NOTES:
What are 5 things you can do to make 2025 a year blessed by God?
Welcome to 2025 1). New Year 2). New President & Administration
The 2025 shift [lower third]
- From fear to hope
- From anger to joy
- From defending to building
- From crisis to legacy
GOAL: BLESSED!
#1. Fear God first [lower third]
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Non-XN
- Get saved & begin your lifelong walk w/Jesus by removing sin barrier
XN
- There is far too little fear of God among XN’s
- BEGINNING – Foundation for every day of this year must be “fear of the Lord”
#2. Read the Word [lower third]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
- 66 books, 39 NT, God speaking thru servants, perfect
=40th book Bible Hebrews 6 months [slide for Hebrews]
- Author meets w/you to teach you
- Most books are for information, this Living Word is for transformation!
- Mirror before binoculars
- Look through it as timeless to understand our times
- God blesses people UNDER His Word (obedience)
The Power of 4 [full screen]
People who read or listen to the Bible 4 or more days a week are:
407% more likely to memorize Scripture
228% more likely to share their faith with others
59% less likely to view pornography
30% less likely to struggle with loneliness
Also markedly lower are such things as having sex outside of marriage, gambling, and getting drunk among others benefits.
https://www.backtothebible.org/research [400,000 people surveyed]
#1 Prescription https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/29360-bible-in-a-year-2022
#3. Pray continuously [lower third]1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
- “Rejoice always” – thankful prayers; RETURN to joy
- “Pray w/o ceasing” – Lifestyle
- Personal journal
- Family journal (dinner table & check off kids little)
- Go public (coffee shop)
- “the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” = sovereignty
- “Do not quench the Spirit” = sensitivity [listening prayer]
Autopsy Homework: look back at recent sin/really bad decision 2024. Silence, ask HS to show you red lights you ran to get into a wreck in an intersection
#4. Serve gladly [lower third]
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’
Jesus is our Huble Servant
· God only has good things to say about serving
1. A servant is a better employee
2. A servant is a better friend
3. A servant is a better spouse
4. A servant is a better parent
5. A servant gets perspective on their own hardships & struggles
= Family serves together grows together & stays together = our family (TRINITY)
#5. Give generously [lower third]
God is the owner of wealth [full screen]
Haggai 2:8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
Psalm 50:10 …every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…
You are the manager of wealth [full screen]
1 Corinthians 4:7 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- Your wealth is everything you have to manage
- OT/NT 800 passages
- Jesus – 25% teaching
Should Christians tithe? [lower third]
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce
1. A tithe literally means a tenth of the gross income (not net)
2. The Old Testament 10% tithe was given to the Levites for “church” ministry, and other offerings (e.g. religious celebrations, the poor, etc.) pushed total giving to around 25%
3. The New Testament focuses on giving cheerfully, sacrificially, and regularly (2 Corinthians 8-9)
4. The New Testament often asks more of believers than the Old Testament because of the Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [lower third]
= 1st tither was Abraham – 500 yrs before Moses & law
Giving in our family
1. God is far more fair & just than gov’t
2. 10% to the church was always the floor, with gifts to ministries & people in addition
3. We set up recurring giving every year & goal is always to increase year-over-year
4. We wanted our kids to grow up being givers (cars, food, rent, legal bills, travel, etc.)
5. I don’t want any of God’s money in my pocket = stealing
6. 90% of my wealth with God’s blessing is better than 100% w/o God’s blessing
7. I want to be like God, and God is a giver [have to v get to]
Acts 20:35 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” [lower third]
I need this first page https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Generosity-FINAL.pdf
Positive Effects On Givers [full screen]
Many studies point to the possible positive consequences of generosity for the giver. Giving social support—time, effort, or goods—is associated with better overall health in older adults, and volunteering is associated with delayed mortality. Generosity appears to have especially strong associations with psychological health and well-being. For example…those who volunteered reported greater quality of life; another study found that frequent helpers reported feeling greater vitality…Other studies have shown a link between generosity and happiness. Some studies have found that people are happier when spending money on others than on themselves, and this happiness motivates them to be generous in the future. And even small acts of kindness…make people feel happy. Generosity is also associated with benefits in the workplace, such as reducing the likelihood of job burnout, and in relationships, where it is associated with more contentment and longer-lasting romantic relationships.
Personal Close
- 2025 30th year as Sr Pastor
- 10-year Exec Employment agreement (TC & RF)
- 1+ billion Real Faith (keeps doubling year after year) 10 books/guides 2024
- Very grateful, content, family blessed (4 generations at TC)
Release online
TC
- 8 yrs old (over 1400 baptisms)
- Rebuilding Home done
3 CHARTs w/YEAR OVER YEAR STATS
- Service 5 up, service 6 coming next week (cannot add more)
SERVICE TIME SLIDES
BAND UP
- Pray for 2x seats 4x parking (4 services more live) & RM/RW/Students same time
- Serve Fair today
- Pick who you will pray for & invite to church
- Let us know how we can pray for you