1.  Faith to move forward into God’s future! Hebrews 11:1-2
2.  Faith to ignore obvious obstacles to progress! Numbers 13-14
3.  Faith to mature! Proverbs 3:5-12

• Trust the Lord with all your heart
• In all your ways submit to him
• Fear the Lord
• Shun Evil
• Honor the Lord with your wealth

4.  Refocus our AIM: Disciples making Disciples: Acts 2:42-47

• Evangelism: Acts 1:8

          1)  Vacation Bible School
          2)  Mission Trip to Kenya
          3)  Georgia Baptist Children’s Home trip
          4)  Kentucky Project
          5)  Angel Tree
          6)  Calhoun Crisis Pregnancy Center
          7)  One Day Soul Winning Workshop
          8)  Financially Support our missionaries: New Desire Ministry, Mark Yoho (Evangelist), Mike Maney (Campus Crusade                   Go Ministries (Bill and Tammy Loveless)​

• Discipleship

          1)  Rekindle the Sunday School: Adding one Class, Increase average attendance
          2)  Encourage more participation in Seminary Extension.
          3)  Grow Teamkids
          4)  Grow the Youth Ministry
          5)  Grow the Prayer Meeting​

• Fellowship

          1)  Increase participation in the Wednesday Night Meals
          2)  Hold 4 church-wide fellowship events this year
          3)  Hold monthly senior adult outings​

• Ministry

          1)  Continue training deacons in deacon family ministry.
          2)  Reemphasize and train Sunday School classes to minister through regular contacts to their members.
          3)  Active benevolence ministry to the community. 

• Worship

          1)  Holy Week Revival Services
          2)  Lord’s Supper
          3)  Fall Revival/Preaching Conference
          4)  Fill the choir every Sunday

• Finances: 

          1)  Emphasize paying down our Church mortgage.
          2)  Develop generous stewards of God’s resources!

SO WHAT?

• Sunday School and Worship EVERY Sunday!
• Invite the lost and unchurched EVERY Sunday!
• Have a place to serve EVERY week!
• Give EVERY time you receive!
• Read the Bible through this year!!!

​1.  Rejoice in the Lord, not in yourself! Verse 1

• Not a new idea!
• Worth repeating!
• It is a safeguard for you!

2.  Guard against legalistic religious leaders and do not follow after them! Verse 2

• Dogs, evildoers, mutilators of the flesh
• Legalists: People who offered the Law as the way to living righteous lives after salvation. Dietary laws of Judaism and circumcision were encouraged. 
• Licentious: People who believed that Christians could live as the pagans after accepting Christ.

3.  Worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ instead of your own accomplishments and zeal as the mark of     
     following Jesus! Verse 3

• Circumcision is the mark of the Jew as God’s people.
• Circumcision is now replaced by the Holy Spirit empowered service!
• Service alone is not the key!
• Passion alone is not the key!
• Christ’s spirit enlivens your service!

4.  Exchange your self-confidence for Christ’s competence! Verses 4-7

• Boast in Christ
• No confidence in the flesh!
• If anyone could, Paul could!
• Circumcised on 8th day!
• Israel
• Tribe of Benjamin
• Respected
• Pharisee: Accomplished!
• Zealous in persecuting the church!
• Law based righteousness: Faultless!

So What?

• Everything that was to my credit is now a loss for the sake of Christ!!!!
• Repent of self-sufficiency!
• Surrender to Christ and serve Him in faith!
• Guard your heart from the influence of dogs and evildoers!