS ARE BETTER WHEN THEY ARE (BRAND NEW)

THERE ARE A FEW TIMES IN LIFE WHEN YOU GET TO CLAIM A NEW NAME OR NEW IDENTITY

ü (Marriage)/Maiden Name

ü (Graduation)

ü (Move) to a new town

THE WORLD’S REALITY

Once you’ve earned your name, it’s (difficult) to change people’s impression

A NAME REVEALS SOME CRITICAL INFORMATION

H(istory)
Q(uality)

R(eputation)

C(haracter)

T(rustworthiness)

GOD’S REALITY

As Creator, God has the power to (re-create) or give a new name

RECREATE MEANS TO TAKE WHAT (WAS)

AND CHANGE IT TO WHAT (IS)

AND WHAT (WILL BE)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

THE STORY OF PETER AND HIS NEW NAME

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’ ”

Matthew 16:17-18

MY REALITY

Through Christ I have a (second chance)

A MATURING REALITY

God will not (magically) fix or erase the name I earned

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and you have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Colossians 3:9-10

MY REALITY

I have a (role) in creating this new identity

A MISSION REALITY

As believers we have the (responsibility) of defining the name of Christ in our community

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.”

Acts 11:19-30

MY REALITY

We are saved by (grace), but identified by our (actions)