The Quest for the New (Part 4)

Published On: February 9, 2025By Categories: Local, The Church, UniversalTags:

Sermon Summary: The Quest for the New (Part 4)

Pastor John Walls
Key Scriptures:

  • Ezekiel 36:24–28 – God promises to cleanse, restore, and give His people a new heart and spirit.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – In Christ, we become new creations; the old life is gone, and a new life begins.

Main Theme:

God’s desire is not only to transform and reform us, but also to involve us fully in the life and mission of the Church. This “quest for the new” is not merely about personal renewal but about embracing our role as members of the Body of Christ, contributing through prayer, presence, gifts, and service.

Sermon Summary: “The Quest for the New, Part 4” by Pastor John Walls

In this fourth installment of the sermon series, Pastor John Walls revisits the core scriptures anchoring the theme of transformation through Christ: Ezekiel 36:24–28 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. These passages highlight God’s promise to cleanse, restore, and indwell His people with a new heart and spirit, a message that resonates both with the Old Testament exile context and the present-day experience of being made new in Christ.

Pastor Walls begins by reminiscing about the revivals of his youth—spiritual awakenings where lives were radically changed. He shares personal stories of transformation, including that of a man named Dick, known in his town for alcohol abuse and domestic violence. After a revival, Dick gave his life to Christ and became a different man, even regaining trust and employment through the testimony of his pastor. The story mirrors the 2 Corinthians 5:17 reality: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.”

The message then turns toward the inward evidence of transformation. Pastor Walls outlines a progressive model for Christian renewal:

1. Transformation (New Life)

  • God gives us a new heart (soft and sensitive vs. hard and closed).

  • He gives us a new spirit (loving, joyful, peaceful vs. antagonistic and critical).

  • He gives us a new mind (renewed through Scripture, per Romans 12:2).

This transformation is God’s work—not merely our effort to “turn over a new leaf,” but a supernatural change that begins when the Holy Spirit touches our human spirit and brings us to new life in Christ.

2. Reformation (New Behavior and Priorities)

  • The reformation of a believer’s life is what we do with the transformation we’ve received.

  • Pastor Walls emphasizes:

    • A renewed interest in God’s Word: honoring its authority, seeking deeper understanding, and applying it practically.

    • A new commitment to prayer, not just to ask God for things, but to know Him and seek His will. He revisits the ACTS model:

      • Adoration,

      • Confession,

      • Thanksgiving,

      • Supplication.

Pastor Walls shares a stirring prayer written by Nikos Kazantzakis, contrasting it with modern perceptions of “feminized” church culture, urging men to pray boldly as soldiers reporting to their general. His encouragement is for all believers to bring honesty and strength into their prayer life, reminding us that prayer shapes our ability to live in godliness and peace.

3. Involvement in the Church

  • He outlines four areas of commitment every church member is expected to fulfill:

    • Prayers – consistent intercession for others and self.

    • Presence – faithfully attending worship and fellowship.

    • Gifts – financial generosity through tithing.

    • Service – using time and talents to support the body of Christ.

He confronts two common attitudes:

  • Those who only give money but won’t serve.

  • Those who serve but withhold financial support.

Neither is sustainable for a healthy church. Pastor Walls challenges the congregation to do both, stating: “If you only serve and don’t give, you’re putting yourself on the church payroll—without being hired—and paying yourself.”

He closes with a teaching on tithing, emphasizing it as a blessing rather than a burden. Using Malachi 3:10, he reminds listeners that tithing is the only place in Scripture where God invites His people to “test” Him. He ends with a story of a pastor who offers to refund a man’s tithe if God doesn’t bless him—then asks, “Why would you trust me, a fallible human, but not trust Almighty God?”

Discussion & Reflection

  • Transformation

    • How have you experienced a “new heart” or “new spirit” since becoming a follower of Christ?

    • Is there an area of your life where you’re still relying on your own power rather than the Holy Spirit’s transformation?

  • Hearing God’s Voice

    • Pastor Walls speaks about the “mind impressions” of the Holy Spirit. How do you personally discern when God is speaking to you?

  • Prayer Life

    • Which part of the ACTS prayer model do you find easiest? Which part is hardest?

    • Have you ever seen clear results from a season of deep, consistent prayer?

  • God’s Word

    • Are you growing in your knowledge of Scripture? What step could you take this week to deepen that?

    • How well are you applying the truths of God’s Word in your daily decisions?

  • Church Involvement

    • Of the four commitments—prayer, presence, giving, and service—which one do you feel strongest in? Which needs growth?

    • If everyone in your church gave and served like you do, what kind of church would it be?

  • Stewardship

    • How does the principle “we spend money on what we love” resonate with your own finances?

    • What might change in your giving if you fully trusted God’s promise in Malachi 3:10?

Sermon Topics