By Kent Miller
Kent Miller is lead pastor at First Mennonite Church in Middlebury, Ind.
Many people take on New Year’s resolutions. Some find success and make progress in the area they are focusing on… and some have already found themselves floundering and struggling two weeks, or a month, into the pursuit of their goal. There is risk in making a resolution. We can set ourselves up for great success or disappointing failure.
One of the challenges we face, is to look for the rewards we find in the journey, whether or not we reach our final goal. We need to ask ourselves questions like, “What have I learned about myself and others?” Or, “How I have I grown as person? Or helped someone else grow?”
With the start of a New Year, we’ve made a resolution of sorts, at First Mennonite Church (Middlebury, Ind.), as we embrace 2014 as a Year of the Bible. We are committing ourselves to grow together in community. We will journey through familiar stories, as well as difficult passages, in order to discern and grow in our understanding of God’s love, grace and peace.
Taking on a journey through scripture is a risk-reward experience. We will be challenged, encouraged, and perhaps even frustrated at times, as we allow ourselves to dig into scripture and discover God’s salvation history in the Biblical narrative, and the ways in which we connect with God’s story in the world around us today.
I encourage you to lift up those in your congregation in prayer this year, that we might sense God moving among us through our study, discernment and in the pursuit of our mission, as we extend grace, build peace and share love within and beyond our faith community. It’s going to be a great ride and I’m excited to be with you as we journey together!