Dec. 27 sermon: “2010 Without Regrets”

1/7 update: fixed the embedded player.

Here’s the audio for the December 27 sermon. It’s the first in a series about living regret-free in 2010. I pray it will be a blessing to you. The sermon notes follow.

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A Regret-Free 2010, Part 1 (Josh. 24:14-15)

“We choose the kind of life we are going to have” Wise words from an 8 year old. It’s also a realization of biblical truth: our choices either bring us closer to God’s design for us, or push us farther away from what He created us to be.

What does the Bible say about choices? God has a lot to say about them. When we make God-honoring choices, we can have a year without regrets.

1. We make choices daily that affect us for a lifetime
Lk. 9:23 Ps. 61:8
big decisions, as well as “small,” everyday decisions
1 Cor. 10:31 “whatever you do”
every choice is important
Eph. 5:3-5 Eph. 4:32
–not all choices are good v. evil. Some are good v. best.
Phil 1:9-10
Choosing the best: become Great Commandment-focused

2. God cares about our actions, attitudes & motivations
1 Samuel 16:7 1 Cor. 10:31
We can do the wrong things for the wrong reasons
Ex.: Favoritism (James 2:1-8)
We can do the right things for the wrong reasons
Ex.: prayer (Lk. 18:9-14, James 4:2-3
How do we know what’s right?
1. God uses Bible & Holy Spirit to teach us what pleases God
John. 14:26 2 Tim. 3:16
2. Once again, think Great Commandment
Our choices need to be guided by Holy Spirit and Bible & focused on obeying the Great Commandment
3. Remember that the desire to make right choices comes from God Himself
Phil. 2:13
By nature, we want to please ourselves. God puts the desire to please Him into the hearts of His children.
What does that mean to us? We are not in this alone.
Jesus is proof that God is on our side. (Rom. 5:8)
He is Immanuel: God with us
God is active, at work in our lives
Rom. 8:29 Phil. 1:6 Lk. 7:11
God gives us wisdom, direction, & the Holy Spirit so that we can make choices that please Him.

Application: What does this mean to me?
1. A year of no regrets happens one day, one hour at a time. The choices we make show God’s work in us, or they don’t.
2. God passionately cares about the choices we make. He gives us everything we need to live without regrets.
3. God is on our side, working to remake us to be like Jesus. We can trust that He’ll lead us to make choices that please Him.

James 1:5//If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Do you lack wisdom? Do you wonder what you should be doing in various life situations? God wants you to come to Him!

Will you:
Trust that His way is best, and ask Him to help you make decisions that please Him?