#1 New Year, Same God
We hope you are looking forward to this new year with all of its challenges and celebrations and are grounded by the important constants in your life.
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Saturday, January 6th - Jeff Fisher
Sunday, January 7th - Jenny Krauss
Wednesday, January 10th - Belinda Harwood
Thursday, January 11th - Holly Carpenter
Sunday, January 7th - Jenny Krauss
Wednesday, January 10th - Belinda Harwood
Thursday, January 11th - Holly Carpenter
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Our January sermon series is, "New Year, Same _____."
The idea is that while we are out with the old and in with the new, there are some constants that never change year to year. Today our title is New Year, Same God.
The idea is that while we are out with the old and in with the new, there are some constants that never change year to year. Today our title is New Year, Same God.
God desires us to know and understand who He is. He wants a sincere relationship with us based on His attributes and character qualities.
Take a few minutes to talk with the people around you. Come up with some of the attributes or qualities we use to describe God.
Take a few minutes to talk with the people around you. Come up with some of the attributes or qualities we use to describe God.
Diamonds have what are referred to as facets. Each facet forms a side or edge of the whole diamond. The simple definition of a facet is "a window into the diamond."
Just like facets, the attributes we have just talked about provide an insight or window into who we see God as. And just like diamonds, these "God facets" can affect the reflection and appearance of God in our own lives and how we are viewed by others.
Just like facets, the attributes we have just talked about provide an insight or window into who we see God as. And just like diamonds, these "God facets" can affect the reflection and appearance of God in our own lives and how we are viewed by others.
Today we'll look at just 3 constant attributes of God as we start out 2024.
God's fierceness, forgiveness, and faithfulness.
1. The FIERCENESS of God
Joshua 7:19-21
God loves us, and in loving us, He will correct the sinful nature inside each of us. Just like a parent, He understands that correction is necessary.
As we look at the story of Achan, it reminds us of the penalty of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23a).
We see two truths illustrated:
1. Sin is never an isolated event, it always has a ripple effect that touches others.
2. We can always be sure that our sins will find us out (Numbers 32:23).
God's fierceness, forgiveness, and faithfulness.
1. The FIERCENESS of God
Joshua 7:19-21
God loves us, and in loving us, He will correct the sinful nature inside each of us. Just like a parent, He understands that correction is necessary.
As we look at the story of Achan, it reminds us of the penalty of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23a).
We see two truths illustrated:
1. Sin is never an isolated event, it always has a ripple effect that touches others.
2. We can always be sure that our sins will find us out (Numbers 32:23).
Joshua 7:19-21
BSB
19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
BSB
2. The FORGIVENESS of God
Matthew 18:21-35
God is also a god of forgiveness.
The word forgive means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. When we wrong someone we seek their forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. Forgiveness is an act of love, mercy, and grace.
The Bible is clear that because we are sinners, we all need forgiveness from God (Acts 13:38).
Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive others.
Our reading in Matthew points out two important things:
1. We should ask for forgiveness when we do wrong.
2. We should forgive others when they wrong us.
Both are equally important in God's eyes.
Is there someone you need to forgive today?
Matthew 18:21-35
God is also a god of forgiveness.
The word forgive means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. When we wrong someone we seek their forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. Forgiveness is an act of love, mercy, and grace.
The Bible is clear that because we are sinners, we all need forgiveness from God (Acts 13:38).
Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive others.
Our reading in Matthew points out two important things:
1. We should ask for forgiveness when we do wrong.
2. We should forgive others when they wrong us.
Both are equally important in God's eyes.
Is there someone you need to forgive today?
Matthew 18:21-35
BSB
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’
29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
32 Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’
29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
32 Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
BSB
3. The FAITHFULNESS of God
Ruth 1:16-18
Our final attribute is faithfulness. To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast, and unwavering.
Let's look at the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi is a widow living in a foreign land with her two daughter-in-laws. Having lost her husband and both sons, the 3 women are left with just each other. Naomi decides to return to her native town of Bethlehem and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, is so faithful to her that she follows Naomi there.
Who has demonstrated faithfulness to you? Who would say the same about you?
Ruth 1:16-18
Our final attribute is faithfulness. To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast, and unwavering.
Let's look at the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi is a widow living in a foreign land with her two daughter-in-laws. Having lost her husband and both sons, the 3 women are left with just each other. Naomi decides to return to her native town of Bethlehem and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, is so faithful to her that she follows Naomi there.
Who has demonstrated faithfulness to you? Who would say the same about you?
Ruth 1:16-18
BSB
16 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
BSB
Application:
So now that we've taken a look at these 3 attributes of God, how do we use them in our everyday life?
1. Living obediently turns away the fierceness of God's wrath.
Joshua 7:24-26
We have a choice, are we going to stir up the fierceness of God's wrath or are we going to obey Him?
So now that we've taken a look at these 3 attributes of God, how do we use them in our everyday life?
1. Living obediently turns away the fierceness of God's wrath.
Joshua 7:24-26
We have a choice, are we going to stir up the fierceness of God's wrath or are we going to obey Him?
Joshua 7:24-26
BSB
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25 “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.
26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
25 “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.
26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
BSB
2. When we forgive like God has forgiven us, everyone is blessed.
Ephesians 4:32
When we think about those people who have wronged us, we should pray for them often. If God leads you, sit down with them this week and forgive them.
Ephesians 4:32
When we think about those people who have wronged us, we should pray for them often. If God leads you, sit down with them this week and forgive them.
Ephesians 4:32
BSB
32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
BSB
3. Faithfulness demands loyalty during good times and bad.
Is there someone you could come alongside this week who is struggling? Or is there someone in your life who has experienced something really good this week that needs to be celebrated? Either way, let God move you toward them as He did for us.
Is there someone you could come alongside this week who is struggling? Or is there someone in your life who has experienced something really good this week that needs to be celebrated? Either way, let God move you toward them as He did for us.
