Taking Root

Take Root  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  1:07:48
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Introduction

New Years Resolutions.
Either to begin something or to stop something.
But towards some level of transformation.
Jesus is calling His disciples to transformation.
A deeper relationship. Why we study Scripture.

Our goal must never be the bare minimum amount of knowledge necessary to get us into heaven. We want to move from platitudes to particulars, from generalities to technical terms and concepts, from seeing the hills of God’s glory to seeing the mountains of God’s glory. That’s why we study, why we learn, and why we need systematic theology.

2025 Theme: Take Root
Jesus instructs us the importance of monitoring where you put your root.

Stop Absorbing the Temporal

v. 19
Americans suffer from stuffitis.
What can I get, own, possess.
Not a new thing!
From Achan in Judges 7. The temptation of clothing and precious metals.
But we, as humanity, are prone to chasing after stuff.
What happens to all our consumer goods?
Insects - clothing. Rust (or consuming) - other possessions. Or thieves - digging through walls.
Wealth’s great equalizer is death.
It’s not a matter of if you’ll lose everything, it’s when.
Caveat - Jesus is not telling you to stop making money or stop accumulating wealth.
One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible:
1 Timothy 6:10 ESV
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
It is when you make those possessions your treasure - your priority - that it becomes destructive.
Wealthy miser called in his pastor, doctor, and lawyer. $1M each.
The test of the wealth didn’t even make it past those who were responsible for it.
When we think about our roots. What we put ourselves into to draw nutrients.
Dry or nutrient depleted soil leads to weak and dying plants.
And yet that is what we too often seek out. Aggressively pursue.

Start Absorbing the Eternal

v. 20
A drastic shift in priorities.
From the temporal things to eternal.
If we cannot find fulfillment in temporal things - seek them in the eternal.
Place your root in spiritual pursuits.
What kinds of pursuits are these?
First, the soil of salvation.
Sanctification -
Become more and more like Jesus Christ in attitudes and actions.
Placing your root in the soil of Scripture, prayer, worship, fellowship.
These godly and eternal nutrients will then produce fulfilling fruit.
A plant is stuck. You are not.
What is helpful to me about a new year.

Conclusion

The heart is the inner person.
Who are you really? Talk a big game but for real…
Your heart and your treasure are intrinsically related.
They always point in the same direction.
A look at your financial statements reveals a lot about your priorities.
It reveals your focus, what you look at.
The role of locking your eyes on something.
100 acre wheat field. Lock onto something.
Locking onto the person of Jesus.
Colossians 3:1 ESV
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Let’s join together as a church this year to look to Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
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.
And let’s, together, adjust our roots!
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