New Year, New Resolutions

New Year, New Resolutions

Resolution - n. (oxford english dictionary)

1. A firm decision to do or not to do something.

2. The quality of being determined or resolute.

3. The action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Philippians 3:10-14 NIV

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1. We resolve to know Jesus better.

Resolution - n. (oxford english dictionary)

1. A firm decision to do or not to do something.

Matthew 7:1-5 NIV

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Philippians 3:10-11 NIV

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

2. We resolve to stay on this Journey…and to do it together.

Resolution - n. (oxford english dictionary)

2. The quality of being determined and unwavering (resolute).

Philippians 3:12 NIV

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

3. We resolve to keep going back to the knowledge that Jesus has resolved it all.

Resolution - n. (oxford english dictionary)

3. The action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 43:25 NIV

"I am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

QUESTIONS:

1. What does it really mean to know Jesus better? What are two practical ways that you can know that you are growing in your relationship with Him?

2. What does it mean to be resolute on our spiritual journey? How can you do this with other people? What does that look like?

3. How can we keep the knowledge that Jesus has resolved it all in the forefront of our minds and hearts? Why does this matter?