HOW SHALL WE LIVE IN THIS NEW YEAR?

(Romans 12:1-8)

...Bridges can be beautiful as they __span____ from one land point to another. The Golden Gate Bridge

    is one of the most beautiful.

...Yesterday, we too moved from the old year to a brand new one. It is now 2005. How shall we live in this

    new year?

...Romans 12, like a bridge, __connects__ the strong doctrine of the earlier chapters with practical application.

   In other words, this is how you - as a Christian - should live as a result of the __Gospel__.

FOUR ESSENTIALS FOR US AS CHRISTIANS

AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS NEW YEAR.

I.    WE MUST OFFER OUR  __BODIES___  TO THE LORD FOR HIS SERVICE.  (v. 1)

            A. The Lord wants you not __dead__, but alive.  “A living sacrifice.”

            B. This request is completely reasonable, for all that we are and have is __from___ the Lord.

            C. We are told how to make such an offering of our bodies.

                        1. “Living.” This involves giving __all___ of your life to the Lord. Your minds, __eyes___,

                            hearts, __tongue___, feet, etc.

                        2. “Holy.”  This is the aim of the _Gospel__.

            D. The result of this causes God to be _pleased___.  Wow!

II.    WE MUST THINK BIBLICALLY.  (v. 2)

        ...This is the __key___ to successful, godly living.

            A. You must stop being influenced by the godless thinking of our day.

                        1. It is a __mindless__ day.

                        2. It embraces both secularism and humanism.

            B. Rather, you are to be __changed__ by thinking through the grid of Scripture.  “Think Biblically!”

                        1. “Transformed”

                        2. Mind renewal in a mindless day.

            C. The result of this will cause you to live out God’s will for your life.

                 ...It is good, __pleasing__, lacking nothing.

III.    WE MUST HAVE THE PROPER ATTITUDE: TRUE  ___HUMILITY____.  (v. 3)

            A. Everything that we have or do is all through the __grace___ that God gives to us.

            B. We are told not to have a high opinion of ourselves.

                        1. Four times in verse 3 we are told to “__think____.”

                        2. We are to recognize that in ourselves we are __nothing___ at all, but we can be used

                            to the glory of God.

            C. We need a Biblical __evaluation___ of ourselves.

                        1. Jesus said, John 15:5, “Without me you can do nothing.”

                        2. The humility that God requires and __honors___ does not overestimate or underestimate

                            His gifts, but estimates and uses them rightly.

IV.    WE MUST BE IN PROPER RELATIONSHIP:  __UNITY___  IN DIVERSITY. (vv. 4-8)

          ...Using your God given gift within the church!

            A. As our own bodies have __many__ parts, so does the church. All sorts of people, each having

                 differing gifts. (vv 4-5)

                 ...Yet, as believers we are all interrelated in a spiritual _unity___ to each other.

            B. Within the church each one is to use the gifts God has given, for His glory. (vv 6-8)

                        1. No gift is of value if it goes unused.

                        2. Paul listed 7 gifts as specific examples of the diversity in the body.

                            ...In 2005 use your gift at Grace Church!!

- Some thoughts from the Pastor-Teacher for our church in the new year:

1. Children's program.

2. Worship music program.

3. Midweek home groups.

4. Grace Academy.

5. Junior High and High School program.

6. Singles group.

7. Missions trip.

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:

1. In view of all that Christ has done, do not live for yourself.

2. Fill your mind with God's Word.

3. Have the proper estimation of yourself.

4. Use your gift at Grace Church.

5. Maybe you have never come to Christ, that is the best way to enter into this new year. You must be born again.