A New Year’s Resolution

Preparing for the Lord's Day

New Year’s Day

I love the beginning of a new year. It is like a fresh pad of paper. The possibilities of what you will do with it are endless. You haven’t messed up yet. Everything is clean and in order and all you must do is begin writing. I think this is why New Year’s resolutions are so popular. We want to make this year one in which life becomes fuller and more satisfying. We want this year to be the one when we lose the weight and keep it off. This is the year when we are going to read through the Bible. This is the year when we will break the bad habit. We all hope that when we come to the end of 2023, we will be able to look back and say, “Now that was a year well lived.”

In our passage for this Sunday, we come to the start of a journey. Jesus is about to leave behind his ministry in Galilee to go to Jerusalem. And he invites his disciples to follow him on this path. He promises them if they follow him they will find satisfaction and life. And this is an invitation that is extended to you at the beginning of 2023. Do you want this to be a year in which you find satisfaction and life? Then you must follow Christ and see that to gain your life you must give your life to Christ. 

To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Luke 9:23-27, Proverbs 16:9, Lamentations 3:40, Philippians 3:12-15,  Hebrews 11:24-26, and this article on New Year’s resolutions. 

This week we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. As we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder,” “Rock of Ages,” and “How Firm a Foundation.”

Outline: 

   1. Every Christian Must Resolve to Follow Christ (v.23)

        a. Deny Yourself

        b. Take up Your Cross

        c.  Follow Christ

    2. Every Christian Must Look to the Motivation (vv. 24-27)

        a. Look to the Reward

        b. Look to the Loss 

        c. Look to the Kingdom

Text: Luke 9:23-27 

Title: A New Year’s Resolution

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