South County Church

Thrive – healthy and growing in all areas of your life.

What have you decided to leave in 2021?

- Last week’s reflection questions:

i. What are the areas of your life where you are not thriving?

iii. What are the sins that trip me up each year? Where do I need to guard my heart that I am not? What changes do I need to make so I am not repeating past mistakes?

iv. What is my plan for following the Truth this year?

Big Idea: God has a plan and wants you to plan with Him.

Scripture: Philippians 3:3b-14 NLT – We put no confidence in human effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 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, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

When thinking about our goals what should we keep in mind?

a. Human effort is pointless without Christ

i. Philippians 3:5-6 NLT – 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

ii. Matthew 16:23 NLT – 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

b. Our primary desire should be to keep Jesus at the center of our lives

i. To know Jesus and to be like Him!

1. Philippians 3:8-9a NLT – 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.

2. John 17:3 NLT – 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

3. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT – 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

c. All of our goals should flow out of our desire to serve the Lord

i. We don’t plan and hope that God blesses it. We plan with God and because we want to serve Him with our best!

1. Philippians 3:14 NIV – 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

2. Colossians 3:23-24 HCSB – 23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

3. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT – 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

4. 1 Timothy 5:8 NLT – 8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Setting Goals to Thrive in 2022

a. Spiritual Goals

i. Connecting with the Lord through His word and through prayer

b. Fitness Goals

i. How can I best take care of this body God has given me?

1. What is my weight goal?

2. What is my fitness plan to get in shape and stay healthy?


iii. What do I need to adjust with food intake?

c. Marriage/Family Goals

i. How can I invest in my spouse?

ii. How can I best connect with my family?

d. Educational/Intellectual Goals

i. Is there a degree that will move me toward God’s plans?

ii. What books do I need to read in 2022?

e. Career Goals

i. What is God calling me to do? How can I best get there?

f. Social Goals

i. Who do I need to hang out with? Who do I need to stop hanging out with or significantly reduce time spent with them?

g. Financial Goals

i. What needs to be put in place to best take care of my family?

1. Will, Emergency Fund, Life Insurance, Retirement Savings

What goals are you aiming at?

a. There is no perfect plan or process.

i. Keep going!

1. Philippians 3:14 NIV – 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

ii. Review your plan daily and readjust accordingly.

Next Steps
- Memorize: Philippians 3:14 NIV
- Evaluate: What areas of my life need my focus right now?
- Action: Pause to set some goals for 2022.