Happy New Year.

What do we mean? Ball drop, songs, expectations, same old grind 

Why is January the New Year?

a. Many other nations different calendars, and new year

b.  Like days of the year, name of months pagan background

c. January set as new year by Julius Caesar, after "Janus" god of doors and openings

- Janus would open the new year

d.  Early Catholics saw March 25th as New Year - Annunciation of Mary  

As I reflect on the New Year, I think of Exodus 12, preparation for Passover

a. About to transition from slavery to God's people

b. God directed that this month would be the first month of the year

c. Their time and life revolved around God's act of redemption

d. How do we view our time? What determines how we order and use it? 

I don't mean whether we use a calendar that originated in paganism

Talking about out attitude toward time  

Paul had a distinct view of time

a. For Paul, there was BC and AD, not like our BC and AD years

b. Phil. 3:4-16

c. Paul reflects on two lives. Life before Christ, and life after Christ

d. We can learn how we should order and use our time from this 

I. Life Before Christ 

A.  Paul had a certain kind of life before Christ

B. What characterizes life before Christ? - Self

1.  Like Paul, it may be self-confidence, or it might be self-__

2. In any case, the focus is on how to be fulfilled and happy

3.  Fundamental right - pursuit of happiness?

C. The pursuit of happiness is an endless, elusive quest

1. Chinese Proverb - Happiness is  absence of striving for happiness         

D. The Bible never says to pursue happiness                                                           "^

1.  It does say to pursue godliness, holiness, righteousness, love, peace with others

2. May feel good about accomplishments, as Paul did

3. But if it is self centered and not Christ centered, it will be empty

4.  Nothing is of any real value without Christ. Paul explains.... 

II. Life After Christ 

A. Paul counted all personal accomplishments as loss (Phil 3:8) also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,

B. What is it that you value?

C. To gain Christ, it is all or nothing 

III. The AD Life involves 3 things: 

A. The Power of his Resurrection

B. The Fellowship of His Sufferings

1. Usually do not think of suffering as an expression of fellowship

2. Suffering together in common faith/cause the strongest expression of fellowship

3. Most of us will probably not suffer as Christ did, or even Paul

4. Surely we can endure

C. Conforming to His Death

1. The greatest expression of all or nothing

2. Jesus gave up his life, we are to be living sacrifices for him - (Invitation)

3. As living dead people, characteristic is dead people not argue

4. We go wherever he leads, his interests are our interests

D.  ILL: Colin Smith tells about learning to bid on an auction from Dad

1. Jesus does not allow any limit, it is all or nothing 

Mk 8:35 - Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it  

a. This means to count everything else as rubbish

b. This means being sold out for Christ,

c. Conformed to his death