Being Led to Newness

by Petey Crowder, Senior Pastor

For as long as I can remember, summer has always brought a change of pace. Some things slow way, way down. Some things speed up. Whether I’ve been a teenager, a newlywed, or a father of teenagers myself, summer has always brought something new and different.

I would encourage us as a church, and you as an individual, to consider this summer as something new and different. Scripture tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus isn’t trying to recapture our past; He’s constantly trying to lead us into newness—new rhythms of faithfulness and commitment to Jesus, rather than relegating our faith to the backseat or the leftovers. New rhythms of taking care of ourselves, rather than running ourselves ragged. New rhythms of learning how to be with our family, friends, and neighbors with attentiveness, rather than being preoccupied with the running lists in our heads.

What new thing might God want to do in your life this summer?

A friend recently said that the best word for this season, considering where we’ve been with the pandemic, is emerging.

To emerge is to go from something old to something new. It’s to be stretched in an unfamiliar way. As you emerge from this season, our hope and prayer is that you will emerge depending on Jesus more than ever . . . so that whatever is next, whatever is new for you, it will be led by the Holy Spirit.