Pastor Ryan encourages the congregation to move beyond fleeting New Year's resolutions and seek fulfillment on the ancient paths found in Scripture. He argues that our desire for something more in life reflects a divine purpose, urging listeners to find rest and a deeper relationship with God by following these uncomfortable yet transformative paths.

The sermon discusses the concept of righteousness, defining it not just as moral behavior but as living life the way God intended - in perfect flourishing and abundance. Through Jesus Christ, God provides His righteousness as a gift to those who believe, making them right with Him and meeting their deepest needs for acceptance, security, and significance.

This sermon teaches that stubborn sins are rooted in our habit of rejecting God and replacing Him with idols. We can overcome these sins and find spiritual freedom by embracing new holy habits, continually remembering God's grace, and seeking Him in His Word.

This sermon warns against the sin of misplaced trust, which leads to a cursed life of spiritual barrenness, and instead, calls for placing complete trust in God. Through a "heart transplant" given by Jesus, believers can overcome inherited patterns of distrust and become like a flourishing tree, rooted in God's promises and provision.