Thanks for listening! Please support the Rob Skinner Podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/robskinner.

This episode is the third of a three-part series called "Go Get It." I'm going to be talking about how to make 2022 your best year so far spiritually. I know that if you are listening to this podcast that you are ambitious for Christ. You are hungry to make this life count and to do whatever it takes to grow spiritually and make a difference for God. I want to share with you three things that will help you make 2022 your best year so far. I talked about:

Get happy

Get Help

This final episode the title is Get Focused.

All this and more on the Rob Skinner Podcast!

1. Get Focused
   1. Luke 10:39-42
      1. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
   2. Martha was a loving, caring person and was worried and upset, distracted by many things.
   3. Mary focused on only one thing: Being with Jesus, focusing on him and listening to him.
   4. By nature, small church leaders have to do many things. You have to be good at many different things:
      1. Setting a good example
      2. Preaching

• Raising a good family

1. Being kind and encouraging
2. Meeting needs
3. Bringing visitors

• Organizing events, Sundays and midweeks
• Building your career if you are self-supporting

1. This is why ministers burn-out and quit:
   1. A 2013 study from the Schaeffer Institute reports that 1,700 pastors leave the ministry each month, citing depression, burnout, or being overworked as the primary reasons. According to the study, 90% of pastors report working 55 to 70 hours a week, and 50% of them feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
   2. You start in ministry doing what you love the most:
      1. Preaching
      2. Teaching the gospel in Bible studies
      3. Staying close to God

• When you grow your church, the number of problems only increases.

1. Personal sharing
   1. Discipling too many people
   2. Trying to meet all the needs
   3. Taking on too many extra projects
   4. Not doing what really brought me joy
   5. Becoming an administrator rather than what I loved.
2. Look at how the Apostles got focused in Acts 6:1
   1. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word…" 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
   2. The church was growing, the needs were growing. How did the apostles respond? They met the needs through others and refocused on their primary calling.
3. What's the solution for us? Figure out your "One Thing"
   1. Share about the book: "The One Thing" by Gary Keller
   2. He says we should ask ourselves:
      1. "What's the One Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"

• Practical application:
  1. List all the areas that matter to you: (Show Worksheet)
     1. Relationship with God
     2. Ministry and leadership
     3. Personal evangelism and outreach
     4. Marriage and family
     5. Finances
     6. Friends
     7. Fun and adventure
     8. New Skills or Learning
  2. What can you do to improve in those areas?
  3. List out five ideas
  4. Circle the "one thing" that will make the biggest difference.
  5. Personal example
     1. 2022 Decisions:
        1. Spirituality:
           1. Weekly Sabbath
        2. Church and Family:
           1. Consistent, weekly discipling times with Pam & my primary leaders

• Health
  1. Walk 10,000 steps a day

1. Conclusion
   1. Get happy
      1. Delight yourself in the Lord
   2. Get help
      1. Pray and ask for outside attention and "eyes" to help you see what you might be missing
   3. Get focused
      1. Put the work in to narrow your focus on what makes the biggest difference in the areas that matter the most to you and God.