Declaring Jesus as King in the New Year

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Spiritual Growth and Renewal

As we enter a new year, it's an opportunity to deepen our discipleship and personal growth. This is a time to focus on spiritual disciplines and renewal, allowing us to experience new life in areas we've been praying about. The journey of discipleship is not just about following rules but about cultivating a relationship with Jesus that transforms every aspect of our lives. By engaging with resources like "Disciplines of a Godly Man" by Kent Hughes and "Rhythms of Renewal" by Rebecca Lyons, we can find practical ways to grow spiritually and address areas where we seek change. This year, let us commit to taking significant steps forward in our journey as followers of Jesus, allowing His presence to bring new life and vitality to our spiritual walk. [41:46]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What specific spiritual discipline can you commit to this year to deepen your relationship with Jesus, and how will you incorporate it into your daily routine?

Day 2: Understanding the Humility of Jesus's Kingship

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a profound event that symbolizes His humility and the nature of His kingdom. Unlike earthly kings who often seek power and dominance, Jesus's entry on a donkey, as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, highlights His gentle and humble approach. His kingdom is not about political power but about spiritual transformation and inviting everyone to declare Him as King. This event, recorded in all four Gospels, marks Jesus's declaration as King and invites us to reflect on the kind of king we serve in our lives. Jesus offers a kingdom of righteousness, humility, and salvation, inviting us to be part of it now. [50:37]

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you embody the humility of Jesus in your interactions with others this week, and how can this reflect His kingdom in your life?

Day 3: Choosing the Right King in Our Lives

We all serve a king in our lives, whether it's ourselves, others' perceptions, or something else. Jesus offers a different kind of kingship—one of righteousness, humility, and salvation. His kingdom is not of this world, and He invites us to be part of it. The triumphal entry is a reminder that Jesus is the King, and we have the opportunity to declare Him as such now. This choice is significant because it determines the direction of our lives and the values we uphold. By choosing Jesus as our King, we align ourselves with His purposes and allow His righteousness to guide our decisions and actions. [54:23]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself serving a different "king"? How can you begin to realign this area with Jesus's kingship today?

Day 4: Anticipating the Second Coming of Jesus

Looking ahead, there will be a second triumphal entry when Jesus returns, as described in Revelation 19. This time, He will come as a conquering King, bringing justice and establishing a kingdom that will never end. The choice is ours: to declare Him King now or later. This anticipation calls us to live with a sense of urgency and purpose, knowing that our lives are part of a larger story that God is unfolding. By choosing to declare Jesus as King now, we participate in His kingdom work and prepare ourselves for His return. [01:01:04]

"And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." (Mark 13:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of Jesus's return influence your daily decisions and priorities, and what changes can you make to live in anticipation of His coming?

Day 5: Engaging in Gospel Conversations

As a church, our goal is to have 7,500 gospel conversations this year, sharing the good news and inviting others into the kingdom. This mission challenges us to be proactive in proclaiming Jesus as King and bringing more people home to Him. It's an invitation to step out of our comfort zones and engage with others about the hope and transformation found in Jesus. By being intentional in our conversations, we can make a significant impact in the lives of those around us and fulfill our calling to be ambassadors of Christ. [01:12:34]

"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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can have a gospel conversation with this week, and how can you prepare yourself to share the good news with them?

Sermon Summary

Happy New Year! As we embark on this new year, it's a perfect time to reflect on personal growth and discipleship. I encourage you to take significant steps forward in your journey as a follower of Jesus. To aid in this, I recommend two books: "Disciplines of a Godly Man" by Kent Hughes for men, and "Rhythms of Renewal" by Rebecca Lyons for women. These books can help deepen your spiritual growth and bring new life to areas you've been praying about.

As we start this year, many of us set resolutions, but often they fade by "Quitter's Day," the second Friday in January. Instead of letting our goals slip away, let's focus on making this year a time when God does something special through us. Imagine a year where prayers are answered, and people notice something extraordinary happening among us.

Today, we begin a new series on the last week of Jesus's life, starting with the triumphal entry. This event is significant, appearing in all four Gospels, and it marks Jesus's declaration as King. As Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, He demonstrated His humility and the nature of His kingdom. Unlike earthly kings, Jesus's kingdom is spiritual, inviting everyone to declare Him as King now.

