Sermon: Godly New Year's Resolutions

Godly New Year's Resolutions

a mini-sermon
by Michael Fischer
(Outline only)

II Corinthians 5:17

17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

"This year, I will cultivate a Godly attitude."

Rejoice - our joy is based on what God has done, not on our circumstances.
Pray - talk to God constantly. Not just intercession, but confession, thanksgiving, praise.
Thanks - hard to thank for all things, but in all things is doable.

I Thessalonians 5:21-22

21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil.

"This year, I will purify my life."

Obvious stuff - R-rated movies, Internet smut, soap operas, alcohol.
Not-so-obvious - gossip, the company you keep
Questionable - Romans 14:23 - And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Philippians 4:6-7

6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

"This year, I will stop worrying and start trusting God more."

See how He has been faithful to others
Look back on how He has been faithful already
Remind yourself that you don't have much under your control anyway
Consider God's promises to you:
1. Romans 8:28
2. I Peter 5:7
3. Matthew 6:31-33
Test Him for the little things first; then you'll trust him more easily for the big things

Galatians 6:9

9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

"This year, I will not give up doing what is right."

Praying
Giving
Serving
Witnessing

Ephesians 5:15-16

15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

"This year, I will stop wasting God's time."

Time is for us - God has no use for it
Time is limited and, once gone, cannot be recovered
The wise will make good use of time

II Peter 1:5-8

5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"This year, I will be diligent to grow in the Lord."

New in Christ - don't lose your zeal as you grow
Middle-aged in Christ - regain that zeal as you continue to grow
Mature in Christ - pass on that zeal to someone else who's new in Christ

I Peter 4:10-11

10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

"This year, I will be more of a servant."

To my family
To the church
To all