12/29/02 - by Pastor Mike Baker

Genesis 1:3
Rev 22:13

• Names He gives Himself - Alpha & Omega
  • Alpha - beginning
    • spiritually & naturally
    • many beginnings in our lives
  • Omega - ending
    • many endings in our lives

Jesus is with us in our beginnings and our endings

• each year has a calendar end and beginning
  • Beginning
    • Hope & Goals & Change
  • Ending
    • Reflection
      • Did I meet the goals I set?
        • Some are more easily measured than others
        • Have I achieved spiritual growth?
        • Have I grown as a person?
        • Have I grown as a friend, spouse, parent?
        • Have I grown in integrity?
        • Have I availed myself to the church?
        • Have I contributed to the growth of the kingdom of God?
      • If we don't set goals, we won't make any progress regardless if we achieve them or not.

For our VFF church, last year's goal was "build".
Encouragement to set goals:

• Reachable but still a stretch for us to meet.
• Shortcomings can bring guilt
• God is great at new beginnings
  • Eight is the number of new beginnings (From Genesis)
    • the beginning of creation, the beginning of marriage, the beginning of sin and death, of sacrifices, of the covenant, of the nation, and human race and Hebrew race.
• Some things don't change with the change of a calendar new year.

Is 7:14

• another name, Emmanuel ("God is with us")
  • in between the Alpha & the Omega

Hebrews 12:2

• Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith (NRSV Pioneer & Perfecter)

Jn 1:14

• Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

We cannot survive without our relationship with God, but we are also placed in His body (the Church).

• He also reveals Himself to us through others.

I Co 12:12-27

• vitally linked person
• God places gifts in us as He chooses
• God places us in specific local churches
• Specifies what our gift is & where to release it.
• We behold God's glory as we behold Jesus in each other.

God is with us all the time in the Spirit in our hearts and in others we fellowship with.

• God delivers (UPS)
  • Uphold
  • Preserve
  • Sustain