This is the third message of Pastor Chuck Bernal's series TRACTION. This message discusses how we can get "unstuck" from the things that keep us from moving forward. Using the story of Paul and his personal struggles, he reveals 8 practical steps from Philippians 3 that will move us forward in 2016. This message was delivered on Sunday, January 24, 2016.

1. LIFEPOINTE CHURCH VERSE
“Forget the past — it is nothing
compared to what I am going to do. For
I am about to do something new. See, I
have already begun!”
(Isaiah 43:18-19 – New Living Translation)

3. REMEMBERING WHAT
WE’VE ALREADY
LEARNED ABOUT
TRACTION!

4. DAVID:
He got stuck because
he focused in the past

5. THE ISRAELITES:
They got stuck because
they feared the future

6. PAUL’S STORY:
I’M STUCK & I NEED
SOME TRACTION
RIGHT NOW!

7. I need something more . . .
the power of sin within me keeps
sabotaging my best intentions, I
obviously need help! I realize that I
don’t have what it takes. I can will it,
but I can’t do it. I decide to do good,
but I don’t really do it;

8. I decide not to do bad, but then I do
it anyway. My decisions, such as
they are, don’t result in actions.
Something has gone wrong deep
within me and gets the better of me
every time. . It happens so regularly
that it’s predictable . . .

9. I’ve tried everything and nothing
helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is
there no one who can do anything
for me? Isn’t that the real question?
(Romans 7:17-21, 24 – The Message)

10. WHAT PAUL
DISCOVERED
CHANGED HIS LIFE &
CAN CHANGE YOURS

11. I do not mean that I am already as
God wants me to be. I have not yet
reached that goal, but I continue
trying to reach it and to make it
mine. Christ wants me to do that,
which is the reason he made
me his.

12. Brothers and sisters, I know that
I have not yet reached that goal,
but there is one thing I always do.
Forgetting the past and straining
toward what is ahead,

13. I keep trying to reach the goal and
get the prize for which God called
me through Christ to the life above.
All of us who are spiritually mature
should think this way . . .

14. we should continue following
the truth we already have.
(Philippians 3:12-16 – New Century Version)

15. STEP 1:

16. ADMIT
Own up to where
you are right now

17. I do not mean that I am already
as God wants me to be.
I have not yet reached that goal . . .

18. ASK:
What is currently keeping
me stuck where I am?

19. STEP 2:

20. COMMIT
Make the choice to
move ahead in your life

21. I continue trying to reach
it and to make it mine . . .
I keep trying to reach the goal

22. ASK:
Am I really ready
to make the changes
I need to make?

23. STEP 3:

24. TRUST
Know that Christ has
called me to do this

25. Christ wants me to do that, which
is the reason he made me his . . .
and get the prize for which God
called me through Christ to
the life above.

26. ASK:
What is God’s purpose and
what is He calling me
to be and to do?

27. STEP 4:

28. FOCUS
Know what is truly
important and do it

29. There is one thing I always do.

32. ASK:
What are my
“big rocks”?

33. STEP 5:

34. STOP
Don’t be defined or
defeated by your past

35. Forgetting the past . . .

36. ASK:
What in my past
is holding me back or
weighing me down?

37. STEP 6:

38. START
You’ve got to do whatever
it takes
to move ahead

39. Straining toward what is ahead . . .

40. ASK:
What specific things
do I need to do in order
to reach my goals?

41. STEP 7:

42. CONTINUE
You keep moving ahead
no matter what

43. I keep trying to reach the
goal and get the prize . . .
we should continue following
the truth we already have.

44. ASK:
Once I get started,
what do I need to do to
keep the momentum?

45. STEP 8:

46. GROW
Spiritual maturity fuels
spiritual momentum

47. All of us who are spiritually mature
should think this way!

48. ASK:
Am I growing in my
relationship with Christ daily?
If not, why not?

49. TO GAIN TRACTION
YOUR NEED THE
RIGHT INTERACTION

50. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there
no one who can do anything for
me? Isn’t that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that
Jesus Christ can and does.

51. He acted to set things right in this
life of contradictions where I want
to serve God with all my heart
and mind, but am pulled by
the influence of sin to do
something totally different.
(Romans 7:24-25 – The Message)

52. I can do everything through
Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13- God’s Word)

53. “No chance at all if you think
you can pull it off by yourself.
Every chance in the world if
you trust God to do it.
(Luke 18:27- The Message)

54. Let’s Pray