God’s Day Of New Beginnings Today, God has new beginnings to give us The old is ending and something new is beginning in our lives and in our church and in our community And here is God’s word for us God’s Day Of New Beginnings 14 Days OF Prayer Commissioning

GOD’S WORD FOR ALL OF US HERE [write it down in your box] Here is another way to say it How you begin determines your blessings

GOD’S WORD FOR ALL OF US HERE We are in 14 days of prayer For many of us here God is ending an old season – to begin a new God is ending old patterns to begin new ones And this principle is important (principle of the first determines your future) (flight to California – began poorly- missed flight – lost the blessing) (nothing wrong with the plan, the flight) My beginning – set me up for frustration – set me up for sin Nothing wrong with the speed limit, with baggage policy, with re-booking How you begin your dating relationship? How you begin your financial life out of college? How you begin retirement – priorities and patterns How you begin school year – determines your friends? How you begin to decide about a job or change?   Beginnings are blueprints I can tell you how your day will go by how you begin it How your relationship with go Today How you begin determines your blessings Beginnings are blueprints

GOD’S WORD FOR ALL OF US HERE First Fresh By faith for each person Here is the story of the church of Antioch It’s first season And then a fresh season Story of what we are doing here today (Read in handout –story of its first season) Notice how a church begins –notice its blueprint it should onto A day of new beginnings for two churches & every hungry heart

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning V19 – They knew pain / Faith despite pain & problems -those who were scattered (because of persecution) Group of people who experienced tragedy, injustice and pain not perfect people but a perfect Father in heaven   (cornerstone 37 -a healing center) (Motivation – starts with faith) – blueprint Church’s go through tought time –crazy family WE HAVE FAITH (v19) Faith despite pain

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning Look at the type of people – Jews / Foriegners / so different People so different – loving one another This is what our world needs Starts with us Age, culture, ethnic, education, politics, economic Pray – thy kingdom come, thy will be done That’s heaven People who celebrate, not hate, their differences The learn instead of condemn Cornerstone – great days ahead Motivation –this is our DNA (v19) Faith despite pain (v21) Love in Diversity

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad – Visible grace that someone from the outside could see That’s what it takes for different people to come together   (Barnabas came and saw it, felt it, experienced it) Cornerstone ministers (volunteers) Look like heaven, feel like heaven, work like heaven We need grace to grow Condemnation of people isn’t holiness Condmenation of sin is Grace is what we do – miracle can happen every Sunday (v19) Faith despite pain (v26) Teaching Priority (v21) Love in Diversity (v22) Visible Grace

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning 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. Churches stray from this Their cause Their generation Their politics Their passion in the kingdom Only Jesus Don’t get past Jesus -spiritual warfare very different close to Jesus Protests and politics – very different when faithful to the Lord not fearful or reactive of man (v19) Faith despite pain (v23) Jesus-Centered Purpose (v26) Teaching Priority (v21) Love in Diversity (v23) Leadership with integrity & faith (v22) Visible Grace

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. – leaders were filled with integrity, the Holy Spirit (not personality or talent), and faith (that there are greater days ahead) You don’t want leaders who only point out what is wrong You want leaders filled with faith in the good God is going to do That there are greater days ahead That we should take risks to bring more glory to God Comfort is not the goal   Leader represents your vision – unity -how different people get one thing done Blessed to hve Dr. Rhoden, Gary Williamson, Wayne Mancari, now me Now Travis Leader integrity to not do everything you want – larger vision (v19) Faith despite pain (v23) Jesus-Centered Purpose (v26) Teaching Priority (v21) Love in Diversity (v24) Leadership with integrity & faith (v22) Visible Grace

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 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. Not just inspiration – teaching Discipleship not just salvations Sunday – greater move –me too Greater move isn’t just worship – teaching Don’t lose the next generation We all do that –small groups (v19) Faith despite pain (v23) Jesus-Centered Purpose (v26) Teaching Priority (v21) Love in Diversity (v23) Leadership with integrity & faith (v22) Visible Grace

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. They were in the community Motivation / Cornerstone – a sign and wonder in our community (v19) Faith despite pain (v26) Publicly Known (v23) Jesus-Centered Purpose (v26) Teaching Priority (v21) Love in Diversity (v23) Leadership with integrity & faith (v22) Visible Grace

Acts 11 / Antioch’s Beginning The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. This is the blueprint of cornerstone and motivation We begin that way – by god’s grace we stay that way See how all these stayed as the blueprint and basis of a fresh season of faith for them – ACTS 13 (v19) Faith despite pain (v26) Publicly Known (v23) Jesus-Centered Purpose (v26) Teaching Priority (v21) Love in Diversity (v23) Leadership with integrity & faith (v22) Visible Grace (v29) Generous

They let God change them through new relationships Acts 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.” Fresh seasons of faith New beginnings Happen when we say yes to new relationships The blueprint of love in diversity has grown Barnabas is a jew Simeon & Lucius are African Manaen is roman Saul is jewish They chose to love one another – reach out and learn from each other TRAVIS – Motivation – reaching out to families Cornerstone – reaching out through new small groups

They let God call them to new prayer Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed . . .” That place of prayer and faith –never stopped TRAVIS – Intercession teams (SLIDES FROM STEVEN>) Sunday intercession –sign up on connection card

They let God send them to new territory Acts 13:3 “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Someone planted them –new territory –those first from Jerusalem Now they there was new territory –beyond Antioch V2-3 – they started new church families where there was none   They had learned to love one another so much they longed for the world to have what they had They had a family – and saw someone else who didn’t have one TRAVIS Cornerstone – Latino community (first service) Small groups outside of Wednesday and Sundays Motivation – Falling creek Do this now – worship and call Motivation & BW forward

New beginnings come when we say yes to new people, prayers and places for Jesus’ sake My prayer – give them these new people, prayer and places For Cornerstone - New groups, new discipleship, new businesses, new people groups