Ends & Beginnings
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Both Endings & Beginnings can be difficult.
Ends can be difficult because of loss and change.
Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
Beginnings are difficult because we are often aren’t good at things at the outset.
Are you willing to be terrible at something for a while?
10,000 hours = 417 (8-hour days)
If we aren’t willing to be terrible at something, we will never leave the old and start the new that can lead to better.
It’s okay to be a terrible Christian at first.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The Bible equates a change from following after our own desires to following after Christ to a baby being born.
God is not surprised when we fall a lot.
for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
God is not surprised by our many falls after being “Born Again,” but He knows that we are having developmental issues if we continue to fall at the same rate as time goes on.
Babies are pretty helpless and dependent consumers when they are first born.
We are meant to grow up, mature, and be perfected as time goes by.
This is something called Christian Spiritual Formation.
Christian Spiritual Formation is the process of being formed (really - transformed) in such a way that one’s natural expression comes to be the deeds of Christ done in the power of Christ for the glory of God and for the sake of others.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Being formed to be like God, through Christian Spiritual Formation, leads to blessing and authority from God.
New Beginnings:
New Beginnings:
In this year maybe you want to make a decision for some things to come to an end and grow in some new beginnings:
End of bondage & The beginning of freedom (John 8:36)
End of poverty & The beginning of abundance (John 10:10)
End of self-determination & The beginning of bondservanthood to Jesus (Gal. 1:10)
End of Sorrow & The beginning of Joy (Psalm 30:5)
End of spirit of heaviness & The beginning of the garments of praise (Isaiah 61:3)
End of being a victim of situations & The beginning of being a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
End of having no anointing & The beginning of the anointed life (Isaiah 10:27)
The anointing is the burden removing - yoke destroying power of God.
The only anointing comes from Jesus.
Jesus is attracted to faith and spiritual hunger.
Allow Jesus & His anointing into every area & you will be able to do what you couldn’t do and find ease where it was a struggle before.
The anointing being present every day and in every situation will do nothing but improve life.
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Ends & beginnings can be difficult, but great growth is possible with new beginnings.
Step into a new season and lifestyle of Christian Spiritual Formation & start to grow again.
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
What was your favorite TV show growing up?
What have you be afraid to begin & why?
Please Read John 3:7 and share what it speaks to you in the context of this sermon & then share which areas of your life you have truly grown in this past year.
What can you do to bolster your Christian Spiritual Formation and invite the anointing of God into every area of your life?
