Embracing New Beginnings: Taking Your Next Step

Summary:

Today, we embark on a new series that challenges each of us to take the next step in our relationship with God. This series is born out of a month dedicated to prayer, emphasizing that prayer should be a lifestyle, not just an event. As we seek God's direction for our church, He has clearly spoken a challenge to us: to identify and take our next step in our spiritual journey. This call to action is rooted in Isaiah 43:18-19, where God promises to do a new thing, making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Just as God spoke to the Israelites in captivity, urging them to forget the past and embrace the new, He is calling us to recognize and receive the new things He is doing in our lives.

The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3, echoes this sentiment by urging us to forget what is behind and press on toward the goal. Growth in our faith is purposeful, expected, necessary, and intentional. It requires us to be rooted in the Word, to overflow with thankfulness, and to continually add to our faith. We must be intentional about our growth, recognizing that God has a purpose for each of us in His kingdom.

As we move forward, we are encouraged to deepen our engagement with the Word, prayer, worship, and community. Whether it's through participating in Discover, being baptized, or seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit, each step is a move towards the new thing God is doing. The question is, do we see it? Are we ready to receive it? God is passing something new to us, and we must be prepared to catch it by taking our next step.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Prayer as a Lifestyle: Prayer should be an integral part of our daily lives, not just an event. It is through constant communication with God that we align ourselves with His will and direction for our lives. By making prayer a lifestyle, we open ourselves to the new things God wants to do in and through us. [43:42]
• 2. Embracing the New: God is always doing something new, and we must be willing to let go of the past to embrace it. Just as He promised to make a way in the wilderness for the Israelites, He is making a way for us. Our challenge is to perceive and receive the new things He is doing. [49:29]
• 3. Purposeful Growth: Growth in our faith is intentional and requires us to recognize that we have not yet arrived. Like the Apostle Paul, we must press on toward the goal, understanding that God has a specific purpose for each of us in His kingdom. [55:04]
• 4. The Necessity of Growth: Growth is crucial for our spiritual health. If we find ourselves plateauing or regressing, it indicates a problem in our relationship with God. We must continually add to our faith and strive to be effective and productive in our walk with Him. [61:15]
• 5. Intentional Steps: Taking intentional steps in our spiritual journey is vital. Whether it's engaging more deeply with the Word, prayer, worship, or community, each step brings us closer to the fullness of what God has for us. We must be ready to receive what He is passing to us. [01:19:37]
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Introduction to the New Series
• [02:15] - The Importance of Prayer
• [05:45] - God's Challenge: Take Your Next Step
• [10:20] - Isaiah 43: A New Thing
• [15:00] - Forgetting the Past
• [20:30] - Seeing and Receiving God's Work
• [25:00] - Illustration with Pastor Corbin
• [30:00] - Philippians 3: Pressing Forward
• [35:00] - Purposeful and Expected Growth
• [40:00] - The Necessity of Growth
• [45:00] - Intentional Growth Steps
• [50:00] - Areas for Growth: Word, Prayer, Worship
• [55:00] - Discover and Baptism Opportunities
• [60:00] - Baptism in the Holy Spirit
• [65:00] - Invitation to Take the First Step

1. What does Isaiah 43:18-19 say about God's promise to the Israelites, and how does it relate to the concept of embracing new things in our lives? [43:42]
2. In Philippians 3:12-14, what does Paul mean when he says he is "pressing on toward the goal"? How does this relate to the idea of purposeful growth? [55:04]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of being ready to receive what God is doing, as demonstrated by the illustration with Pastor Corbin? [51:33]
4. What are some of the intentional steps mentioned in the sermon that can help us grow spiritually? [01:19:37]

1. How might the call to "forget the former things" in Isaiah 43:18-19 challenge individuals to let go of past successes or failures in their spiritual journey? [49:29]
2. What does it mean to "press on toward the goal" in Philippians 3:12-14, and how can this mindset impact a person's daily walk with God? [55:04]
3. The sermon emphasizes the necessity of growth in our faith. How can recognizing areas where we have plateaued or regressed help us identify the next steps in our spiritual journey? [01:01:15]
4. How does the concept of prayer as a lifestyle, rather than an event, change the way individuals might approach their relationship with God? [43:42]

1. Reflect on your current prayer life. How can you incorporate prayer more consistently into your daily routine to make it a lifestyle rather than an event? [43:42]
2. Identify one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to embrace something new. What steps can you take this week to let go of the past and move forward? [49:29]
3. Consider the areas of growth mentioned in the sermon, such as engaging with the Word, prayer, worship, or community. Which area do you feel most called to focus on, and what specific action will you take to grow in that area? [01:19:37]
4. How can you be more intentional about recognizing and receiving the new things God is doing in your life? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are ready to catch what God is passing to you? [51:33]
5. Think about a time when you felt spiritually stagnant. What changes did you make, or could you make, to reignite your spiritual growth and avoid plateauing in the future? [01:01:15]
6. How can you apply the principle of "forgetting what is behind" to both past mistakes and past achievements in your spiritual journey? What might be holding you back from fully embracing this mindset? [55:04]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s challenge to worship God as He deserves. How can you deepen your worship experience, both personally and within your church community? [01:15:09]