Grace Community Church
You're A New Creature (Daniel 6:1-10)
Big Idea: Habits control much of your life, but you control your habits.
Locations & Times
Grace Community Church
9755 N La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85742, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
New Sermon Series Begins Today - Creatures of Habit
Like it or not, we are all creatures of habit. About 40% of our daily lives are dictated by our habits — the actions we take and the things we say based on the time of day, where we are and whom we are around. We can’t stop being creatures of habit. With a little knowledge and effort, though, we can redirect our behaviors to form the habits we want, rather than just living with ones we don’t want. The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that in Christ each one of us is a new creature. In Christ, we are reassured that there is no good habit too hard to form and no bad habit too hard to break. As a new year begins, there is no better time to be intentional at changing a habit or two in our lives to help each of us become more of a “new creature."
Join us as we take a look at the habits in our lives that make us who we are and discover how we can change them.
http://www.gracetucson.org/blog/post/creature-of-habitJoin us as we take a look at the habits in our lives that make us who we are and discover how we can change them.
Book - The Power of Habit
In The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize–winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed.
Click here to order The Power of Habit on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160XClick here to order The Power of Habit on Amazon.
John 8:34 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Daniel 6:1-10 (NLT)
Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
Video - Community Bible Experience
Take a look at this video and consider joining us for CBE! We'll begin reading the New Testament on January 16!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uifXYNq-sN8&t=76sCommunity Bible Experience at Grace Community Church
Community Bible Experience (CBE) is a different way to read the New Testament: less like a reference book, more like a story. It’s a new way to talk about the Bible, too: less like a Bible study, more like a book club.Starting January 16, 2017, we'll be embarking on this walk through the Scriptures together. We hope you'll join us on an unforgettable 8-week journey and fall in love with God in a whole new way!Click here for more information, free resources and to join us on this exciting 40-day challenge to hear God's Voice in a way we've never heard before.
http://www.gracetucson.org/cbeMy Next Step
What habit(s) do you want to add, or get rid of, this coming year?
Click here to take one step closer to Christ today.
https://form.jotform.com/61595517299167Click here to take one step closer to Christ today.
For my personal time with God this week:
[#1] Read Daniel chapters 1-6 and get a picture for Daniel’s life from his teenage to his older years. Where do you see he was a creature of habit? How did those habits impact his life?
[#2] Read 2 Corinthians 5 and see how Paul leads up to our theme verse in this series, verse 17. How does reading it in context help you to more richly understand why he said what he said in verse 17? What does it mean for you as a new creature (or potentially new creature) in Christ?
[#3] Consider signing up to read through the New Testament with us in January and February as part of your new year’s resolutions! Go to www.gracetucson.org/cbe for more details.
[#1] Read Daniel chapters 1-6 and get a picture for Daniel’s life from his teenage to his older years. Where do you see he was a creature of habit? How did those habits impact his life?
[#2] Read 2 Corinthians 5 and see how Paul leads up to our theme verse in this series, verse 17. How does reading it in context help you to more richly understand why he said what he said in verse 17? What does it mean for you as a new creature (or potentially new creature) in Christ?
[#3] Consider signing up to read through the New Testament with us in January and February as part of your new year’s resolutions! Go to www.gracetucson.org/cbe for more details.
How can we pray for you?
Our Grace prayer team is ready to join with you in prayer for whatever concerns you have. We take your requests seriously and would be honored to stand with you as you bring your concerns before our heavenly Father. Click here to submit a prayer request. All submissions are kept confidential unless you request otherwise.
http://www.gracetucson.org/needprayerOnline Giving
Help us make a kingdom difference by giving through our secure, online giving portal. IF YOU HAVE a login in Realm already, please use your login email address so that your gift will be attached to your other giving records.
https://onrealm.org/gracetucson/Give/MZGXNRCFCPHow was your experience today?
What helped you connect to God, and what could our teams have done even better? If you have any questions, please leave them here along with a way to contact you. We will be glad to do so this week .
https://form.jotform.com/60788528795173