PRESSING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE
December 29, 2024
Pastor Daven Hee
Innovative Concepts Mission:
Reaching and redeeming the Unchurched, Making Disciples,
and Multiplying Leaders who establish vibrant churches,
bringing hope and renewal to every community we serve,
to further the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
INTRO
Give yourselves a big high five—you made it through another year!
2024 brought its share of challenges and hardships—some more than others—
but here we are, standing strong and ready for what’s ahead.
As we stand at the brink of a new year,
this moment invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate.
The passing of time reminds us of God’s faithfulness
through every season—every joy, every challenge,
every triumph, and even in moments of uncertainty.
Today, we gather to not only bid farewell to 2024
but to look forward with hope, gratitude, and purpose.
Let us take this time to thank God for what has been
and trust Him for what’s to come.
TEXT
“No, dear brothers and sisters,
I have not achieved it,
but I focus on this one thing:
Forgetting the past
and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race
and receive the heavenly prize
for which God,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” —Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
TEACHING
REFLECTION: WHAT HAS GOD DONE THIS YEAR?
- Look back at 2024 with gratitude.
- Highlight how God has been faithful in both joys and challenges.
- God’s faithfulness and mercies are new every morning.
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in Him!” —Lamentations 3:22-24 NLT
RELEASE: LET GO OF THE PAST
- Don’t be weighed down by past mistakes, regrets, or disappointments.
- FOCUS on what’s up ahead.
What is the bigger picture, vision that God has for your life?
[promises, purpose, assignment, destiny] - God’s forgiveness allows us to move forward.
- “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
- Get rid of old habits that hold you back and keep you from growing.
[Constructive Habits vs. Destructive Habits] - Majority of our habits start in our minds. It starts with just a thought.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ.” —2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.” —Romans 12:2 NLT
“But forget all that— it is nothing compared
to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT
RENEWAL: PRESSING FORWARD WITH FAITH AND HOPE
- Let’s all enter the new year with a sense of purpose
and trust in God’s plan as a family and community of believers.
“A family of believers suggests intimacy, commitment,
and personal investment, while a community of believers
emphasizes shared faith and purpose on a broader scale.
Both are essential to the life of the Church,
with the family fostering deep relationships
and the community providing a sense of belonging and shared mission.”
Small Groups: Family of Believers
Gatherings: Community of Believers
- FOCUS on your spiritual growth and Kingdom impact.
Continue meeting in your Small Groups discipling one another.
Keep inviting and involving people to be part of your
Small Group, Serving and participating in our Outreaches.
“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” —Proverbs 16:3 NLT
“And let us not neglect our meeting together,
as some people do, but encourage one another,
especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” —Hebrews 10:25 NLT
- “CREATIVE CONSISTENCY” Going forward we need to continue to pray for creative solutions to our challenges that arise in the church and our personal lives.
Continue to fight forward!
Not give in or give up so easily no matter how tired or worn out we are.
We always going have challenges, trials, difficulties.
“I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give me on the day of His return.
And the prize is not just for me but for all
who eagerly look forward to His appearing.”
—2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT
- Speak the Word of God over your life in FAITH!
Declare God’s promises for your life and your loved ones.
[Especially for our Keiki]
BE A CONQUEROR!
“It’s a call to persevere in the faith,
to overcome the temptations of the world—
whether they’re temptations to pursue earthly pleasures
or to escape hardship and persecution.
To be a conqueror is to love better.
To be a conqueror is to keep loving God,
regardless of what life throws at us—blessings or challenges.” —“The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible”
“If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.” —Proverbs 24:10 NLT
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:37-39 NIV
CLOSING ACTION
Break into groups of 3 or 4
Spend a moment in prayer to thank God for the past year and dedicate the coming year to Him.
Declare in faith some of the things that you would like to see happen in 2025.
Lead with a prayer of renewal, surrender, and hope.
SMALL GROUP DISCIPLESHIP
Share with each other some of the old habits you need to get rid of once and for all.
[start with just two]What are some of the scriptures that you can use to renew your mind?
What practical steps are you willing to action and be accountable?
APPLICATION FOR YOUR LIFE
Set some spiritual goals for the coming year 2025
(e.g., deeper prayer life, service to others, study the Bible).Journal God’s faithfulness and blessings in your life. Share your testimonies in your Small Group and the church.