Embracing Surrender: A New Year's Resolution

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound theme of surrender, particularly as we step into a new year. The concept of surrender is not just about giving up but about aligning ourselves with God's will and purpose. We began by reflecting on the common practice of making New Year's resolutions and the startling statistic that only a small percentage of people actually keep them. This led us to consider a resolution that transcends all others: the resolution to fully surrender to God in 2025 and beyond.

We delved into the story of Thomas from John 20:25, who doubted the resurrection until he saw tangible proof. This story serves as a reminder that our faith often requires surrendering our need for physical evidence and trusting in the unseen work of God. Just as Japan had to surrender on Allied soil after World War II, we too must surrender on God's terms, not our own. This surrender involves letting go of our sins and the things we cling to, trusting that God knows us better than we know ourselves.

Our scripture focus was Colossians 3:1-10, which calls us to set our minds on things above and to put to death earthly desires. This passage emphasizes the importance of surrendering our minds and lives to God, allowing Him to renew us in His image. We discussed the power of the mind and how anxiety can take hold if we don't surrender our thoughts to God. By setting our minds on heavenly things, we can experience peace and transformation.

Furthermore, we explored the idea of living for Christ daily, not just being willing to die for Him. This involves surrendering our will and plans to God, seeking His will above our own. Romans 12:1-2 reminds us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, which is our spiritual worship. Worship is not confined to music but is a lifestyle of obedience and surrender to God.

Finally, we considered the impact of our surrender on the world around us. By living as fully surrendered followers of Christ, we become salt and light in a dark world. Our lives can reflect the love and character of Jesus, drawing others to Him. As we enter 2025, let us commit to this resolution of surrender, trusting that God's plans are far greater than our own.

Key Takeaways:

1. Surrender on God's Terms: Just as Japan had to surrender on Allied soil, we must surrender on God's terms, letting go of our sins and desires. This surrender is not about losing but about gaining a deeper relationship with God. [21:31]

2. Renewing the Mind: Our minds are powerful and can lead us astray if not surrendered to God. By setting our minds on things above, we can overcome anxiety and experience peace. [27:52]

3. Living for Christ Daily: It's not enough to be willing to die for Christ; we must live for Him daily. This involves surrendering our will and plans to God, seeking His will above our own. [32:33]

4. Worship as a Lifestyle: Worship is not confined to music but is a lifestyle of obedience and surrender to God. Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices is our spiritual worship. [34:31]

5. Impact of Surrender: By living as fully surrendered followers of Christ, we become salt and light in a dark world. Our lives can reflect the love and character of Jesus, drawing others to Him. [39:19]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:31] - New Year's Resolutions and Surrender
[27:00] - Surrender Your Mind
[27:52] - The Power of the Mind and Anxiety
[29:32] - Joining God in His Work
[30:21] - Surrender Your Life
[31:45] - Becoming More Like Christ
[32:33] - Living for Christ Daily
[33:39] - Surrendering Our Will
[34:31] - Worship as a Lifestyle
[35:49] - Bringing a Smile to God's Face
[36:30] - Communicating with God
[37:38] - God's Plans vs. Our Plans
[39:19] - The Impact of Surrender
[40:59] - God's Will and Our Response
[44:38] - Call to Surrender in 2025

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Surrendering to God

Bible Reading:
- Colossians 3:1-10
- John 20:25
- Romans 12:1-2

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Observation Questions:

1. In Colossians 3:1-10, what specific actions does Paul encourage believers to take in order to set their minds on things above? How does this relate to the concept of surrender? [27:00]

2. How does the story of Thomas in John 20:25 illustrate the challenge of surrendering our need for physical evidence in faith? [21:31]

3. According to Romans 12:1-2, what does it mean to present our bodies as living sacrifices, and how is this connected to the idea of worship as a lifestyle? [34:31]

4. What are some of the earthly desires mentioned in Colossians 3:5-10 that believers are called to put to death? How does this relate to surrendering our lives to God? [30:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the act of surrendering our minds to God help us overcome anxiety, as discussed in the sermon? What role does setting our minds on heavenly things play in this process? [27:52]

