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First

By December 31, 2016January 2nd, 2017Sermon Series Pre-Campaign)

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How was your spiritual life in 2016?

  1. Couch – apathetic
  2. Yo-yo – inconsistent
  3. Fit – thriving

Big Idea: Put God first in 2017 

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (NIV)

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. – Matthew 22:36–38 (NIV)

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Obstacles to putting God first in our lives:

  1. Me
  2. Time
  3. Distractions

4 habits to put God first in your life:

  1. Prioritize time with God
    1. 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed – Luke 5:15–16 (NIV)
  2. Prioritize time with others
    1. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
  3. Prioritize fasting and prayer
    1. 5 “And when you pray… Matthew 6:5 (NIV)
    2. 16 “When you fast… Matthew 6:16 (NIV)
    3. 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed – Luke 5:15–16 (NIV)
  4. Prioritize giving
    1. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:7–8 (NIV)

2 further suggestions:

  1. Do everything you do for God
    1. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters – Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
  2. Set up reminders
    1. 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates – Deuteronomy 6:7–9 (ESV)