I grew up in the church but didn't understand what Christianity really was.

To me, church was just a lame reason to dress nice and a place to go on Sunday mornings.

It was essentially a checkmark on a list of things I didn't want to do.

But some friends helped me see the true meaning of Christianity.

It wasn't about rules but about a relationship.

This changed my outlook in life.

I am firmly loved.

I became new.

Well, welcome today to all of you at all of our different life churches.

And those of you in our network church family, you know we love you.

And we're honored to partner with you.

Those joining us from all over the world at church online,

we believe that it's not an accident that you're here,

but that you're actually supposed to be here.

And so we welcome you today.

This is the final week of the series called new.

I'm going to team teach with your pastors,

your network church pastor, or your campus pastor.

So let me dive in and then hand it off to them in just a moment.

Our key verse for this three week series is 2 Corinthians 5,

16 and 17 that says,

at one time we thought of Christ from what?

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