New Life UMC

•Finding – Jesus came to seek and save the lost. As followers of Jesus we are called to partner with him in this ministry. Here at New Life we call this Finding. It is one of the three things we believe are needed to make disciples: Finding, Forming, and Forwarding. But Finding is the first step. Find those in need of God’s love, Form them as devoted Christ followers, and Forward them out to make more disciples and transform the world. But it all starts with Finding which is the focus of our year. This year we are going to see how Jesus empowered and excited his team (his disciples) to find fish.

Story of the Word1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.2 The Word was with God in the beginning.3 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being.What came into being4 through the Word was life,[a] and the life was the light for all people.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.9 The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world.10 The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light.11 The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.12 But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children,13 born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God.14 The Word became flesh and made his home among us.We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.John 1:1-14 (CEB)

2 Corinthians 5:17-1817 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!18 All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

Greatest in the kingdom18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”2 Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, 3 and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:1-5 (CEB)

Daniel 4 (CEB)Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony1 King Nebuchadnezzar’s message to all the peoples, nations, and languages inhabiting the entire earth: “I wish you much peace. 2I’m delighted to share the signs and miracles that the Most High God has worked in my life.3His signs are superb!His miracles so powerful!His kingdom is everlasting.His rule is for all time.4 “While I, Nebuchadnezzar, was safe in my house, content in my palace, 5I had a terrifying dream. My thoughts while I was lying in bed and the vision in my mind overwhelmed me. 6I ordered all Babylon’s sages to come before me, so they might tell me the dream’s meaning. 7So the dream interpreters, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. 8Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar after the name of my god, was the last to come before me. In him is the breath of the holy gods! I told Daniel the dream:Nebuchadnezzar’s dream9“Belteshazzar, chief of the dream interpreters, I know the breath of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. 10In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw a vision:At the center of the earth was a towering tree.11The tree grew in size and strength;it was as high as the sky;it could be seen from every corner of the earth.12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant;it had enough food for everyone.Wild animals took shade under it;birds nested in its branches.All living things lived off that tree.13“In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw another vision: A holy watcher came down from heaven. 14He proclaimed loudly:‘Cut down the tree and shear off its branches!Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit!The creatures should flee from its shelter;the birds should take flight from its branches.15But leave its deepest root in the earth,bound with iron and bronze in the field grass.Dew from heaven is to wash it,and it must live with the animals in the earth’s vegetation.16Its human mind is to be changed:it will be given the mind of an animal.Seven periods of time will pass over it.17This sentence is by the watchers’ decree;this decision is the holy ones’ wordso that all who live might knowthat the Most High dominates human kingship.The Most High gives kingship to anyone he wantsand sets over it the lowest of people.’18"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. So now Belteshazzar, tell me the meaning because all the sages in my kingdom were unable to interpret it for me. But you are able to do it because the breath of the holy gods is in you."Daniel interprets the visions19Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was shocked for a bit. What he thought about frightened him.The king declared, "Don’t let the dream and its meaning scare you, Belteshazzar."Then Belteshazzar answered, “Sir, I wish the dream to be for those who hate you and its meaning to be for your enemies! 20The tree you saw that grew in size and strength, that was as high as the sky, that could be seen from every corner of the earth, 21with its beautiful leaves and its abundant fruit, and that had enough food for everyone, with wild animals living under it and birds nesting in its branches—22Your Majesty, that tree is you! You have grown large and become powerful. Your greatness is as high as the sky; your rule extends to the edge of the earth!23"Your Majesty, the holy watcher you saw coming down from heaven, who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its deepest root in the earth, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass, dew from heaven is to wash it, and it must live with the wild animals until seven periods of time pass over it’— 24Your Majesty, this is the dream’s meaning: It is the sentence of the Most High, delivered to my master the king. 25You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and will be washed by dew from heaven. Seven periods of time will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants. 26And when he said to leave the deepest root of the tree—that means your kingship will again be yours, once you acknowledge that heaven rules all. 27Therefore, Your Majesty, please accept my advice: remove your sins by doing what is right; remove your wrongdoing by showing mercy to the poor. Then your safety will be long lasting."Visions come true28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30The king declared, "Isn’t this Babylon, the magnificent city that I built as the royal house by my own mighty strength and for my own majestic glory?"31These words hadn’t even left the king’s mouth when a voice came from heaven: "You, King Nebuchadnezzar, are now informed: Kingship is taken away from you. 32You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants."33Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence was immediately carried out. He was driven away from other humans and ate grass like cattle. Dew from heaven washed his body until he grew hair like eagles’ feathers and claws like a bird.Nebuchadnezzar is restored34“At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven. My reason returned to me, and I praised the Most High. I worshipped and glorified the one who lives forever because his rule is everlasting; his kingdom is for all time. 35All of earth’s inhabitants are nothing in comparison. The Most High does whatever he wants with heaven’s forces and with earth’s inhabitants. No one can contain his power or say to him, ‘What do you think you are doing?’ 36So at that moment my reason returned to me. My honor and splendor came back to me for the glory of my kingdom. My associates and my princes wanted to be with me again. Not only was I reinstated over my kingdom, I received more power than ever before.37"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, worship, magnify, and glorify the king of heaven. All his works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride."

Jacob marries Leah and RachelAfter Jacob had stayed with Laban for a month, 15Laban said to Jacob, "You shouldn’t have to work for free just because you are my relative. Tell me what you would like to be paid."16Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah and the younger Rachel. 17Leah had delicate eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and was good-looking. 18Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will work for you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."19Laban said, "I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me."20Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years, but it seemed like a few days because he loved her. 21Jacob said to Laban, "The time has come. Give me my wife so that I may sleep with her." 22So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a banquet. 23However, in the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24Laban had given his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her servant. 25In the morning, there she was—Leah! Jacob said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Didn’t I work for you to have Rachel? Why did you betray me?"26Laban said, "Where we live, we don’t give the younger woman before the oldest. 27Complete the celebratory week with this woman. Then I will give you this other woman too for your work, if you work for me seven more years." 28So that is what Jacob did. He completed the celebratory week with this woman, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29Laban had given his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant. 30Jacob slept with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban seven more years.Jacob’s sons are born31When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to have children. 32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben because she said, "The Lord saw my harsh treatment, and now my husband will love me." 33She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, "The Lord heard that I was unloved, so he gave me this son too," and she named him Simeon. 34She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, "Now, this time my husband will embrace me, since I have given birth to three sons for him." So she named him Levi. 35She became again and gave birth to a son. She said, "This time I will praise the Lord." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children. Genesis 29 (CEB)

•gods of success – the Lotto always celebrates the big winners, but you know what you never see? “Where are they now?” follow up stories. The reality is that the majority of people who win big end up worse than they were before. Oddly enough people who don’t have a lot of money are generally not very good with large amounts of it. I’ve read more than one story of a big winner losing everything, their family, their home, and having to file bankruptcy. The gods of success: achievement, money, fame, power all seem like worthy things. They can help us. They can make us better. They can protect and help our family. We can even use our money, our power, our success to change the world, to help the Church, to give to the poor. But they quickly take hold of our hearts and although we may say we want to follow God, we are really following an idol, a false god.