Preached by Chris Broom, 12/31/2006
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New Beginnings - Outline

What are your dreams for God’s kingdom in the new year? For new Christians, this can be the first full year serving God. For older Christians, make it the most faithful year of your Christian life. For non-Christians, God can give you new life (Ezra 9:9).

God can make you new no matter what stage of life you’re at. How many punches can you take and keep moving forward? A Christian needs to keep moving forward, not by their own power, but through faith in God.

Exodus 3:1-21 Moses & the Burning Bush
- The bush was a strange sight to Moses. But he was about to hear from God.
- God sends Moses to be used to deliver his people. God uses people to get the job done. The job gets done because God is with Moses.
- It doesn’t matter who you are. It matters whether or not God is with you.
- God is concerned for his people.
- God isn’t “I was.” God is “I am.”

Exodus 18:7-12 Jethro visits Moses
- Moses tells father-in-law hardships and how God saved them.
- We need to remember the hardships and how God delivers us from them.
- Rely on God. Make sure God is with you.

How do you know if you’re relying on God? See it in your prayer life, your Bible study, your fellowship. Do you have a brokenness over your sin, or are you hard hearted?
Signs you’re not relying on God include worrying, grumbling and shallow prayers.

John 15 shows that God is the gardener. Jesus is the vine. The branches are disciples. Disciples should bear fruit and be pruned. You’re either going to get cut up (pruned) or cut off (fall away). Seek God’s pruning.

Exodus 18:9-12
- Jethro praises God over what God has done.
- Do likewise.
- In order to rely on God, you need to believe in God.
- You also need to believe that God believes in you, just like God believed that Moses could get the job done for God.

The sermon also contains a time of open mic sharing from members about some of our hardships of this year and how God has delivered us from them.

Categories: Sermons