Go Deep, Grow Strong, Bear Fruit

GO DEEP, GROW STRONG, AND BEAR FRUIT

INTRO TO TOPIC:
I love the New Year – there’s something great about being able to turn that calendar page and start new and fresh. It’s a great time to reflect on the past, and look forward to the new and exciting things the Lord wants to do in our lives in 2012…

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: What resolutions will you make for 2012?
The top 5 resolutions people make last year were:
• 5. stop smoking
• 4. make more money
• 3. improve relationships
• 2. exercise more
• 1. lose weight (the number one resolution!)
• Don’t get cynical about making resolutions! It’s a Biblical concept…

OPENING TEXT:
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2).
• There may be floods and storms in this New Year, but the Lord is with you!
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
• God is getting ready to do new things in our midst.
• He says: Choose to forget about the former / old things from last year!
• He wants to bring rivers into your desert experiences and bring you refreshing!

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14).
• What is the one thing we need to do at the beginning of this New Year?
• Forget the past, reach forward, and press on! PRAY!

VISION FOR 2012:
THE BIG IDEA: As we’re heading into this New Season, God is calling us to go deep, grow strong, and bear fruit.

1. GO DEEP:
“1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” (Luke 5:1-6).
• Too many Christians are content with a superficial, shallow Christianity.
• When we follow Jesus and launch out into the deep, God will bless us!
• If we want to be strong and bear fruit, we need roots that go deep. Deep into what?

A. GO DEEP INTO GOD’S LOVE:
“17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home