2 cor 5:16&17 “A New Beginning”

2 cor 5:16&17  “A New Beginning”

Steve Wozniak designed and built the first personal computer in his garage workshop. Since he worked for HP at the time he had to get them to give him the rights to his computer. The people at HP could not see the opportunity that the personal computer presented and they gave Steve the rights to his computer design and Apple Computer was born.
            You have most likely heard a lot of sermons on 2 Corinthians 5:17 that center on the forgiveness of your past, I want to focus on the opportunity of the future.

1.      Personal opportunities
a. choose who or what you will be. 2 Corinthians 5:15
b. being transformed 2 Corinthians 3:17
c. be transformed Romans 12:1&2
d. be conformed to the likeness Romans 8:29

2.      Opportunity in others
a. Where do we focus when we look at people?
b. the lostness of people, how broken and sinful they are?
c. Do we look at what they can become?
d. the stake thief

e.      Jesus looked at a tax collector but saw a disciple
f. Jesus looked at a fisherman and saw a leader
g. approach and treat people as possibilities

3.      Opportunity in the church
a. we do not have to be what we have always been
b. we have opportunities to transform who and what we are
c. focus on the newness that is ours in Christ.

This new life in Christ is more than erasing our past it is an opportunity for the future, our future. The people we meet every day also have an opportunity to become something new. So let us set our sights on what and who we and others can become and let Jesus transform our world.