A new year is a great time to focus on a new you! Plan now to GROW DEEPER in your relationship with God. The place to start is the Bible. Be intentional in how you spend your time reading, meditating on, speaking, and living the Word. Strive to be different in 2025, remembering that HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.

GROW DEEPER

• In your walk with God. (Personal Holiness)
• In your knowledge of God. (In the Word and Prayer)

2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)

Some Goals to Consider for 2025

• Be a learner
  • Read the Bible daily.
  • Read other Gospel centered books. (a few pages per day/week)
  • Less phone, TV, things of the World.
• Be a witness
  • Be intentional in sharing the Gospel
  • Our words matter
  • Our character matters
• Be a faithful church member
  • Go weekly
  • Encourage others
  • Invest your time, talents, and treasures

How to Have a Quiet Time

Ligonier Ministries – Bible Reading Plans

Bible in a Year. YouVersion Bible App Plus many other plans delivered directly to your phone.

---

Colossians 1:21–23
 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,  he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (ESV)

Colossians 1:28–29
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (ESV)

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV)

READ THE WORD

MEDITATE ON THE WORD

SPEAK THE WORD

LIVE THE WORD

2 Peter 1:1-12

INTRO

• All IN in 2024
• Doing things differently as we start a new year.
• Growing and changing into the likeness of Christ. (Progressive Sanctification)
• Personal Accountability for better results.
• If we keep doing the same thing, then we will continue to get the same results.

REJOICE IN THE ASSURANCE OF YOUR SALVATION – vv. 1-2

• To those we have obtained a faith
  • Repentance and Faith
  • Saving faith
• By the righteousness
  • Saved by Him. Us nothing. His everything.
• Grace and peace multiplied in the knowledge
  • His grace and peace… as we mature in Him

LIVE OUT A BIBLICALLY FOCUSED LIFE – vv. 3-4

• His Divine Power
• Granted to us all things
• Life and Godliness
• Through the knowledge of Him
  • personal knowledge of Christ at conversion
  • growing knowledge in my personal relationship
• Knowledge of God, Spirit within, transform life (Head, Heart, Hands)

DAILY CHECK YOUR HEART – v. 5-12

Progressive Sanctification – The believers lifelong process of growing and changing into the likeness of Christ.

What I can control.  My responsibility.

• God’s Presence, Power, and Provision
• Our Devotion, Desire, and Diligence
• Big Circle and Little Circle (me and GOD)

Notice the text:

• Make every effort
• Supplement your faith
  • Virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, love
• Yours and increasing
• Be the diligent
• Confirm your calling and election
• For if you practice these things

My daily goal should be maturity. Daily growing and changing toward Christlikeness. Daily checking my heart

• He has done His part.
• Am I doing my part? (Personal Accountability Questions)

---

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS

1. Do I spend daily time in the Bible and in prayer? Do I meditate on the things of the Lord throughout the day?
2. Do I enjoy corporate worship within the body of Christ? Is my church attendance consistent?  Am I involved with a group of believers that are encouraging me to grow and change daily?
3. Have my thoughts been pure?  Do I expose myself to things that are not holy and pleasing to the Lord?
4. Have I been completely above reproach in my financial dealings?  Is my giving to the Lord’s Church a direct reflection of His daily provision and blessings upon my life?
5. Have I spent quality relationship time with my family and friends?
6. Do I do 100% of my best at my job, school, and etc?
7. Have I told any half-truths or outright lies, putting myself in a better light than those around me?
8. Have I tried to encourage someone with the message of Christ this week?  Do I regularly invite people to church?  When was the last time I told someone my STORY?
9. Have I taken care of my body through physical exercise which includes proper eating and sleeping habits?
10. Have I allowed any person or circumstances to rob me of my joy?