Last year was an excellent year for our Church. Attendance rose about 20 people each week. Numerous visitors came through our doors, especially over the last three months since going to two worship programs. Our Vacation Bible School had a near-record attendance. We saw a dozen people get baptized. A large group of people took our membership class, and we are close to 100 people making a new commitment or reaffirming an old one. There are so many positive things that happened in 2017 it is hard to list them all.

After a year like that, it is easy to feel content. Things are going well, people are growing, and the bills are being paid so let’s slow down and take it easy. Let’s take some time to make some improvements on what we currently have before moving forward. Can’t we just enjoy the moment and stop moving forward?

The simple answer is no. We are not going to stop moving forward with the message of the gospel. We are not going to stop reaching out. We are not going to stop growing.

This year will bring exciting new activities.
This year we will sing new songs.
This year I will speak on new topics.
This year we will make changes around the Church of all types.
This year I am planning on teaching new classes at new times.
This year I am praying for many more guests.
This year I am asking everyone to pray for at least 20 more baptisms.
This year we will try new things. Some will succeed, and some will fail.
This year the Church will move forward in new and exciting ways.

One of the biggest temptation a Church faces is living complacently because of the successes of the past. Sometimes we think to ourselves, “Last year was good, now we can slow down and relax.”

Jesus tells a series of parables in Luke chapter 15. One is about a lost sheep and the shepherd searches everywhere until he finds it. One is a woman who lost a coin, and she cleans her house frantically looking for that one coin. The final story is of a father, and he loses one of his two sons, and he longingly looks down the road until he comes home. A preacher friend of mine summarized these stories with one penetrating line. He says, “No matter how big a group of believers are, they should always be looking for one more.”

At the Church I lead, this year we are not going to coast on our past successes. We are going to push forward with the message of the gospel always trying to reach one more.

It will take effort, and at times it will be uncomfortable. It will lead to awkward conversations and frustrating failures. It will also enable us to celebrate one year from now all the good things God did in our Church in 2018.

My blog feed has been full of articles over the past few days that all have a similar ring to them. There is post after post of “Things to do to make this your best year ever.” They list the best books to read this year, the best practices to start and the changes you need to make to have an incredible 2018. If I took all of their advice, I would have an entire page of activities for me to add to my life in the coming months.

The difficulty I see with these bits of wisdom is they all require me to do more, and my schedule is already packed. I suffer from the stress of trying to do just a few of the numerous good things that have been suggested to me each year. I feel this sense of failure because I cannot accomplish my to-do list from last year let alone add anything more.

So here is my advice for 2018: DO LESS.

Yes, you heard me right. What would happen if you actively tried to do less in 2018? Would your stress level drop? Would your sense of guilt decrease? Would you feel less disappointed in yourself? I know I would.

Honestly, you don’t need to be involved in any more activities. Your child doesn’t need to sign up for any new programs or groups. Your family does not need another item on its agenda. If you are like most people I know, you need to do far less than you are doing right now.

Quitting stuff might actually be more difficult than adding something new to your life. Some people will be disappointed in you, possibly even your children. Some people will judge you as lazy or not socially conscious. You might also feel guilty for having to say no for a while.

How would 2018 be different if you focused your attention on doing a few things well? What would happen if you devoted more time to your spiritual walk? What if you dedicated yourself to quality time with your family? What if you said no to everything that distracts you from what is really important in your life?

For me, as I stand on the second day of this new year I have some dreams of things I want to accomplish and ideas about how to redirect my life in the days ahead. With that said, I am not adding anything new. I am just focusing on doing some of my current things better. I am also going to refuse to do anything that distracts me from being the person God created me to be.

I hope your new year is full of joy, and your calendar is not overloaded with more activities meant to make you appear as a better person, but are slowing destroying you. May this be the year of less.