Resolved

2023 is almost upon us which means that millions are currently drafting their lists of New Year’s resolutions. After a holiday week of presents, naps, and fatty foods, many become fed up with “how their life is” and they begin to fantasize about “what it could be.” Typically, this list of resolutions includes things such as losing weight, working out more, eating healthier, and cutting out other unhelpful habits. Some will faithfully stick to these resolutions for the entire year. But the vast majority only keep up with this list of habits for a few weeks until they give up and go back to life as usual. It’s hard to make changes. It’s hard to sacrifice immediate pleasure and comfort for delayed reward. If it was easy to work out consistently, everyone would do it. If it was easy to have healthy habits, everyone would.

As hard as it is to be in shape physically, it is much more challenging to be spiritually fit and healthy. But the reward of spiritual fitness far outweighs the difficulty of pursuing after it. The apostle Paul speaks to this in 1 Timothy 4:8, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promises for both the present life and the life to come.” Physical health is important but it has limitations and one day, its rewards will come to an end. But spiritual health cannot be underestimated as it will lead to eternal rewards that will never cease or fail to pay back on your investment. In light of this reality, we should be focused on our spiritual health in 2023 and set up goals to shoot for. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Growing in godliness doesn’t happen by accident. Becoming more like Christ and less like the world takes effort and intentionality. It requires you to make the daily choice to die to yourself and live for the glory of God.

As a young man, the famous theologian and pastor Jonathan Edwards drafted 70 goals or resolutions that he was devoted to carrying out and following for the rest of his life. Yes, some of the resolutions are a bit over the top and too introspective. And yes, this man had many flaws and faults that I won’t cover here but the Lord used Edwards’ sermons and writings to bless many and help kick off the Great Awakening in the 1700s. In part, Edwards was able to accomplish so much because of his dedication to these resolutions that he drafted as a young man. I’m going to list off several of Edwards’ resolutions below. Look them over and learn from them. Think of what the Lord is calling you to let go of and pursue after in 2023. Think of who He is calling you to be and what He is calling you to do. You don’t have to create an official list of resolutions but it is beneficial to have spiritual goals for yourself and your family. Every year, you need to take the time to slow down and evaluate where you came from, where you are currently, and where you want to go. FYI - This list was written 300 years ago so the wording can be a bit challenging at times. It’s best to read through these resolutions slowly.

Resolution # 1 - Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure.

Resolution #5 - Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

Resolution #7 - Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolution #28 - Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Resolution #41 - Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better.

Resolution # 43 - Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s

5 Quick Tips for Family Devotions

This past Sunday, I taught on the importance of discipling our children and raising them in the instruction of God’s Word. So many parents feel totally unequipped to carry out this important task and they let fear paralyze them. Please don’t let this be true of you and your family. As I said in my sermon, God doesn’t expect you to be the perfect teacher; He simply expects you to show up and do your best. You will fall and stumble in your responsibilities (I know I do) but you will learn from your mistakes and grow in your ability as a discipler and teacher. I want to offer you 5 quick tips that you can apply to your family devotional times right now.

1. Start and End with Prayer - Prayer is the cornerstone of any devotional time. It is a wise practice to bookend the reading and studying of God’s Word with prayer. Before you open up the pages of the Bible, bow before the Lord and ask for His wisdom and guidance. As you close the Bible, ask the Lord to help your family act upon what you just learned. This is the perfect time to walk your kids through the ACTS Prayer Model: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Kids need to know that prayer isn’t just asking for things and treating God like a divine vending machine. When we pray, we praise the Lord, we confess our sins, we thank Him for all His good gifts, and we lift up our requests as well as the needs of others.

2. Sing to the Lord - As you read through Scripture, the Psalms in particular, it becomes abundantly clear that the Lord loves to be worshipped in song. We are constantly commanded to sing to the Lord and praise Him for who He is and what He has done for us. Singing songs as a family may be awkward for some of you but it’s a powerful practice and learning tool. I know my son loves to sing popular songs like Wheels on the Bus and Circle of Life but we have also trained him to sing Christian songs like Jesus Loves Me and The Lord is My Shepherd. He may not understand what he’s singing right now but the lyrics are burned into his brain and we are teaching him important theology. During your devotional time, pull up a solid and theologically rich song on YouTube that you can sing along with as a family. Classic and contemporary hymns are a great place to start: Amazing Grace, In Christ Alone, Crown Him with Many Crowns, etc.

