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New Creation - Kristie
Sermon Summary
Kristie emphasises that true significance comes from being a new creation rooted in God's kingdom, trusting His provision, and living under His authority rather than seeking power or achievements on our own
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Today, we reflected on what it truly means to live a significant life as a new creation in Christ. We began by celebrating the multiplication happening through our missions partners, recognising that God’s work is not just about addition but exponential growth as people are trained, sent, and empowered to plant churches and share the gospel in their own communities. We also paused to grieve with those who have lost loved ones, remembering that our hope is anchored in the reality of eternity with Jesus.
Through a simple story about grading onions on a farm, we explored how easy it is to become possessive over our own “side of the conveyor belt,” wanting to be in control and to determine what is valuable. This tendency can creep into our relationship with God, where we subtly shift from being on God’s team to expecting God to be on ours—blessing our plans, affirming our choices, and validating our sense of significance through our achievements.
Looking at the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, we saw how the enemy offers us “almost truths”—temptations to find our significance in what we can do, what we can control, or what we can achieve. Jesus, however, models a different way: He refuses to define Himself by His own provision, power, or control, but instead anchors His identity, vocation, and mission in the Father. He shows us that true significance is not found in what we accomplish, but in whose we are and whose mission we join.
As new creations, our reality is reorganised. Our identity is rooted in being image-bearers of God, not image-creators. Our vocation is to walk in the good works God has prepared for us, whatever our current role or season. Our mission is to partner with God in His work of reconciliation, not to build our own kingdoms. This reordering is not something we initiate by striving, but something that begins when we say “yes” to Jesus, just as Zacchaeus did. As we seek first God’s kingdom, everything else falls into its rightful place, and we experience the blessing of a life lived under His rule—regardless of our circumstances.
Key Takeaways
1. True significance is not measured by our achievements or the impact we make, but by our identity as those whose names are written in heaven. When we anchor our worth in being on God’s team, we are freed from the endless pursuit of validation through success or recognition. This shift allows us to rejoice in God’s acceptance rather than our own accomplishments.
2. The enemy often tempts us with “almost truths”—appealing to our desires for provision, power, and control, but always with ourselves at the centre. Jesus demonstrates that resisting these temptations means returning to the truth of who God is: our provider, sustainer, and the One who defines our reality. We are called to live from God’s word and presence, not from the world’s standards or our own appetites.3. Our desire for significance is not wrong, but it is easily misdirected. When we seek to fulfil it through power, control, or the approval of others, we settle for a second-rate version of what God intends. Jesus invites us to a deeper significance—one that comes from surrender, trust, and participation in God’s mission, rather than self-promotion or self-sufficiency.
4. Being a new creation means living with a reordered reality: our identity is as image-bearers under God, our vocation is to walk in the good works He has prepared, and our mission is to join Him in reconciling the world. This reordering touches every part of our lives—our work, our relationships, our disappointments, and our seasons of wandering. It is not about changing our circumstances, but about living under God’s rule within them.
5. The process of reordering our lives begins not with our own effort, but with a simple “yes” to Jesus. Like Zacchaeus, we are invited to respond to the glimpse of God’s kingdom with openness, allowing Jesus to initiate the transformation. As we seek first His kingdom and righteousness, we find that everything else is added in its proper place, and we experience the blessing of a life lived in obedience and intimacy with God.
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