New Year's Day Resource Index

Written by Craig Webb

Here is a simple index of complimentary sermon, drama, and article resources for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

New Sermons from Pastor Andy Cook, Series Title: "Lean Times"

Series summary: Millions of Americans find themselves facing the greatest struggles of their lives today, squeezed financially by rising energy costs, rising unemployment rates, fears of a national recession – or even a depression. It adds up to a shocking new way of life: These are “Lean Times.”

Ezra and Nehemiah provide the biblical background, for they led a people facing far more difficult circumstances to a point of great success – in their work, in their national identity, and in their new understanding of faith.

• 04 - Lean Times 1, Ezra 1, 3, 8
• 11 - Lean Times 2, Nehemiah 1, The Road Trip That Changed a Nation
• 18 - Lean Times 3, Nehemiah 2, Perfect Vision in Imperfect Times
• 25 - Lean Times 4, Nehemiah 8, The Joy of the Lord is your Strength

3:16 The Church Experience - Workbook

Other Sermons and Articles:

• New Year Sermon, A Different Way to Walk, Ephesians 4 (Andy Cook)
  Andy uses an illustration from the military to discuss the Christians' walk. He says that the Bible's message is that we are expected to walk in a different way once we follow Christ. The way you live has nothing to do with the way you were saved. The way we walk is seen in the way we treat other people. The way you walk is up to you. Andy also has a great idea for closing the sermon with application of walking to a new ministry.
   
• How to Write Your State of the Church Message (Calvin Wittman) 
  The New Year is a natural time for new ideas, new directions, and new approaches to old ideas. Your annual State of the Church message can serve as an effective way to restate your vision to your congregation. Four practical suggestions.
   
• Fresh Ideas for Your Church New Year Party (Diana Davis)
  Several practical ideas to help you and your church leaders add variety and excitement to your New Year celebrations. These can be used for small, medium, or large events.

Other sermons and dramas:

• Drama: Another Year and I Have Plans (52k PDF) 1-Page drama by Matt Tullos featuring an Egg Head Strategist, Closed Minded Dogmatist, Exhausted Cynic, Party Guy, Egotistical Teenage Guy, and the Voice of God.
   
• Sermon: Building a Godly Home for the New Year, Psalm 101, Andy Cook
   

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• Sermon: On the Threshold of a New Year - Numbers 14:1-10 
  Argile Smith uses the metaphor of a husband carrying his bride across the threshold in this model sermon. The main points of the sermon are "We can be frightened by the future" or "We can embrace the future."
   
• Drama: A Reading for the New Church Year (70kb PDF) 
  A simple but powerful drama was written to help a church focus on a new year of ministry. The first part is “tongue in cheek” – having fun with some our non-biblical ideas about ministry. The second part will re-focus on biblical attitudes towards ministry. Written by Matt Tullos.
   
• Drama: New Years Blues from a Christmas Misspent (70kb PDF) 
  A fun drama reading taking a humorous but sobering look at the results of overspending during Christmas. Written by John and Kathy Frady.

New Year's Party/Fellowship Ideas: 

• Article: Fresh Ideas for Your Church New Year Party (Diana Davis)
   
• Article: Ideas for a Great New Year's Eve Service (Jerry L. Winfield)
  Article includes 6 Ideas to make it great as well as the Biblical precedent for a "Watch Night" service.
   
• Article: 31 Questions for a New Year (Don Whitney)
  10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God and 21 more to help you "Consider your ways."
   
• Article: A Scriptural Beginning for the New Year (Diana Davis)
  Ring in 2008 by reading the entire New Testament aloud as a church. It takes about twenty-four hours to read the New Testament, so you could begin reading at 5 p.m. December 31 and end at 5 p.m. January 1.
   
• Article: 5 Fabulous Icebreaker Games

• Article: Games That Bring Togetherness to Groups

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Craig Webb is the Pastor for Vision and Purpose at Gladeville Baptist Church. He is the editor of the Pastors Today e-Newsletter, Proclaim Online, and the articles and ministry helps that appear in the Pastors Area of LifeWay.com. He lives in the Nashville area with his wife, daughter, and two sons. He is a graduate of Samford University, Southern Seminary, and is in the Doctor of Ministry program at New Orleans Seminary.

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