“Into the New Year as God’s Chosen Ones”
December 31, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
It is fitting that the last sermon for this year happens to be on the last day of this year, and we are looking forward with hope to what God has planned for us. In this past year, we have spent quite a bit of time recovering and rebounding from the damage caused by the pandemic and related events. But now, God’s Word tells us exactly what to do and what direction to go in this coming year, and we would do well to heed what God says to us. Today’s sermon will be focusing exclusively on our Second Reading from Colossians, and you are invited you to turn back to page 1834 if you wish to follow along for reference. Also, how everything is presented today will certainly be with a greater sense of urgency and directness than is usual; we are at a point where we definitely are to grasp hold of the gift God is giving us today to be able to continue on in a positive, hopeful direction. One other thing I want to make clear is that everything I’m about to say is not only for our own church family, but for everyone in every church, in every place. If anyone listening or watching has any additional points to make as to how we can go into this coming year following God’s direction, please feel free to email me, comment on Facebook, or on this sermon text once it is posted on the website. For those of you who will be taking notes as well, each point will be presented individually.
1. Clothe Yourself. We often put quite a bit of time into trying to decide what we’re going to wear each Sunday morning. And certainly that is something we can be concerned about. But now we can honestly ask ourselves, what sort of other things am I bringing into church with me each Sunday, that I am clothing myself with? What sort of attitude do I have, and what do I intend to do towards those with whom I worship? Paul urges us to clothe ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These are the things we also ought to be “wearing” – and demonstrating – when we come to church each Sunday – compassion and understanding for each other’s lives and situations; kindness in how we speak and act towards each other; humility in how we conduct ourselves; gentleness in how we treat each other in every situation; and patience in how we relate to each other.
2. Forgive and Start Over. Perhaps we are still carrying grievances and grudges from the past year, or the past few years. Yet Paul encourages us, “Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgives you.” Doubtless, there have been things that have happened that have disrupted trust and caused suspicion. Words have been spoken, actions have been done. But now, it is time to work on repairing and restoring relationships, especially so we can be able to worship, fellowship, and serve together powerfully and effectively again. Forgiveness does not mean pretending as though whatever has happened never happened, but instead acknowledging that it has happened, resolving to no longer let it affect our relationships, and seeking, where possible, to restore anything that has been damaged.
3. Let Peace and Unity Rule. In order to move forward into this new year, this especially ought to be our goal. Conflict especially can damage our peace and unity, and can hamper any progress God wants to make us have. And one of the greatest determinants for how much peace and unity we have among ourselves is how we we speak to each other, and about each other. Talebearing, gossip, and insinuations ought to have no place in our conversations among each other, or about each other. Furthermore, anything which threatens our peace and unity, whether negative attitudes or divisive ideologies, also ought to have no place among us in this coming year. Instead, we are to focus on being positive and hopeful, especially looking forward, anticipating, and discerning through prayer and discussion, what God can do, and will do for us. Also, this is demonstrated in what we do when new people and families come to worship with us: if we are welcoming, and engage new people among us in conversation, and are friendly towards new people, then they will want to come back again. Also, we are encouraged to invite people, our friends and neighbors, to come and worship with us, and feel welcome in our church family.
4. Keep Studying and Singing. The Bible is the source of all our teaching, and therefore we are to continue to hear, read, and study it regularly. In fact, we are encouraged, even urged, to study God’s Word even more than we have this previous year, because it is through reading and hearing the Word regularly that we hear the truth not only of what God wants us to believe, but how He wants us to regard others – mainly with love, gentleness, and kindness. We are also encouraged, as we are able, to commit to attending the preaching of God’s Word more regularly in this coming year, so we can hear what God tells us more frequently. For presenting the Word, we can utilize, as we did before, years ago, new, inventive, and creative ways of presenting the lessons from the Bible each week, especially those which are more interactive and engaging, using all kinds of props and other methods. We can also embrace new resources and methods for reaching out, especially to reach the youth, children, and families of our community. We also can continue to welcome new songs and ways of singing, especially those songs, both traditional and contemporary, which we find inspiring, and which God has used to speak to us, sustain us, and revive us. We can also continue to let those of us in our church family who have particular vocal and musical gifts and talents use their gifts in leading us in song and worship, and encourage those who play any and all kinds of instruments to use them to accompany us in song.
5. Do Everything in Jesus’ Name. Everything we are striving for, our goals, events, donation drives, even our fundraisers, are to be with one objective in mind: reaching people for Jesus. Yes, we exist as a church family for those who have been longtime members, and whose families have been well established as part of the church. But we also, as we were doing well with before covid, are to be actively reaching out, inviting, and bringing new people into our church family. We offer not only friendship and fellowship, but a personal relationship with Jesus – Jesus, who can bless beyond measure, help even in impossibility, heal sickness, save from sin, and give a new life to everyone who follows Him and believes in Him. We can also a safe, accepting place for people to focus only on worshipping and following Jesus, and being in relationship and friendship with others who are supportive, acceptive, and encouraging – as Jesus Himself is. Our unique sort of tradition and atmosphere can also be what someone is looking for – but, again, we are to be welcoming and inviting in order to enhance the positive experience people have worshipping with us.
As we stand on the threshold of 2024, may God bless us with the ability to do all these things, in His name and on His behalf. Let us therefore commit ourselves to following His direction for growth and mission, and commit ourselves to Him, giving thanks this whole year for all He has done, and will do for us, and letting Him dwell in us and among us richly again.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
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