When You Need A Fresh Start 12•28•25

This powerful and emotional Sunday sermon marks a historic moment in the life of the church—the final service of Restoration of Life before being renamed The Church of Celebration, and the last worship service in a building that served faithfully for 26 years. It is a message perfectly fitting for transition, renewal, and hope.

In When You Need a Fresh Start, Apostle Gregory D. Kelley reminds the congregation that God is a God of second chances, restoration, and new beginnings. Teaching from Zechariah 10:6 (MSG), Hosea 14:5 (MSG), and Psalm 145:14 (MSG), this sermon speaks directly to those who feel weary, discouraged, or tempted to give up—declaring that it is always too soon to quit.

Using the memorable framework S.T.A.R.T., Apostle Kelley addresses the excuses that often hold people back and offers biblical truth to move forward in faith:

• S — Stop making excuses for not starting
   Including the four common excuses:
  1. I don’t have what it takes
  2. I have failed in the past — Isaiah 43:18–19 (TEV), Proverbs 28:13 (Living Bible)
  3. There are things I can’t control — Proverbs 24:10 (CEV)
  4. I don’t know what the future holds — Ecclesiastes 11:4 (Living Bible)
• T — Take stock of what I have
   Reflecting on lessons learned and seeking wise counsel — Galatians 3:4 (ICB), Proverbs 15:22 (TEV)
• A — Act in faith — Matthew 9:29 (NIV)
• R — Refocus my mind — Psalm 1:1–3 (TEV), Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)
• T — Trust that God knows what He is doing — Jeremiah 18:4–6 (TEV)

This sermon is both a farewell and a forward-looking declaration—honoring the past while stepping boldly into God’s future. It serves as a reminder that endings are often the doorway to fresh starts, and God is always at work shaping something new.