1. A FEW STATISTICS 40% of Americans—make New Year’s resolutions. (Forbes) 40% of Americans—make New Year’s resolutions. (Forbes) 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals. (According to University of Scranton Research) 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals. (According to University of Scranton Research)

3. Setting Goals: SMART

4. Narrow down generic/vague/broad goals – Broad: “I want to grow spiritually” “I want to be evangelistic” – Specific: “I want to read through the entire Bible this year by reading 3 chapters a day” “I want to contact one person every week to ask them for a Bible study”

5. Setting Goals: SMART Narrow down generic/vague/broad goals This is what God does: – Broad Goal/Instruction: “Be Holy for I am Holy” (Lev. 20:26) – Specific Goals/Instruction: Keep all my ordinances (vs. 22) Don’t follow the customs of the nations (vs. 23) Make distinction between clean and unclean animals (vs. 25)

6. Setting Goals: SMART Narrow down generic/vague/broad goals Questions we might ask: – What? – How? – Who? – Why? Keep it simple!!! Write it down “People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions”

7. Setting Goals: SMART Indicators should be quantifiable A measurable goal will answer these questions – How much? – How many? Examples: – Evangelism:

8. Setting Goals: SMART “Goals that are neither out of reach nor below standard performance” Is this reasonable based on constraints/skills/etc? – Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:20-27) The Lord expects an increase. The Lord did not expect the 2 talent man to gain what the 5 talent man did.

9. Setting Goals: SMART Is this a worthwhile goal? – "Make 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by 2pm" may be specific, measurable, attainable and time-bound but lacks relevance. Is this the right time? Am I the right person?

10. Setting Goals: SMART Have deadlines and time limits – Time limits give incredible drive and help keep us accountable. – Ex. Boss gives no deadlines vs. Boss giving unreasonable deadlines. Nehemiah 2:6 – Building up the walls of a city would appear to be an incredible task. – With a set time limit, Nehemiah accomplishes this task in 52 days (Neh. 6:15)

11. Setting Goals: SMART

12. Planning and Preparation. Nehemiah David They have great goals and incredible tasks that they want to perform. Incorporated into those goals is incredible planning. – Roles were given.

13. goals involving habits

14. Creating a new identity This is who I am now/this is who I want to be This is what God does for us: – Rom. 6- we are a new person – WE are a royal priesthood. – You are saints – “I am not that person anymore” – “I am this kind of person” Prove it to yourself with small wins: – At first the goal may not be to achieve results, but to become the type of person who can achieve those things. – The goal is not to be perfect (in the sense of never making a mistake ever).

15. Creating a new identity: Examples E

16. Count the cost Setting goals is usually not the problem – Most have good intentions and want to do better – Many of those people will even take time to make plans in order to grow. Many will not reach their goals b/c they won’t be willing to do what it takes to achieve it. – Achieving goals is HARE WORK!!! – Do you have what it takes? – If you aren’t willing to commit then why bother make resolutions? Getting that into our identity!!! – I am a person who will persevere – I am a person who will work hard. – Jesus says those are the kinds of people we must be!!! Bless are those who are persecuted. 1 Peter. 1:21

17. Examples: