Leaning into 2025, Tips for Living the Christian Life

This is not quite done…it’s an almost final edit version of the notes/manuscript

New Years Resolutions

The most popular US New Year’s Resolutions in 2024:

59% to save more $ 50% to exercise more 47% to eat healthier 40% to spend more time with family and friends 35% to lose weight 26% to reduce spending on living expenses 19% to spend less time on social media

New Year’s Resolutions Statistics:

About 44% of Americans set New Year’s Resolutions The estimated overall failure rate for New Year’s Resolutions is 80%. Most people (53%) abandon their resolutions in the first 2-3 months. 8% stop in 4 weeks, 22% in the 2nd month, and 22% in the third month. Though many people want to make changes in their lives, there is a disconnect between their desires and what they actually do.

Why bring this up? Because there is a disconnect between the average American Christian’s desires and what they are actually doing in their faith.

The 2024 American Worldview Inventory Survey Revealed:

66% of American adults consider themselves to be Christians, but only 6% of those answered questions about what they believe, and how they live the Christian life, in way that is consistent with a Biblical worldview.

The disconnect between desire and doing is a characteristic of the American culture, and my hope is to share some ____ from Hebrews 12 that will help us as we make our way into a new year, but more than a new year, this passage provides direction and encouragement for the Christian life.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)

In chapter 11 the writer of Hebrews walks through many of the most faithful leaders in the history of Israel. Each person named provides an example of what it looks like to run the race of the Christian life well.

Tips For Living the Christian Life

Lighten your load

“let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely…”

One of the biggest causes of failure is the lack of letting go. To pursue what is most important you have to first quit pursuing the things that are not most important. In almost every aspect of life you need to let go and even unlearn before you can learn and grab hold to what’s most important.

Like the hand in the cookie jar…

Lighten your load by laying aside the weight of your future and plans made without on your own without God.

- trusting Jesus

Lighten your load by laying aside the burden and weight of other people’s expectations.

Lighten your load by removing the opportunities for sin and temptation

Lighten your load by trusting in the grace and forgiveness of God for the sins you have committed.

Lighten your load by bringing your present day concerns and worries to Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Lighten your load by evaluating your life decisions by the Word

(The pressure to decide what is right is off… God does that- your responsibility is to follow, not decide)

Just look at the last chapter in Hebrews, chapter 11 is filled with those who trusted God and God proved Himself faithful. So, like the ones who have come before you, you can trust God with your past, present, and future.

Pursue the plan and purpose God has for your life

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

You must accept and embrace God’s plan and purpose for your life

This is the source of your contentment and joy- what God has for you…

God’s plan doesn’t fit into your life… Your life fits into God’s plan.

God’s plan for your life is that you live according to His ways.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–3 (ESV)

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

You were created to live according to His ways,

You’re greatest joy and fulfillment is to do what He created you to do.

And, if God’s will is our sanctification- or the continued growth into a life that resembles Jesus and pleases the Father… then we must base our life choices and decision on what He says in His Word, not what others think or what someone else would do in our shoes.

So. You must know the Word… (Rooted plug)

You will not drift toward God’s plan and purpose, you must aim for it.

Sinners drift toward what is selfish and sinful, living for God requires intentionality and effort.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Pursuing God’s plan requires that you know His ways

Pace yourself, this race lasts the rest of your life.

Living for God is not something are ever done with. There is no completion moment until Jesus comes back or you pass away. You cannot do enough “living for God” to allow for some “living for yourself.”

The rest of your life also means all of your life.

The Christian life isn’t a moment each week, it’s not just a moment each day… it’s all of your life.

Laying aside every weight and pursuing God’s plan and purpose for your life is all encompassing… and there is no graduation from the days of living for the Lord. This is your new normal when you become a follower of Jesus.

Living for God requires ongoing preparation and training

The Christian life is just that, it’s life. It’s living to the fullest. It’s active obedience to God that results from the real and true love of God for us in Christ.

Think in terms of faithfulness and fruitfulness, rather than attending and supporting.

Marathon’s require endurance. They require resolve, or a steadfastness. There are moments where they are hard… 2007 St. Jude story… 15 miles in…

In real life those moments happen… we must be committed, prepared, to endure the race and finish the race. Focusing on being faithful to the Lord and bearing fruit for the kingdom keeps us pounding the pavement, putting one foot in front of the other. The Christian life is about being faithful to God in all the small moments of the life He has given you. Our goal is to bear fruit for God, not receive the fruit of others our whole life.

