Priorities For 2017
Priorities For 2017
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; Behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17
On the first day of 2017, Pastor Ryan urged the congregation to focus on the Good News, the foundation, on which the New Year should begin and continue. The Good News is that Christ uses His miraculous transformative power to make us new people. We are new! We have clean slates, and can allow the transforming power of Jesus to be expressed in our Christian lives. There are five questions we should ask ourselves.
Question1. In which spiritual discipline do you wish to grow this year?
1. Bible Intake/study – This is imperative for every Christian.
2. Prayer – This is necessary if you want to get closer to God.
3. Worship – Not only on Sundays. Your heart should constantly be in an attitude of worship to God, honoring and exalting Him as Lord.
4. Service to God – As Christians, you have been called to serve.
5. Stewardship – What can you give to God in your church, community and the world?
6. Fasting – Jesus started His ministry with fasting. You can sometimes avoid food to focus solely on prayer, communing with God, and listening to him.
Silent Solitude – Jesus went apart often to be alone with His Father, to stay connected with Him. You can imitate Christ.
8. Journaling – When God speaks to you, write it down for reflection later.
9. Learning/study – continued learning about God will guide you.
10. Celebration/gratitude – Everything about God’s dealing with us is miraculous love in action. Be always thankful to Him.
Keep this list and practice, practice, practice!
(Excerpts from Pastor Ryan’s message on New Year’s Day. Next week, more questions)
Priorities For 2017
(Part 2)
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; Behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17
Last week we focused on one of the five questions in Pastor Ryan’s New Year’s Message. (I hope you are working on the disciplines) Today we will consider the other four questions:
1. What is the most impossible request that you can make to God this year? (Everything about Jesus’ ministry seemed impossible, yet He did it all. Consider, for example, praying for the conversion of an atheist friend. Anything that seems impossible to you but is more than possible with God.)
2. Who are you going to pray for most this year? (Decrease the emphasis on yourself and your closest family members. Be an instrument in God’s Hands to affect someone else’s life)
3. What is the most effective way that you can help to strengthen your church this year? (What are the weaknesses and how can you help to change them into strengths? How can you stand strong and help to build up and edify each other and bring about spiritual growth?)
4. What is the single thing, the seed, which you can plant this year that will matter most over the next ten years, and that will matter throughout eternity? What can you change, or invest in that will make a meaningful difference? (Remember as members of the Body of Christ, we have our specific roles). Dream BIG, INVEST, PLANT the seeds. God will move mountains “to give the increase”. He is an omnipotent God!
Remember too that Prayer is at the foundation of every aspect
of Christian development. (Excerpts from Pastor Ryan’s New Year’s message.)