Embracing Faith: Cultivating Habits for a Bright Future
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "Looking Forward," focusing on how faith, rather than past experiences or luck, should guide our future. We are encouraged to see our lives through a "faith windshield," leaving behind the past and embracing the potential of what lies ahead. This journey is not about grand gestures but about cultivating small, consistent habits that lead to significant change. Jesus exemplifies this by showing us how to live, love, and grow spiritually, urging us to follow His example in our daily lives.
We discussed the importance of not relying on luck or wishing for change but instead actively creating habits that align with biblical teachings. The story of the Trevi Fountain served as a metaphor for how many approach life—turning around, closing their eyes, and making a wish. Instead, we are called to follow the example of Paul, who emphasizes the importance of striving toward our goals, forgetting the past, and focusing on what lies ahead.
The sermon also addressed the common struggle of feeling like others are progressing faster or more successfully, despite not following God. This feeling can lead to frustration, but we are reminded that spiritual growth is a journey, not a destination. The key is to develop daily habits that foster spiritual maturity and freedom, rather than seeking perfection or waiting for ideal conditions.
Finally, we explored the concept of shared victory, emphasizing that our journey is not meant to be solitary. Relationships are God's gift to us, and our breakthroughs often come through the encouragement and support of others. We are encouraged to be open to receiving and giving encouragement, recognizing the power of community in our spiritual growth.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith Over Past and Luck: Embrace a future guided by faith, not by past experiences or luck. Jesus provides a model for living that we should emulate daily, focusing on love, devotion, and reflection. This approach helps us move forward without being hindered by past failures or the illusion of luck. [28:31]
2. Small Habits, Big Changes: Significant life changes come from small, consistent habits rather than grand plans. Daily practices like prayer, devotion, and reflection are the building blocks of spiritual growth and freedom. These habits, though seemingly small, compound over time to create profound change. [41:35]
3. Progress Over Perfection: Spiritual growth is about progress, not perfection. Paul’s example teaches us to keep striving toward our goals, even when conditions aren't perfect. This mindset helps us overcome the paralysis of perfectionism and focus on the journey of growth with Christ. [48:48]
4. Community and Encouragement: Our spiritual journey is not meant to be solitary. God’s plan includes relationships, and our breakthroughs often come through the encouragement of others. Being open to both giving and receiving encouragement is vital for personal and communal growth. [54:16]
5. Shared Victory: Life is a shared journey, and our victories are often achieved together. Encouragement and support from others can be the catalyst for personal breakthroughs. Recognizing the value of community helps us move further in our spiritual walk than we could alone. [55:30]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [28:31] - Embracing Faith for the Future
- [31:50] - Following Jesus' Example
- [32:43] - The Illusion of Luck
- [33:39] - The Trevi Fountain Metaphor
- [34:35] - Moving Beyond Wishing
- [35:46] - Paul's Call to Strive Forward
- [37:02] - Physical and Mental Habits
- [38:36] - The Elephant in the Room
- [40:01] - Changing Habits for Change
- [41:35] - Small Habits, Big Impact
- [42:59] - Daily Practices for Growth
- [44:23] - Starting Small
- [45:56] - Habits Over Goals
- [46:54] - Freedom with Restraint
- [47:50] - Progress Over Perfection
- [48:48] - Overcoming Perfectionism
- [49:38] - Taking the Leap
- [50:43] - The Journey of Growth
- [51:50] - Striving and Reaching Out
- [53:04] - The Gift of Community
- [54:16] - Encouragement and Breakthrough
- [55:30] - The Power of Words
- [56:51] - The Importance of Encouragement
- [57:50] - Reflective Questions
- [58:39] - Responding to Encouragement
- [59:30] - Encouraging Others
- [01:00:12] - Shared Victory Challenge
- [01:00:43] - Offering and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Looking Forward
Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 3:12-15
2. Galatians 5:13
3. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul emphasize about his spiritual journey in Philippians 3:12-15, and how does it relate to the idea of "forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead"? [35:46]
2. How does the sermon use the metaphor of the Trevi Fountain to illustrate a common approach to life, and what alternative does it suggest? [34:35]
3. According to Galatians 5:13, what is the purpose of the freedom we have been given, and how does this relate to the concept of creating right habits? [46:54]
4. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, what is the benefit of companionship, and how does this support the sermon’s emphasis on community and shared victory? [53:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that small, consistent habits can lead to significant life changes, and what biblical principles support this idea? [41:35]
2. What does the sermon imply about the dangers of perfectionism in spiritual growth, and how does Paul’s example in Philippians 3:12-15 address this issue? [48:48]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of community in achieving personal breakthroughs, and what biblical examples illustrate this concept? [54:16]
4. In what ways does the sermon challenge the notion of relying on luck or wishing for change, and how does it propose we actively create change in our lives? [34:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a past experience where you relied on luck or wishes for change. How can you shift your focus to creating small, consistent habits that align with your faith? [34:35]
2. Identify one small habit you can start this week to foster spiritual growth. How will you ensure consistency in this practice? [41:35]
3. Consider an area in your life where perfectionism has hindered your progress. What steps can you take to embrace progress over perfection? [48:48]
4. Think of a time when someone’s encouragement made a significant impact on your life. How can you be that source of encouragement for someone else this week? [54:16]
5. Evaluate your current community involvement. How can you deepen your relationships to experience shared victories in your spiritual journey? [53:04]
6. What is one specific way you can use your freedom to serve others in love, as mentioned in Galatians 5:13? [46:54]
7. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did your habits influence your response, and what changes can you make to better align your habits with your faith? [45:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as Our Compass
In life, we often find ourselves looking back at past experiences or relying on luck to guide our future. However, true guidance comes from faith. By focusing on faith, we can move forward without being hindered by past failures or the illusion of luck. Jesus provides a model for living that we should emulate daily, focusing on love, devotion, and reflection. This approach helps us embrace a future guided by faith, allowing us to see our lives through a "faith windshield" and embrace the potential of what lies ahead. [28:31]
Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying on past experiences or luck instead of faith? How can you begin to shift your focus to faith today?
Day 2: The Power of Small Habits
Significant life changes often come from small, consistent habits rather than grand plans. Daily practices like prayer, devotion, and reflection are the building blocks of spiritual growth and freedom. These habits, though seemingly small, compound over time to create profound change. By cultivating these habits, we align ourselves with biblical teachings and actively create a life that reflects our faith. This journey is not about grand gestures but about the small, consistent steps that lead to significant change. [41:35]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Identify one small habit you can start today that aligns with your faith. How can you commit to practicing this habit consistently?
Day 3: Embracing Progress Over Perfection
Spiritual growth is about progress, not perfection. The example of Paul teaches us to keep striving toward our goals, even when conditions aren't perfect. This mindset helps us overcome the paralysis of perfectionism and focus on the journey of growth with Christ. By focusing on progress, we can develop daily habits that foster spiritual maturity and freedom, rather than seeking perfection or waiting for ideal conditions. [48:48]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What is one area where you are striving for perfection? How can you shift your focus to progress and take a step forward today?
Day 4: The Gift of Community
Our spiritual journey is not meant to be solitary. God’s plan includes relationships, and our breakthroughs often come through the encouragement of others. Being open to both giving and receiving encouragement is vital for personal and communal growth. Relationships are God's gift to us, and our victories are often achieved together. Recognizing the value of community helps us move further in our spiritual walk than we could alone. [54:16]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: Who in your community can you encourage today? How can you be open to receiving encouragement from others?
Day 5: Celebrating Shared Victory
Life is a shared journey, and our victories are often achieved together. Encouragement and support from others can be the catalyst for personal breakthroughs. By recognizing the power of community, we can move further in our spiritual walk than we could alone. Shared victory emphasizes the importance of relationships and the role they play in our spiritual growth. [55:30]
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV): "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent victory in your life. Who played a role in that victory, and how can you express gratitude to them today?
