Embracing New Beginnings: Made for More
Summary
The message begins with an emphasis on the concept of "Made for More," suggesting that individuals are created with a purpose and destiny that surpasses their current state. The focus is on the idea of starting anew, particularly relevant as the discussion unfolds at the beginning of a new year. The foundational scripture for this message is Proverbs 29:18, which highlights the importance of vision for preventing aimlessness among people.
The discussion moves on to the nature of God as the initiator of new beginnings, using the metaphor of God as a potter who doesn't discard the clay when a pot doesn't turn out as intended but instead starts over with the same material. This metaphor is drawn from Jeremiah 18, where the prophet is instructed to observe a potter at work. The potter's decision to start anew with the same clay is paralleled to God's willingness to work with individuals despite their past failures and to create something new out of their lives.
The message also addresses the common human tendency to make excuses for inaction or failure. It is suggested that excuses often stem from a lack of belief in one's own abilities or from a focus on past failures. The story of Gideon from the Book of Judges is used to illustrate how individuals often underestimate their potential and how divine encouragement can help overcome self-doubt.
The concept of "failing forward" is introduced, encouraging individuals to learn from their past mistakes rather than being hindered by them. The message underscores the importance of taking inventory of one's life, learning from experiences, and seeking wisdom from others. The idea is to use past experiences, even painful ones, as a means to grow and improve rather than allowing them to be a source of continuous regret.
The message also touches on the importance of setting goals, particularly character goals, which focus on personal growth and development rather than material achievements. The importance of faith in achieving these goals is emphasized, with the understanding that faith involves taking action that requires reliance on divine assistance.
An illustration involving a box and a table is used to challenge the congregation to think outside the box and set goals that require faith and divine intervention to achieve. The message concludes with a practical application of faith in action, as the congregation is invited to participate in a fundraising effort to purchase new chairs for the church. This act of faith is tied to the broader theme of the message, which is about taking concrete steps toward new beginnings and trusting in divine provision.
Key Takeaways:
- Individuals are often held back by their past failures and a tendency to make excuses, but they are encouraged to recognize that they are made for more and have the potential to start anew. This requires a shift in perspective, seeing oneself as clay in the hands of a divine potter who is capable of reshaping and creating a new purpose out of past failures. [38:44]
- The process of starting anew involves taking a thorough inventory of one's life, acknowledging both the positive and negative experiences. By doing so, individuals can learn valuable lessons from their past, which can inform their future actions and decisions. This approach to life's experiences, including failures, can transform them into stepping stones for growth and success. [13:56]
- Setting goals is crucial for personal development, but it's important to include character goals that focus on becoming a better person. These goals should be rooted in faith and the desire to align one's character with divine principles, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful life. [22:19]
- Faith is not passive but requires action. To act in faith means to take steps towards goals that are beyond one's own abilities, trusting that with divine assistance, the seemingly impossible can become possible. This principle encourages individuals to set ambitious goals and to step out of their comfort zones. [19:22]
- The concept of "failing forward" suggests that failure should not be seen as a setback but as an opportunity for learning and growth. By reframing failure as a form of education, individuals can use their past experiences to propel themselves forward rather than allowing them to be a source of stagnation. [15:46]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
2. Jeremiah 18:1-6 - "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."
3. Judges 6:12-16 - "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 29:18 say about the importance of vision in our lives?
2. In Jeremiah 18, what does the potter do when the clay vessel is marred, and how does this relate to God's work in our lives? [38:03]
3. How does Gideon initially respond to the angel's greeting in Judges 6, and what excuses does he make? [08:49]
4. According to the sermon, what are some common excuses people make for not pursuing their goals or dreams? [06:45]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of vision in Proverbs 29:18 apply to personal and spiritual growth? Why is having a vision important for preventing aimlessness?
2. What does the metaphor of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18 teach us about God's ability to reshape our lives despite past failures? [38:03]
3. In what ways does Gideon's story in Judges 6 illustrate the human tendency to underestimate one's potential and make excuses? How does divine encouragement play a role in overcoming self-doubt? [08:49]
4. The sermon mentions the idea of "failing forward." How can past failures be used as stepping stones for growth and success rather than sources of regret? [15:46]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt aimless or without direction. How might having a clear vision, as suggested in Proverbs 29:18, have changed your experience? What steps can you take to develop a vision for your life now?
