01/04/26 Greater Centennial's Sunday Morning Worship- "Embracing The New You

Devotional

Day 1: Grateful praise and hope in every season

You’re alive today by grace upon grace. God didn’t have to let you see this morning, yet here you are, and that alone is reason to lift your hands in praise. Promises from God never came with a guarantee of problem-free days, but they do come with His keeping presence in every storm. So fix your eyes on the Provider rather than the problem, choosing hope even when headlines and household pressures shout otherwise. Expect fulfilled promises and overflowing blessings, even as God’s people once experienced provision while trouble raged around them. [56:20]

Romans 8:31, 37–39: If God is for us, opposition cannot prevail. In every hardship we overwhelmingly conquer through the One who loves us. Neither death nor life, no spiritual powers, nothing present or future, nothing high or deep—indeed nothing in all creation—can sever us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Where has the first week of this year felt heavy, and what is one small act of praise you will practice today to re-center on the Provider rather than the problem?

Day 2: Disengage and divorce the old self

Embracing the new requires breaking up with the old. Name the habits, places, and patterns that keep dragging you back, and decide—with God’s help—to put them away. Change is uncomfortable and will pull you out of your familiar rhythms, but staying stuck costs far more. This is not the year to blame the enemy for what discipline will fix; it’s time to do the heart work. As you release the former you, you make room to receive what God has already prepared. [01:12:45]

Ephesians 4:22: Take off the person you used to be—your former way of life shaped by misleading desires—and leave it behind.

Reflection: What is one concrete pattern, place, or habit you will “take off” this week, and what boundary or accountability will you put in place to help you follow through?

Day 3: Renew the spirit of your mind

The battlefield is your mind, and God stands ready to renew it. Ask Him to freshen the atmosphere of your thoughts so praise rises even when the rain falls. Consider fasting from the noise that keeps you in everyone else’s business, so you can hear the Shepherd’s voice more clearly. Lift your eyes toward the One from whom your help comes, and choose an optimism rooted in His faithfulness. As your thinking changes, your steps will follow. [01:17:23]

Ephesians 4:23: Let the Spirit make your inner thinking new, renewing the very atmosphere of your mind.

Reflection: What repeating thought has been stealing your joy, and what practice—such as a brief social-media fast, a midday Scripture pause, or a gratitude list—will you adopt to renew your mind?

Day 4: Put on the new you with purpose

Putting on the new you is like changing out of yesterday’s clothes and wearing a garment God designed. This isn’t passive; write the application, draft the business plan, set the alarm, pray and fast, and open the Scriptures—do the work while trusting God’s hand. Walk with your head up, on purpose, knowing you are called to look and live more like Jesus. It may not make you popular, but it will make you faithful. Keep moving forward even when the packaging looks different, because the blessing inside is still from God. [01:34:23]

Ephesians 4:24: Put on the new person, created to reflect God’s own likeness, marked by genuine righteousness and holiness.

Reflection: What specific next step aligns with the new you God is forming (application, plan, conversation, rhythm), and when will you do it this week?

Day 5: Speak life: truth, restraint, kindness, forgiveness

New life sounds like new speech and new responses. Tell the truth, watch your words, and refuse to give the enemy a foothold. Feel anger if it comes, but don’t let it drive you to sin or steal your sleep—take it to God before the day ends. Build others up with grace, be kind and tenderhearted, and forgive—not to excuse harm, but to set your own soul free while practicing wise boundaries. Release what’s been weighing you down so you can walk light in the path God set before you. [01:32:12]

Ephesians 4:25–32: Put away lies and speak truth to your neighbor because you belong to one body. Be angry yet do not sin; don’t carry resentment through the night, and don’t give the devil an opening. Stop stealing and work so you can share. Let no rotten talk come out, only words that fit the moment and give grace. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit who sealed you for redemption. Banish bitterness, rage, and malice. Be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Reflection: Who comes to mind when you think of unfinished anger or a lingering wound, and how will you move one step toward grace today—praying for them, choosing careful words, or setting a healthy boundary?

Sermon Summary

“Embracing the New You” casts a clear vision for beginning the year with courage, repentance, and practical obedience shaped by Ephesians 4:22–32. The call is to stop romanticizing the past and instead put off the “old self” with its familiar patterns, excuses, and self-sabotage. God’s promises do not erase problems; they anchor believers to persevere through them. The invitation is neither hype nor denial. It is a sober confidence: God is with his people in storms, and blessings can overflow even when the world shakes—just as Israel flourished in Egypt while plagues raged.

This transformation is not passive. Desire without discipline won’t open doors. The new year requires work—applications filled, plans written, prayer deepened, Scripture studied, habits changed. Change will pull believers out of comfort zones, but resisting change only preserves bondage. Like recognizing the same chips in a different bag, believers must not reject God’s provision because the packaging—methods, timing, or people—looks different than expected.

Ephesians maps the process. First, disengage and divorce the old self. Stop rehearsing identity in what God has already called “former.” Second, be renewed in the spirit of the mind. Renewal shifts inner narratives from pessimism to praise, moves attention from comparison to calling, and frees focus from other people’s drama to God’s work. Third, put on the new self—Christlikeness that shows up in concrete ethics: honesty, anger under control, zero tolerance for devilish footholds, and speech that builds instead of corrodes. Kingdom maturity sounds like kindness and feels like tenderheartedness. It also practices forgiveness—not to excuse harm, but to end captivity. Forgiveness may not restore access, but it does restore freedom.

This is a layered change, more like changing clothes than flipping a switch. Negativity is “so last year.” Put on garments designed by God—righteousness and holiness. Expect miracles, yes, but prepare for them. Refuse distraction. Guard the mouth. Govern the emotions. Give no place to the enemy. And let the label on this year read: renewed mind, Christlike character, and a will surrendered to the One who kept you alive “one more time.”

Key Takeaways

1. Put off the old self Discipleship begins with subtraction. Naming and renouncing ingrained patterns clears space for God’s new work. Many “closed doors” are actually self-locked from the inside. Honesty about complicity is the first mercy we practice toward our own souls. [72:45]
2. Let God renew your mind New outcomes require a new inner climate. Renewal shifts from doom-scrolling and comparison to gratitude, worship, and attention to calling. Ask for a mind that praises in rain and works with hope in ordinary places—because focus follows love. [76:27]
3. Put on Christlike newness The new self is not a vibe; it’s a resemblance—truthful speech, holy resolve, and resilient peace under pressure. Expect unpopularity and misunderstanding; likeness to Jesus drew both crowds and cross. Live for the smile of God, not the approval of the room. [80:02]
4. Steward your words for life Corrupt talk erodes communities one sentence at a time. Use speech to repair, not to perform or retaliate. Aim for words that fit the moment and impart grace—truthful, timely, and strengthening to the hearer’s soul. [88:38]
5. Forgive to free your future Forgiveness does not deny harm; it refuses to be discipled by it. Release is not the same as reconciliation; access can remain wisely limited. But forgiveness unties your soul from yesterday so you can walk unweighted into God’s tomorrow. [91:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:06] - Total Praise and Center of Joy
[49:31] - New Year gratitude: God kept us
[57:42] - Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:22–32
[60:29] - Prayer for consecration and expectation
[61:08] - Theme: Embracing the New You
[63:19] - Promises don’t mean no problems
[64:52] - Expect fulfilled promises and overflow
[65:31] - Blessed in dark times: Egypt analogy
[70:26] - Do the work: preparation and discipline
[72:25] - Step 1: Put off the old self
[74:34] - Step 2: Be renewed in your mind
[79:16] - Step 3: Put on the new self
[83:25] - Truth, anger, and no foothold for the devil
[87:25] - Guard your mouth; build others up
[89:28] - Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving
[93:22] - Change your clothes: God’s new garments
[94:50] - Surrender and altar invitation
[102:46] - Intercession for peace, healing, strength
[108:33] - Family updates and pastoral announcements
[113:03] - Worship through giving
[114:18] - Holy Communion: remember and receive

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Ephesians 4:22–32

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Observation questions

In Ephesians 4:22–24, what three movements does Paul map out for change, and how do they relate to each other?
List the contrasts Paul makes in verses 25–32 (falsehood/truth, anger/sin, stealing/working-sharing, corrupt talk/building up, bitterness-kindness, etc.). What do these contrasts reveal about the “old self” versus the “new self”?
What does “give no opportunity to the devil” (v. 27) imply about how everyday choices can open or close doors in our lives?
A real-life picture was used about recognizing the same chips in a new bag to warn against rejecting God’s provision because the “packaging” changed. What was being illustrated by that story? [01:09:54]

Interpretation questions

“Disengage and divorce the old you” was the starting move. What does “divorcing” the old self suggest about decisiveness, loyalty, and boundaries with past habits? [01:12:25]
Why is mind renewal placed between “put off” and “put on” (vv. 22–24)? How does refocusing attention on God’s work rather than other people’s drama help that renewal? [01:17:23]
“Be angry and do not sin” (v. 26): What kind of anger fits within Christlike character, and what turns anger into sin? How might “not letting the sun go down on your anger” protect unity and one’s own soul? [01:24:15]
Forgiveness is tied to kindness and tenderheartedness (v. 32). How can forgiveness restore one’s freedom even when access and reconciliation remain wisely limited? [01:31:40]

