Breaking Chains: Building a Lasting Legacy of Faith
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the theme of breaking chains and leaving a legacy. We began by acknowledging the burdens many of us carry—chains of unforgiveness, depression, or sickness—and the power of God to break these chains. Through prayer and faith, we declared freedom in Jesus' name, encouraging everyone to raise their hands and receive this liberation. This act of faith is a reminder that the chains holding us back have no power over us when we move in the Spirit.
We then transitioned into celebrating the achievements of our community, highlighting the accomplishments of individuals like Dorian, a recent boot camp graduate, and the Wildwood basketball team. These moments of recognition serve as a testament to the impact of community support and the importance of investing in others.
Our new series, "Leaving a Legacy," challenges us to consider the lasting impact of our lives. A legacy is not just about what we leave behind but also about what we take with us. It involves building a legacy of faith through genuine living, prioritizing God's word, and serving others. We are called to live a life of purpose, where our actions inspire others to follow Christ.
We also explored the concept of "thanksgifting," moving from mere gratitude to active giving. This involves recognizing God's blessings and shifting from being consumers to givers. We are encouraged to invest in what lasts for eternity, understanding that material possessions are temporary. By placing red dots on our cherished items, we remind ourselves of their impermanence and refocus on eternal values.
Finally, we discussed the importance of generous giving, both spontaneously and strategically. Our annual legacy offering is an opportunity to contribute to missions and property improvements, ensuring that our church continues to thrive for future generations. This sacrificial giving is not about equal gifts but equal sacrifice, reflecting our commitment to God's kingdom.
Key Takeaways:
1. Breaking Chains Through Faith: The chains of unforgiveness, depression, and sickness can be broken through faith in Jesus. By raising our hands and declaring freedom, we acknowledge that these chains have no power over us when we move in the Spirit. This act of faith is a powerful reminder of God's ability to set us free. [00:45]
2. Building a Legacy of Faith: A legacy is built over a lifetime of daily obedience, intentional discipleship, and unwavering trust in God. Genuine faith is not just for Sundays but is evident in our everyday lives. We are called to live authentically, prioritizing God's word and serving others with purpose. [40:54]
3. From Thanksgiving to Thanksgifting: True gratitude leads to action. By recognizing God's blessings, we shift from being consumers to givers. This involves offering a "thank offering" to God, acknowledging His provision, and fulfilling our vows to Him. [51:39]
4. Investing in Eternity: Material possessions are temporary, but our relationship with God and what we do with His gifts are eternal. By placing red dots on cherished items, we remind ourselves of their impermanence and focus on investing in what truly lasts. [56:48]
5. Generous Giving: Generosity enlarges our world, while stinginess shrinks it. We are encouraged to give spontaneously, strategically, and sacrificially. Our legacy offering is an opportunity to contribute to God's kingdom, ensuring that our church continues to impact lives for generations. [01:03:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Breaking Chains Through Faith
- [05:00] - Celebrating Community Achievements
- [10:00] - Introduction to Leaving a Legacy
- [15:00] - Defining Legacy
- [20:00] - Building a Legacy of Faith
- [25:00] - Genuine Faith and Prioritizing God's Word
- [30:00] - Serving and Living with Purpose
- [35:00] - Thanksgiving to Thanksgifting
- [40:00] - Recognizing God's Blessings
- [45:00] - Investing in Eternity
- [50:00] - Generous Giving
- [55:00] - Legacy Offering and Sacrificial Giving
- [01:00:00] - Encouragement to Trust God
- [01:05:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Breaking Chains and Leaving a Legacy
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."
2. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
3. Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
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Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the "chains" mentioned in the sermon that people might need to break through faith in Jesus? [00:45]
2. How does the sermon describe the process of building a legacy of faith? What are the key components mentioned? [40:54]
3. What is the significance of the "red dots" mentioned in the sermon, and what do they symbolize? [56:48]
4. How does the sermon define "thanksgifting," and how is it different from mere gratitude? [51:39]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that genuine faith should be evident in our daily lives, beyond just Sundays? [40:54]
2. How does the concept of "thanksgifting" challenge traditional views of gratitude and giving? What might be the spiritual implications of this shift? [51:39]
3. The sermon mentions investing in eternity. How does this align with the biblical passage from Matthew 6:19-21? What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? [56:48]
4. How does the sermon encourage believers to approach the idea of sacrificial giving, and what biblical principles support this practice? [01:03:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a "chain" in your life that you feel needs breaking. How can you actively seek freedom through faith and prayer this week? [00:45]
2. Consider the legacy you are currently building. What steps can you take to ensure it aligns with a life of genuine faith and service to others? [40:54]
3. Identify one material possession you cherish. How can you remind yourself of its impermanence and refocus on eternal values? [56:48]
4. Think about a time when you made a vow to God. Have you fulfilled it? If not, what steps can you take to honor that commitment? [51:39]
5. How can you move from being a consumer to a giver in your daily life? Identify one practical way to start this shift today. [51:39]
6. What is one way you can participate in the church's legacy offering or another form of sacrificial giving? How can you prepare your heart and finances for this act of worship? [01:05:57]
7. Reflect on the people who have invested in your life. How can you express gratitude to them this week, and who can you begin investing in to leave a legacy of faith? [49:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Breaks Chains
The chains of unforgiveness, depression, and sickness can be broken through faith in Jesus. By raising our hands and declaring freedom, we acknowledge that these chains have no power over us when we move in the Spirit. This act of faith is a powerful reminder of God's ability to set us free. [00:45]
Isaiah 58:6 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?"
Reflection: Identify a specific chain in your life that you need God to break. How can you actively declare freedom over this area today through prayer and faith?
