New Years Reflection Guide

One of my favorite rhythms in our marriage is our annual conversation and reflection on the year that was and the year that is coming. It was in these moments we prayed about starting a new missional community, we prayed about moving to Los Angeles, and when Mirela told me we were expecting our second daughter. Those were great moments.

The main reason I treasure our annual reflections is they draw us to listen to God backward and forward.

We focus our hearts on seeing God’s work and presence in the past. We hear the Spirit leading us forward. We resubmit to Jesus as King of our lives. I want to urge you to take time to think, pray, and process heading into the new year.

Surrounded by family gatherings and parties, the frantic holiday season typically drowns out the beginning of the new year. Wedged somewhere between layovers, hangovers, and leftovers, you might make a new year’s resolution, say a prayer of thankfulness to be done with the last year, or jot down a few things you’re looking forward to. Most of us kick off the year as exhausted and frantic as we ended the last one. Our culture drives us to move from one thing to the next without giving thought to the events that just happened. When we do this, we never engage the happiness, pain, fear, or struggle with our hearts or minds—our bodies are simply moving through it.

However, the flipping-over of the calendar year offers us an exceptional time to pause and reflect on what God has done in and through your life and what you pray for God to do in the future.

Christmas Worship Guide

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The King has Come! He’s here! Isn’t it wonderful news? Our hearts were just like the world— dark, joyless, and hopeless—but Jesus has broken through and brought HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE to the world and to us! This is a day to celebrate! Let’s worship through reading, discussing, praying, and singing.

READ

John 1:1–17

For families with children, read “Heaven Breaks Through” in The Jesus Storybook Bible pages 200–207.

DISCUSS

The King has indeed come! Jesus came to rescue and redeem His people for God’s glory and for our joy! He is the light of the world, giving HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE to those who believe in Him.

How has He given you those things? What are the gifts that God has given you through Jesus?

How can you be someone who God uses to bring those gifts to others?

SING

Joy To the World

by a Celtic Woman

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love

PRAY

Father, Your Son is an incredible gift of hope, peace, joy, and love. We do not deserve any of it, but you give freely. Thank you for your mercy and the glorious gift of your grace. May we live in a way that celebrates your goodness and testifies of your love.

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