3 New Rhythms in 2021

I have never been a big New Year’s Resolution guy, but Jillian and I are always trying to reevaluate our lives and discuss what habits we need to stop and which ones we should start. And a new year is a perfect time to do that.  But I like to think about it as new rhythms instead of new goals. Goals are great, but no one will ever accomplish their goals with developing the daily disciplines that will help them get there. 

Most Christians would probably say that would like to be stronger in their faith at the end of 2021 than they are right now, but to get there, I believe it takes new habits, new disciplines, or new rhythms.  So Jillian and I are challenging ourselves this year to develop 3 new disciplines. I am calling them rhythms because although they are hard to start, they soon become a natural rhythm of life. Our desire is that we might be spiritually stronger, relationally more connected, and making a greater impact for Christ at the end of 2021 than right now. 

Then, we started thinking, what if all the people (even half) at our church were spiritually stronger, relationally more connected, and making a greater impact for Christ? What kind of church could we be at the end of 2021? What could God do in and through this church? That’s when we got really excited. 

So I am laying down the challenge to the whole church: Consider developing 3 new rhythms this year. If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some ideas. 

1. Personal Rhythm 

What is one new personal rhythm (discipline) I want to develop this year to grow my faith? What does it look like? 

Examples: 

· Devotional Time: Spend 15 minutes per day reading the Bible and praying or if you already spend 15 minutes, challenge yourself to 30 minutes. 

· Fasting: Fast from food or give up something else one day a week for a focus on prayer that day. 

· Family devotional time: Spend 10 minutes every minute for bed, doing a family devotional with your kids. 

· Giving: Develop the rhythm of giving 10% of your income to support a missionary or the church or if you already have one. 

2. Relational Rhythm 

What is one new relationship I want to start or one existing relationship I want to strengthen? How am I going to do it? It could be related to marriage, parenting, accountability, or community. 

Examples: 

· Marriage goal—pray with my spouse every night, do 2 getaways with my spouse this year, date weekly. 

· Stronger Christian community—find a community group to join. 

· Accountability—develop one accountability relationship to meet twice per month. 

· Strengthen relationships with Neighbors: Decide that you will have one neighbor family over for dinner per month. 

3. Service Rhythm 

What is something new I want to do to impact the world around me this year? How am I going to do it? It could be related to serving your neighbors, the church, or your family. 

Examples: 

· Mentor someone—Offer 2-4 hours per month to mentor/disciple a younger Christian 

· Serve the church—use your gifts to serve the church on a weekly/monthly basis. 

· Give more— Challenge yourself to give 10% more that I did last year to support the kingdom 

· One family service project per month through local ministries or non-profits

~Todd

Comments

  1. Hello! I love the idea of family service projects with local ministries. Do you have any suggestions of places to go? We just switched to Aurora over the summer, so we are not sure if there are any local ministries that the church has already partnered with.

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  2. Hi Lydia, thanks for asking. Many of the local ministries that the Aurora campus has partnered with are similar to the ones in Hudson, but we need to figure out our own opportunities as we move toward independence as a church. In addition, we have found that COVID restrictions puts some limit on this. With that said, part of our sermon series in February is going to talk about serving and by then we hope to have some more opportunities. Until then, I have a feeling that families might have to get creative to serve neighbors or make some donations to a food bank or a homeless shelter. Thanks again!
    Todd

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