December 31st, 2008
Volume 2, Week 1
Adding Up the Year
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The six days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is a time when we often look back at the year and reflect upon our successes and our failures. We look at the good times and the bad times. Most of us even make resolutions for the new year that we rarely keep. I think it’s important that we bring closure to the past year and make sure that we’ve learned and grown from whatever God has brought our way. All the while we must remember what Paul says in Philippians 3:13, “...Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…”.
The end of the year is also an important time to evaluate our spiritual growth. Sure we should look at and learn from the emotional, physical, and financial challenges that 2008 brought us, but we should also pay some attention to the spiritual side of our journey as well.
Each year I ask myself, "How is my relationship with Jesus - do I know him more this year than I did last year?" It’s a question that each of us should ask. The fact is God expects us to look at ourselves and take account of where we stand in our relationship with Him. Just as with any growing relationship, your relationship with Jesus should be filled with new discoveries, joys, excitement, struggles and changes. You see when we repented of our sins and asked Jesus to come and live in our hearts, it didn’t mean that we just dropped a few bad habits and resume our lives as before. Repentance means that we want to change everything about our lives for Him and move in a different direction, running towards God instead of away from Him. Are you still running in the same direction as before you knew Him?
There are a number of other markers that can help us determine just how much we’ve grown. My list is not comprehensive, but it’s a good start and deals with some very basic values of Christian growth.
The first question that I usually ask myself is, "Have I looked more like Christ this year?” It may sound a little arrogant, but it’s biblical. Reread 2 Peter 1:5-8. Are you more Christ-like in your actions and thoughts? Have you seen the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) in your life increase this year? How’s your union with God?
The Bible calls the process of becoming more Christ-like, sanctification, and the process of sanctification doesn’t happen overnight. It’s gradual and should increase from year to year. Becoming Christ-like requires that we grow in the knowledge God’s word which is why Jesus said, "Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17) And in this knowledge of His word comes freedoms as Jesus said "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) So, have you grown in the knowledge of God’s word? Do you have a greater level of freedom in Christ than you have in the past? How’s your union with yourself?
Another question I tend to ask my self is, “Have been a better witness for Christ? Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19-20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” - have you encouraged anyone to even want to know Christ after looking at your life? Have you pointed someone to Jesus by showing them how He’s working in their life? Notice that I didn’t ask if you’ve gotten anyone to repent and ask Christ into their life. Sometimes we focus so much on the ‘getting others saved’ part that we forget that it’s a process before others come to Christ, just as it is after they give their hearts to Him. The people that we are called to reach aren’t targets, or notches to be put on our belt once they come to know Him. They are PEOPLE - loved just as much by Jesus as we are. They just need someone to point out to them that Jesus is working in their lives every day. So, Have you encouraged anyone to even want to know Jesus after looking at your life? Have you pointed someone to Jesus by showing them how He’s already working in their life? How’s your union with our broken world?
Finally, Have you been accountable to others? Let’s face it, our world would live nothing more than to get each of us isolated, feeling sorry for ourselves, lonely, etc. God expects us to walk through life together; which is why He says in Hebrews 10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” The truth is we are commanded encourage one another and to meet with others inside and outside regular church meeting times. We can’t be Lone Ranger Christians. It doesn’t work that way. We need one another to keep us accountable, to pray for us, to encourage us to help us celebrate and to hold our hands and hearts through tough times. Have you been accountable to anyone this year? Have you allowed others to help you through your tough times this year? When’s the last time you joined a group to celebrate something? When did you last invite someone to go to a connections group with you or to church with you? How’s your union with others?
Take a hard look at yourself before this year ends. You may not like all that you see, but don’t get discouraged - remember what God chooses, He cleans; what God cleans, He molds; what God molds, he fills; what God fills, He uses. Just make yourself available this year to a greater degree than last year, you’ll be amazed at what God can do.
Missionary David Plake - Book of Hope
Next Sunday, David Plake, a representative of Book of Hope International, will report on the progress of placing a Book of Hope in the hands of virtually every school-aged child and youth in the world.
The 500 millionth book was recently handed out in Columbia. This year alone 70 million copies will be distributed to school children and youth around the globe - over 190,000 copies a day.
Book of Hope is now available in more than 70 languages and dialects. It comes in a variety of age-appropriate and culturally relevant formats that address the emotional needs of specific youth.
Christmas offering thank you
We want to thank you for the Christmas offering. Your love and thoughtfulness means so much to each of us. We love you and are honored to serve together with you! God bless you! Earl, Rinnea, Bob, Karen, Tim, Sheri, Sandy, Steve, & Jason.
Baby blessings
Vance baby
Sheri and I are back in town from being with our daughter and her husband for the birth of our second grandson in only three months. Vance Josiah Arrant was born Sunday, Dec. 21 in Columbia, MO. His stats were 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 in., green eyes and blonde. His parents are David and Jessica Arrant. (Our first was James Alexander Crawford, born Oct 12, in Virginia, to Josh and Christy Crawford). Thanks for your prayers, Pastor Tim & Sheri.
Camp baby
Todd and Shelley Camp are proud parents of a new baby girl, arriving on Wednesday, December 24th, weighing ~8lbs.
Connections News
Most groups are not meeting this week. Please check the calendar next week for the latest news regarding our Connections Groups.
Student Ministries
New years eve Lock-in
thursday, 12/31, 9p meet at Tee-Time, Pick up at 6:30a, 1/1 at new building. Cost is $20/student
Join other students and have an all-night bast.
Pastor Bob, bpoley@thehillschurch.org, 314.712.8500
Theatre Advertising Pledges
We have an opportunity to reach the very community that comes to Ronnies Theatre. We are putting together an ad that we would like to run for 28 weeks, beginning the first week of December. On average the ad will be seen 3 times prior to each movie. If you take 3 times the 87+ showings of movies on each screen times the 19 screens times 7 days...we are talking more than 34,000 times that our ad would display in one week!
Our current total for pledged weeks is: 8
So we would like to ask you to prayerfully consider paying for one week of ads - 34,000+ ads. The next few Sundays we will give you the opportunity make a pledge to purchase one of those weeks at a cost of $228. You can fulfill your pledge by paying it in a one time payment. Or if you would like, you can pay it in 7 monthly payments of $32.58 during the 28 week period of time that the ad will be running. Again, please prayerfully consider pledging to pay for one week of advertising up and above your regular tithes and offerings.
Year-End Giving 1. Pick up a giving envelope at the Information Table in the lobby just outside of theatre #12. PLEASE, fill out the information on the outside of the envelope, then place it in the bucket during our adult worship service. 2. Mail a check to the church through your online banking or directly to: 3. Go online to use your Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa Credit Card (or Debit Card) at www.thehillschurch.org, then click on ‘Donations’. Thank you for your faithfulness! Please note:
POINTS OF PRAYER · Carrie Indelicato—Father has had multiple strokes. · Carrie Clifton—Father has brain cancer and needs miracle. · Theresa Stephan’s Father – In · Kathy Gore – has cancer and needs a miracle.
3 ways you can make your donations to South Side Hills:
5640 B Telegraph Road #275, St. Louis, MO 63129
(Please be sure to indicate any designated monies)
In November and December we exceeded our monthly giving budget!
Only donations turned in by, given online,
or postmarked by midnight 12/31
will be tax deductable for 2008.