New Years Message

Title: “Starting Afresh in 2026” Script: Proverbs – several passages

Type: Thematic Where: GNBC 1-4-26

Intro: New Years offers us the opportunity to consider making changes in our lives. Some of these are minor changes, some of these are more radical. We’re all familiar with the term “reboot” when it comes to computers. Rebooting is a troubleshooting method: when your computer is giving you trouble—for example, a program locks up or is simply not responding–you shut it down and restart it. In addition, a common way to reboot your computer is to press down on the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys simultaneously. Sometimes an area of your life—or perhaps more than one—has gone completely off track and makes you feel bogged down and like you just can’t move forward. If this is the case, instead of making small changes here and there, why don’t you look with me today to see how to start afresh.

Prop: Today we’ll examine several Proverbs to realize 5 steps to take for a fresh start in 2026.

BG: 1. All of the main passages will come from the Proverbs today. Proverbs are “Wisdom Literature”. Most people I know want to be wise. Read the Proverbs! Most written by Solomon, wisest man to have ever lived.

2. Message is laid out as an acrostic where the first letter of each main point makes important word. Prize to 1st 3 kids under 12 who come up to me after service with answer.

Prop: Exam. the Proverbs we’ll realize five steps to take to ensure a new start for 2026

I. Stop Making Excuses for Personal Failure. – Prov. 28:13

A. The 1st step we must take to ensure a new start to 2016 is to Stop Making Excuses for failure.

1. 1st we must take responsibility and quit making excuses for our own failures.

a. Prov. 28:13 says: “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”

b. Confess what you/I need to confess. Confess our sin to God fist of all. Then, the Bible tells us, and as Protestants we sometimes don’t want to do this, but the Bible says in James 5:16: Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Confess to yourself. Confess the lies you have believed, some for years. Call them what they are, LIES! Confess if you are lazy, undisciplined, critical, angry, etc.

2. Personal Success encourages others to succeed.

a. Illust: May 6, 1954 was the day a monumental achievement took place in sports. It was on that day that Roger Bannister, an Englishman, ran on Oxford University's Iffley Road Track, and broke the 4 minute mile. Bannister’s 3:59.4 was “earth shaking” in the realm of running. No one had ever run that fast. It was thought to be impossible. And then, it was done! Since that time, 100’s of individuals in America alone, have broken the 4 minute mile barrier. What was once deemed “impossible” is now common for elite runners.

b. How many items in our lives have we told ourselves are insurmountable barriers that we can never change in our lives? What is it that we face, come up to, or allow to defeat us that we think is something we can never overcome or defeat or gain victory over?

B. Planning is the prelude to success, passivity results in failure.

1. Other people can hurt us, other people can harm us, and other people can scar us. But the only person that can ruin your life is you. Nobody can ruin your life without your permission. You have a choice and that is you can choose how you’re going to respond to those hurts. The Bible says that the starting point is to just be honest and accept responsibility for my part in the problem.

2. Lack of Preparation is one of the main reasons for failure in life.

a. Prov. 20:7 says: "A sensible man watches for problems and prepares to meet them but the fool never looks ahead and suffers the consequences." Plan ahead. Prepare.

b. Proverbs 24:10 "If you give up when troubles come, it just shows that you are weak."

Failure is the path of least resistance. The problem is that often during trying times we stop trying. We give up. If at first you don’t succeed, welcome to the human race. If at first you don’t succeed, you’re normal. Very few people make it on the first try. Oftentimes, we give up just when success is around the corner. We never fail until we quit.

C. Applic: Dr. Jon Kerstetter is a retired ER doc, decorated Army officer, businessman, and author. Shining example of “White privilege” right? NO! Born into a broken home on Oneida Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. Very poor. When went to college, wanted to study medicine, but counselor for Indian Students told him “Indians don’t study hard sciences, do better in “soft sciences”. At age of 37 yrs went to medical school to fulfill dream. Could have blamed a lot of people. In order to make a fresh start in 2026 STOP blaming others and take responsibility.