Building a Firm Foundation: A Year of Transformation
Summary
As we embark on a new year, it's a time to reflect on the foundation upon which we build our lives. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 that the only true foundation is Jesus Christ. As we step into 2025, let's make a collective declaration to build our lives on this firm foundation, rather than on transient things like careers, money, or appearances. This year, let's not just be hearers of the Word, but doers, applying its truths in our lives, marriages, families, and communities.
This year, I challenge us to move beyond resolutions to a revolution—a marked and complete change in our spiritual walk. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders us, running with endurance the race set before us. This revolution is about shedding unnecessary burdens and embracing the responsibilities God has given us. It's about being transformed into the image of Christ, reflecting His glory in every aspect of our lives.
In this series, "Pound for Pound," we draw inspiration from the world of boxing, where the greatest fighters are those who excel regardless of weight class. Similarly, we are called to be the greatest in our spiritual journey, shedding spiritual weight that hinders us and learning to carry the God-given responsibilities well. This involves a personal weight audit, identifying what we carry that God hasn't asked us to, and learning to rely on Him for strength.
Exhaustion can be a reminder of our need for God, teaching us to depend on Him and to discern the weights we should and shouldn't carry. As we pray and seek God's guidance, let's ask Him to reveal what we need to lay aside. This year, let's fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and allow Him to lead us into a year of transformation and victory.
Key Takeaways:
1. Foundation on Christ: Building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ is essential for enduring faith. Unlike transient foundations like careers or wealth, Christ offers a lasting and unshakeable base for our lives. This year, let's commit to being doers of the Word, applying its truths in every aspect of our lives. [34:01]
2. Revolution, Not Resolution: Instead of fleeting resolutions, aim for a spiritual revolution—a complete and marked change in your walk with God. This involves shedding unnecessary burdens and embracing the responsibilities God has given us, leading to a deeper, more authentic faith. [36:51]
3. Running the Race: Hebrews 12:1 calls us to lay aside every weight and sin, running with endurance the race set before us. This requires a personal weight audit, identifying what we carry that God hasn't asked us to, and learning to rely on Him for strength. [47:25]
4. Exhaustion as a Teacher: Exhaustion can remind us of our need for God, teaching us to depend on Him and discern the weights we should and shouldn't carry. It's a call to partner with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to transform us into the image of Christ. [58:22]
5. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: The key to laying aside every weight is fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. As we focus on Him, He guides us in shedding burdens and embracing the life He has called us to live. [01:08:14]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[34:01] - Revolution, Not Resolution
[36:51] - The Journey of Faith
[39:27] - Pound for Pound: Spiritual Strength
[41:04] - Heroes of Faith
[43:38] - Something Better Awaits
[44:59] - Transformation into Christ's Image
[45:41] - God Has Better for Your Marriage
[46:32] - Excellence in Every Role
[47:25] - Running the Race with Endurance
[50:07] - Winning in Every Aspect of Life
[51:18] - Identifying and Shedding Weights
[57:34] - God-Given Responsibilities
[58:22] - Lessons from Exhaustion
[01:08:14] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
- Hebrews 12:1
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, what is the only true foundation upon which we should build our lives? How does this foundation compare to others like careers or wealth? [34:01]
2. In Hebrews 12:1, what are we encouraged to lay aside, and what are we called to do with endurance? How does this relate to the concept of running a race? [47:25]
3. The sermon mentions a "personal weight audit." What does this entail, and why is it important for our spiritual journey? [51:18]
4. How does the analogy of a "pound for pound" fighter relate to our spiritual walk, according to the sermon? [39:27]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and how can this impact our daily decisions and priorities? [34:01]
2. The sermon challenges us to aim for a "revolution" rather than a "resolution" in our spiritual lives. What might a spiritual revolution look like for an individual believer? [36:51]
3. How can exhaustion serve as a teacher in our spiritual lives, and what lessons might it teach us about reliance on God? [58:22]
4. Reflect on the idea of shedding spiritual weight. What might be some examples of unnecessary burdens that believers carry, and how can they discern which weights to lay aside? [51:18]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current foundation. Are there areas in your life where you are building on something other than Jesus Christ? What steps can you take to realign your foundation this year? [34:01]
2. Consider the concept of a spiritual revolution. What specific changes do you feel called to make in your spiritual walk this year? How can you ensure these changes are lasting and impactful? [36:51]
3. Identify a specific weight or burden you are carrying that may not be from God. How can you begin to lay this aside, and what support do you need from your community or from God to do so? [51:18]
4. Think about a time when you felt exhausted in your spiritual journey. How did you respond, and what did you learn about your need for God during that time? How can you apply these lessons moving forward? [58:22]
5. The sermon encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on Jesus in your daily life? Are there specific distractions you need to address? [01:08:14]
6. How can you incorporate the idea of a "personal weight audit" into your regular spiritual practice? What might this look like on a weekly or monthly basis? [51:18]
7. Reflect on the analogy of being a "pound for pound" spiritual fighter. What skills or disciplines do you need to develop to excel in your spiritual journey, regardless of the challenges you face? [39:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Building on the Unshakeable Foundation
Building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ is essential for enduring faith. Unlike transient foundations like careers or wealth, Christ offers a lasting and unshakeable base for our lives. This year, let's commit to being doers of the Word, applying its truths in every aspect of our lives. [34:01]
"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have relied on a transient foundation? How can you begin to shift that reliance to Jesus today?
