RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Mind, part 2 2-1-26

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Mind, part 2 2-1-26

INTRODUCTION

Renewal 2026!

We have hope of renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We have that promise! God is the source of our renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We are renewed. We have a new self.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Remember from the first sermon in this series:

“The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.”

George Whitefield

God has changed us to that we can live a new life free of the old attachments. As God changes us, we are even given a renewed mind.  The old has gone; the new has come.

I. THE RENEWED MIND

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Old desires

B. New attitudes

Henry David Thoreau, in his classic book, Walden, told of a powerful custom of the Mucclasse Indians. Once each year, they had a village clean up called a "busk." First they would make new clothes for themselves as well as furniture and cooking utensils. They would keep all of these new things in a building outside of the village. When everything was ready, they would begin their annual spring cleaning.

Every corner of every house was scrubbed. Every stick of furniture was thrown out. Every child's toy went to the garbage heap. The dirt paths were swept, and the weeds were plucked up. Even the food left over from winter was thrown out. All of the refuse in the village was gathered together into a pile in the center of the village. Then the chief set it on fire. As they watched it burn, they took off their clothes and tossed them into the fire as well. They tended the fire carefully and made sure that every last piece of garbage was burned.

On the fourth morning, they washed and bathed, and dressed in their new clothes. They then gathered again at the heart of the village. The chief started a new fire and from the flames each family took burning sticks home to start their own fires. The old was gone, life was beginning again!

Perry Greene, Sermon Central, April 1, 2013.

C. New self

1. Like God in true righteousness

2. Like God in true holiness

II. THE TRANSFORMED MIND

Dr. Jim Berg uses the illustration of a tea bag to help us understand that it is not financial, social, medical, or circumstantial pressures that causes man to sin. When a tea bag is put into hot water, the water activates the tea in the bag, unleashing its taste into the water around it. The hot water doesn't create the taste, it merely reveals, or draws out, what is in the tea bag. The circumstances around you only reveal what is still in your heart. If you don't like the flavor of the tea, then you must change the ingredient within the bag, or rather your heart.

Your either making bitter tea or tea that is pleasing to God. In view of the price paid for your sins at Calvary, I urge you to look to Christ. Only He can bring about Biblical change.

Terry Laughlin, Sermon Central, August 11, 2008.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Worship-focused

B. Nonconformity

C. The transformed mind

D. Capable of knowing God’s will

III. THE RENEWED WAY OF THINKING

A. New thinking begins with you

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. The renewed way

Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are:

· The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.

· Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.

· Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it.

· Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.

· Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.

· Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues—love, humor, compassion and loyalty

· Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.

· Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.

http://www.bible.org.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1. Everything begins with praise.

2. Everything is followed by prayer.

3. Peace comes from a new way of thinking

a. Positive thoughts (inner life/outer action)

i. True and noble

ii. Right and pure

iii. Lovely and admirable

iv. Excellent and praiseworthy

b. Positive actions (lesson and response)

i. That which is taught and received

ii. Heard from me and seen in me

4. Right thoughts lead to right actions!

5. “And the God of peace will be with you.”

"The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart this you will build your life by, this you will become."

James Allen

CONCLUSION

"Garner up pleasant thoughts in your mind, for pleasant thoughts make pleasant lives."

John Wilkins, 17th century clergyman

We have been given a new mind. We have been given a transformed mind. We have been given a new way of thinking.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

S.U.M. It Up! 1-28-26

1-25-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Mind 1-25-26

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Mind 1-25-26

INTRODUCTION

Renewal 2026!

We have hope of renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We have that promise! God is the source of our renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We are renewed. We have a new self.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

David Roher said,

“The motor home has allowed us to put all the conveniences of home on wheels. A camper no longer needs to contend with sleeping in a sleeping bag, cooking over a fire, or hauling water from a stream. Now he can park a fully equipped home on a cement slab in the midst of a few pine trees and hook up to a water line, a sewer line and electricity. One motor home I saw recently had a satellite dish attached on top. No more bother with dirt, no more smoke from the fire, no more drudgery of walking to the stream. Now it is possible to go camping and never have to go outside. We buy a motor home with the hope of seeing new places, of getting out into the world. Yet we deck it out with the same furnishings as in our living room. Thus nothing really changes. We may drive to a new place, set ourselves in new surrounding, but the newness goes unnoticed, for we’ve only carried along our old setting.”