Day 2: Building a Legacy of Faith
A legacy is built over a lifetime of daily obedience, intentional discipleship, and unwavering trust in God. Genuine faith is not just for Sundays but is evident in our everyday lives. We are called to live authentically, prioritizing God's word and serving others with purpose. [40:54]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can demonstrate your faith in your daily routine this week? How can you involve others in this journey of faith?
Day 3: From Thanksgiving to Thanksgifting
True gratitude leads to action. By recognizing God's blessings, we shift from being consumers to givers. This involves offering a "thank offering" to God, acknowledging His provision, and fulfilling our vows to Him. [51:39]
2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV): "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: Consider a blessing in your life that you often take for granted. How can you turn your gratitude for this blessing into an act of giving today?
Day 4: Investing in Eternity
Material possessions are temporary, but our relationship with God and what we do with His gifts are eternal. By placing red dots on cherished items, we remind ourselves of their impermanence and focus on investing in what truly lasts. [56:48]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What is one material possession you hold dear? How can you shift your focus from this item to investing in eternal values today?
Day 5: Generous Giving
Generosity enlarges our world, while stinginess shrinks it. We are encouraged to give spontaneously, strategically, and sacrificially. Our legacy offering is an opportunity to contribute to God's kingdom, ensuring that our church continues to impact lives for generations. [01:03:03]
Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV): "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent opportunity to give that you passed up. How can you prepare your heart to respond generously the next time a similar opportunity arises?
Quotes
And I wouldn't even plan on doing this, so this is for you. Personally for you. God wants to break those chains. It may be chains of unforgiveness. It may be chains of depression. It may be chains of sickness. For whatever it is. But I really believe that the Lord wants to set you free today. I mean, I can hear the sound. Can you hear the sound? I can hear the sound of those chains dropping onto a floor and just making that noise. I don't know who you are. There may be more than one. May not even be anybody in this service. Maybe somebody watching online. But if that resonates with you. If you say, yeah, Terry, that's me. I feel those heavy chains. I just, man, I just, I would just like to, I would just like to be free today. If that's you, I'd like for you to raise your hands so I can see you wherever you are. Just raise your hand. Okay. All right. Thank you. Others today. Hands going up. Just keep them up. Just keep them up so I can see. See. All right. Several hands. Several hands. Here's what we're going to do. Just sing just a little bit of that and then we're going to pray. I just, I just, I just want to hear that song. [00:22:04] (80 seconds)
And so you know what I'm doing with the rest of my life? The rest of my life is I'm going to pour my life into other people to encourage them, to help them to become all that they can be. We're building a life, a legacy, honoring God. Number two, we have to move from Thanksgiving to thanksgiftings. Say thanksgifting. [00:49:15] (23 seconds)
David said in Psalm 50, offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving. In other words, do a sacrifice, thank offering, and perform your vows, underline that word vows, to the Most High. The word vow there, I think, wonder if David is talking about sometime he was in a pinch. And he said, God, if you'll get me out of this, if you'll bring me through this, then I'll serve you with all of my heart. I'll fulfill. And so he said, I'm going to fulfill my vows. I wonder. [00:50:29] (34 seconds)
Leviticus 22 and 29 says, when, not if, you sacrifice the thanksgiving offering to God. Do it right. In other words, with the right attitude so it can be acceptable. So here's what I need to do. It's in your notes there. Recognize how God has blessed you. Acknowledge his provision. [00:51:57] (19 seconds)
I just thank God for health. I thank God that I know that I'm serving him with all my heart. And when I just do that, things change, Michael. They just change. And you want to have a heart of thanksgiving to God. So I recognize how God has blessed me. And then I want to shift from being a consumer to a giver. Say giver. Giver. [00:53:57] (26 seconds)
Andrew Carnegie, who was famous for a Carnegie Steel Company, he said, here's a quote. I will spend the first half of my life making money. And I will spend the second half of my life giving it all away. And he did. Started over 2 ,500 public libraries worldwide. He gave away 90 % of his income. He gave to churches, universities, research institutions, public projects. His life teaches us the success is not in what we gain, but success is what we give away. [00:54:43] (34 seconds)
Here's what I know. The only thing that lasts forever, first of all, is our relationship with God. And second of all, is what we do with what God gave us. One of these days, I'm going to stand before him and he's going to ask me two questions. What did you do with my son that I sent to die for your sins? And second of all, he's going to say, and what did you do with the wealth that I gave you? Did you help build my kingdom? Or did you just keep fattening your own kingdom? [01:00:10] (35 seconds)
Scripture says this, look at this. This is, this is Matthew chapter six. Jesus, Jesus said, it's in red. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on this earth, right? Put the red dot on it. Where moth comes, rust destroys and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourself, what? Treasures in heaven, heaven. Where moth and rust do not destroy, where thieves do not break in and steal. Read the last sentence with me. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Here's a word that I'd like to give you from the Lord. The very next verse, tell those that are rich to be rich in good works. Works. [01:01:11] (37 seconds)
Proverbs 11, 24 says, the world of the generous gets larger and larger, but the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. So what do you say? Well, let's give spontaneously. When you see a need, you meet it. Like Luke chapter 10, Good Samaritan, he saw a need and he met it. I was walking down the street in a major city not long ago with some friends when we passed by someone that was held assigned. I think it said a homeless vet. [01:03:01] (30 seconds)
And we walked on by as most of us walk on by a thing like that, because we feel like, well, if I give, they just use it for the wrong way. But my friend walked on by and, and the Lord has spoken to him and he reached in his wallet and he took out money knowing him is probably a hundred dollar bill. And he went back and he gave it to the vet. I didn't say anything to him, but I marked it down in my, in my mind. That's giving spontaneously. That's seeing a need and meeting a need. Anita and I carry God, what we call God money in our wallet, in our purse. [01:03:47] (30 seconds)
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