Day 2: Embracing a Spiritual Revolution
Instead of fleeting resolutions, aim for a spiritual revolution—a complete and marked change in your walk with God. This involves shedding unnecessary burdens and embracing the responsibilities God has given us, leading to a deeper, more authentic faith. [36:51]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one burden you are carrying that God has not asked you to bear. What steps can you take to release it and embrace the responsibilities He has given you?
Day 3: Running the Race with Endurance
Hebrews 12:1 calls us to lay aside every weight and sin, running with endurance the race set before us. This requires a personal weight audit, identifying what we carry that God hasn't asked us to, and learning to rely on Him for strength. [47:25]
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one "weight" in your life that is hindering your spiritual race? How can you begin to lay it aside today?
Day 4: Learning from Exhaustion
Exhaustion can remind us of our need for God, teaching us to depend on Him and discern the weights we should and shouldn't carry. It's a call to partner with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to transform us into the image of Christ. [58:22]
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways has exhaustion been a teacher in your life? How can you use this awareness to deepen your dependence on God?
Day 5: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
The key to laying aside every weight is fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. As we focus on Him, He guides us in shedding burdens and embracing the life He has called us to live. [01:08:14]
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to fix your eyes on Jesus daily, allowing Him to guide you in shedding unnecessary burdens?
Quotes
And so let's just make that a declaration of our prayer as we start this new year. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, together, collectively, those of us in this room and those of us watching online, Father, we are declaring today that in 2025, we are not going to build our foundation upon success. We're not going to build our foundation upon our careers only. We're not going to build our foundation upon money, Lord, or good looks. Father, we are going to build our lives on the solid foundation that is Jesus Christ. And Father, I pray that, Father, that this new year would be filled with your presence, would be filled with your guidance, that, Father, this year as we build our life week in and week out upon the truths found in your holy word, that, Father, we just not would be hearers of your word, but that we would be doers of your word, that we would put in our lives the things that we believe in, the things that we into practice, that we would put into application into our own lives, into our own marriages, into our own families, into our own kiddos this year as we build that foundation of faith upon Jesus Christ our Lord. And we ask this in that mighty name of Jesus and all of God's people said, amen, amen. Let's give the Lord a hand. He is worthy. He is good. Hey, listen, before you're seated, would you turn to your neighbor and just tell them happy new year? [00:30:45] (92 seconds)
Now, if you have your Bibles, our whole series is built around one verse. Hebrews chapter 12. If you have your Bibles or a cell phone with the Bible app, if you have the YouVersion Bible app on your cell phone, find Hope City on YouVersion. Follow us as your home church, and all of the slides, all the verses, all the notes are already preloaded up there for you. That's YouVersion Bible app. Search Hope City, make us your home church, and you'll find under events today's message in all the slides. Now, Hebrews chapter 12. Before we read Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1, remember what Hebrews chapter 11 is about. The chapter before the verse we're going to read is all about faith. In Hebrews chapter 11, it talks about the heroes of the faith, and over and over and over again, they use this phrase, by faith. By faith, Abraham. By faith, Moses. By faith, David. By faith, and they list all the heroes of the faith and all the things that they accomplished and all the hardship that they endured because of their faith. [00:41:04] (73 seconds)
And the author of Hebrews, after talking about the incredible faith that our heroes past has, says, man, God has provided something even better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. That even the heroes of the faith never reached perfection on this side of heaven. And the same is true for you and I. We're never going to reach our greatest potential until Christ Jesus comes again. And then in a blink of an eye, at the second coming, we're all going to be made perfect. But that doesn't give us an excuse to hit cruise control. We still have work to do. We still have to partner with the Holy Spirit here and now so that he is working in us and transforming us and bringing this revolution change to our heart and to our lives until ultimately we're formed into the image of Christ. [00:43:05] (64 seconds)
