What is Your Plan for 2024?

Intro:

Good morning.

This is not only the last Sunday of 2023, but also the very last DAY of 2023.

How was your year?

Did you face any challenges? (I can think of several challenges my family faced).

Did you have some good things/great things happen this past year?

Here’s an important question — Did you experience some significant spiritual growth this year?

Did you accomplish any spiritual goals that perhaps you set at the beginning of the year?

(I hope so).

I love the New Year’s time of year because I always like a challenge.

Maybe because of my competitive nature, I like to compete with MYSELF to accomplish goals and New Year’s resolutions.

One of my favorite things to preach on every year is goals and resolutions for the New Year.

I think it’s just a natural time for self-examination, which is an important part of the Christian faith — 2 Cor. 13:5 teaches …

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

What are some things that might disqualify us from faithfulness before God?

These are all things we need to examine not only this time of year, but throughout the year.

So this morning, I want to ask you: “What is Your Plan for 2024?”

First of all, let’s make this point …

He Who Fails to Plan, Plans to … Fail

This is the famous saying, and it aligns with the teachings of Scripture.

Listen to Proverbs 29:18

Proverbs 29:18 NKJV

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

So that’s the first point — Where there is no vision, the people perish!

I was walking through Walmart the other day, and … (I’m going to try to be nice about this, but …) — Have you ever just taken a look around when you are at Walmart, or at the mall or whatnot?

Society is in pretty bad shape. (And I don’t say that smugly or lightly).

In fact, a verse came to my mind:

Matt. 9:36

Matthew 9:36 NKJV

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Have you ever noticed how miserable a lot of people (not all) are out in public?

It makes you sad to see so many lost souls!

It made Jesus sad!

But it motivated Him to seek and save the lost, and it should motivate us as well!

Let me ask you this …

Do you have a vision, Christian?

Do you have a vision for your own personal growth?

Do you have a vision for your family’s growth? (Dads, I’m especially talking to you!)

Do you have a Bible study plan? A devotional plan? Maybe even a Scripture memorization plan?!

If not, why not?

How can we expect personal individual spiritual growth, and spiritual FAMILY growth, and spiritual church-wide growth, WITHOUT A GAME PLAN, without at VISION?

So that’s the first point!

He who fails to plan, plans to fail!

Some suggestions for getting a game plan:

Why not select a Bible reading plan for the year?

A read the Bible through (O.T. to N.T.) in a year plan, like the one we have in our bulletin each week …

Or maybe a Chronological Bible reading plan (where you study the books of the Bible in the order in which they were written Chronologically).

Or maybe a “read the New Testament multiple times in a year” plan.

The great thing about Bible reading plans is that you have lots of options!

In addition to that …

Why not select as an individual Christian, and as Christian families, a book to read together every month, something that good sound preachers in the brotherhood have written that will help give good insights for growth? (12 books total)

Why not select some family spiritual growth activities where you plan on serving the congregation and serving the community together?

Maybe you want to get more involved in Lads 2 Leaders?

Maybe you are a Christian male who wants to lead in the worship services more?

Maybe preach a sermon when the preacher is out of town? Or do a Wednesday night devotional?

There are ALL KINDS OF opportunities for spiritual growth in the coming year if you just think about it!

Next point I want to make this morning …

Are You Optimistic or Pessimistic About the Future?

Now, I have to tell you, am I optimistic or pessimistic?

Do I see the glass half full, or half empty?

Well, it depends.

Am I optimistic about society? About the way our country is headed?

Not particularly, to be honest.

I’m hopeful. But I can’t say that I’m particularly optimistic about where our country is headed.

We’re about to have an election year — And to that I say, BUCKLE UP!

It’s shaping up to be a rough one — (Like 2020 was, and 2016 before that).

That said, I’m still hopeful though that we have a chance for 2 Chr. 7:14 to take place in our country:

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

But that’s dependent upon our people, and we have to be realistic with what’s going on.

All that said — Am I optimistic about the future overall?

And the answer there is an enthusiastic YES!

Christians, of all people, surely must be the most optimistic people in the world!

WHY?!

Because we know the end of the story!

We know what happens in the end!

Jesus is coming back to claim His own, and we will be caught up together with Him in the clouds and will ever be with the Lord; therefore we comfort one another with these words! (1 Thes. 4:13-18)

So absolutely, in the broadest sense of the word, I’m optimistic!

What about you?!

So with that in mind …

What Is Your Plan for 2024?

Are you optimistic about 2024?

Do you believe realistically that you will grow spiritually in 2024?

Do you realize that “faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen,” (Heb. 11:1)?!

Do you walk by FAITH and not by sight? (2 Cor. 5:7)

Are you seeking first the kingdom of God? (Matt. 6:33)

Someone says, “Sure I am,” and yet … he’s forsaking the assembly, he’s not guarding his tongue, he’s having sinful thoughts, he’s not reading his Bible, and he’s not leading his family.

Really?!

Doesn’t sound like … seeking first … the kingdom of God.

Conclusion:

So again, I ask you … What is Your Plan for 2024?

If you realize that you are amiss in some of these ways, if sin is currently reigning in your mortal body (See Romans 6:12ff), if you really don’t have the right priorities, if your entertainment choices are full of moral filth … (doesn’t pass the Phil. 4:8 test) …

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

So if you have all of those sinful problems in your life, and you realize it — You readily admit it …

Why not DO something about it?

Why not repent? Why not make a change?!

We’re about to start 2024.

You can get a game plan.

You can set your goals RIGHT NOW so that you can have spiritual success in the coming new year!

If you need help in game planning that out, why not get with the elders on that?

That’s what they’re here for — To shepherd the flock! (I’m sure they would be glad to hear from you!)

And I’d be glad to help in any way I can as well, and would love and appreciate YOUR help and prayers and encouragement as well as we all seek to be more faithful Christians in 2024!