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Introduction

I hope you all had a happy new year!

We do this thing where we show how we want to change. We call it “making a resolution.”

Jonathan Edwards

I want to talk about someone who wrote a series of resolutions, 70 in fact. His name was Jonathan Edwards. He lived between 1703-1758 primarily in Massacheusets where he served as a pastor. He died at a younger age of 55.

Jonathan wrote these resolutions in 1722-1723. It was his attempt to bring every area of his life under the Lordship of Christ. He made sure that he would read over this list once a week to make sure that he could try to hold himself accountable to these resolutions. I won’t read all of them, but you can see whatthese resolutions are in the handout I gave you. Here are some highlights:

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Resolutions

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory and to my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how ever so many and how ever so great.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the forementioned things.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Resolutions

7. Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Resolutions

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Resolutions

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Resolutions

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility and a sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the Golden Rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this resolution.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Resolutions

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself; also to inquire so at the end of every week, month, and year. (Dec. 22 & 26, 1722)

On your handout I’m not asking you to write down 70 resolutions, but three. Then I want you to share with your groups why you want to make those resolutions and how you plan to do them. Of COURSE you can use your bibles in this. Scripture can help reinforce what you want to do in the best ways.

Bible Reading Plan

I’ve also attached a bible reading plan for you. Outside of the resolutions I’d like you to write, you should resolve to read your bible. Pair up with someone tonight and resolve to check the boxes on this list. I’ld bet you can read your whole bible in a year. Let’s touch back on this next week and see how our reading went.