2. Happy New Year! Just one tick, yet a significant tick
Celebration of success
Resolution to control the unsettlingly unknowable and uncontrollable

3. So what do we do? The future IS unknowable
The future IS uncontrollable
We fall back on…
…what IS knowable
…what IS controllable

4. 1st Peter 5:6-12 …humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

5. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

6. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

7. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

8. Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995

9. New Year, Same Stuff It’s about Grace (5:12)
It’s about Obedience (1:1-2)
It’s about Hope (1:3-5)
It’s about Love (1:22-2:3)

10. New Year, Same Stuff It’s about Community (2:9-10) Race…common lineage
Priesthood…common function
Kingdom…common rule and citizenship
Collective Possession…common ownership

11. New Year, Same Stuff It’s about Community (2:9-10)
Not something we create
Not something we attain to
This is ours by birth (1:3)
Isolation is dysfunctional as well as disobedient

12. New Year, Same Stuff
“[God’s] grace creates a community, not just a collection of saved individuals. Like the vertical relationship with God, the horizontal relationship to my brothers and sisters has its source in His grace.

13. New Year, Same Stuff
This is not the group of friends I would have chosen for myself, but God chose them for Himself…and for me.” (Horton, The Gospel Commission, pg. 253)

14. New Year, Same Stuff It’s about Community (2:9-10)
Proclamation…common purpose
Grace and saving work of God in Christ
Greatest expression of glory (Ephesians 2:4-7)

15. New Year, Same Stuff It’s about Suffering (2:21-24)
Purposeful not whimsical, accidental, or uncaring (4:1)
Path set by Christ
Direction and example

16. New Year, Same Stuff His direction…redemptive His example
As a witness (3:15)
In my walk (4:1 and James 1:2-5)
His example
Continual Trust (2:23)
Motivating Joy (Hebrews 12:2)

17. New Year, Same Stuff It’s about Christ’s Lordship (3:15) His authority
His provision
Our submission
Our allegiance

18. New Year, Same Stuff What do we know?
Who we are…God’s collective people
What our purpose is…be together, accomplish God’s work together, in a trusting relationship with Him

19. New Year, Same Stuff What can we control? Our Trust (5:6-7)
Our Devotion