Maybe for some of you, you feel kind of stuck in your job, stuck in your career. I feel like I can't go anywhere else. I can't advance any more than where I'm at. And you've kind of hit cruise control at work. And you're doing just enough not to get fired. That's not how it's supposed to be. Scripture tells us that those of us that have jobs, we're supposed to work, not as we're working. We're not working for men, but as if we're working unto the Lord. God has something better for you in your career. In other words, you should be the greatest employee because you're a follower of Jesus. If you're in the military service, you should be the best soldier in your unit or your platoon or your brigade because you're a follower of Jesus. Because God has provided something better for us. [00:46:04] (55 seconds)
And if we learn to partner with his Holy Spirit and allow him to bring this revolution, this change and complete change and sudden change of heart, this is going to be your revolutionary year. Now, let's go to our main verse that this whole series is built upon. Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1. This is what the author of Hebrews says. He says, Therefore, after what we just read, right, if you were to read through the scriptures and you read through Hebrews 11, you're going to hear about the heroes of the faith by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith, because of all of the faith that they had. Therefore, remember the verse right before this. Therefore, because God has provided something better for you. [00:47:25] (50 seconds)
Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses and the author of Hebrews paints this picture of God, of an arena, that we are now entrusted to run our own race. That God has given you a specific race to run. We all have the same assignment and we all have the charge to glorify God on this earth. But because God is such a personal God, he also has unique and individual callings for each and every one of us. You have a race to run. I have a race to run. But be of good cheer. Be encouraged. Because our, heroes of the faith, who we just read about in chapter 11, all that they accomplished, all that they endured, man, they're in the grand, stands cheering you on and then he goes on therefore we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside or put down every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us right or entraps us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us that God has set a race a path in front of you and whatever it was last year that weighed you down whatever it was that you were caring that felt like a burden that hindered you from winning your race. See, the goal is not just to run the race. Paul, in other verses, will tell us, like, man, I train my body not just to run, but to win, to be victorious. [00:47:49] (116 seconds)
We still have to partner with the Holy Spirit and allow him to transform us. To change us more and more and more into the image of Christ Jesus. Now, let me share a quick story about weight. Because some of you, you're thinking already, all right, what was it last year that kind of weighed me down? What is that weight that I need to lay aside this year? What is that weight that I don't need to carry? That weight I carried last year, God is telling me like, hey, drop it. Don't carry it into this year. Because I have something better for you. And for some of you, you're trying to think of something big. Like last year, what was the biggest thing I went through? What is the biggest heartache? What was the biggest trial? What was the biggest heart shape? But what I learned last year, personally, is not necessarily the big heavy things. But sometimes it could be that little consistent thing. [00:50:53] (62 seconds)
Exhaustion taught me three things. Number one, exhaustion isn't necessarily a bad thing. All right, but let me tell you the lessons I learned last year. Number one, exhaustion is a reminder that, Lord, I need you, right? Lord, I can't do this in my own strength. Lord, I need you. I need you in my marriage, Lord. I need you in my family, Lord. I need you with this concern I have for my child. I need you. Because without exhaustion, you might feel like Superman, right? Without exhaustion, you think you're Wonder Woman, and you're out there going, go, go, go, do, do, do. And it's hard because we live in a culture that celebrates accomplishment and success, and the more weight you carry, the more of a man you are. The more weight you carry, the more of a woman you are. That is not kingdom culture. That is worldly culture, right? Kingdom culture is, cast your cares on him because he cares for you, right? Kingdom culture. Kingdom culture is, work hard for six days and then rest on the Sabbath. [00:58:22] (75 seconds)
Kingdom culture at Hope City is the Sundays after Christmas, we go on Sabbath break, right? That's kingdom culture because that helps your heart and my heart realize, God, we're not called to do it all, and we're not called to carry all the weight alone. There are times in our lives and seasons in our lives where it's a reminder to me. That, Lord, I need you. The second thing that exhaustion teaches us, or it taught me, it tells me I need to learn to carry the weight God gives well. Like I said, as the lead pastor, there are certain roles and certain responsibilities that only I can do. And I have to accept that, and I have to learn to carry that weight well. So it doesn't destroy my marriage or my family or the church. And so there's some responsibilities I just have to learn, depending on the Holy Spirit, how to carry well. [00:59:27] (64 seconds)
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