3. Focus on the Gospel and the Major Storyline of the Bible - As you read through a book of the Bible or devotional as a family, never lose sight of the basics. Constantly and clearly lay out the basics of the gospel message to your kids. They need to hear it and you need to hear it. The gospel shines through every book of the Bible and your kids need to know that God’s grace is evident on every page. We need to read the Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ. Also, the Bible is the greatest and most important story of all and it has a structure that your kids need to understand. Here’s the structure: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration (C.F.R.R.) God created the earth and mankind but we rebelled against Him and chose to sin. That could have been the end of the story. But the Lord chose to show grace by sending His son to live a perfect life, die upon a cross, rise again, and ascend back into Heaven. Anyone who believes in Christ and trusts in Him alone for forgiveness will be saved. One day, Jesus will return to make all things new and destroy evil forever. We will then spend eternity with Him and other believers in perfect peace and harmony. Make sure that your kids understand the four major points of the biblical story. For younger kids, The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a fantastic resource. It will point your kids to Christ and lay out the basics of C.F.R.R.

4. Ask Your Kids Questions and Make Room for Their Questions - Obviously, this is a time for you to teach your kids so you’ll end up doing most of the talking. But make sure to ask your kids good questions that don’t lead to simple “Yes” or “No” answers. Quiz them on what you just studied as a family and ask how they can apply the lesson to their lives that week. Before you wrap up in prayer, check to see if they have any questions. To be honest, they’ll most likely say no or ask a totally off the wall question that has nothing to do with what you just studied. THAT’S OKAY! Most days, they’ll look at you with blank eyes or try to be silly but some days, they’ll ask a profound question that sparks a great conversation.

5. Be Patient and Don’t Expect Immediate Results - There will be days when your kids don’t want to engage in family devotions. They’ll looked checked out and bored. They may even complain, roll their eyes, or let out dramatic sighs of annoyance. Please, don’t let this discourage or dissuade you from engaging in this important discipline. Some of the teenagers in my previous ministry who seemed the most checked out were actually the most dialed in. They listened to me and absorbed way more information than I ever thought possible based on their prickly demeanor. You never know how God is moving and working in your kids’ hearts. Let us take a page out of our heavenly Father’s book as He is continually long-suffering and patient with us despite our complaining and grumbling. Be patient even where there appears to be no immediate fruit from your labors. Remember that you’re playing the long game with their kids’ spiritual development. Consistency and faithfulness over a long period of time can lead to amazing and astounding results.

Called to Serve

This past Sunday, we studied Titus 3:1-8 and Paul reminded us that we have been called by God to serve others. We have been blessed so that we can be a blessing. We have been set apart to be a people who are zealous for and devoted to good works. As believers, we know this truth in our minds but it’s hard to live it out in reality. As a husband and father of two, I know how hectic and crazy life can get. Your normal routine of going to work and taking care of the kids is exhausting and you feel like collapsing at the end of each day. As I said in my sermon, I really don’t want to add an extra burden to your already tired shoulders but I do want to encourage you to consider how you could serve the church and the community. Maybe you are already doing both of these things and that’s great but maybe you need some tangible opportunities to grab a hold of right now. Below is a link to a Google Doc that lists fourteen local organizations that you can check out and volunteer with. This document also includes the contact information for each organization. Our small group leaders have been given this list as well and its been encouraging to hear how groups are already stepping out to serve! This document is meant to serve as a conversation starter and springboard for service. If you can think of any other organizations that should be added to the list, please don’t hesitate to contact me at tbrown@harvestpittsburghnorth.org.

Service Opportunities - Google Doc

Maybe you are struggling to figure out how you can serve at Harvest on Sunday mornings and throughout the rest of the week. Below are the ministries that we offer, the needs that currently need to be filled, and the contact information for each ministry team leader. Prayerfully look over these ministries and ask the Lord how he is calling you to serve. If you need help figuring out how God has gifted and equipped you, please contact Pastor Jeff or myself. We’d love to help you get plugged in.