We all serve a king in our lives, whether it's ourselves, others' perceptions, or something else. Jesus offers a different kind of kingship—one of righteousness, humility, and salvation. His kingdom is not of this world, and He invites us to be part of it. The triumphal entry is a reminder that Jesus is the King, and we have the opportunity to declare Him as such now.

Looking ahead, there will be a second triumphal entry when Jesus returns, as described in Revelation 19. This time, He will come as a conquering King, bringing justice and establishing a kingdom that will never end. The choice is ours: to declare Him King now or later. Let's choose now, inviting others to join us in His kingdom.

As a church, our goal is to have 7,500 gospel conversations this year, sharing the good news and inviting others into the kingdom. Let's be better than the rocks, proclaiming Jesus as King and bringing more people home to Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Personal Discipleship and Growth: As we enter a new year, it's an opportunity to deepen our discipleship and personal growth. By focusing on spiritual disciplines and renewal, we can experience new life in areas we've been praying about. [41:46]
2. The Significance of the Triumphal Entry: Jesus's entry into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes His humility and the nature of His kingdom. Unlike earthly kings, Jesus's kingdom is spiritual, inviting everyone to declare Him as King now. [50:37]
3. Choosing Our King: We all serve a king in our lives, whether it's ourselves, others' perceptions, or something else. Jesus offers a different kind of kingship—one of righteousness, humility, and salvation. [54:23]
4. The Second Triumphal Entry: Jesus will return as a conquering King, bringing justice and establishing a kingdom that will never end. The choice is ours: to declare Him King now or later. [61:04]
5. Inviting Others into the Kingdom: As a church, our goal is to have 7,500 gospel conversations this year, sharing the good news and inviting others into the kingdom. Let's be better than the rocks, proclaiming Jesus as King and bringing more people home to Him. [01:12:34]
** [72:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:46] - New Year, New You
[43:06] - Overcoming Quitter's Day
[44:45] - Starting a New Series
[50:37] - The Triumphal Entry
[52:35] - Significance of the Donkey
[53:34] - Jesus as King
[54:23] - Choosing Our King
[61:04] - The Second Coming
[62:08] - Jesus's Justice
[63:32] - Differences in the Entries
[64:51] - Declaring Him King Now
[66:10] - The Gospel Invitation
[72:34] - Gospel Conversations Goal
[74:40] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Sermon Clips

"Today, we're starting a new year. It's the first Sunday of the year here at First Baptist. And I don't know if you're like me, but like when you start a new year, you feel like it's an opportunity to have a new you. New year, new you. Start thinking about all the things that you can do to have a better year than you had last year." [00:42:00] (17 seconds)

"This isn't the only triumphal entry in the bible did you know that this is actually part one of a two-part story the first triumphal entry of Jesus he rides in on a donkey but there's a second coming of Jesus Christ and he will enter the city a second time and there will be a second triumphal entry coming." [00:58:19] (23 seconds)

"And that kingdom will never end. And there's not going to be any more crying. There's not going to be any more tears. There's not going to be any more death. There's not going to be any more wars. Because Jesus will reign and he'll set up a kingdom that will never end. That's what Revelation is all about." [01:00:24] (13 seconds)

"Will you choose to declare him king now or king later? That's the point of the gospel. God's offering everybody an opportunity to get in now when he's writing the gospel. When he's writing it on a donkey. When he is struck on your behalf. But there is a day where he comes back and he's the king later." [01:05:21] (27 seconds)

"And so as a church, what I want us to do is to have a culture of endless invitation where we're constantly inviting people to come into the kingdom. We're saying, come home, come home, come home. You can be as far from God as possible. We want you here. Come home because home is where you belong." [01:10:21] (21 seconds)

"What I want you to do right now is start thinking about how are we going to do that? Start thinking about how many gospel conversations you could have this year with friends and start praying that God would give you opportunities to have those gospel conversations. For some of you, you're going to say, yep, I'm going to do three this year." [01:12:40] (16 seconds)

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