All Things New: The New You Is A Part Of A New Epcot (Eternal Prototype Community Of Tomorrow)

Key Bible Verses

• 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

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Sermon Quotes

From Pastor Josh Laxton

“Jesus is the dawn of the new creation.”

“Our purpose for living is to now mediate, reflect and be the buffer between the old, the Kingdom of Man, and the new, the Kingdom of God.”

“Decades after Paul was transformed by Christ, his zeal and passion for Christ never waned. It only intensified.”

“The new you is part of a new EPCOT.” (Eternal Prototype Creation of Tomorrow)

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DIGGING DEEPER

Colossians 3:5-14 requires a radical reorientation of our lives as followers of King Jesus.

The old person, who we used to be before we were called out of darkness by Jesus, is to be put off. This putting off involves changes we decide to make every day. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and testify that we belong to Jesus, we are called to discard our old lifestyle and all the sinful things that were part of our old nature and build our new lifestyle in Christ’s image. Scripture teaches us to discard anger, wrath, malice, slander, telling lies, sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire, and idolatry.  

So how does this monumental change of putting on a new life in King Jesus take place? God does it!  

God causes this change in our lives as believers through His grace and mercy through the power of the Holy Spirit. We develop our Christian character by daily practicing disciplines like reading the Bible, praying, meditating, fasting, giving, evangelizing, worshiping, serving, being in community and studying about God.  

Scripture teaches us to fill our minds with good things and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the process of transformation begins. The Holy Spirit does a new work in us, developing our mind and character as we become more like Jesus every day. Our lives demonstrate holiness, patience, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, peace, harmony, thankfulness, wisdom and love.

These positive changes in our lifestyle, which result from putting on the new self  as Christ followers, are positive and good for us. We also see our new character, godly habits, and spiritual practices become stronger daily, weekly, and year by year. We are definitely different, in a great way, from the world around us. Our lives become a mirror to the world, reflecting God’s love, glory, and power. We are a demonstration of God’s ability to create a new creature. Our positive life changes give us our personal testimony, allow us to share our story of salvation, and point others to their need for Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

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WHAT NOT TO MISS

Main point: The new you is a part of a new EPCOT (Eternal Prototype Community of Tomorrow.)

What is the new EPCOT? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone and the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• God created humankind so that it would reflect His glory and rule over the earth. Sin entered the human race and the world and thereby shattered our humanity as well as our faith. Heaven on earth transitioned to hell on earth.
• God chose to begin the process to reconcile and to renew all things in Jesus through His death and resurrection. Jesus, through faith, redeems, reconciles and renews our humanity.  
• We are a part of the new humanity, the new creation.  

Three truths exist about being part of this eternal prototype creation of tomorrow.

1) We are part of a new people and kingdom. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

• We are ambassadors of Christ, a conduit whereby this world, this creation gets a glimpse of the world in which we are from, the new creation of which we are a part.

2) We have a new purpose for living.  (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

• Through the ministry of reconciliation, we mediate, reflect and are the buffer between the old (Kingdom of Man) and the new (Kingdom of God). 
• The message of reconciliation is that God has worked on your behalf to make you right with HIm.  

3) We look at people from a new perspective. (2 Corinthians 5:16; 20)

• How people are perceived as a saint, believer, Christian. (Those who are in Jesus.)
• How people are perceived as a sinner. (Those who are far from God and who are sick, need a shepherd are lost in their sin.)
• The new EPCOT is a new people, with a new purpose and a new perspective.

Why should we be so passionate about this new EPCOT?

• Paul says that Christ’s love had seized control of his life, and his passion for Christ only intensified.  
• Control is tied to wonder. The wonder of Christ was tied to the wretchedness of Paul. Where there is a lack of wonder there will be loss of control.  
• Paul never grew tired of living in light of the new creation that Jesus made available through His death and resurrection.

How do we know we’re part of this new EPCOT?  (2 Corinthians 5:5)

• Because we have the Spirit of God in us. With both a present and future in Christ, at least three things will happen.

• We will not lose heart in the present. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
• We will long to be with God in the future. (2 Corinthians 5:2; 8)
• We will make it our goal to please Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

The new you is part of a new EPCOT. (Eternal Prototype Creation of Tomorrow)

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Life Application

This passage stresses the importance of knowing that we are to live by faith, not by sight, and become a new creation through Jesus. The old has gone and the new is here! During this week, think about tangible ways you can express your faith and live a new life pleasing to God. Here are a few examples:

• Share your faith with someone as an ambassador of Christ.  
• Serve others in love. 
• Give of your time, treasure, and talents.
• Randomly be kind to someone who is discouraged and needs God’s love and compassion.

But most importantly, going forward, give yourself completely to King Jesus and count the old things of your life as worthless. Embrace the new things God is teaching you as you are His ambassador to your neighbors and nations, giving them a glimpse of the new creation of which you are a part!

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Small Group Discussion Questions

• What do you think of when you think about being an ambassador?
• How would you describe your purpose for living?
• What is the message of reconciliation?
• How does Christ's love compel us?
• What are some ways we can be sure that we are a part of EPCOT? (Eternal pare Creation of Tomorrow)

Daily Devotional Bible Passages

• Monday- Power of the Resurrection-1 Corinthians 15:21; John 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:49-52
• Tuesday - Power of Faith-Hebrews 11:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Mark 11:22-24
• Wednesday-Power of God's Love-Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9-11; Ephesians 4:32
• Thursday -Power of Reconciliation-Ephesians 1:7-10; Colossians 1:19-22; Ephesians 2:14-18
• Friday - Power as Christ's Ambassador-Ephesians 6:20; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Prayer

Lord, we want to be compelled by Christ’s love as we reflect on the supreme gift of His death on the cross for our sins, so that we are reconciled to God and made into a new creation. We want to move forward leaving the old, sinful things behind and embracing the new, exciting life You have planned for us. We want to have a new purpose for living, and we want our hearts to be stirred to action as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Don’t let us be hindered by our past, but make us bold and courageous as we share the Gospel with others as God’s ambassadors. Remind us that we have been saved by grace through faith, so that we can be confident in our relationship with God and please Him in all that we do and say.

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Additional Resources

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