2. Think about a past failure that has held you back. How can you allow God, the divine potter, to reshape that experience into something new and purposeful? [38:03]
3. Gideon made several excuses for why he couldn't fulfill God's calling. What excuses have you made in your own life, and how can you overcome them with faith and divine assistance? [08:49]
4. The sermon encourages setting character goals. Identify one character trait you want to develop this year. What specific actions can you take to cultivate this trait in your daily life? [21:10]
5. The concept of "failing forward" suggests learning from past mistakes. Can you identify a recent failure and discuss what lessons you can draw from it to improve your future actions? [15:46]
6. The sermon challenges us to think outside the box and set ambitious goals that require faith. What is one goal you have that seems beyond your current abilities? How can you take a step of faith towards achieving it? [23:42]
7. Reflect on the practical application of faith in action, such as the fundraising effort for new chairs mentioned in the sermon. How can you apply this principle of faith in action to a current challenge or opportunity in your life? [25:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Your Divine Potential
We are not defined by our past failures but are called to a higher purpose, crafted by the divine potter who shapes us for more. Recognizing this can liberate us from the shackles of our previous missteps and propel us towards our God-given destiny. [38:44]
Isaiah 64:8 - "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
Reflection: What past failure have you allowed to define you, and how can you start to see yourself as clay in the potter's hands today?
Day 2: Learning from Life's Inventory
Taking stock of our lives allows us to acknowledge our experiences and extract wisdom from them. This process of reflection can turn even the most painful moments into lessons that shape our future, guiding us towards a path of continuous improvement and success. [13:56]
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Reflection: Reflect on a past experience that you once viewed negatively. How can you now see it as a lesson that is shaping your future?
Day 3: Setting Character Goals
Character goals prioritize personal growth and align our actions with divine principles. By focusing on who we are becoming rather than what we are acquiring, we lay a foundation for a life that reflects our faith and fulfills our deepest purposes. [22:19]
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Reflection: What is one character goal you can set today that will help you grow in the fruit of the Spirit?
Day 4: Faith Demands Action
Faith is an active pursuit, not a passive state. It calls us to step beyond our comfort zones and into the realm of the divine, where we trust in God's provision to achieve the goals that seem beyond our reach. [19:22]
James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: What is one step of faith you can take today towards a goal that seems beyond your ability, trusting that God will provide?
Day 5: Failing Forward
Failure is not a permanent state but a stepping stone to greater understanding and growth. By redefining our failures as opportunities to learn, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that each setback is a chance to advance further than before. [15:46]
Philippians 3:13-14 - "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Can you identify a recent failure and articulate what you have learned from it? How can you apply this lesson to fail forward in your life?
Quotes
1) "You need to make a move or you're never going to do anything. If we seek the kingdom of God first and his righteousness, everything's added on to us." [12:37]
2) "Don't waste the pain. Don't look at your pain and your hurts and say everything's unfair. You can learn from your pain, you can learn from your hurt." [13:56]
3) "You determine if your failure is going to be a friend or is it going to be a foe. Failure becomes an education. Some of us are Highly Educated when it comes to failure." [15:46]
4) "Get all the advice you can and you'll succeed; without it, you're going to fail. Common reason why people never reach their goals is because they don't listen to what others have to say." [16:59]
5) "Stop making excuses because I believe the barrier to God using us and doing more for God is we make a lot of excuses." [07:29]
6) "When God's with you, you don't need anything else. My power is with you, my presence is with you, my promises are with you, and my protection is with you." [09:29]
7) "Be careful how you think because your life is shaped by your thoughts. Everything that you think will begin to flow out of your life and it'll shape your mind." [36:00]
8) "God is the Potter and friend, if you'll trust God, he'll do what he wants to do through your life, with all of the issues, all the problems, all the failures." [38:44]
9) "God wants us to think outside the box. He wants your goal to be bigger than this just box; he wants their goals today to think outside the box." [24:22]
10) "God gives a hand to those who are down on their luck and gives a fresh start to those who are ready to quit." [06:05]
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