David Roher

Paul Fritz, Sermon Central, July 18, 2002.

God has changed us to that we can live a new life free of the old attachments. As God changes us, we are even given a renewed mind.  The old has gone; the new has come.

I. THE RENEWED MIND

Joseph Smith wrote this in “Standing Close to the Lightning Strike.”

God’s Grace Is Like Lightning and Transforms Whoever it Strikes.

Martin Luther found that out. Walking through the forest one day, praying and working through spiritual torment, literally, the lightning did strike close by. And he felt that as the summons of God. Luther came closer, and when God sent the lightning strike, it was grace. It was what he needed to turn his life around.

John Wesley found it out. Serving as a missionary in the Georgia penal colony, he was a miserable failure. He sailed home in distress, not sure what he would do with the rest of his life. But in a little chapel in Aldersgate Street in London, listening to someone comment on the Scripture, Wesley says that he "felt his heart strangely warmed, and did know that Christ was his savior." Wesley came closer, and when the lightning struck and God got his attention, he found that it was grace, all grace, and hope.

Jim Vaus found it out. As a professional criminal, working for the Cohen gang in New York City, Vaus chose to steal, swindle, maim, or even kill to get what he wanted. But there was a nagging feeling inside that it meant nothing. The things that do not satisfy. The FBI arrested Jim Vaus and he was sent to prison. But in prison he heard the gospel, and knew that it was for him. The last I knew, Jim Vaus, ex-criminal, ex-con, was running a youth ministry in a place aptly called Hell’s Kitchen. The lightning struck, and it was grace.

Joseph Smith, “Standing Close to the Lightning Strike,” 11/19/2009.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Old desires

B. New attitudes

C. New self

1. Like God in true righteousness

2. Like God in true holiness

II. THE TRANSFORMED MIND

Most people do not understand how change happens.

A family from a remote area was making their first visit to a big city.

They checked in to a grand hotel and stood in amazement at the impressive sight.

Leaving the reception desk they came to the elevator entrance.

They’d never seen an elevator before, and just stared at it, unable to figure out what it was for.

An old lady hobbled towards the elevator and went inside.

The door closed.

About a minute later, the door opened and out came a stunningly good-looking young woman.

Dad couldn’t stop staring.

Without turning his head he patted his son’s arm and said, "Go get your mother, son."

Owen Bourgaize, “Transformed by an Elevator,” Citation, Castel, Guernsey, United Kingdom.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ajai Prakash tells the story about watermelon growers in Japan.

Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown watermelons for shipment -- only these are no ordinary melons: they're square! They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a square watermelon? They’re much easier to store in a refrigerator! It’s amusing to think of how a naturally round watermelon can become square because of the shape of the container in which it’s grown.

This reminds me of the forces in the world that exert their influence on us and attempt to shape us. That’s why in Romans 12: 2 we are told not to be "conformed to this world," but to be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." The idea is rather simple: We are to allow the transforming Word of God to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us.

Ajai Prakash, Recall Notice, 8/14/2012.

A. Worship-focused

B. Nonconformity

C. The transformed mind

D. Capable of knowing God’s will

III. THE RENEWED WAY OF THINKING

Bob George wrote in Growing in Grace,

When you first met “J.E.”, you could tell he was a very angry man. In fact, at age 54 he’d been an angry person for many years. In a Bible study that night, many questions had been raised in his mind. Talking with the leader afterward, J.E. said, “I asked Jesus to be my Savior when I was 9 years old. But nobody ever taught me about who I am in Christ, that I’m accepted by God or that Christ lives in me.”

“What were you taught?” the Bible study leader asked.” “Where I grew up, we heard all the time about how perfect Christ was and about how we should learn to live like Him – if we didn’t, God would judge us.” J.E. went on, “It didn’t take me long, I’d say in my teen years, to figure out that I was never going to cut it. So I gave up trying. I guess I’ve been living in guilt and running from God ever since. Off and on through the years I tried to go back to church, but I just got more guilt piled on top of me. I’ve sat under so many teachers who made me fearful that I was afraid to turn in any direction because God was going to get me. This is the first Bible study I’ve ever attended that gave me any hope” J.E. concluded.

