Not Under a Party Hat

2013 Glasses (Photo credit: paul.hadsall)

Christmas has been great. Laurinda and I enjoyed all the facets of the holiday with one exception. We didn’t find any mistletoe. Granted, we don’t exactly need it. But it’s traditional to “kiss under the mistletoe.”

It’s also traditional to make a resolution on New Year’s Eve, typically while wearing a party hat or those really cool new year’s eve glasses.

But this year, I’m asking the folks at Grace not to rush into any resolutions. Instead, I’m asking them to carefully consider their next right step.

From an email I sent to the church, here’s how I described the Next Right Step (after the jump):

Whether your step is to take up something new or to lay down something old, we will take these steps together. But first, we should reflect, repent, and seek renewal in Christ.

So I am calling the church to a season of reflection and repentance prior to a church-wide step toward renewal of our discipleship.

For the next few weeks, our congregation will consider the questions that challenge our beliefs about ourselves.

• How do you feel about your physical health?
• What would you change for the better?
• How is it with your soul?
• What practices of discipleship would contribute to your overall spiritual health?

These are just a few of the questions. In a format that includes John Wesley’s General Rules, we’ll be going deeper than the average New Year’s Eve party-goer.

Small Group discussion (Photo credit: Transguyjay)

The General Rules are very simple:

1. Do no harm by avoiding evil of every kind; especially that which is most generally practiced…
2. Do good as often as you can to as many as you can, to their bodies and to their souls …
3. Practice the means of grace:
   • Private and family prayer
   • Public worship
   • Bible reading and study
   • The Lord’s Supper
   • Fasting or abstinence 
     (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church pages 72-74).

We’ll also be considering his questions for self-examination.

You see, these sorts of questions are generally hard to answer under the mistletoe or a party hat. These answers come only with intentional discipleship.

How intentional is your discipleship going to be in 2013?

Elsewhere on the Interwebs

• Ask the Experts: Why Do We Make New Year’s Resolutions (And How Can You Keep Yours This Year)?
• January: Make a Plan, not a Resolution
• Say No To New Year Resolutions
• Discipleship as Discernment – Part 2
• teddy ray: Building a Discipling Culture