Quotes
"Jesus constantly, he says, copy and paste exactly what I do in my life and put it into your life. And don't you, aren't you glad that Jesus does this? He shows us how to do the thing we need to do, right? And then he says, I want you to come over here and you do it now. That's it. That's all he says. Watch how I love people. Now you go love people. Watch how I do devotion and watch how I reflect on life. And now you plug and play that into your own life. I love that." [00:31:50] (34 seconds)
"Instead of wishing for life change, I want to tell you, quit wishing for something better. We want to follow the Bible that shows us how to do this. Look at Paul. Paul says it for us loud and clear, Philippians 3 .12. I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. He says, I haven't arrived yet. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue what? Trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his." [00:34:35] (33 seconds)
"Paul starts showing us these efforts. He starts almost says trying, but it feels like he's trying to get the prize. It feels like training. And he says real quickly, who wants you to do that? PJ wants you to do that? Nope. Stan wants you to do it? Nope. Christ wants me to do it. That's the reason I'm here. That's the training part. And then he breaks off into two parts in this drill. He starts kind of coaching this physical and mental. Paul says, there's this one thing I always do. It probably needs to be the first thing I do every morning. Forget the past. Forget the headache. Forget the problem. Strain towards what? Is ahead, out in front. He says, stretch out, grasp, reach out, get to the goal." [00:37:02] (49 seconds)
"For the last two weeks, no matter where I'm at, no matter what I'm doing, what I'm wearing, any place I'm walking out of, I've been asked the same questions for 14 days by hundreds of people. And between two services, you guys collectively are 100 of them. Everyone asks me, guess what? What happened to you? My face is up here. Stop looking at the boot. I don't care who you are. The guy at the gas station, the person at the grocery store, the guy at the hardware store, it doesn't matter. People just feel so inclusive into my life. They say, what happened to you?" [00:38:36] (42 seconds)
"Your breakthrough isn't in the big plans, it's in the small habits. We know what the big plans look like. We know what the big house looks like. We know what financial success and the great family and the incredible job and the successful ministry, again, hashtag blessed life, whatever you wanna call this to corral this in, but how people and the disciples and many people in the Bible got here, they were small, minimal daily habits. And they sound like this, get up early, read the Bible, do a devotion, work out, spend less, eat less, limits on things, checkpoints on daily life. How's my relationship with the Lord doing today?" [00:41:35] (54 seconds)
"Some of you here today can't get beyond the first thing you need to do for the Lord is because you're worried about perfectionism. Perfectionism, Paul's admission says, I haven't reached the goal, but I continue to what? Try, he keeps trying. He says, I don't have it all together. I'm not waiting for perfect conditions. I'm not waiting for the weather to warm up in June. I'm going day by day, what? No matter what, no matter what. I'm trusting the process if it was 2025, if Paul was here." [00:48:48] (34 seconds)
"Paul has this axiom going, look forward, keep going, keep training, get right routines. But you might be here today going, this is the last sermon I need. I'm so discouraged right now. And life isn't turned out the way it should. Last year was not great. This feels like I'm barely moving along. Maybe like the way you look, PJ. The situation, the marriage is a mess. The kids are a mess. The job is a mess. The God stuff feels meh. And middle and just mid and I'm not here. And yes, it feels like luck. But if you don't get anything else out of this sermon, get this, the journey of spiritual growth with Christ is more important than the destination." [00:50:43] (45 seconds)
"God gave us each other. Ecclesiastes 4 .9 says this, two people are better than what? One, because they get more done by working together. That's where many hands make light work comes from. If one falls down, the other can help them up, but it's bad for the person who is what? Alone and falls because no one is there to help them. Hebrews 10 .24 says this, let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together at Cokie Mill Church. This stuff's good for you and me." [00:53:04] (38 seconds)
"Most of the time, when I was going through it all, just like your life, yes, the Bible helped. Yes, connect groups helped. Yes, worship time helped. All these things are good things. Most of the time, though, the thing that helped me through the next place was a person pulling me to the side and privately encouraging me with right words. Wasn't a prepared speech. Probably wasn't even thought through. And they just said something like, hey, God's really got a plan for your life and I can see it. And I know you can't." [00:54:16] (40 seconds)
"The dictionary definition of breakthrough means this. A sudden and important discovery or development. A significant advance or an achievement that removes a barrier or solves a problem. And it's. An instance, an instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle. What words are you withholding from people that are next to you here today? The Bible keeps spurring us on. It tells us, keep meeting together. Keep encouraging one another. Don't hold off. Don't not greet your pastor in line and tell them something. Maybe you got something out of that today. I can't tell you how much that means to the people who speak here on Sunday morning." [00:56:51] (45 seconds)
"When you walk alone, you move fast. But when you walk together, you go far. I want to tell you today, this is the best my life has ever been with a boot on. This is the furthest I've ever been with a boot on. This is the furthest I've ever been in my walk with Christ. Everything from here on out is an adventure. This is brand new. And because I've moved this far, I've done it with you guys. So the elephant in the room is, you need to get some shared victory. It's going to be a shared victory challenge. Amen." [01:00:12] (33 seconds)
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