Application questions

Naming the old: What is one specific “old self” pattern you need to subtract this month (a habit, excuse, or self-sabotage)? What first step will you take to “disengage and divorce” it this week? [01:12:45]
Do the work: What is one concrete action you will take in the next 7 days toward the new (submit the application, write the plan, schedule prayer/Scripture time, join a support/accountability)? Be specific about the day and time. [01:10:44]
Renewed mind: Where do you most need a mindset shift—from comparison to calling, from doom-scrolling to gratitude? Would a social-media fast or new morning/evening rhythm help? What will you try for the next 14 days? [01:18:16]
Anger under control: What situation tends to push your buttons? Before this week ends, how will you practice “don’t let the sun go down on your anger”—a boundary, a cooling-off plan, a peacemaking conversation, or prayer before reply? [01:24:15]
Words that build: Identify two relationships where your speech needs to shift from corrosive to constructive. What timely, truthful, grace-giving words will you speak or send this week? [01:28:38]
No footholds: Where are you most tempted to “give opportunity to the devil”—a room you still enter, a feed you still follow, a script you still run? What door will you shut and what godly alternative will you choose? [01:25:36]
Forgive to be free: Is there someone you need to forgive so your soul can be untied from yesterday? What does release look like for you, and what wise boundaries would keep you safe while staying tenderhearted? [01:31:40]

Sermon Clips

We got we gotta learn how to talk to people in truth, and we gotta learn learn how to talk to people in love. We gotta learn that we are talking to people who are part of the body of Christ, and we have to get to a place that we are the people who are speaking life to one another, not death. [01:23:47] (17 seconds) #SpeakTruthInLove

We gotta learn how to forgive. Let that thing go because it's killing you. It's hurting you. The other person has gone on, live life, act like they ain't never did nothing to you. But if you going to put on the new you, you going to have to disengage from your old self. You going to have to be renewed in the spirit of your mind. You're going to have to put on this new you who walks in the path of god. [01:32:08] (36 seconds) #ForgiveAndLive

There's layers to it and it doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't happen in a snap of a finger. But it happens when we're determined that we're to put the work in. It happens when we're determined that I'm not going through another year without any change happening in my life. That the only thing that happened was the calendar changed. Not this year. [01:32:44] (34 seconds) #ChangeTakesWork

This word put off in the Greek, it literally means to change, like a changing of clothes. It's time to change your clothes. Means spirit is out of style. Change your clothes. Negativity is so lashy. Change your clothes and it says, put on some new garments whose designer is god. If you can wear that label this year, you watch and see what god is gonna do. [01:33:44] (51 seconds) #PutOnTheNew

In other words, have compassion on people. You never know what someone is going through. You never know what someone has been through. It it doesn't cost you anything to be kind. It it doesn't cost you anything to be kind. You you can speak to anybody. It doesn't cost you anything just to be kind. And tender hearted. [01:30:02] (26 seconds) #KindnessCostsNothing

I will be optimistic that everything is going to be alright. That I'll be able to say the storm is passing over. Hallelujah. That I'll be able to give god glory in the midst of it all. So, god, renew my mind. Renew my mind. God is gonna renew our mind. We need to think about things differently. And we need to be more focused on him and his work for our lives than other things and other people. Yes. [01:16:35] (53 seconds) #RenewYourMind

See, in our text today, that I believe that we find the road map if you will for us to embrace the new you, the new us, the new me And we must be ready to do the work. Because god hear me, is not going to do the all the work and you do nothing. I'm I'm thank you. I'm I'm doing the best I can. Here it is. This is not the year that you decide you're get a new job but don't fill out applications. [01:10:26] (42 seconds) #PartnerWithGod

I wanna use for a subject this 2026, embracing the new you. Embracing the new you. For some of us, this year has started out great. I mean, absolutely wonderful. I mean, every time you turn around in these last four days, God has been blessing you that you have seen miracles already happen this year. You've already seen some doors open already this year. You already feel like this gonna be my year, and you are just so grateful and thankful because you see and feel the shift in the atmosphere. [01:01:21] (43 seconds) #EmbraceTheNewYou

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01/04/26 Greater Centennial's Sunday Morning Worship- "Embracing The New You

Devotional

Day 1: Grateful praise and hope in every season

Day 2: Disengage and divorce the old self

Day 3: Renew the spirit of your mind

Day 4: Put on the new you with purpose

Day 5: Speak life: truth, restraint, kindness, forgiveness

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

01/04/26 Greater Centennial's Sunday Morning Worship- "Embracing The New You

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