Lord Over Another Year | Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Lord Over Another Year

Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr

The House of Hope Atlanta • Jan 25, 2026 • 52 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Entering another year is not an entitlement earned by human merit, but a rescue granted through divine mercy and Christ's intercession. God inspects believers' lives for genuine spiritual fruit rather than surface-level religious activity or attendance. Because He is Lord over time, He uses challenging seasons to rearrange our spiritual soil and develop us, reminding us to yield fruit before the window of grace passes.

Themes

Lordship of ChristGod's Mercy and GraceSpiritual FruitfulnessIntercession and AdvocacySpiritual Growth and Discipline

Pastor's Points

1.

It removes entitlement.

2.

He expects a return on His investment.

3.

He prioritizes our development.

4.

There are real possibilities for demolishment.

Key Points

1.
Because Jesus is Lord over another year, human entitlement is completely removed.
2.
God expects a tangible return on the time, gifts, and spiritual grace He has invested in us.
3.
God prioritizes our development over immediate convenience or comfort.
4.
Refusing to bear spiritual fruit despite extended grace eventually invites real divine judgment and demolishment.
5.
Entering another year is not a reward earned by human merit or perfection, but a rescue granted through divine mercy and intercession.
6.
God inspects our lives for genuine spiritual fruit rather than surface-level religious attendance, shouting, or performance.
7.
God uses messy, difficult seasons as fertilizer to rearrange our spiritual soil and clear out harmful obstacles to growth.
8.
Jesus stepped down into humanity as our advocate and intercessor on the cross, taking our judgment so we could have another chance to bear fruit.

Sermon Moments

“The greatest miracle of January is really not the calendar. It's really mercy.”

“Another year is not a reward. It's really rescue. You didn't get another year because you were perfect... you were spared.”

“God is not inspecting your attendance; He's inspecting your fruit.”

“Grace is going to dig. Grace is going to disrupt. Grace is going to fertilize. Grace is going to get uncomfortable before it gets fruit.”

“Manure stinks, but it makes things grow.”

“Grace has patience, but grace also has a window.”

“Just because you're utilizing your gift doesn't mean that you are producing fruit.”

“If He's not Lord of all, He's not Lord at all.”

This Week

Express daily gratitude to God for the gift of another year, recognizing it as an undeserved rescue rather than an entitlement.

Conduct an honest self-assessment to identify whether your life is producing genuine spiritual fruit or relying on religious performance and attendance.

Surrender difficult or uncomfortable circumstances to God, trusting Him to use life's mess as fertilizer for your personal growth.

Identify and eliminate harmful habits, distractions, and mindsets that choke out your spiritual development.

Commit to using your God-given time, talents, and resources purposefully to yield a meaningful return on His investment.

Acknowledge Jesus as Lord over your time, submitting your daily schedule, goals, and long-term plans to His authority.

Respond promptly to God's invitations to grow, recognizing that the window of His extended grace requires active obedience today.

Remember This

Receiving another year is an unearned gift of divine mercy through Christ's intercession, calling us to surrender entitlement and produce spiritual fruit for God's glory.

A Challenge for You

Don't walk around in entitlement. He's looking for a return on His investment. Go through the process of development and thank Him that He didn't usher in demolishment. May this be a fruit-bearing year as we ask Him to lead us and guide us.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.