Making the Most of My New Year

Making The Most of My New Year
Ephesians 5:15-17

One of our greatest dangers is in letting the urgent things crowd out the important things in our lives!

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV)

“Time is a gift. We cannot make any more of it. We can only receive it and be faithful stewards in the use of it.” Elisabeth Elliot

How to Make the Most of My New Year

Assume Responsibility For My Life

“For each will have to bear his own load.” (Galatians 6:5, ESV)

Three Kinds of People in Life:

• Accusers
• Excusers
• Choosers

My choices determine more than my Circumstances

Shallow people say: “I’m too busy. I don’t have time for that.” Honest people say: “I choose not to give time to that. I choose to put my time elsewhere.”

Believe I Can Change

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, ESV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)

As a follower of Christ a major focus of my life is to stay vitally Connected to Christ!

“The will of God will not lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” Billy Graham

Clarify What I Really Want

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7, ESV)
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, NIV84)

Three Important Questions:

• What do I Value?
• What do I want to Change?
• What is going to Last?

What am I going to do with my one and only life that is going to last for eternity?

Don't Wait To Begin

Three powerful words: Do It Now

“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4, ESV)

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” Ecclesiastes 11:4 (Living Bible Paraphrase)

Life must be enjoyed under imperfect circumstances!

Perfectionism produces Paralysis

“Most of the time you don’t need more information, you need more courage.” James Clear

Enlist The Help Of Others

• Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
• Ephesians 4:15–16

To be truly biblical and truly effective, the growth process must include the Body of Christ

Where Do I Begin?

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52, ESV)

• Intellectual: What do I want to learn?
• Physical: What will improve my health?
• Spiritual: What will deepen my relationship with God?
• Social: Who will I connect with in a more meaningful way? What will my ministry to others be?

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18, ESV)

• Eternal: How will I impact my world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Resource: Consider Your Ways in the New Year on the tables in the lobby.

See Also: 52-Week Bible Thematic Reading Plan and Scripture Memory Plan
How, specifically, do you want your life to be better at this time next year?

Making It Personal

• With God’s help in 2024 I will…
• Grow and learn in the following ways:
• Gratefully take care of my physical health by:
• Deepen my relationship with God by:
• Connect with others in a more meaningful way by:
• Minister to others by:
• Impact my world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by:

Ready to take your Next Step?

• Text Next to 803-637-8484
• Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”