Don’t forget when you’re done taking notes to click the “email” button at the bottom to save your message notes and email them to yourself!
Introduction:
Your One Life … this is a powerful statement! A new year reminds us that yesterday is gone, and all we have is today. Think about your life as a string of moments and experiences that run back-to-back. With every heartbeat and day that passes, time is passing by that can never be regained. Our days are numbered, and each passing day becomes a distant memory. We only get one shot at life.
“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” —Psalms 90:12
One day, we will face the end of our lives and the question, “Did my life matter?” As we think about a new year, I want us to consider legacy over longevity. Don’t think about what you are leaving behind; instead, think about who you are leaving behind. Who are you impacting? Who will thank you for your example and the donation of your life? As we kick off this new year, think about restarting, realigning, refocusing, and rethinking how you can maximize your influence for Kingdom impact.
Text: Philippians 3:7-14 (New Testament)
Today’s Takeaway: The decisions we make today shape our destiny tomorrow.
HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR INFLUENCE FOR KINGDOM IMPACT
I. DON’T WASTE
(vs. 7-13a)
A. Impact Principle #1: Today matters
“Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” —1 Corinthians 11:1
- Commit to
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” —Romans 10:9-10
- Commit to
“Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” —Psalm 34:12-13 (NLT)
These verses give us a good formula for how to live:
- Speak life and encouragement
- Don’t lie
- Turn away from evil
- Do good
- Search for peace
- Be a person of peace
B. Impact Question #1: What do you need to do to make the most of every
II. DON’T LIVE IN THE
(v 13b)
A. Impact Principle #2: Do not let the past control your
“The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” —Romans 13:12
B. Impact Question #2: What do you need to leave in the
“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” —Lamentations 3:22-23
III. LOOK TO THE
(v 13c)
A. Impact Principle #3: Always do what your future
“For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God,” —Colossians 1:9-10
B. Impact Question #3: How can you create more
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise — 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” —Ephesians 5:15-17
IV. DETERMINE TO FINISH
(v 14)
A. Impact Principle #4: Don’t give
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.“ —II Timothy 2:3
“But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” —Acts 20:24
B. Impact Question #4: How can you develop
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” —I Corinthians 15:58
CONCLUSION: What steps do you need to take to dedicate this year to God and maximize your influence?
DEEP DIVE QUESTIONS
What do you need to do to make the most of every day?
What do you need to leave in the past?
How can you create more space in your life for God?
How can you develop resilience in your life?
Upcoming Events at City United
1. Discipleschip Training with Dr. David Nelms from The Timothy Initiative- Saturday, January 14, 10a.m. - 12p.m.
He will be sharing with us what God is doing all over the globe and how we can be a part of this discipleship movement. Join us on Saturday to learn about what it means to be a disciple-maker and how you can get started today. We will meet in the Chapel of Building 1. To RSVP to be a part of this exciting training, visit www.cityunited.church/events
2. Guest Speaker David Nelms, The Timothy Initiative - Sunday, January 15, 9 and 10:30am
We have the opportunity to partner with The Timothy Initiative to plant churches in a 100% Buddhist country and to establish a Gospel presence in Sri Lanka with church planters who have been raised up in India and will be heading back to their homeland to minister. Please download the project PDF from the NEXT offering page, www.cityunited.church/next, to see how your giving will make a global impact. Our Goal is to raise $30,000 over two years to plant 100 churches in Sri Lanka. We need to raise the last $15,000 towards this
goal in this Annual Offering.
3. Church APP and Website Rundown - Sunday, January 22, 11:45a.m. - 12:45p.m.
We are here to help you! During this time we will show you how to navigate church groups, the app, the website, and much more. If you have ever wondered where or how to find something, this is the perfect opportunity to find out! Meet us after the 10:30 gathering upstairs in Room 1 of building 3. Members of our web and communications team will be there to assist you in whatever you need to make getting information easier.
4. Baptism & Membership Sunday - I’m All In! - Sunday, January 29
Baptism Sunday If you would like to sign up to be biblically baptized or if you have questions about what it means to be biblically baptized, go to cityunited.church/baptism.
Membership Sunday is a time when we honor those who have taken their Next Steps and are ready to make City United Church their church home. We will be recognizing them at the end of our online and campus gatherings, and we will have a special time of prayer with them. If you would like more information on taking this next steps, please email the church office.