How to Kick-Start a Whole New Beginning

Message Summary:

In this celebratory message marking a significant transition (the first Sunday in a new church building), Chuck Swindoll draws from Joshua 1 to provide six guidelines for navigating major life changes. Acknowledging that new beginnings—whether a marriage, a new job, or a move—bring both “delightful moments and unique challenges,” Swindoll notes that humans generally resist change, preferring the stability of a wall to the shadow of a bird in flight.

Using the Israelites’ transition from the leadership of Moses to Joshua as the template, Swindoll outlines a practical strategy for moving forward. The first step is to face reality: acknowledging that “Moses is dead” and that the past is over. He argues that one cannot embrace the future while living in the backwash of the past [26–29]. This is followed by the commands to move on across the Jordan and to not be afraid, resting in the promise that God does not abandon His people even when human leadership changes [33, 45–46].

The latter half of the message emphasizes character and attitude. Swindoll urges the congregation to stand tall, riding loyally for the “brand” of Jesus Christ, and to stay focused on the Word of God as their ultimate guide [52, 61–63]. He concludes with a surprising and liberating final guideline: let’s enjoy this place. resisting the urge to make Christianity grim or purely dutiful, Swindoll challenges believers to find “good success” and joy in their walk with God, asserting that “we are never happier than when we give and even sacrifice” [6, 68–73].

Message Key Facts:

• The Context of Change: Swindoll delivers this message on February 4, 2001, marking the first service in the new Stonebriar Community Church building. He asks the congregation to write the date in their Bibles as a marker of this new beginning.
• The “Closet” Incident: Recalling his own transition to the presidency of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1994, Swindoll humorously recounts feeling like a “dwarf” in a giant’s chair. Flustered by a desk arranged for a right-handed person, he rushed to lead chapel and accidentally walked directly into a closet, illustrating the awkwardness of new beginnings [10–12].
• A.W. Tozer’s Insight: Swindoll quotes Tozer’s The Divine Conquest regarding the death of Moses: “When a man of God dies, nothing of God dies.” This reminds believers that God’s nature and presence remain constant despite human changes [31–32].
• “Riding for the Brand”: Swindoll references a book by Steve Farrar called Standing Tall, which uses the cowboy concept of “riding for the brand.” In the Old West, this meant absolute loyalty to the rancher. Swindoll applies this to the believer’s loyalty to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ [55–58].
• The “Sandlot” Principle: Swindoll shares a childhood memory of playing football with a large kid named Bruce. He learned quickly that “whoever was on Bruce’s side won.” He parallels this to Romans 8:31: If God is for us, we win, and fear has no place [49–51].
• The 1948 Fleetline Chevy: Swindoll tells a story about his first car, which he obsessively cleaned and painted but was afraid to drive. His grandfather offered to pay it off if he would simply start “enjoying” it. Swindoll uses this to illustrate that believers should enjoy their church and faith rather than just maintaining it out of obligation [77–80].
• Six Guidelines for a New Beginning:
  1. Face Reality: Admit the past is over (“Moses is dead”).
  2. Move On: Get up and cross the Jordan.
  3. Let’s Not Be Afraid: God will not abandon us.
  4. Let’s Stand Tall: Be strong and courageous (loyalty).
  5. Let’s Stay Focused: Meditate on God’s Word day and night.
  6. Let’s Enjoy This Place: Find joy and “good success” in the Lord.

Message References:

• Joshua 1:1–9: The primary text outlining God’s charge to Joshua after the death of Moses.
• Deuteronomy 34:7–8: The account of Moses’ death and the 30-day mourning period of Israel.
• Hebrews 13:8: “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (cited to show God does not change).
• Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who is against us?”.
• Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18: The four-fold repetition of the command to “be strong and courageous” [52–53].

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll