Title: New Year, New People, New Beginnings
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If ye have truly heard of him and been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, then you must put off the old self, which is corrupt according to the lusts of deceit, and be renewed in your hearts, and be righteous according to God. and put on the new man, which was created in the holiness of truth. (Eph 4:21-24)
The Romans dreamed of conquering the world centered on the Mediterranean Sea at best, but these new races conquered the whole earth and made God's garden, and not only the earth, but the universe and all things were the leaders of this new race. They had a dream of succumbing to the knees of Jesus Christ and praising God, and the Greeks solved the logic of the earth under the earth with their wisdom at best, but this new race knows the wisdom of the earth and the heavens to determine the fate of mankind and history They are intellectuals who live with a clear direction and purpose of the universe, and Jews have the highest ideal by being bound by the temple and the law and being faithful slaves to it. They are said to be people who voluntarily give their hearts and minds. They are the ones who are beaten and humiliated while preaching the gospel, but instead of feeling frustrated, they move forward like the phoenix with a better hope.
However, we have already entered the realm of the new man. The old human image of the past has belonged to the blood of the Lord, and the human image stained up to yesterday has been cast off with the grace of the Lord's redemption. Today begins with a heart that is truly a new person. However, it is important that this new person continues to be renewed. Human beings who are renewed every day are the problem. When I think about the secret of being renewed every day, I do not become arrogant by fulfilling the present, but always reflect on myself in front of the Word with a humble attitude for myself and continue the self-renewal movement to live a new life tomorrow. We hope that through the daily self-renewal movement, we can be renewed as new people throughout the year. I hope that through daily penance, daily new resolutions, daily learning, and daily experience, I can grow in my own faith, wisdom and knowledge.
The religious life of the church also begins with the renewal of oneself. They can make remarks, lessons, or arguments that their own renewal movement is not ahead of, but they have no ability and no appeal. Those who are responsible as leaders in each department of the church do not have much power to appeal to anyone unless they take the lead and put it into practice. In the case of education, if I first learn new knowledge every day, learn more about the Bible, and go out, education will go well by itself. In the case of the evangelism department, if those in charge of the evangelism department put forth their enthusiasm for evangelism, let us take the lead in taking responsibility for the housework of the church in the financial department. If you do it will be fine. Service to the country begins with me fulfilling my national responsibility. Let's develop a self-renewal movement that is renewed every day from the new year. Strangely enough, from a historical point of view, the great revival movement of the church is said to begin from where each individual repents. Let's live as a better new person in the new year.
A church must have a message to become a church. We are a new community in this age, the church, which must proclaim the word of Christ to the world. It exists for that purpose. This worldly organization, order, and organization has no message to proclaim, but we have a message. Let's renew the new community that spreads these words. When the Word is new, it means that the Bible is under the influence of the Holy Spirit and is correctly proclaimed in the context of this changing new age.
The new community is a gathering of saints to fellowship. The fellowship and unity of our church members is a great mission. Let us renew fellowship and unity in the new year. The strength of our church comes from gatherings and coming from unity. Our church is dedicated to meetings. Let us gather fervently for the official worship of the church and other gatherings for the cause of the Lord. Let's start a new church movement that gathers well.
The new community has the ability to teach and learn. Looking at our church's budget this year, all of the church's work was focused only on education. The sum of the educational expenses and labor costs is equivalent to the total annual budget of a local middle-class church. This year, our church must also start a new movement in learning and teaching. So, we must start with a determination to inevitably earn a lot of income through learning and teaching.
The church is a new community of service. We did not do well this year in the church budget, but service is not just about money. Let us promise a fresh start that will spark a movement that renews the face of our church, this new community.
Let's make a fresh start to renew all the ethos as a church that studies and learns the Bible, a church that prays diligently, a church that evangelizes diligently, a church that serves diligently, and a church that loves and unites with each other. And let all things be motivated by the love of the Lord. Let's become a church without blemish like the church in Smyrna. Like the church in Ephesus, let's become a church that finds love again if we have forgotten love. Like the church in Laodicea, if we were arrogant when we didn't have it, let's start again humbly from the beginning. Like the church in Corinth, if there are any disagreements or differences of opinion within the church, let's try to achieve better results with love, understanding, and tolerance. Even if it's impossible in this world, even if it's humanly impossible, let's go out believing that everything can be done by faith.
While each of us is faithful in our own work, let's take care of our brothers as well. Let each of us consider others better than ourselves and have the virtue of humility. Let's promise a new start so that 6 million people in Jangan, Seoul can look at this community with wide eyes, and say that God is truly with them.
On the first day of the new year, in the name of the Lord, I pray that God's grace and blessings will come like spring rain on dry land and snow on a rough field for the families and businesses of many church members. Even if you just stand there or retreat, there are difficulties and trials to make a fresh start and move forward. But when God is with me, nothing is impossible. I hope that you go out believing that your background is God and that the Spirit of God is with you.