Active Discipleship: Moving Toward Your Goals

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the fifth habit in our series on handling hard times: the importance of continually moving toward our goals. This habit emphasizes the necessity of movement in our spiritual journey, as following Jesus requires action, faith, and risk-taking. Unlike some Eastern religions that value stillness, Christianity calls for active discipleship, characterized by verbs like "go," "do," "obey," and "serve." Life in Christ is often compared to a walk, journey, or race, all of which require movement and progress.

In times of uncertainty, it's crucial not to abandon goal-setting but to adapt by setting shorter, more manageable goals. I encouraged everyone to create a 100-day plan focusing on one personal and one ministry goal. The key to achieving these goals lies in eight practical steps: writing them down, making them visible, asking God for guidance, identifying barriers, creating a step-by-step plan, enlisting support, learning from missteps, and taking daily baby steps.

Writing down goals transforms vague ideas into specific, actionable plans. Making them visible keeps them at the forefront of our minds, while seeking God's guidance ensures we are on the right path. Identifying barriers helps us prepare for challenges, and creating a step-by-step plan provides a clear roadmap. Enlisting a friend offers accountability and support, while learning from missteps turns failures into valuable lessons. Finally, taking daily baby steps, no matter how small, ensures continuous progress.

God is more interested in our character development than our accomplishments. He delights in each step we take, and He doesn't keep track of our missteps. Instead, He focuses on our growth and the direction of our steps. By taking small, consistent steps in the right direction, we can achieve significant progress over time. Remember, the length of your step is less important than its direction. Let us commit to taking purposeful steps every day, trusting that God will guide us along the way.

Key Takeaways:

1. Movement is Essential in Following Jesus: Christianity requires active discipleship, characterized by action verbs like "go," "do," and "serve." Unlike passive spiritual practices, following Jesus involves taking steps of faith and action. [02:36]

2. Adapt Goals in Uncertain Times: In times of rapid change, set shorter, manageable goals instead of abandoning planning. A 100-day plan focusing on personal and ministry goals can provide direction and purpose. [03:40]

3. Write and Pray Over Your Goals: Writing down goals transforms them from vague ideas into specific plans. Praying over them daily invites God's guidance and keeps them at the forefront of our minds. [09:27]

4. Learn from Missteps: Missteps are not failures but opportunities for learning and growth. God is more interested in our character development than our accomplishments, and He doesn't keep track of our missteps. [34:15]

5. Take Daily Baby Steps: Consistent, small steps in the right direction lead to significant progress over time. The length of your step is less important than its direction, and every step counts because God counts every step. [40:30]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Habits for Hard Times
- [00:39] - The Fifth Habit: Keep Moving Toward Goals
- [01:37] - Christianity Requires Action
- [03:16] - Setting Short-Term Goals
- [05:29] - Eight Steps to Achieving Goals
- [06:24] - Step 1: Write and Pray Over Goals
- [09:52] - Step 2: Make Goals Visible
- [13:03] - Step 3: Ask God for Guidance
- [24:00] - Step 4: Identify Barriers
- [27:07] - Step 5: Create a Step-by-Step Plan
- [31:07] - Step 6: Enlist a Friend for Support
- [33:07] - Step 7: Learn from Missteps
- [40:30] - Step 8: Take Daily Baby Steps
- [52:10] - The Ultimate Goal and God's Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Habakkuk 2:2 - "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets, so that a herald may run with it."
2. Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
3. Psalm 37:23 - "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way."

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some action verbs mentioned in the sermon that describe the nature of following Jesus? ([02:36])
2. According to the sermon, why is it important to write down your goals? ([06:39])
3. How does the sermon suggest we should adapt our goals during uncertain times? ([03:40])
4. What does the sermon say about God's perspective on our missteps? ([38:02])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of writing down a vision in Habakkuk 2:2 relate to the sermon’s emphasis on goal-setting? ([08:16])
2. In what ways does Proverbs 16:3 encourage believers to involve God in their goal-setting process? ([09:27])
3. How does Psalm 37:23 reflect the idea that God delights in our steps, as discussed in the sermon? ([22:14])
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between taking small steps and achieving significant progress? ([40:30])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a personal or ministry goal you have. How can you apply the eight practical steps from the sermon to move toward achieving it? ([05:29])
2. What barriers have you identified that might prevent you from reaching your goals, and how can you prepare to overcome them? ([24:00])
3. Consider a recent misstep in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity for learning and growth rather than a failure? ([34:15])
4. How can you make your goals more visible in your daily life to ensure they remain a priority? ([10:06])
5. Identify a small, daily step you can take this week toward a goal. How will you ensure consistency in taking this step? ([40:30])
6. Who can you enlist as a partner to support and hold you accountable in your goal-setting journey? ([31:07])
7. Reflect on the direction of your steps. Are they aligned with your long-term goals and God’s purpose for your life? How can you adjust if needed? ([49:03])

Devotional

Day 1: Active Discipleship Requires Movement
In the Christian journey, movement is essential. Unlike some spiritual practices that emphasize stillness, following Jesus involves active discipleship characterized by action verbs like "go," "do," and "serve." This means that faith is not passive but requires taking steps of faith and action. The Christian life is often compared to a walk, journey, or race, all of which require movement and progress. In times of uncertainty, it is crucial to keep moving toward our goals, trusting that God will guide us along the way. [02:36]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to actively follow Jesus in your daily life?


Day 2: Adaptability in Goal-Setting
In times of rapid change and uncertainty, it is important not to abandon goal-setting but to adapt by setting shorter, more manageable goals. This approach allows for flexibility and provides direction and purpose. Creating a 100-day plan focusing on one personal and one ministry goal can help maintain focus and motivation. By breaking down larger goals into smaller, achievable steps, we can continue to make progress even in challenging times. [03:40]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one short-term goal you can set for the next 100 days that aligns with your personal or ministry aspirations?


Day 3: The Power of Writing and Praying Over Goals
Writing down goals transforms vague ideas into specific, actionable plans. Making them visible keeps them at the forefront of our minds, while praying over them daily invites God's guidance and ensures we are on the right path. This practice helps us stay focused and committed to our goals, allowing us to align our desires with God's will. By seeking divine guidance, we can trust that our steps are directed by a higher purpose. [09:27]

"Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it." (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one goal you can write down and pray over today, asking for God's guidance and wisdom?


Day 4: Embracing Missteps as Opportunities for Growth
Missteps are not failures but opportunities for learning and growth. God is more interested in our character development than our accomplishments, and He doesn't keep track of our missteps. Instead, He focuses on our growth and the direction of our steps. By learning from our mistakes, we can turn failures into valuable lessons that contribute to our spiritual maturity and resilience. [34:15]

"For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity." (Proverbs 24:16, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent misstep or failure. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth and what lesson can you learn from it?


Day 5: The Importance of Daily Baby Steps
Consistent, small steps in the right direction lead to significant progress over time. The length of your step is less important than its direction, and every step counts because God counts every step. By taking daily baby steps, no matter how small, we ensure continuous progress in our spiritual journey. Trusting that God delights in each step we take, we can commit to taking purposeful steps every day. [40:30]

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small step you can take today to move closer to your spiritual or personal goals?

Quotes


I must keep moving toward my goals. I must keep moving toward my goals. Now no matter what the circumstances are that I'm facing, I should be moving toward the goal because I believe God has led me to set that goal and no matter what's going on around me, I'm going to keep moving toward my goal. [00:44:48]

You can't follow Jesus without moving. You can't be a disciple just by finding a cave and sitting still. You have to move in order to follow Jesus because he's moving, so if you don't move you can't follow him. [00:80:48]

Following Jesus requires action. It requires faith. It requires taking risks. It requires movement to follow wherever Jesus leads. Now, of course, the Bible has a lot to say about being still and about being quiet and about waiting on God, but that's not the ultimate end or goal of life. [00:125:28]

In times of rapid change or in times of uncontrollable factors like we've been facing the last couple years or in uncertain times where you don't know what's going to happen next, you don't give up on planning and setting goals. No, you simply set shorter goals, short-term goals. [00:208:32]

Write my goals on a prayer list and pray daily about them, about the goals. Write my goals on a prayer list and pray daily about them. That's the first step in getting your goals out there is to get them on paper. You write them down on a prayer list. [00:392:80]

Vague thoughts become specific goals when they pass through the filter of your lips and your fingertips. Your lips and your fingertips. If you can write down what your goal is and you can say what your goal is in a sentence, then it's going to be pretty clear you're well on your way to achieving it. [00:420:80]

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, commit to the Lord whatever you, that's your goals, and then your plans will succeed. So it starts by writing them down. If you haven't done that, you're going nowhere. Write down your goals, make it a prayer list, and start praying about them every day. [00:574:40]

Ask God to show me the steps I need to take. I ask God to show me the steps I need to take. A goal without steps is worthless. Psalm 25 verse 4 and 5 says this, this is a good prayer you could pray, show me, this is a prayer to pray to God, show me Lord, show me the path where I should walk. [00:786:88]

Realize that missteps are how we learn. Realize that missteps, when you blow it, when you make a mistake, when you trip up on your path to the goal, that's how you learn. Don't call it a failure, call it an education. You try something that doesn't work, you try something else that didn't work. [00:1992:00]

A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets back up. That's resilience. Now, I don't know why, but the older you get, you tend to start losing resilience instead of getting more of it. When you're a child, you have plenty of resilience. You know, when a child starts learning to walk. [00:2050:80]

Take a baby step every day. Take a baby step every single day. Take a baby step daily. This is the most important key in accomplishing any goal. It doesn't have to be a big step. It doesn't have to be a flashy step. Doesn't have to be a flamboyant step. Doesn't have to be an impressive step. [00:2423:36]

The length of your step is not as important as the direction of your step. Some of you are out there trying to do great things for God. Stop it. Just start doing little things for God with great love. The length of your step is not as important as the direction of your step. [00:2906:08]

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Transcript
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