Roles, Goals, and Mission

I love the end of one year and the start of a new year because it is a season when I reflect on my life. I am very aware of the brevity of life and I want to make sure that my life counts for Christ. I want to make sure that every year I live my life with an eternal perspective.

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; Only what’s done for Christ will last.” -John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life

Evaluation of the past year

As I look back on the past year, it always fills my heart with praise and thanksgiving for all that God had accomplished. Whether it was a year of significant trials or significant victories, I recognize that through it all God has been faithful to me. I recognize that I do not deserve this favor from God, but He has poured blessing upon blessing in my life.

Planning for the new year

As I look forward to the new year, I have great reason to hope in what God might do in and through my life in the coming year. I know everyone isn’t wired this way, but I do take time to write out goals for the coming year. I organize my goals around the major roles that God has called me to be faithful in (Christian, husband, father, pastor).

I find that writing down my goals forces me to think clearly and concretely, it gives direction to my life, and it provides a tool to evaluate my life throughout the year. One area that we should all be evaluating as followers of Christ is our involvement in God’s mission in the world. Jesus commands all of us to,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” -Matthew 28:19-20

Mission directed goals

So when you are thinking about your life for this coming year, let me encourage you to think about some mission directed goals for your life. Whether you write down your goals or not, here are some questions for personal evaluation and reflection.

• What is the single most important thing you could change or do to improve your involvement in our mission as a church this year?
• How might you plan your devotional life to increase your burden and sense of urgency to reach sinners with the gospel?
• What one person can you build a relationship with this year as you seek to reach them with the gospel?
• For whose salvation will you faithfully pray for this year?
• With whom can you personally become accountable for your personal evangelism?
• If you are a head of household, what one change can you implement to lead your family in being more mission minded?
• If you are a Care Group Leader, how can you lead your Care Group to be more involved in our mission as a church? What 1-2 small adjustments could you make?
  
  

Of course, all of this is for the glory of God and only possible by the grace of God. Let us, as a church, become ever-increasingly effective in boldly living and speaking in the world for Christ.