Embracing Healing and Hope for a New Year
Summary
As we gather together, whether in person or online, we reflect on the past year with gratitude and anticipation for what lies ahead. Despite the challenges and triumphs of 2024, we look forward to 2025 with hope and faith, believing that God will continue to work wonders in our lives and our church community. This is a time to let go of the past and embrace the present, allowing God to heal and transform us.
Many of us struggle with the weight of our past, which can hinder our ability to enjoy the present. It's crucial to seek healing and release the burdens that hold us captive. The cross represents the forgiveness of our sins, and the resurrection empowers us to move beyond our past. God loves us too much to leave us in our brokenness, and through Jesus, we are made new. It's not about adding anything to Jesus; it's about recognizing that He alone is sufficient for our salvation and transformation.
As believers, we are called to build bridges, not chasms, between ourselves and others. Love is not about total agreement or disagreement; it's about valuing relationships and showing God's love through our actions. We must be mindful of how we represent God in our interactions, ensuring that we reflect His goodness and grace.
We cannot help everyone, but we can help someone. By focusing on helping those around us, we can create a ripple effect that expands our capacity to serve and love others. This is how we can start a movement that changes the world for God's kingdom. Trusting God with the outcomes of our lives frees us from the pressure of trying to control everything. Our responsibility is to plant and water the seeds, while God causes the growth.
Finally, we must renew our minds daily, allowing God to transform us from the inside out. By focusing on God's purpose for our lives, we can overcome the distractions and offenses that try to shrink our vision. Our lives are too short and our purpose too great to be limited by past hurts or offenses. Instead, we should focus on the healing power of Jesus' blood, which cleanses and restores us. God is not involved in condemnation or shame; He offers forgiveness and freedom from the burdens of our past.
Key Takeaways:
1. Letting Go of the Past: Holding onto past hurts can imprison us, preventing us from enjoying the present. Seeking healing through Jesus allows us to move forward and embrace the new life He offers. [35:00]
2. The Sufficiency of Jesus: Our salvation and transformation come solely through Jesus. It's not about adding anything to Him; He alone is enough to forgive and renew us. [38:53]
3. Building Bridges, Not Chasms: Love is about valuing relationships and showing God's love, even in disagreement. We must ensure our actions reflect God's goodness and grace. [40:25]
4. Helping Someone: While we can't help everyone, we can make a difference by helping someone. This creates a ripple effect, expanding our capacity to serve and love others. [43:47]
5. Renewing Our Minds: Daily renewal of our minds allows God to transform us, helping us focus on His purpose and overcome distractions and offenses. Our lives are too short to be limited by past hurts. [48:49]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Reflecting on the Past Year
[01:15] - Embracing the Present
[02:00] - Letting Go of the Past
[03:00] - The Power of the Cross
[04:00] - Building Bridges
[05:00] - Helping Someone
[06:00] - Trusting God with Outcomes
[07:00] - Renewing Our Minds
[08:00] - Overcoming Offenses
[09:00] - The Healing Power of Jesus
[10:00] - Freedom from Shame
[11:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 John 4:7-9
2. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
3. Romans 12:2
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 John 4:7-9, what is the relationship between knowing God and loving others? How does this passage define love? [40:25]
2. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, what roles do Paul and Apollos play in the growth process, and who is ultimately responsible for the growth? [45:59]
3. Romans 12:2 speaks about transformation through the renewal of the mind. What does this renewal involve, and why is it important? [48:49]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of letting go of the past. What are some specific ways the speaker suggests we can seek healing from past hurts? [35:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of love in 1 John 4:7-9 challenge common perceptions of love in today's society? How might this understanding of love affect our relationships with others? [40:25]
2. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, what does it mean to trust God with the outcomes of our efforts? How can this perspective change the way we approach our responsibilities? [45:59]
3. Romans 12:2 emphasizes the renewal of the mind. What might be some practical steps to achieve this renewal, and how can it impact our daily lives? [48:49]
4. The sermon discusses the sufficiency of Jesus for our salvation and transformation. How does this understanding affect the way we view our past and our identity in Christ? [38:53]
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Application Questions:
1. The sermon encourages us to let go of past hurts. Is there a specific past hurt you are holding onto that you need to release? What steps can you take this week to seek healing? [35:33]
2. In what ways can you build bridges rather than chasms in your relationships, especially with those you disagree with? How can you show God's love in these interactions? [40:25]
3. The speaker mentions that we can't help everyone, but we can help someone. Who is one person in your life you can focus on helping this week, and what specific action can you take to support them? [43:47]
4. How can you practice trusting God with the outcomes of your life, especially in areas where you feel the need to control? What is one area you can surrender to God this week? [45:59]
5. The sermon talks about renewing our minds daily. What is one practical way you can incorporate this practice into your daily routine to focus on God's purpose for your life? [48:49]
6. Reflect on the idea that God is not involved in condemnation or shame. How can this truth change the way you view yourself and your past? What steps can you take to embrace God's forgiveness and freedom? [55:34]
7. The sermon highlights the healing power of Jesus' blood. How can you allow this healing to take place in areas of your life that need restoration? What might be blocking this healing, and how can you address it? [53:10]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Freedom from the Past
Letting go of past hurts is essential for living fully in the present. Many people find themselves trapped by memories and experiences that weigh them down, preventing them from experiencing the joy and peace available in the present moment. The message of the cross is one of forgiveness and liberation, offering a path to healing and renewal. By seeking healing through Jesus, individuals can release the burdens of their past and embrace the new life He offers. This process involves acknowledging the pain, seeking God's healing, and trusting in His power to transform and renew. [35:00]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What past hurt or burden are you holding onto that you need to release to God today? How can you begin to embrace the freedom and new life He offers?
