Discussion Guide | Dec. 28, 2025

December 29th, 2025

Introduction

"Walking in Circles No More" - Sermon Summary

Pastor Bill preached about breaking free from circular patterns and entering 2026 with fresh purpose. Drawing from the Israelites' 40-year wilderness wandering, he emphasized how they remained mentally enslaved despite being physically freed from Egypt. The message focused on examining our lives to ensure we're walking in faith, releasing past burdens, and embracing God's new plans. Pastor Bill encouraged us to mark our calendars with God's presence and provision rather than simply going through the motions. He stressed the importance of forgetting former things that hold us back and fixing our eyes on Jesus as we run the race marked out for us.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather together today, we ask You to open our hearts and minds to what You want to speak to us. Help us to be receptive to Your voice and willing to release anything from our past that may be hindering us from walking in Your fullness. We invite Your Holy Spirit to move among us and show us the new things You want to do in our lives. Prepare our hearts to receive Your word and to apply it to our daily walk with You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What's one tradition or habit you've carried from year to year that you'd like to either keep or change as we enter 2026?

Main Study

Key Verses

2 Corinthians 13:5
Exodus 6:7-8
Isaiah 43:18-19
Philippians 3:12-14
Hebrews 12:1-2
Jeremiah 29:11

Questions

Pastor Bill mentioned that the Israelites had a 'slave mentality' even after being freed from Egypt. What are some 'slave mentalities' or limiting beliefs that Christians today might struggle to leave behind?
How can we practically 'examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith' as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 13:5?
The message emphasized 'forgetting what is behind.' What's the difference between forgetting past hurts and learning from past experiences?
Pastor Bill spoke about God marking our calendars with His presence and provision. How can we be more intentional about recognizing God's hand in our daily lives?
What does it mean to 'fix our eyes on Jesus' in practical, everyday terms?
The sermon mentioned being surrounded by a 'great cloud of witnesses.' How does knowing that faithful believers who have gone before us are cheering us on impact your perspective on current challenges?
Pastor Bill used the illustration of an eagle raised among chickens. In what areas of your life might you be 'clucking like a chicken' instead of soaring like the eagle God created you to be?
How can we help each other in our church community to 'throw off everything that hinders' as we run the race marked out for us?

Life Application

This week, spend time in prayer asking God to reveal any 'weights' or past issues you need to release as you enter 2026. Write down one specific area where you feel God is calling you to 'forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.' Take one practical step this week to move forward in that area, whether it's forgiving someone, breaking a negative habit, or pursuing a God-given dream you've been putting off.

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Closing

Key Takeaways

We must examine our lives to ensure we're walking in faith and not just going through the motions
God wants to mark our calendars with His presence, provision, and power rather than us simply marking time
Forgetting what is behind means not reliving, reviving, or rehearsing past hurts and failures
We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on in our race of faith
God has specific plans for each of us - plans to prosper and not to harm, to give us hope and a future

Ending Prayer

Father God, thank You for the reminder that You are doing a new thing in our lives. Help us to release the weights of the past that have been holding us back and to run with perseverance the race You have marked out for us. Give us the courage to examine our lives honestly and the faith to believe that You have good plans for our future. As we enter this new year, may we fix our eyes on Jesus and walk in the fullness of all You have prepared for us. Strengthen our faith and help us to encourage one another as we journey together. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, Amen.