Transforming Habits: Drawing Closer to Christ

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves grappling with habits that either draw us closer to God or pull us away from Him. This week, we explored the significance of habits in our spiritual lives, emphasizing that our ultimate goal is not merely to achieve success in worldly terms but to become more like Christ. Galatians 2:20 reminds us that our lives are no longer our own, but Christ lives in us, and our actions should reflect His presence within us.

We delved into the story of Samson, a man whose life was marked by a series of poor choices that ultimately led to his downfall. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of allowing bad habits to take root in our lives. We learned that bad habits don't form overnight; they are the result of many small, seemingly insignificant decisions that accumulate over time.

To break free from these habits, we must first acknowledge them. Psalm 32 speaks to the burden of unconfessed sin, urging us to bring our struggles before God and trusted friends. We also discussed the importance of making it difficult to engage in these habits by avoiding triggers and breaking the habit loop. This involves identifying the cues that lead to our actions and replacing them with healthier alternatives.

Furthermore, we examined the influence of our surroundings, particularly the people we associate with. Proverbs and 1 Corinthians remind us that the company we keep can either lead us toward wisdom or away from it. Therefore, it's crucial to surround ourselves with individuals who encourage us in our walk with Christ.

Finally, we touched on the importance of replacing bad habits with good ones. While this will be our focus next week, we recognize that the process involves patience and persistence. Zechariah 4:10 encourages us not to despise small beginnings, as these small steps can lead to significant transformation over time.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Small Decisions: Our lives are shaped by the accumulation of small decisions. Like Samson, we can find ourselves far from where we intended to be if we don't pay attention to the seemingly minor choices we make daily. Each step we take can either lead us closer to God or further away. [36:59]

2. Acknowledging Our Struggles: Psalm 32 teaches us the importance of confessing our sins and struggles. Holding onto secrets can consume us, but when we bring them to God and trusted friends, we find freedom and healing. Acknowledging our weaknesses is the first step toward overcoming them. [44:08]

3. Breaking the Habit Loop: To break free from bad habits, we must identify and disrupt the triggers that lead to them. This involves being mindful of our environment, emotions, and the people we surround ourselves with. By changing our patterns, we can create space for new, healthier habits to form. [53:09]

4. The Influence of Community: The people we spend time with have a profound impact on our spiritual journey. Proverbs and 1 Corinthians remind us to choose our companions wisely, as they can either lead us toward wisdom or away from it. Building a supportive community is essential for spiritual growth. [58:52]

5. Replacing Bad Habits with Good Ones: Transformation takes time and patience. Zechariah 4:10 encourages us not to despise small beginnings. By consistently choosing good habits, we can gradually replace the negative ones and become more like Christ. This process requires perseverance and trust in God's strength. [01:04:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [27:23] - Fun Story and Spirit Airlines
- [30:50] - Testimonies and Ministry
- [34:31] - Habits Series Introduction
- [36:59] - The Story of Samson
- [40:06] - Breaking Bad Habits
- [41:23] - Triggers and Temptations
- [44:08] - Acknowledging Our Struggles
- [45:46] - Habit Loop and Triggers
- [53:09] - Influence of Place and Time
- [55:18] - The Role of People
- [56:53] - Choosing the Right Friends
- [58:52] - Community and Accountability
- [01:01:26] - Replacing Bad Habits
- [01:04:48] - Encouragement and Patience

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Galatians 2:20
2. Psalm 32
3. Zechariah 4:10

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Galatians 2:20 say about the life of a believer and how it should be lived?
2. How does Psalm 32 describe the impact of unconfessed sin on a person’s life?
3. What is the significance of the small beginnings mentioned in Zechariah 4:10, and how does it relate to the process of spiritual transformation?

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of Samson illustrate the consequences of small, poor decisions accumulating over time? [36:59]
2. In what ways does the company we keep influence our spiritual journey, according to the sermon and the Bible passages? [58:52]
3. How can acknowledging our struggles, as mentioned in Psalm 32, lead to freedom and healing in our spiritual lives? [44:08]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily decisions. Are there any small choices you make regularly that might be leading you away from God? How can you change one of these habits this week? [36:59]
2. Identify a habit you struggle with. What are the triggers that lead to this habit, and how can you make it difficult to engage in it? [41:23]
3. Think about your current community. Are there people who encourage you in your walk with Christ? How can you spend more time with them or seek out new relationships that will support your spiritual growth? [58:52]
4. What is one bad habit you want to replace with a good one? What small step can you take this week to start this transformation? [01:04:48]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of confessing your struggles to God and a trusted friend into your routine? What steps will you take to find an accountability partner if you don’t have one? [44:08]
6. Reflect on Zechariah 4:10. What small beginning can you start today that might lead to significant spiritual growth over time? [01:04:48]
7. Consider the influence of your environment on your habits. What changes can you make in your surroundings to support healthier spiritual habits? [53:09]

Devotional

Day 1: The Impact of Small Decisions
In our daily lives, the small decisions we make can have a profound impact on our spiritual journey. Like Samson, whose life was shaped by a series of poor choices, we too can find ourselves far from where we intended to be if we don't pay attention to the seemingly minor choices we make each day. Each decision, no matter how small, can either lead us closer to God or further away. It's essential to be mindful of these choices and align them with our desire to become more like Christ. [36:59]

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10, ESV)

Reflection: What small decision can you make today that will bring you closer to God?


Day 2: The Freedom in Acknowledging Struggles
Acknowledging our struggles and sins is the first step toward overcoming them. Psalm 32 speaks to the burden of unconfessed sin, urging us to bring our struggles before God and trusted friends. Holding onto secrets can consume us, but when we confess and seek support, we find freedom and healing. This act of vulnerability allows us to experience God's grace and the encouragement of a supportive community. [44:08]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a struggle or sin you need to confess to God or a trusted friend today?


Day 3: Disrupting the Habit Loop
Breaking free from bad habits requires us to identify and disrupt the triggers that lead to them. This involves being mindful of our environment, emotions, and the people we surround ourselves with. By changing our patterns and replacing negative cues with healthier alternatives, we create space for new, positive habits to form. This intentionality in our actions can lead to significant transformation over time. [53:09]

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning." (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: What is one trigger in your life that leads to a bad habit, and how can you disrupt it today?


Day 4: The Influence of Community
The people we spend time with have a profound impact on our spiritual journey. Proverbs and 1 Corinthians remind us to choose our companions wisely, as they can either lead us toward wisdom or away from it. Building a supportive community is essential for spiritual growth, as it provides accountability, encouragement, and guidance. Surrounding ourselves with individuals who share our values and faith can help us stay on the path toward becoming more like Christ. [58:52]

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life encourages your spiritual growth, and how can you spend more time with them?


Day 5: The Patience in Replacing Bad Habits
Transformation takes time and patience. Zechariah 4:10 encourages us not to despise small beginnings, as these small steps can lead to significant change over time. By consistently choosing good habits, we can gradually replace the negative ones and become more like Christ. This process requires perseverance and trust in God's strength, knowing that He is working in us to bring about His purposes. [01:04:48]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small, positive habit you can start today to replace a negative one?

Quotes

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it's no longer I who lives, but it is Christ who lives in me, and we live that out to honor him and to glorify him. That's one of the things that we even sing this morning, and you should pay attention to every song every Sunday." [00:34:20] (17 seconds)



"None of us plan, I think, in our goals to say that eventually I want to be in a place of living paycheck to paycheck. We make a series of bad choices, and we get into habits of spending money in ways that we shouldn't, and all of a sudden, we find ourselves there, right?" [00:35:17] (19 seconds)



"Samson and the Israelites were battling them. They were not friends. They were definitely foes. And yet, Samson one day chose to walk 25 miles out of curiosity because we all have step counters. I walked 25 miles. No, I'm joking. I looked it up. just Googled it and went, how many steps is it to get to 25 miles?" [00:38:39] (26 seconds)



"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you. We want to give you words today. We want to give you God's word that's hopefully going to be planted in your mind and in your heart and a place for you to lean in on that." [00:40:06] (16 seconds)



"Psalm 32 says this, when I kept silent, my bones wasted away. That sin consumes you. Have you ever held on to a secret that you just knew that you couldn't share? And it might have been a secret, but it might have been a secret even been a good thing but you held on to it you held on to it you couldn't tell anybody and it just eats at you on the inside." [00:45:31] (22 seconds)



"Here's a rule of thumb, all right, that we should all follow, okay? Pretty standard. The first one is this, habits usually start out more difficult and they have a payoff in the future, okay? Good habits, things that we do that we should be doing, right? For example, I'm going to start running more." [00:42:15] (24 seconds)



"Many of you got up and got out of bed this morning and came to church. That made a difference. You start doing that consistently. You start meeting with your life group consistently. You start spending times in discipleship with other believers, especially if you're a new believer here, even today in the room." [00:43:08] (18 seconds)



"All of these things create opportunity that we shouldn't be seeking. The last one that can be a trigger, and this is the one that's the hardest, is people. People can be a trigger. And you've got to be careful with who you surround yourself with. All right?" [00:55:45] (18 seconds)



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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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