Download “In the World” for December 29, 2019 here.
LOOK BACK AND LOOK AHEAD ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
Tuesday night is New Year’s Eve, and people will be having parties, watching fireworks, and making resolutions left and right. Articles will round up the top news stories of 2019 and pundits will declare 2020 the year of something. We’ll start hearing about the new year’s fashions, technology, colors, trends, and predictions. January—named after the pagan god Janus, often depicted with one face looking back and another face looking forward—is a great time to take stock of your life. Look backward over 2019 to remember what happened and look forward to what you hope will happen in 2020.
LOOK BACK AND LOOK AHEAD ABOUT GOD’S WORK
In our passage today, David took stock of his relationship with God. David looked back into the recent past to recall that God had promised to establish his kingdom forever, and he looked further back to recall God’s faithfulness to Israel. Then he looked ahead and prayed that God would carry out His promise in the future.
- What were the high and low points of 2019 for you, and what do you hope for in 2020?
- What’s a New Year’s Eve or Day tradition you like to observe or would like to resurrect?
- As you take stock of your spiritual life, what are the high and low points in your past, and what is your prayer for 2020?
Additional Resources
These videos and materials are for your personal use. If you show videos in class, be sure to have the necessary rights to do so.
- Music Video, Traditional: “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” by Audrey Assad
- Music Video, Multicultural: “Your Destiny” by Kevin Levar
- Music Video, Contemporary: “Lord, I’m Ready Now” by Plumb
- Guzik’s Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17
- Constable’s Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17
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