At that point, J.E. was 54 years old. That means, even though he had been born again through trusting Jesus Christ at a young age, he had spent at least 35 years running away from God. Tragically, his experience isn’t that unusual. Thousands of people who sincerely responded to the gospel message they were taught spend years thrashing around trying to make it work, but without success. In fact, I believe the reason so many Christians struggle in living the Christian life is their lack of understanding of their new life in Christ.

Bob George, Growing in Grace, pages 59-60.

A. New thinking begins with you

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. The renewed way

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1. Everything begins with praise.

2. Everything is followed by prayer.

3. Peace comes from a new way of thinking

4. Right thoughts lead to right actions!

CONCLUSION

Roger Bannister was an Olympian. Every four years we have the games. Four minutes was the fastest record to ever run the mile. Ever since statisticians kept records, they knew that no one would could ever beat that record. But Roger Bannister didn't listen to them--he went out and broke it and made sports history. Hundreds of years of record keeping--poof! But here is the most interesting part. After Roger broke the record, within ten years 336 runners broke that record also. What happened?

Simple. The barrier was in the athlete's minds. They had believed what the experts said. They were convinced no on could break the record.

The point: You will never go beyond the barriers in your own mind. If you think you can't, you won't and never will try. If you are defeated in your mind, you've already lost the battle.

Michael West, "Breaking the Curse," no date.

We have been given a new mind. We have been given a transformed mind. We have been given a new way of thinking.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

S.U.M. It Up! 1-21-26

1-18-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Self 1-18-26

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Self 1-18-26

INTRODUCTION

Renewal 2026!

We have hope of renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We have that promise! God is the source of our renewed strength, spirit, and joy.

What have you done with your renewed self?

THE CANE RIDGE REVIVAL

One of the great revivals of the American past took place in the late spring and early summer of 1801 at Cane Ridge in central Kentucky. A pastor named Barton Stone, who had been called to serve this little Methodist church by Daniel Boone, decided to call a four-day meeting for personal renewal and revival.

The members of the Cane Ridge church and most of the people around them were farmers and since the crops had been planted and they were waiting on the harvest at the end of the summer willingly laid down their plows for this meeting. At that May meeting there were many in that local church that begin to experience what was called "the fullness of the Spirit" or as later Methodist and holiness preachers would call it "perfect love." We can read accounts of what took place and understand it as they were receiving the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking with tongues.

Since the May meeting had gone so well, Barton Stone and his small church decided that they would host another meeting in August that would be just before the harvesting of their crops. The only difference this time was that this little church had now spent about 2 ½ months in revival and the word begin to leak out about what was taking place. As the word spread in the surrounding communities, people came from everywhere. So many came that the United States Army had to come in to help with managing the crowds. The U.S. Army did their own count and said there were 20,000 who came to this Cane Ridge revival meeting.

The little church could seat at its maximum capacity only about 250 people and so the overflow spilled out into several pastures and pulpits were put up so that people could hear the Word and then respond in the old-fashioned altars.

James Finley, who was converted and would later become a circuit-riding Methodist preacher, described the scene in his personal journal:

“The noise was like the roar of Niagara. The vast sea of human beings seemed to be agitated as if by a storm. I counted seven ministers, all preaching at one time, some on stumps, some on wagons, and one was standing on a tree which had, in falling, lodged against another. . . Some of the people were singing, others praying, some crying for mercy in the most piteous accents, while others were shouting most vociferously. While witnessing these scenes, a peculiarly-strange sensation, such as I had never felt before, came over me. My heart beat tumultuously, my knees trembled, my lips quivered, and I felt as though I must fall to the ground. A strange supernatural power seemed to pervade the entire mass of mind collected there. . . I stepped up on to the log, where I could have a better view of the surging sea of humanity. At one time I saw at least five hundred swept down in a moment, as if a battery of a thousand guns had been opened upon them, and then immediately followed shrieks and shouts that rent the very heavens.” (From James Boles, The Great Revival, 1787-1805.)

It was not too long after this that the entire American frontier blazed with revival. Peter Cartwright, another Methodist circuit-rider, came to the fore-front of the revival scene and God was pouring out His Spirit on those 'shoutin' Methodist and holiness preachers and people. It was during this time that the camp meetings began their ascent in the history of the American churches.