Children’s Ministry:

Needs: *Teachers and Nursery Workers

Contact: Mandy Moll (amoll@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

Assimilation/Hospitality:

Needs: Greeters, Ushers, and After Service Crew

Contact: Mackenzi Blasko (assimilation@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

Audio/Video:

Needs: Sound Board Operator, Live Stream Camera Operator, Slides, etc.

Contact: James Murphy (av@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

Communications:

Needs: Graphic Designer, Video Production, and Website Manager

Contact: Ben Murphy (support@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

Facilities:

Needs: Cleaning and Sunday Morning Preparation Crews

Contact: Steve Zeleznak (facilities@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

Worship:

Needs: Singers and Band Members

Contact: Ashley Satterwhite (asatterwhite@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

*Security:

Needs: Security Personnel on Sunday Mornings

Contact: Taylor Howland (security@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

*Finance:

Needs: Counters

Contact: Andrew Rupp (finance@harvestpittsburghnorth.org)

* = Membership Required

How Can I Become More Discerning?

This past Sunday, I taught on Titus 1:10-16 which focuses upon how the church should deal with false teaching when it arises. False teaching has been around for thousands of years and the leaders of the early church had to deal with it on almost a daily basis. Heresies surrounding the Trinity, the natures of Christ, the details of salvation, and the makeup of the Bible popped up constantly. This trend hasn’t slowed down throughout church history because our enemy hates when the truth is proclaimed and he wants to deceive as many as possible. Satan loves to twist the truth and come up with his own hellish concoctions that spiritually poison those who consume them. In 2022, Satan is hard at work and he’s up to the same game that he has been playing since the beginning of time. Sadly, many in the Evangelical world are easily tricked and they buy into the lies of this world hook, line, and sinker. Discernment isn’t as common as it should be. As followers of Christ, we need to resist this trend and grow in our discernment as much as we possibly can on a daily basis. How can you become more discerning? Below are three quick yet vital tips.

1. By Becoming a Student of God’s Word - This may sound extremely obvious but we often need reminded about the basics of the faith. How often do you skip reading the Bible because you’re “too busy” or “too tired”? How often do you neglect the Word to consume the things of the world? How often do you skim through a chapter or a passage in order to check “Bible Reading” off your daily checklist? Bible study isn’t something to rush through but to savor and enjoy. Don’t just read a passage but meditate upon it and think about how it applies to your life. Years ago, my dad gave me a Bible study tip that I’ll never forget, “When you read a verse, ask yourself: what does this teach me about who God is and what does this teach me about who I need to be?” Don’t have a pristine Bible but a copy that is highlighted, underlined, and filled with your notes. Commit verses to memory and don’t tell me you aren’t good at memorizing! We remember and memorize what we care about. One of my favorite preachers of all time, Charles Spurgeon, once said something about John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, that has really stuck with me over the years: “Prick him anywhere—his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his very soul is full of the Word of God.” Let us be a people whose spiritual veins are full of the Word of God.

2. By Being Careful of What You Consume - There is so much garbage on movie screens, TV, and social media. Social media influencers, celebrities, and news anchors are trying to tell you what to think, say, and do. These people and programs affect you way more than you think they do. David makes a promise in Psalm 101:3 that should act as a filter for what we consume: “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.” Before you watch a movie or TV show, ask yourself questions like, “Is this a worthless waste of time? Will this hurt or harm my walk with the Lord? Will this cause me to stumble in someway?” Before you tune into a certain news station, ask yourself, “Will this cause me to trust in the Lord more or will this cause me to panic and fall into hysteria as many people across this country are right now?”

3. By Being Held Accountable By Others - Develop a trusted circle of advisors that can speak the truth into your life and help you apply God’s Word to every situation that pops up. Solomon speaks to the importance of listening and learning in Proverbs 1:5,“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtains guidance.” Who are you turning to for wisdom and guidance? Are you turning to godly men and women who want what is best for you and lead lives of holiness? Are you trusting and learning from the wrong crowd or the right people? You are only as wise as the people that you respect and listen to.