A couple of helpful articles have been floating around out in the blogosphere the last few days regarding New Years resolutions.

Wherever you might be on the New Year’s resolution issue I’ve found this can be a helpful time for looking back with thankfulness on the past year, reflecting on life, evaluating oneself, and looking ahead to the year to come with anticipation of what God might do.

David Powlison wrote a guest post over at Between Two Worlds- it is an interesting and helpful post from an outsiders perspective.

Several bloggers have posted links to a resource for the M’Cheyne dailing Bible reading calendar. The new year is a great time to start this. I hate to let anyone know but I think I’m going for it this year.

Stephen Altrogge at The Blazing Center gives some suggestions for making new year’s resolutions. The bulk of Stephen’s post is below.

So how do we make and keep New Year’s resolutions? More importantly, how do we make and keep New Year’s resolutions in a way that pleases God? Here’s a few ways:

1. Make Them Prayerfully

If we’re going to change for the glory of God, it must be by the power of God. Without God’s supernatural power at work within us, all change will be superficial and pointless. We need God to help us identify the areas where change is necessary, and then give us the power to change. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God has prepared good works for us to walk in. Let’s ask Him to lead us into these good works this year.

2. Check Your Motives

1 Corinthians 10:35 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” The ultimate goal of all New Year’s resolutions should be the glory of God. When considering areas of change, ask yourself, “Why do I want to change in this area?” When I was younger I wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Was it so I could serve the church by leading worship? Nope. So I could be in a kickin’ rock band and be adored by hordes of screaming fans who desperately wanted my autograph. You might say my motives weren’t 100% pure. If we’re to please God, our New Year’s resolutions must be made for His glory.

3. Involve Others

God-honoring growth happens in the context of community. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” If we’re going to grow spiritually we need others to exhort and encourage us. Get other people involved in your New Year’s resolutions. Ask those close to you to point out the areas you need to grow, and then have them hold you accountable in those areas. Growth is a community project.

4. Remember The Savior

Our spiritual growth contributes absolutely nothing to our salvation. We are saved once and for all by the perfect life and sacrificial death of Christ. God won’t love me any more if I memorize 100 scriptures or share the gospel with all my neighbors. I am secure in the love of God because Jesus Christ died in my place. Deserving has nothing to do with it. As you make your New Year’s resolutions, remember Jesus Christ.

Have a great New Year!

The last Sunday of 2007 promises to be a rich time with the body here at ASGF.

The sermon will be Pt. 4 in the Body Life series- Body Life: Giving.

 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

The Songs-

Sing His Love

Step by Step

I Boast No More

Pass Me Not

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Come Thou Fount

Grace Groups are meant to foster community, accountability, genuine and deep fellowship.  Whether or not this is happening depends largely on our willingness to see our need for others input and open ourselves up to others.

A couple of weeks ago I came across the following from Drew Goodmanson and it has stuck in my mind.

One potential danger is that people who enter into the life of the community are willing to be transparent, but they are not vulnerable.  Meaning, you can have a person publicly profess sin, being very transparent BUT they have no intention of letting other people speak into their life toward change.  This false transparency appears like humility but it is a charade of self-righteousness behind the ‘right things to say’.

As people get into each others lives, we must ’submit one to another’ to allow others to confront the idols of our hearts.

The following Christmas quotes were posted over at Between Two Worlds. Below the quotes are some links to other good food for thought on Christmas and the incarnation.

“Infinite and yet an infant.

Eternal and yet born of a woman.

Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman’s breast.

Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.

Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”

–Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

“That man should be made in God’s image is a wonder,

but that God should be made in man’s image is a greater wonder.

That the Ancient of Days would be born.

That He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle?”

-Thomas Watson

“Man’s Maker was made man

that the Bread might be hungry,

the Fountain thirst,

the Light sleep,

the Way be tired from the journey;

that Strength might be made weak,

that Life might die.

–Augustine

 

 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

and we have seen his glory,

glory as of the only Son from the Father,

full of grace and truth.”

(John 1:14)

Advent and the Incarnation- Desiring God blog

If I Became a Garden Slug- The Blazing Center blog

The Advent and the Incarnation- Pt. 1, Pt. 2- Gospeldrivenlife blog

Beating the Post-Christmas Blues- The Blazing Center blog

As you prepare yourself and your family for worship this Sunday take some time to meditate on this Sunday’s passage and to reflect on the songs we will be singing together.  Looking forward to worshiping with you.

Text-

 Matthew 2:1-12

Songs-

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Shout to the Lord

For You are Holy

Mighty is the power of the Cross

In Christ Alone

Away in a Manger

Joy to the World

I discussed our church calendars in an earlier post but wanted to remind everyone that we are getting together Saturday to distribute the calendars in the community around the Canyon View Community Center.

The plan is to meet at the Canyon View Community Center at 10am on Saturday morning to distribute somewhere around 250 of these calendars.

Just to remind us, these calendars are a small way to reflect the unconditional love of Christ through a gift and to make people aware of our church and our desire to serve our community.

Come join us for a chance to meet our neighbors and love our community!

We will save a few for those of you who didn’t get a chance to pick some up for neighbors and coworkers this last weekend but the majority will go out into the community.

As you think back over Brad’s sermon from Sunday I thought it might be helpful to point you to some resources on music and worship.

One of the most helpful places to go is the blog of Bob Kauflin called Worship Matters.

Some of his best and most thought-provoking posts include-

Addressing One Another in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Defining Worship

Should Worship Be Fun?

How do We Grow in Physical Expressiveness Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5

Erik Raymond at Irish Calvinist posted a helpful article on worship as a lifestyle here.

As with most topics, Desiring God has lots of free sermons and resources.  You can find a number of sermons on worship here.

Hope these articles are helpful to think over as you worship God with your life this week.