Sermon Recap | Dec. 28, 2025

January 1st, 2026

Walking in Circles No More

Dr. Bill Shuler

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, many of us find ourselves carrying the weight of the past into what should be a fresh beginning. Like the man who called to pay off his MasterCard debt only to ask if they accepted Visa, we often try to solve our problems with the same patterns that created them.

Why Do We Keep Going in Circles?

The Israelites provide a powerful example of this circular thinking. Despite witnessing incredible miracles - the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, and receiving the Ten Commandments - they remained mentally trapped in a slave mindset. Years after leaving Egypt, they still behaved as slaves.

The Slave Mentality That Holds Us Back

Even though God had delivered them from physical bondage, the Israelites couldn't break free from their mental chains. They murmured, gossiped, and longed to return to their past. This double-minded approach made them "unstable in all their ways" (James 1:8).

The result? They wandered in circles for 40 years, never reaching the promised land that was within their grasp.

What Does It Mean to Examine Ourselves?

Second Corinthians 13:5 calls us to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith." This isn't just about believing in Jesus - it's about aligning every aspect of our lives with faith in God.

We must ask ourselves: Are we walking in God's ways? Are we adopting His character? Are we being transformed into the image of Christ?

Breaking Free from Autopilot Living

Too many of us stumble from year to year, doing the same things and expecting different results. God wants us to get off autopilot and break our limiting routines.

How Does God Mark Our Calendar?

In Exodus 12:2, God gave His people a brand new calendar marked not by ordinary time, but by His miraculous intervention. This calendar was marked by the Passover - a reminder of God's protection and supernatural provision.

Your Calendar Is Marked by God's Presence

When you're God's child, your calendar isn't just pages to flip through. It's marked by:

His presence
His provision
His power
His plans

God wants to end some things from your past so you can embrace what He has planned for your future.

What Does It Mean to Forget the Former Things?

Isaiah 43:18-19 commands us to "forget the former things" and not dwell on the past because God is "doing a new thing." But how do we actually forget?

Forgetting Isn't About Memory Loss

In Hebrew, "forget" means:

Do not relive
Do not revive
Do not rehearse

It's about breaking the cycle of mentally replaying past hurts, failures, or disappointments. Instead of dwelling on where you've been, focus on where God is taking you.

How Do We Press Forward Like Paul?

Paul understood this principle perfectly. In Philippians 3:12-14, he wrote about "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Paul pressed on toward the goal to win the prize of his heavenly calling.

We Are Surrounded by Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us that we're "surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses." These are the heroes of faith who have gone before us, cheering us on as we run our race.

You're not alone in this journey. You're part of something that has been building for over 2,000 years through the Church of Jesus Christ.

What Weights Are Holding You Back?

The same passage calls us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." In biblical times, runners would train with weights in their garments, then remove them for competition to run faster.

Identifying Your Spiritual Weights

What weights are you carrying that need to be thrown off?

Past failures and regrets
Unforgiveness toward others
Limiting beliefs about yourself
Unhealthy patterns and habits

Why Is Confession and Repentance Important?

Proverbs 28:13 tells us that "whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." The focus isn't on condemnation but on the mercy and freedom that comes from releasing these burdens.

You Are the Healed of the Lord

God is healing you emotionally, mentally, and physically. Your identity isn't defined by what you've been through - it's defined by who God says you are. You're anointed because you have scars, meaning you've wrestled with God and survived because He has shown you that you're not held captive by your past.

How Do We Fix Our Eyes on Jesus?

Hebrews 12:2 calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, "the pioneer and perfecter of faith." When we focus on Him instead of our circumstances, we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

God's Plans Are for Your Good

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God knows the plans He has for us - "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Don't underestimate God's greatness in your life. He wants to move in ways that exceed your expectations.

More Sermon Study Guides

Life Application

This week, take time to examine your life and identify what needs to be left in the past. Just as God gave the Israelites a new calendar marked by His miraculous intervention, He wants to mark your new year with His presence and power.

Your Challenge: Write down the weights you need to throw off - past hurts, limiting beliefs, unhealthy patterns, or unconfessed sins. Then declare victory over them and commit to walking in the freedom Christ has provided.

Questions for Reflection:

What patterns from the past am I carrying into this new year that need to be broken?
How can I align my daily life more closely with faith in God rather than living on autopilot?
What "new thing" might God be doing in my life that I need to perceive and embrace?
How can I fix my eyes on Jesus rather than being distracted by past failures or future fears?

Remember, the old has passed away and the new has come. God is doing a new thing - do you perceive it? It's time to stop going in circles and start running the race He has marked out for you.

More Sermon Study Guides