A Year in Review: Taking Inventory

Introduction:
1. The end of the year always presents a challenge – a challenge to achieve the right balance!
> a balance between looking ahead to the NEW year, and looking back and EVALUATING the past 12 months and seeing what lessons can/should be learned
> Taking inventory on your life is always a mixed bag – some good (Praise the Lord) and some not so good (Praise the Lord for progressive sanctification)
2. On one hand, Paul stated . . .
• Philippians 3:13 . . . but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.
> Yet we are also admonished to examine ourselves and look for ways we need to change or think about what God has done for us in the past and praise Him as a result!
> The Word challenges us to remember . . .
• Deuteronomy 5:15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
• Isaiah 46:8-9 Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
3. This is where I want to spend most of our time this morning: Thinking back – evaluating some areas – learning some lessons
> and then LOOKING AHEAD to 2007
4. Q: What has been our church theme for 2006?
“Gearing Up for Greater Effectiveness”
5. I hope that’s been true of your life – the Lord has certainly challenged us in many ways with the concept
Input: List the various avenues that God has used in teaching us truth from His Word?
Sunday A.M. series:
 Deuteronomy – learning lessons from the children of Israel and lessons about God and how He was patient with them, blessed the, showed them mercy and grace!
 “Is God Mad at Us?” – a study that focused on the sovereignty of God and the balance between His holiness and His love, His grace, His mercy, and His patience
 Gearing Up Series & What Happens When Your Gears Get Jammed (study of Jonah)
Point: These are just the opportunities to LEARN truth!
Input: What about the ABF series we studied this year?
 The Disciple Making Church (a study of the 1 Thessalonians)
Input: What does a disciple making church look like?
- make disciples
- reaching out to people
- growing in holiness, commitment to the Word, etc.
 God Wrote a Book (the series on Word of God)
- It’s our source of truth
- It’s authority and power to change our lives
 Strengthening Your Grip (on key areas in the Christian life) [Discuss each one of these??]
- Missions
- Relationships
- Aging
- Purity
- Discipleship
- Encouragement
 PeaceMakers (learning how to solve problems)
Input: What are some truths you learned from that series? Are you better at solving problems?
6. What about the opportunities to SERVE – to APPLY truth – to GROW in putting truth into practice!
- We have to remember that KNOWING the truth is only the 1st step and is NOT an end in itself!
- the goal is what James said in James 1:22-25
 James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Input: List the various opportunities to serve God in 2006.
 February Conference – over 1,300 people attended
 Passion Play
 Vacation Bible School
 Children’s Sunday School & Church
 Wednesday Night Kids of Faith
 Nursery
 Student Ministries (to teens)
 Purdue Bible Fellowship
 Community Picnic
 Community Ministries: Habitat House / Trinity Mission / Life Care Services
 Missions Construction Trip to South Carolina
 Living Nativity – nearly 10,000 people participating in that ministry
 Christmas for Everyone
 Christmas Musical
 Other Ministries: (get input)
- The rest of our time will be spent thinking/discussing the following questions, followed by a time of prayer . . .
7. Personal Application: God has given us many opportunities to LEARN and GROW in 2006
 PERSONALLY - we need to take some time and just think back over the year regarding what God has taught you personally
 FAMILY - or how God has worked in your family (or in the lives of your kids)
 CHURCH / ABF - and how you think God has helped our church and/or our ABF to grow
[This is where you can encircle your chairs and have “Family Chat” about 2006]
8. Prayer time:
1) Praising God for His goodness and mercy in 2006
2) Asking for wisdom/help for 2007
Closing: Take some time and pray for 2007 – especially Jan. 7th – starting the year off right; strong ABF’s, our new theme for 2007, be inviting others to join us in ABF

ABF Lesson
“A Year in Review: Taking Inventory”

* The end of the year always presents a challenge – a challenge to achieve the right balance!
• Philippians 3:13 . . . but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.
• Deuteronomy 5:15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
• Isaiah 46:8-9 Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Q: What has been our church theme for 2006?
“_______________________________________________”
Input: List the various avenues that God has used in teaching us truth from His Word?
Sunday A.M. series:
 Deuteronomy
 “Is God Mad at Us?”
 Gearing Up Series & What Happens When Your Gears Get Jammed
ABF series:
 The Disciple Making Church
Input: What does a disciple making church look like?

 God Wrote a Book

 Strengthening Your Grip

 PeaceMakers
Input: What are some truths you learned from that series? Are you better at solving problems?

* What about the opportunities to SERVE – to APPLY truth – to GROW in putting truth into practice!
 James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Input: List the various opportunities to serve God in 2006.

Personal Application:
 PERSONALLY

 FAMILY

 CHURCH / ABF

Prayer time:
1) Praising God for His goodness and mercy in 2006
2) Asking for wisdom/help for 2007

ABF Lesson
“A Year in Review: Taking Inventory”
* The end of the year always presents a challenge – a challenge to achieve the right balance!
• Philippians 3:13
• Deuteronomy 5:15
• Isaiah 46:8-9
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Q: What has been our church theme for 2006?
“Gearing Up for Greater Effectiveness”
Input: List the various avenues that God has used in teaching us truth from His Word?
Sunday A.M. series:
 Deuteronomy
 “Is God Mad at Us?”
 Gearing Up Series & What Happens When Your Gears Get Jammed
ABF series:
 The Disciple Making Church
Input: What does a disciple making church look like?
 God Wrote a Book
 Strengthening Your Grip
 PeaceMakers
Input: What are some truths you learned from that series? Are you better at solving problems?
* What about the opportunities to SERVE – to APPLY truth – to GROW in putting truth into practice!
 James 1:22-25
Input: List the various opportunities to serve God in 2006.
Personal Application:
 PERSONALLY
 FAMILY
 CHURCH / ABF
Prayer time:
1) Praising God for His goodness and mercy in 2006
2) Asking for wisdom/help for 2007