BIBLE VERSES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here we are again. . . looking ahead to what the new year has in store for us. What better place to look for what the new year holds for us than in the Bible? Here are some things to think about as we ponder what lies ahead in the new year.

WILL I ENJOY SUCCESS IN THE NEW YEAR?

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. Isaiah:40:30-31

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

IS THERE REALLY ANYTHING NEW IN THE NEW YEAR?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

WHAT DOES GOD HAVE IN STORE FOR ME IN THE NEW YEAR?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

WHY SHOULD I EXPECT THE NEW YEAR TO BE ANY BETTER THAN LAST YEAR?

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self . . . to be made new in the attitude of your mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

LOOKING AHEAD

So, as we look forward to the new year, I leave you with this final thought; the future is not in our hands. Our success in the year ahead is in God's hands.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Advent Trivia Quiz

The Advent season begins on the first Sunday of December this year. During the Advent season, we will see many Christmas programs, pageants, plays, and displays. Many of them will contain traditional ideas that are not found in Biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus. I thought it might be fun to take a trivia quiz to test our knowledge of the events surrounding the birth of Christ as it is recorded in the Bible.

Answers are provided at the bottom of the page, but I encourage you to carefully read the Biblical accounts to check the accuracy of programs you will be seeing this Christmas season.

1. Joseph was originally from... (Luke 2:3)
    A. Bethlehem
    B. Nazareth
    C. Jerusalem
    E. None of the above

2. What does the Bible say that the innkeeper said to Mary and Joseph? (Luke 2:7)
    A. “There is no room in the inn.”
    B. “I have a stable you can use.”
    C. “Come back later and I should have some vacancies.”
    D. None of the above

3. A manger is a...
    A. A barn for animals
    B. A wooden hay storage bin
    C. A feeding trough
    D. None of the above

4. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?
    A. Cows, sheep, goats
    B. Cows, donkeys, goats
    C. Sheep and goats only
    D. The Bible doesn't say
  
5. Who saw the star in the east?
    A. Shepherds
    B. Magi
    C. Three kings
    D. Both A and C
  
6. According to the Bible, how did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem?
    A. Camel
    B. Donkey
    C. Walked
    D. Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey
E. The Bible doesn't say

7. How many angels spoke to the shepherds? (Luke 2:10)
    A. One
    B. Three
    C. A Multitude
    D. None of the above

8. What did the angels say/sing? (Luke 2:14)
    A. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”
    B. “Alleluia”
    C. “Glory to God in the highest, etc.”
    D. “Joy the world, the Lord is come”
    E. “Glory to the newborn King”

9. In Matthew, what does “wise men” or “Magi” refer to?
    A. Men of the educated class
    B. Eastern kings
    C. Sages
    D. Men who studied the stars

10. How many wise men came to see Jesus?
   A. 3
   B. 6
   C. 9
   D. 12
   E. We don’t know
 
11. Where did the wise men find Jesus? (Matthew 2:11)
    A. In a manger
    B. In a stable
    C. In Nazareth
    D. In Saudi Arabia
    E. In a house

12. When the wise men found Jesus he was... (Matthew 2:9)
    A. A babe wrapped in swaddling clothes
    B. A young child
    C. A boy in the temple
    D. A grown man

13. The “star in the east” that the wise men followed... (Matthew 2:9)
    A. Stayed in the same place their entire journey
    B. Disappeared and reappeared
    C. Moved ahead of them and stopped over the place where Jesus was
    D. Was just a mirage
   
14. The wise men stopped in Jerusalem... (Matthew 2:2)
    A. To inform Herod about Jesus
    B. To find out where Jesus was
    C. To ask about the star
    D. To buy presents
  
15. Where in the Bible do we find the Christmas story?
    A. Matthew
    B. Mark
    C. Luke
    D. John
    E. A and C
    F. B and D

Adapted from an article by Dr. Ray PritchardAuthor, Speaker, President of Keep Believing Ministries

To download a  PDF version of this quiz, click here.

Answers: 1. A 2. D 3. C 4. D 5. B 6. E 7. A 8. C 9. D 10. E 11. E 12. B 13. C 14. B 15. E

'Tis the Season

I was quite surprised when, during the first week of September, I received a couple of emails through the Sermons4Kids website, asking me if we had any Christmas plays for children. Now I like to plan ahead, but I must confess that in the first week of September I haven't even given a thought to planning for Christmas. Not only that, but I would still have to answer, "No" had the question come in the first week of October or November, because I actually have never even written a Christmas play.

My immediate reaction to these emails was to Google the Internet for "free Christmas Skits for children."  The very first site on the search results was Sunday School Center.  When I clicked the link, I knew I had found a winner. The site not only had a gold mine of Christmas skits, but it also had skits on many different subjects. I wholeheartedly recommend this site to you for your children's ministry. It isn't just skits. Sunday School Center also has other helpful suggestions for children's ministry such as games, Sunday School lessons, and teacher training. I highly recommend this site to anyone who is involved in children's ministry.

I did find some excellent material on some other sites. Here are some others you might want to check out.

• Christmas Games and Crafts  - A Babe Was Born on Christmas Morn
  
• A Mom's Take - The Savior's Birth - A Nativity Skit
  
• Ministry to Children - 12 Symbols of Christmas

Another suggestion I would offer is the Sermons4Kids Facebook page. Our Social Media Ami Watson, our Social Media Strategist, will be posting ideas that she finds and also posts from those who follow us on Facebook. You will find a host of ministry ideas there!

Gods blessing upon you all as you minister to children. Not just at Christmas, but all year 'round!