2. The sermon compares surrendering to God with Japan's surrender after World War II. What are the implications of surrendering on God's terms rather than our own? [21:31]

3. In what ways does living for Christ daily, as opposed to merely being willing to die for Him, challenge our understanding of discipleship and surrender? [32:33]

4. How does the concept of worship as a lifestyle, beyond just music, reshape our daily actions and decisions according to the sermon? [34:31]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a New Year's resolution you made in the past. How might the resolution to fully surrender to God in 2025 change your approach to setting goals for the new year? [21:31]

2. Identify a specific area of your life where you struggle to surrender control to God. What steps can you take this week to begin letting go and trusting Him more fully? [30:21]

3. Consider a time when anxiety has taken hold of your thoughts. How can you practice setting your mind on things above to experience peace and transformation? [27:52]

4. What does it look like for you to live for Christ daily in your current circumstances? Identify one practical way you can prioritize His will over your own this week. [32:33]

5. How can you incorporate worship as a lifestyle into your daily routine? Choose one specific action you can take to present your body as a living sacrifice this week. [34:31]

6. Think of someone in your life who might be impacted by your example of living as a fully surrendered follower of Christ. How can you intentionally reflect the love and character of Jesus to them this week? [39:19]

7. What is one earthly desire or sin that you feel God is calling you to surrender? How can you seek accountability and support from your small group in this process? [30:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Surrender on God's Terms
Surrendering to God is not about losing but gaining a deeper relationship with Him. It involves letting go of our sins and desires, trusting that God's plans are greater than our own. Just as Japan had to surrender on Allied soil after World War II, we must surrender on God's terms, not our own. This act of surrender is a profound resolution that transcends all others, as it aligns us with God's will and purpose. By surrendering, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and wisdom, allowing Him to guide us into a life of fulfillment and peace. [21:31]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific desire or sin you are holding onto that you need to surrender to God today? How can you begin to let go and trust in His greater plan for you?


Day 2: Renewing the Mind
Our minds are powerful and can lead us astray if not surrendered to God. Colossians 3:1-10 calls us to set our minds on things above, putting to death earthly desires. By doing so, we can overcome anxiety and experience peace. The mind is a battlefield, and without surrendering our thoughts to God, we risk being consumed by worry and fear. By focusing on heavenly things, we allow God to renew us in His image, transforming our thoughts and bringing us closer to His peace and understanding. [27:52]

"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." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What anxious thoughts are currently occupying your mind? How can you intentionally set your mind on things above to experience God's peace today?


Day 3: Living for Christ Daily
Living for Christ daily means surrendering our will and plans to God, seeking His will above our own. It's not enough to be willing to die for Christ; we must live for Him every day. Romans 12:1-2 reminds us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, which is our spiritual worship. This daily surrender involves a commitment to align our actions, decisions, and desires with God's purpose, allowing His love and grace to guide us in every aspect of our lives. By doing so, we become more like Christ, reflecting His character and love to the world around us. [32:33]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your daily life where you struggle to live for Christ? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?


Day 4: Worship as a Lifestyle
Worship is not confined to music but is a lifestyle of obedience and surrender to God. Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices is our spiritual worship. This means that every action, thought, and decision can be an act of worship when done in obedience to God. Worship as a lifestyle involves a continuous surrender of our desires and plans, allowing God's will to take precedence in our lives. By living in this way, we honor God and reflect His love and character to those around us, becoming a living testimony of His grace and mercy. [34:31]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you transform a mundane daily task into an act of worship today? What would it look like to offer this task as a living sacrifice to God?


Day 5: Impact of Surrender
By living as fully surrendered followers of Christ, we become salt and light in a dark world. Our lives can reflect the love and character of Jesus, drawing others to Him. Surrendering to God not only transforms our own lives but also impacts those around us. As we embody the teachings and love of Christ, we become beacons of hope and truth, influencing our communities and pointing others towards the light of God's love. This impact is profound, as it extends beyond our immediate circles, creating ripples of change and transformation in the world. [39:19]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the light of Christ through you today? How can your surrender to God influence and impact them in a positive way?

