As I reflect on the past year, two significant events have provided me with a fresh perspective. First, the church graciously granted me a sabbatical, which allowed me the time to think deeply about many aspects of life. Second, and most wonderfully, our family was blessed with the birth of our grandson. These two experiences have caused me to think more intentionally about how we value and use our time—and as we move into 2025, this focus feels even more urgent.
It seems to me that the highest and best use of our time is to devote ourselves to becoming more Christlike. Pastor and author Andy Stanley puts it so beautifully: "Following Jesus will make your life better and will make you better at life." Not only does pursuing Christlikeness enrich our lives today, but it also prepares us for an eternity with Him. With that in mind, I’d like to introduce a theme for us to carry through 2025: "Practice Makes Perfect."
The word "perfect" here comes from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:48, where He says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” In this context, "perfect" doesn’t mean flawless in the way the world defines it. Rather, it refers to being whole or complete—complete in our spiritual formation and relationship with God. This is a central part of our vision of “Knowing, Growing, and Going in the Love of Christ.”
The theme “Practice Makes Perfect” has grown out of my reading of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. The message of the book is simple, yet profound: if we want to grow in Christlikeness, we strive to practice the spiritual disciplines that Jesus Himself modeled. These practices aren’t just habits to adopt—they are pathways to wholeness and spiritual maturity.
In his book, Comer outlines nine essential spiritual disciplines that Jesus regularly practiced. Over the course of this year, we’ll explore each of these disciplines together.
They are:
1. Sabbath - A day for rest, worship, and renewal. Jesus showed us that rest is essential, not a luxury.
2. Prayer - Jesus's life was deepy rooted in intimate prayer with the Father. Prayer is the heartbeat of our relationship with God.
3. Fasting - Fasting helps us focus on God by letting go of temporary comforts, clearing space for God's voice to be heard more clearly.
4. Solitude - Jesus often withdrew to be alone with God. Solitude creates quiet space for us to hear His voice amidst the noise of life.
5. Scripture - Jesus lived by God's Word, and we are called to do the same - letting Scripture shape our hearts and minds.
6. Community - Jesus surrounded Himself with close friends, His disciples. We are made to live in community, supporting, encouraging, and challenging one another.
7. Simplicity - Jesus lived free from material excess, calling us to focus on what truly matters in life.
8. Generosity - Jesus modeled radical generosity. We are called to give freely of our time, resources and love.
9. Hospitality - Jesus welcomed everyone, offering dignity and belonging, especially to those often overlooked.
I’ve been practicing several of these disciplines for years— things like Scripture reading, prayer, and observing a 24-hour Sabbath. Some disciplines, like fasting and simplicity, are newer to me. I don’t claim to be an expert in any of them, but I’m excited to continue learning and growing in my relationship with the Lord through these practices.
The theme “Practice Makes Perfect” reminds us that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. Just as athletes improve through consistent
practice, we grow spiritually by intentionally engaging with these disciplines. Over time, our lives become increasingly shaped by Christ’s love, peace, and purpose.
To kick off this journey, we’ve invited Steve Booth to speak on Brotherhood Sunday, January 19th. Steve has an incredible wealth of
knowledge and experience— having served for over seventeen years as the Associate Pastor for Christian Formation at First Baptist Church in Richmond and currently serving as a Counselor and Leadership Coach for Shepherd’s Staff Ministry. Steve has been coaching me for a couple of years, and I've learned so much from him about the spiritual disciplines that Jesus practiced. He'll be preaching during our morning service and we've asked him to lead a special session during the Sunday School hour on one of the spiritual disciplines (stay tuned for more details!) I truly hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to learn more from Steve's wisdom and insight. Please note, Brotherhood Sunday will kick off with breakfast at 8:45 am. As we enter this new year, let’s commit ourselves to “Practicing the Way” of Christ. Let’s be intentional about following His example, so that we might experience the wholeness, peace, and transformation that come from living in His love. May His love shape us as we strive to live out our vision of Knowing, Growing, and Going in the Love of Christ.
Happy New Year, and may God bless you all. I look forward to all that God will do in and through us in 2025!
-Todd