We know that when Christ gets hold of a life or church, transformation occurs.

Scripture teaches that in Christ, sin is forgiven, truth is revealed, power is available, and lives are made new.

-I dislike it when the spiritual growth of myself/my church stagnates.

-How can we help liberate ourselves and our congregation from our spiritual lethargy?

-This is “the eternal” question!

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. Philippians 3:4-6

Forgetting The Past

[1] We must lose confidence in “our flesh.”

Some have been discouraged by others.

-Experiment conducted w/monkeys…

-“Sticks and stones may break…”

Some have been hindered by past disappointments.

-Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality. All of us have encountered that gap.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider everything a loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8

Forgetting The Past

[2] We must know and gain Christ Jesus as Lord.

In C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory, he wrote: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Life is too brief to live like the world and deny our new position in Christ.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11

Forgetting The Past

[3] We must want to know the power of His resurrection.

-The principle is clear: a decision must be made.

-God creates a new life in us and wants to transform our everyday living into a portrait of the gospel’s power.

Forgetting The Past

[4] We must want to share in His sufferings, becoming like

Him in His death.

Clarity of vision creates clarity of priorities.

-Unfortunately, our #1 goal is too often our comfort.

-“Think of your comfort zone as a prison you live in – a largely self-created prison. It consists of a collection of can’ts, musts, must nots and other unfounded beliefs formed from all the negative thoughts and decisions you have accumulated and reinforced during your lifetime.”

–Jack Canfield

Clarity of vision creates clarity of priorities.

-Unfortunately, our #1 goal is too often our comfort.

-Our #1 goal should be getting souls prepared for heaven!

A clear dream gives direction and motivation to the church!

-Followers don’t give their best to something they don’t understand. People don’t stay on course for something they cannot see. Nobody becomes motivated by something he kind of, sort of believes in.