Quotes


So similarly surrender in the Christian life comes on God's soil and according to God's terms surrender to God on American soil and surrender always comes on God's terms if we are trying to negotiate with God on what things we want to keep in our lives maybe that's our sins that's the question if we're trying to hold on to some things when we're when we're trying to lay our lives down are we really actually laying our lives down are we trying to hold on to the things that might be hard for us their hearts but who here has ever prayed the prayer God please take this from me [00:24:41] (38 seconds)


Our minds are very powerful things and can lead us astray if they aren't fully surrendered to God. Now, A, ends in anxiety. Anxiety can really, you know, I have social media because that's how I connect with my students a lot. But so I was scrolling on social media because sometimes I do scroll, I apologize. And I saw this and I'm like, worried. And the person says, about what? Anxiety says, I don't know. And the person says, oh, my God. Oh, my gosh, you're right. [00:27:44] (39 seconds)


So this goes back to casting our needs onto God. How can we expect God to take these anxieties, take these things from us when we're still white-knuckling our issues, trying to figure them out ourselves? Because who here is hard-headed like me? And says, I don't need help. I can do everything on my own. And when things get crazy, I just worry more. I worry more and pray less. [00:29:02] (19 seconds)


So not only are we to surrender our minds to the Lord, but we need to surrender every area of our life to him. Because remember, you can't be kind as surrendered to God, because if you're not fully surrendered to him, can you even surrender to him? You can't really label yourself to him. So every area of our life, if we are truly God's possession, and get this, we are his possession because he bought us with the blood of Jesus, if you know Jesus. [00:30:47] (32 seconds)


So many of us say we would die for our faith, but do we have learned when I became a husband, and then even more so when I became a dad. It's, and this is like, like a lot of men will understand this, and you can raise your hand when I ask you this question. Who here has ever said to themselves or said out loud, I would die for you, die for your family. That's great, and that's wonderful. I'm glad you have that, that sacrificial love. [00:32:08] (26 seconds)


So Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2 reads, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship in the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. So that's the thing. That's the key right there. [00:34:31] (24 seconds)


So we are to communicate with God through prayer and listen for the voice of God in his word. In his scripture, because that is how he speaks to us. Worship in prayer. We can worship in Bible reading and Bible study and serving and all these things, but it can even be as something as simple as loving words or hope-filled conversations with me about Jesus. [00:36:14] (25 seconds)


Yes, we inherited sin, but we also fully were aware of the things we did when we were sinning. Their God's plans brought us salvation. So that right there oversimplified because I'm not the sharpest knife in the door. I'm not the sharpest knife in the door. I'm not the sharpest drawer. Our plans got us here. God's plans brought us salvation. So that tells me that God's plans are a lot better than my plans. [00:38:36] (22 seconds)


God's will, the gospel, Jesus Christ, the cross he died on, is the only way. Live the life we're talking about today. You shouldn't be surrendering to anything else but the one who created you. And that's where idolatry comes into the mix. What are you surrendering to today? Is it your phone, this magical computer? It's like, talking to their crush on Snapchat. I've like been in the middle of a gospel presentation, and they're like this. [00:39:59] (31 seconds)


The power there is just crazy. It's awesome. So yes, I do believe there was a little bit of a bang. God's will was to send Jesus out of heaven into earth, to live a perfect life, to show us the character of God, to be the only one worthy to pay the price for our sins. Because if I, and I've said this before, they're paying their own debt. [00:40:28] (26 seconds)


So help us lay down our arms of our own will, of our own selfish self-righteousness, of our own ways, of our own will, of anything that is standing between us and you. Just help us lay that down and surrender at the foot of the cross. On your soil, according to our only goal, is just be obedient. [00:45:05] (20 seconds)


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Transcript
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