Philip Harrelson, from the sermon, “The Battlefield of Prayer”, 8/6/2010.

God is ready to change you. Are you ready to change?

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I. THE RENEWED CREATION

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. “In Christ”

B. The new creation has come.

C. The old has gone.

You are not a Christian until you receive a new nature and if you receive a new nature there will be evidence.

You can educate a pig to stay out of the mud and eat differently but on a hot day with fellow pigs he will resort to his normal nature and dive happily into the mud. If you could give him a new nature, say, the nature of a cat, when the test of a hot day and welcome mud came, he would not be happy in the mudhole even if his friends persuade him to join them again, he has a new nature, new desires. He does not think he is better than them, he just does not enjoy those things anymore.

Anonymous, Sermon Central, September 2, 2005.

II. THE RENEWED INNER SELF

A woman puts a spoonful of dirt into a cup of water, muddying it. She initially tries to remove the dirt with a spoon but realizes it's ineffective. Instead, she starts pouring fresh, clean water into the cup continuously. As the cup overflows, the dirty water is gradually replaced by clean water, until finally, the water in the cup becomes pure again. This demonstrates how positive, spiritual practices can cleanse and renew our lives.

Just like the continuous pouring of clean water cleanses the cup, continuously immersing ourselves in positive, Godly thoughts and actions can cleanse our lives of negativity and sin. The process of renewal doesn't always mean directly removing each impurity; instead, it involves filling our lives with so much of God's goodness that there's no room left for the negative. This approach transforms and purifies us from the inside out.

Jung Lee, Sermon Central, January 16, 2024.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Put off old self

B. Live with a new attitude

C. Put on the new self

We must put on the new self and live a new life.

An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea, so his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it. The next time he went out in his boat, he followed their advice and took the compass with him. But as usual he became hopelessly confused and was unable to find land.

Finally he was rescued by his friends. Disgusted and impatient with him, they asked, "Why didn’t you use that compass we gave you? You could have saved us a lot of trouble!" The sailor responded, "I didn’t dare to! I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast."

Bobby Scobey, Sermon Central, September 29, 2009.

III. THE RENEWED PERSPECTIVE

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Thomas a Kempis wrote: 

Jesus today has many who love his heavenly kingdom, but few who carry his cross; many who yearn for comfort, few who long for distress.

Plenty of people he finds to share his banquet, few to share his fast.

Everyone desires to take part in his rejoicing, but few are willing to suffer anything for his sake.

There are many that follow Jesus as far as the breaking of bread, few as far as drinking the cup of suffering; many that revere his morality, few that follow him in the indignity of his cross; many that love Jesus as long as nothing runs counter to them; many that praise and bless him, as long as they receive comfort from him; but should Jesus hide from them and leave them for a while, they fall into complaining or become deeply depressed.

Those who love Jesus for his own sake, not for the sake of their own comfort, bless him in times of trouble and heartache as much as when they are full of consolation.

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 2 Chapter 36.

A. Life is hard.

B. God will raise us up.

C. God will continue to renew us inwardly.

We must look to the unseen for help with the seen.

CONCLUSION

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In Christ, we have are a renewed creation. In Christ, we have a renewed inner spirit. In Christ, we have a renewed perspective.

We have it within ourselves to do all God has planned for us.

The Monarch Mystery.

The ability to find home evokes legends of Rover or Fido who, when owners have moved from one coast to the other, have made a 3,000-mile trek to find their owners in a location to which they’ve never been before. At least the dogs make it back home.

But not the monarch butterfly. These insects somehow know how to migrate thousands of miles every autumn, from the Eastern United States to a handful of sites in Mexico. There, they rest over the winter for the return trip home. But here’s the amazing part: No individual butterfly ever goes to Mexico and back, yet thousands converge on the same few sites year after year. These insects know where to go. But none of them has ever been there before. Let’s explain.

"Monarchs are not guided by memory, since no single butterfly ever makes the round trip. Three or four generations separate those that spend one winter in Mexico from those that go there the next." A monarch butterfly born in August in New York state, for instance, will fly all the way to Mexico, spend the winter there, and leave in March. Then it will fly north, laying eggs on milkweed along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Florida before dying.