Hebrews speaks of this with words that are competitive, like a contest. You need to be in this race, and running at the pace of faithfulness, because that is where we experience fruitfulness.

Following Jesus is about more than what you avoid, it’s also about what you embrace.

One more think about being faithful. Faithfulness is not only about avoiding the things that weigh us down… it’s about loving God and loving others. Compare this to a marriage relationship. Faithfulness in marriage is about more than not cheating on another. Faithfulness in marriage is when you love one another with action, not inaction. Your relationship with the Lord should be more than avoiding, it should be about loving Him, talking to Him, hearing from Him, and serving Him.

When you feel weary, consider the example of Jesus.

“2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:3 (ESV), 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Jesus endured the hostility of men and the wrath of God.

Jesus is our reward and our example

So, when you think about going against God’s plan- consider Jesus

When you are trying to decide how to handle a situation- consider Jesus

When you are thinking about your future- consider Jesus

When you are planning and prioritizing your day, week, month, job, year- consider Jesus.

What fits with Him- this is sanctification- the continued loss of what doesn’t fit with Jesus to live in a way that does it with Jesus.

Jesus is our Joy

The word look here is the same word used in Hebrews 11:26 (ESV)

“26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”

Moses believed God and trusted Him. We call this faith… Moses’ faith and trust in God was evidenced throughout his life as he made decision after decision that only made sense after the Lord did His part. Here in Hebrews 11 we see this clearly when Moses leads Israel to celebrate the Passover for the first time. This action of faith resulted in the freedom of Israel and protected the lives of the first born of the entire nation. Moses’ faith and trust in God resulted in salvation… Just like our faith and trust in Jesus Christ results in our salvation. And our faith in Jesus results in our salvation because Jesus endured the cross and suffered our shame so that we could be forgiven and set free from our sins.

Jesus fixed his gaze on the salvation of the world and we are to set our gaze on the Savior of the world. We don’t set our face on the past… we look forward to Christ because of the resurrection. We look back to the cross for the purchase of our salvation, but we look forward to the future, to the joy that has been set before us in our risen and reigning Savior.

Looking to Jesus points forward to Him rather than just backwards at history. He is alive, He is ruling over the world, He is coming again… He is our joy in the midst of all we face…

God has set joy in front of you in the person, work, and promise of Jesus Christ.

You can endure You can make it “I can do all things…” should be applied in this way rather than on the playing field or in regard to our finances.

In Jesus there is joy… and joy is know by faith in Him. Joy is known through the love of God. Joy is present in the moments where we are casting off our weights. Joy is present when we are running from our sin and back to our savior. Joy is present when we face trials of many kinds (James 1).

Application:

Consider the source of your joy

Commit to laying aside and letting go of what weighs you down.

Commit to a pace of life that is built around living for God.

This includes daily and personal routines, along with family and even church family relationships.

Commit to growing in the Word so you can know God and His plans and purpose.

Commit to embracing and pursuing what fits with God’s purpose and plan for your life

Commit to being present and growing closer to those who are following Jesus with you at HBC.

Commit to the habit of considering Jesus when you feel weary, sad, lonely, hurt, angry, tired, etc.

When you are weighed down by your past… look to Jesus

When you are tempted in the present… look to Jesus

When you sin… look to Jesus

When you are anxious about your future… look to Jesus.

When you are tired… look to Jesus

When you are lonely… look to Jesus

When you are persecuted… look to Jesus

When you are doubting… look to Jesus

Commit to living your daily life for Jesus and bringing your faith and your life together in all of your relationships, the places you go, and the things you do.

This applies to each of us:

Lighten your load- What is it that you need to put down that is hindering your walk with the Lord?

Pace yourself, this race is the rest of your life- Commit to pursuing faithfulness and being fruitful rather than just attending or supporting others.

Look to Jesus- Are you fixed or focused on Christ? If not, what is that you are fixed on? Drop that weight, it’s hindering your walk, it’s distracting you from what matters most, and focus on the joy, hope, and future that you have in Christ.

Running well requires that you lighten your load, pace yourself, and look to Jesus.