Day 2: The Sufficiency of Christ
The sufficiency of Jesus is a foundational truth for believers. Salvation and transformation come solely through Him, and there is nothing we can add to His finished work on the cross. This understanding frees us from striving to earn God's favor and allows us to rest in His grace. Jesus' sacrifice is complete and sufficient for our forgiveness and renewal. Recognizing this truth empowers us to live confidently in our identity as children of God, knowing that He alone is enough for our salvation and transformation. [38:53]
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to add to Jesus' work, thinking it's not enough? How can you remind yourself of His sufficiency today?
Day 3: Building Bridges of Love
Building bridges, not chasms, is a call to love others as God loves us. Love is not about total agreement or disagreement; it's about valuing relationships and showing God's love through our actions. As believers, we are called to reflect God's goodness and grace in our interactions with others, even when we disagree. This involves listening, understanding, and extending grace, creating connections that reflect the heart of God. By focusing on building bridges, we can foster unity and demonstrate the transformative power of God's love in our communities. [40:25]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of a relationship where you have experienced disagreement. How can you build a bridge of love and understanding in that relationship today?
Day 4: The Ripple Effect of Helping
While we cannot help everyone, we can make a significant impact by helping someone. This approach creates a ripple effect, expanding our capacity to serve and love others. By focusing on the needs of those around us, we can initiate a movement that changes the world for God's kingdom. Trusting God with the outcomes of our efforts frees us from the pressure of trying to control everything. Our responsibility is to plant and water the seeds, while God causes the growth. This mindset encourages us to take action, knowing that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact. [43:47]
Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Reflection: Who is one person you can help today, and what specific action can you take to make a difference in their life?
Day 5: Renewing the Mind for Transformation
Renewing our minds daily is crucial for spiritual growth and transformation. By focusing on God's purpose for our lives, we can overcome the distractions and offenses that try to shrink our vision. Our lives are too short and our purpose too great to be limited by past hurts or offenses. Instead, we should focus on the healing power of Jesus' blood, which cleanses and restores us. God offers forgiveness and freedom from the burdens of our past, inviting us to live with renewed minds and hearts. This daily renewal allows us to align our thoughts with God's truth and live out His purpose with clarity and conviction. [48:49]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What is one thought pattern or mindset you need to renew today to align with God's truth? How can you intentionally focus on His purpose for your life?
Quotes
Some of you in the room can't enjoy your present because you're not going to pray for yourself. Because you're still held captive by your past. And the reality is, is it was a real past and it was real hard. And what happened to you really happened. But if you won't seek healing from it, it will always imprison you. [00:35:12] (21 seconds)
See, the cross was about the forgiveness of our sins because God loves us. He loves us. He loves us. He loves us. He loves us. He loves us. He loves us. I need you to hear me when I say this, and I really hope you hear my heart and not just a phrase, but God loves us right where we are. [00:37:18] (14 seconds)
It's nothing that anybody else would tell you that you need, that there's all these paths and all these ways and all these things. It's just Jesus. There's only Jesus. It's only one man that is bled and died and rose again so that we can have eternal life with a God that loves us. It's just Jesus. [00:38:59] (22 seconds)
Beloved let us love one another for love is from god and everyone who loves is born of god and they know god verse 8 the one who does not love does not know god for god is love i want to and i'm gonna go to verse 9 give you this thought i can love others and not love god but i cannot love god and not love others it's not possible [00:40:25] (29 seconds)
We can't, hear me, we can't help everyone. You can't help everyone. This is hard for me to grasp. I have a little bit of a Superman syndrome. I think I can help anybody in need. The way I'm wired is I want everybody laughing and happy at all times in life. And if you're not, what's wrong with you? Let me fix it. [00:43:56] (23 seconds)
And the more I help somebody, the more my capacity grows to help more somebodies. And now that I've helped them, now we both go find somebody to help. And then it just begins to multiply, and that's how a movement starts that changes the world for the kingdom of God. You can't help everybody, but you can help somebody. [00:44:09] (20 seconds)
When I don't trust God radically, I have to create the outcomes. And I will stress myself, and I will stress everybody around me, and I will live to the edges, and I will run hard, and I will go tough, and I will do all these things, all in the name. In the name of outcome. [00:46:21] (23 seconds)
But when I trust God, my job is to plant the seed and water the seed. I can't do a thing to create the growth. And I need some of you to hear me today, because this is going to set some of you free in multiple ways. You are not responsible for the outcome of your life. [00:47:00] (18 seconds)
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