The butterflies born of those eggs will continue northward, breeding and laying more eggs along the way. By August another monarch, four generations or so removed from the monarch that left New York for Mexico the previous summer, will emerge from its chrysalis and do the same thing. It will head south, aiming for a place it’s never been, an acre or two of forest on the steep slopes of a particular mountain range.

Michael Elmore, Sermon Central, January 17, 2002.

If a butterfly can fulfill its purpose, certainly we can accomplish all that God has for our new creation with the help of His Holy Spirit.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

1-11-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

RENEWAL 2026: The Source of Renewal 1-11-26

RENEWAL 2026: The Source of Renewal 1-11-26

INTRODUCTION

Renewal 2026!

We have hope of renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We have that promise!

William Hinson, Sr. retired pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston, the largest church in American Methodism tells the story about a time when he was going to Columbia, South Carolina to preach in a revival. He had not slept well the night before and had gotten up that morning and preached in two Sunday morning services. He went immediately to the airport to leave for Columbia. He had looked forward to sleeping on the plane, but it just so happened that the person next to was a talker, and so much for sleep.

His plane arrived late, so he was immediately picked up by a church member and whisked off to the church. He arrived at the church just a couple of minutes before the service was to begin and did not have the opportunity to freshen up at all. He felt yucky. As he preached he could feel his body swaying from fatigue.

When the service was over, he was led to the fellowship hall where a receiving line was set up to greet the visiting preacher. The line seemed to extend forever. Near the end of the line, a large man stepped aside and suddenly he saw his youngest daughter.

His daughter was attending school in Augusta, Georgia, and when she heard her dad was going to be in Columbia, she had borrowed her boyfriend’s noisy car and had driven for hours just to be with her dad and to talk with him about some things. They left the church and went and got some coffee and pie, and then went to the hotel and talked for several hours.

When she finally left, he said he realized the most unusual thing. He was no longer tired. He had spent time with someone very special to him and found himself renewed.

James Drake, "Genesis: The Road to Revival" from a sermon by Joel Smith, "The Road to Renewal," 2/9/2009.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I. THE SOURCE OF RENEWED STRENGTH

‭‭Psalm ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

‭‭ Psalm ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. God restores our soul.

B. God’s presence (“You are with me”) renews our strength.

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C. God renews beyond “full.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”

‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Martin Luther said "There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of new obedience do not grow."

My new car, my hybrid, was down to 5 miles worth of gas the other day. When the tank is empty it will not go anywhere. With a full tank, I can drive 456 miles.

II. THE SOURCE OF RENEWED SPIRIT

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

‭‭ Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. We are saved when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared.

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭5a‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

‭‭ Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭5‬a ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. We are saved through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭5b‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,”

‭‭ Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭5b‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C. The Holy Spirit has been poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. 

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“[The Holy Spirit] whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

‭‭ Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

III. THE SOURCE OF RENEWED JOY

Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was an extremely quiet and reserved man with very little personality. When questioned, he rarely answered in more than two or three words—a tendency which earned him the nickname, “Silent Cal.” The public saw him as a stiff and emotionless man. Someone said that he looked like he was weaned on dill pickle juice! Well, in 1933 the radio airwaves were filled with the news of Coolidge’s death. Columnist Dorothy Parker was in her office at The New Yorker when a colleague flung open the door and blurted, “Dottie, did you hear? President Coolidge is dead.” She shot back her most famous quote, “How can they tell?”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Jesus is our source of renewal.

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4a‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4a‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. Jesus is our source of renewed joy.

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬b ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬b ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C. Joy can be ours if we follow the Jesus’ commands as Jesus kept the Father’s commands.

