To God we have confident access Through Christ our priest, His death made the way So draw near, come into God’s presence With true faith, fully cleansed, come today
Chorus Fast, Fast, Hold fast Hold fast to Jesus the Better One Near, Near, Draw Near Draw near to God through His only Son
Hold fast your hope without wavering God’s promises never throw away Commit to the church’s gathering Stir up to love and good works today (Repeat Chorus)
I am currently preaching a series called “The Truths We Hold Dear.” We are looking at core Biblical doctrines that the church believes. I started with two sermons on why doctrine matters, which you can watch here:
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.
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ…. (Ephesians 5:23-24a)
Christ is the head of the church. And the church must submit to Him, obey Him, follow His leading.
Christ is in charge of the church, not the pastor, not the leadership team, not you. Christ alone is the head of church.
Follow the illustration. My body follows the instructions of my head. My head tells my neck to turn, my foot to rise, my hands to clap, my fingers to scratch my head. If my body doesn’t listen to my head, then my body is sick. And to whatever extent the church is not listening to Christ, to that extent the church is sick. Christ is the head.
So let us commit to Christ’s leading – as a church and as individual Christians. We must be committed to the leading of Christ. We must follow His instructions in His Word for the church and our lives. We don’t go off and do our own thing. We don’t make up the church or what we believe or how to live. No, we must commit to follow Christ in all things. Christ is our head.
Here are some loose strands for continuing to think about the new year:
Old Advice for a New Year – Cassie Achermann (TGC) Throughout the centuries, pastors and theologians have used the opportunity of the new year to encourage believers. Let’s listen to their advice for the year ahead.
New Year’s Goal-Setting for People with Actual Lives – Joe Carter (TGC) What we need isn’t a better to-do list but a better grid for making wise decisions across every domain of life, whether we’re planning our fitness goals or our prayer habits. Such a grid should work for anyone, in any season, pursuing faithfulness in any calling.
5 Habits for Better Prayer in 2026 – Blake Glosson (TGC) Consider five habits or mindsets that can enrich your extended times of prayer.
The Resolution We Rarely Make – Erik Raymond As you look ahead to a new year—with fresh goals and good intentions—hear again the invitation of Jesus. He does not offer a program of self-improvement, but a path of self-denial. It’s the path of life.
Behold Jesus came to do God’s will Offered Himself to pay for our sins A single sacrifice once for all Our sin forgotten and forgiven
Chorus Fast, Fast, Hold fast Hold fast to Jesus the Better One Near, Near, Draw Near Draw near to God through His only Son
Old sacrifices could not make clean Could not perfect though offered each day Only His sacrifice makes us clean Holy and perfect, sin washed away (Repeat Chorus)
In His finished work now find your rest Clean in His sight, come draw near to God His new work in you now manifest Follow Jesus – do the will of God (Repeat Chorus)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Trials are one of ways God uses to help us grow to be steadfast, perfect, complete, that is, mature in Christ. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like that. I wrestle with the idol of comfort, and trials are not comfortable. How then can I count trials as joy? Only as I trust the Father to use those trials for my good. How can I love people, obey God, and do good works in the midst of trials? Only as I trust the Father.
Consider Jesus on the cross:
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (I Peter 2:23)
Jesus was able to love instead of reviling and threatening because he trusted His Father. Jesus was able to obey His Father’s plan and do this good work of salvation because He trusted His Father there on cross.
It is only as we trust our Father, that we will be able to love those who hurt us, obey even when it’s hard and hurts, and do good works even when we don’t feel like it.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (I Peter 4:19)
God is faithful. He has a plan in our suffering. So trust Him while doing good – loving, obeying, and doing good works.
Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship – Jonathan Gibson I was looking for something to give variety to my personal devotions, and this certainly did it. Each day offers a time of praise, confession, Word, and prayer. There is also a daily reading from a creed and catechism. I appreciated the ability to use it alongside my own Bible reading plan. I worked through its 31 days twice. I am currently working through his Christmas version, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. He has an Easter version, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, which I plan to use this Spring.
In a similar vein, I also appreciated Douglas Sean O’Donnell’s Daily Liturgy Devotional. This one offered daily times (for 40 days) of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Prayer, and the Word. Instead of choosing my own Scripture readings, this option had Scripture readings with a brief commentary built around a weekly theme. I also appreciated the daily hymn.
I also tried Trevin Wax’s Life of Jesus in 30 Days, which worked through the Gospels in a roughly chronological way. There were again times of praise, Scripture, and prayer. In the morning there was a confession of faith, and in the evening a confession of sins – an approach I really liked. But a morning and evening (and midday) time was my downfall. If I could get to that point, I think this would be a good approach. He also has one on the Psalms and Paul’s Epistles.
If you are looking for a change in your daily devotional approach, I recommend trying one of these (but get established in a three times a day rhythm before trying the 30 Days series).
The Language of Rivers and Stars: How Nature Speaks of the Glories of God – Seth Lewis I’m only about half way through this one, but the first four chapters were an amazing look at how God speaks to us through creation, and its connection to the Word. With his thesis set forth, Lewis then spends the rest of the book working through the days of creation, showing what different parts of creation communicate to us about God.
The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith – Trevin Wax This was a helpful and enjoyable book on the important of doctrinal truth, and how orthodoxy is better than all the alternatives. If you think creating your own truths is more exciting, read this first. If you know someone deconstructing their faith, this book might help you help them.
Enjoying God: Experience the Power and Love of God in Everyday Life – Tim Chester The sub-title gives the purpose of the book, as the author looks at various aspects of life and shows how they are opportunities to commune with our Triune God. This is a book I think I need to review and apply further to my life.
Becoming / Making / Completion of C. S. Lewis – Harry Lee Poe If you really want to know about C. S. Lewis, this trilogy will give you a deep dive into his life year after year. Overall easy to read, but wow, there are a lot of details. Lewis’ love of nature and friendship were both challenging.
You might also be interested in some other favorite books posts:
Tim Challies’ collection of favorite book posts – He also highlights some of the books that appeared repeatedly, including Matthew Bingham’s A Heart Aflame for God – which I hope to read next year.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
In the midst of all the bad news of shootings, strife, sorrow, struggles, and suffering, God offers us good news.
At this Christmas time, when everyone is searching for a great deals, great presents, great Christmas goodies, great decorations, great warm fuzzy feelings, and great family time, God offers us great joy.
In a world full of “haves” and and “have nots,” God offers this good news of great joy to all the people.
And what is this good news of great joy for all the people? It is the birth of a baby, who is called a Savior, King, and Lord.
He is a Savior from the penalty and power of sin, and one day from the presence of sin and all its miserable results.
He is a King, who will one day usher in a glorious eternal kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace.
He is the Lord – God become man. Immanuel – God with us.
This Christmas may you embrace this good news of great joy for all the people. Embrace Jesus, your Savior, King, and Lord.
Brian J. Mikul 