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Jan 01, 2023

New Years 2023 - Steadfast Love

Passage: Philippians 3:9-16

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: General

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: love, faith, believe, new years, resolutions, hesed

We are so often in pursuit of being better, being happier, having more. Each New Year brings an opportunity to declare (and resolve) that "This year will be different -- I'll really make progress." These resolutions are typically really good things (be healthier, get out of debt, spend more time with my family), but often get the equation backwards. The Gospel tells us that we were made in the perfect image of God (healthy, debt-free and united with one another). So our resolutions aren't really about becoming a new person, but reclaiming the person we used to be; the person God has made us to be; the adopted, valuable and dignified men and women of The King. So my resolutions are actually to live out who I already am (but have not been behaving as such).

CENTRAL PASSAGE:

Philippians 3

9b not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

 

SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  • What kind of “New Year’s Resolutions” have you traditionally made?
    • Did you make any this year?
    • Why do lots of people make Resolutions? What’s the point?
  • Read through the passage together. Point out key words and passages.
  • Talk through those two equations/diagrams.
    • How is the one that begins with “What We Do” our typical method?
  • What do you think about the other diagram and method?
    • How does it change the motivation and goal?
  • What if my “resolutions” were based on Phil 3:16 "Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”?