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Robert A. Fryling, in his article titled, A Renewed Mind: The Practice of Humble Thought, said, “A blessed person is one who is delighted and immersed in the teachings of the Lord. Such a person is consciously choosing to have a right relationship with God and consequently exhibits a life of fruitfulness and spiritual prosperity. We use our minds to choose whom we follow, what we read, whose advice we accept, whose lifestyles we emulate. We choose with our minds whether to know God’s teachings and whether to obey them. What we think directly affects what we feel and what we do. Practically speaking, I find that paying attention to what I am thinking about in my unscripted moments is often revealing as to what is important to me. Listening to my unguarded thoughts is a valuable diagnostic practice to discern what is going on inside of me. When my waking moments are focused on how others view me or on my negative thoughts about them, I am not being renewed. I am living in conformity to the world’s values of status and power. By way of contrast, Paul encourages the Philippian believers to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable and worthy of praise (Phil 4:8). This is not just positive thinking or temperamental upbeatness, but a genuine honoring of God and others. It is characteristic of a renewed mind that is not conformed to the world.”

ACTION! Doing something is the proof of renewal.

CONCLUSION

God is the source of our renewed strength. The Holy Spirit is the source of our renewed spirit. Jesus is the source of our renewed joy.

A. W. Tozer said it this way, “An intelligent observer of our human scene who heard the Sunday morning sermon and later watched the Sunday afternoon conduct of those who heard it would conclude that he had been examining two distinct and contrary religions!” 

A. W. Tozer, Renewed Day by Day, 1/14.

Let us demonstrate our renewal by renewed action! Let’s go!

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

1-4-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

RENEWAL 2026: The Hope of Renewal 1-4-26

RENEWAL 2026: The Hope of Renewal 1-4-26

INTRODUCTION

Happy New Year!

The prospect of a new year

The need for change

The need for renewal

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I. THE HOPE OF RENEWED STRENGTH

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28‬b-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28‬b-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. We all grow weary,

B. We all stumble and fall.

C. We all can be renewed.

Billy Graham says: "As an evangelist, I have often felt too far spent to minister from the pulpit to men and women who have filled stadiums to hear a message from the Lord. Yet again and again my weakness has vanished, and my strength has been renewed. I have been filled with God’s power not only in my soul but physically. On many occasions, God has become especially real, and has sent His unseen angelic visitors to touch my body to let me be His messenger for heaven, speaking as a dying man to dying men."

Tony Abram, Sermon Central, March 3, 2007.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ‬‬‬‬‬

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ‬‬‬‬‬

II. THE HOPE OF RENEWED SPIRIT

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.”

George Whitefield

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. We have been given a pure heart.

B. We have a renewed spirit.

C. We have a steadfast spirit.

III. THE HOPE OF RENEWED JOY

“Joy is not gush; joy is not jolliness. Joy is just perfect acquiescence in God's will because the soul delights itself in God Himself.”

H.W. Webb-Peploe

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. God can restore the joy of our salvation.

B. God can restore our willing spirit.

C. God can sustain us.

Oh the sheer joy of it!

Walking with Thee,

Out on the hilltop,

Down by the sea,

Life is so wonderful,

Life is so free. 

Ralph Spaulding Cushman

CONCLUSION

God will renew your strength, your spirit, and your joy.

When the Psalmist mentions the renewal of the eagle, he may be referring to the "molting process" in an eagle’s life. As eagles age, their beaks and talons become encrusted with calcium. Thus, neither is as sharp as they once were. When this happens the aging eagle cannot hunt as effectively as he once did. As he ages, he also loses some of his feathers. When this happens it causes his body to "whistle" in the air as he dives toward his prey. This destroys his ability to hunt in silence, thus further reducing his effectiveness as a hunter. When the eagle enters this period of his life, he will descend from soaring in the heights above and find him a place in the rocks. There, he will pluck out all of his feathers and break off his own calcium encrusted beak against the rocks. He will even scratch his talons against the rocks until they are reduced to nubs. At this point, the eagle is absolutely vulnerable and defenseless. Many eagles die during this process because they cannot feed themselves or escape predators. But, during this time a wonderful thing begins to happen to those who survive.

One day the feathers of the eagle begin to grow back. His beak will also grow back. His talons regrow as long and as sharp as ever before. After a time, the eagle will step out on the rocks, flap his great wings and take to the skies once again in victory!

Are you walking through a time of great loss? Do you stand before your enemy feeling defenseless and vulnerable? God is your defense. He is growing you through this valley in your life to become stronger in Him than you have ever been. Wait on Him. Your spiritual feathers will grow back and your talons will reappear. Stay with the process for He is faithful who has called you. He will finish what He started in your life and ministry!

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, February 24, 2016.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.