As we begin a new year, we should resolve to stay close to God's will for us. In Ephesians 4, Paul points out that God's will for the church is that the church grow in maturity. We need to believe and act in order to do so. In Acts 2, we see an example of what a maturing, growing church did: they focused on discipleship, fellowship with each other, deep care for each other (even selling property to care for each other), and outreach in the community. As a result, God blessed them so they could continue blessing others. Let us resolve to focus on those core doctrines in Eph 4:1-6 and on those core practices in Acts 2:42-47 to become the growing, strong, mature church God desires us to be.

1. The Church's New Year's Resolutions

2. Many make New Year's resolutions
but few are kept

3. Many good intentions exist in the church
Like resolutions, few are followed through on

4. Some churches struggle with growth

5. Sometimes we're unsure how to
proceed

6. We wonder how we can grow

7. We want to be growing,
mature Christians in a
growing, mature church

8. We need to commit to
God's vision of maturity in
both belief and action

9. If a church is not moving forward
it is going backward

10. God gives us a vision for moving forward

11. Each of us needs to resolve to grow in
maturity

12. Decide
Design
Do

13. Commit to a path of growth and
maturity

14. Signs of a growing church
(Acts 2:42-47)
Discipleship
Fellowship
Care
Outreach

15. You're either on the way
or in the way