Dear Friends,
Welcome to 2026. I know it’s a little late to be saying Happy New Year, but I am sincere in hoping this will be a year of growth in grace. As we sang together on Sunday, our hope for the new year is built not on headlines, but on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, our anchor holds. We stand on Him, our solid rock.
I have begun this new year reading a new devotional book by Sinclair Ferguson’s called Things Unseen (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=0ba2f494bf&e=fbb0a4052b). This book is a compilation of transcripts from Sinclair’s daily audio devotional (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=a8ad2dd642&e=fbb0a4052b) produced and distributed by Ligonier Ministries. The link gives you access to the transcripts and the audio files if you’re interested in following along with me.
The book begins with Sinclair reflecting on a personal pledge written by John Wesley to serve as a recurring commitment or covenant, regularly prayed or spoken as a fresh dedication of his life to the Lord. This prayer was (and still is, in some Wesleyan traditions) used as a part of a New Year’s Eve Watchnight worship service. As such it’s come to be associated with the beginning of a new year.
Here is John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer:
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
I was struck as I read Wesley’s prayer by his posture of total surrender to God’s purposes. I thought to myself “I’m not sure I’ve ever prayed ‘put me to suffering.’ I’m sure I’ve never prayed to be laid aside. Or brought low. Or emptied out.
As we sit at the front edge of another year, we cannot imagine what the next 12 months will bring for our world. For our church. For each one of us. We awaken each day seeking to walk in the steps that God has established for us for that day – to keep in step with His Spirit. But we can be fairly certain we will face days this year that will take us to unexpected and undesired endings. Days that will begin with clear skies and a warm sun and will end dark and cold. We can be sure that God will move in mysterious ways in 2026, his wonders to perform.
Wesley’s prayer is a sober acknowledgment that by God’s design our lives will be marked by adversity and pain. Knowing this, he boldly declares “I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.” All to Thee, my blessed Savior. I surrender all.
The Apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” The reason Wesley could earnestly pray his Covenant Prayer is because he recognized his position as a bondslave of Jesus Christ. When the Bible talks about Christians having freedom in Christ, it is never suggesting that God has redeemed us so we can do whatever we want. No, our freedom in Christ is freedom from sin and death and hell.
But our declaration that Jesus is Lord is an affirmation that we are now subject to Him and His purpose for our lives.
God’s gift of grace is given so that we can learn “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2: 11-14).
I found myself reading Wesley’s prayer more than once this week. I found myself counseling my own heart to embrace whatever God might have for me in 2026 and to recognize, whatever comes, as His loving providence in my life.
Let me encourage you to read Wesley’s Covenant Prayer again and to ask God to shape your heart in such a way that Wesley’s words might be your words now and throughout the new year.
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
GOSPEL WAY CATECHISM STUDY GROUPThere’s a lot new in the new year. As we’ve shared with you, this year we will be going through the Gospel Way Catechism (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=5816c4b6c2&e=fbb0a4052b) each week. And during the first three months of the year, beginning this Sunday, you’re invited to join us at 8:30 each week to preview the question and answer we’ll be reciting in our worship service.
Here is this week’s question and answer:
Question 1: What is the center and point of everything?
ANSWER: God is the center and point of everything. In him, all things come to be and are held together. He has no rival.
In our time together at 8:30 this week, we’ll be exploring what the Bible teaches about God being the center and point of everything.
Whether you are relatively new as a Christian or have been a follower of Christ for years, I think you’ll find this weekly gathering to be enlightening and encouraging. I hope you’ll plan to join us. (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=6a8991f15b&e=fbb0a4052b)EXPLORING RCC MEMBERSHIP
If you’ve been attending Redeemer for a while now and you’d like to learn more about what it means to be a member of our church, there is still time for you to join us this Friday night and Saturday morning for our new member’s class.
Text or email Pastor Matt so we can make sure we have dinner for you on Friday! mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com) .
ROOTS HANGOUT THIS WEEKEND
Roots Students – are you ready for some hang time with Pastor Cole and Hannah this Saturday? It’s on!
SPRING MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDIES
The weekly Redeemer Men’s Bible Study resumes the week of January 4 with lunchtime meetings on Tuesdays and evening meetings on Thursdays. Contact Pastor Matt to get more information about the study in 2 Peter.
And the Spring Women’s Bible Study begins on Monday night, January 19 and again on Tuesday morning, January 20. Get ready for an eight-week study of John’s Epistles.
Click this link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=1368f43146&e=fbb0a4052b) to get more info or to register for the study.
LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
Session Four of our Leadership In The Local Church study happens on Thursday night, January 22. If you missed the first three sessions but would like to join the group to explore God’s design for local church leadership, you’re welcome to join us. Contact me (boblepine.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:boblepine.rcc@gmail.com)) or Rick Tarter (rick_tarter@yahoo.com (mailto:rick_tarter@yahoo.com)) and either of us can send you info about how you can prepare for the time.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
Guys - looking for a great breakfast and some good fellowship? We have just the thing for you on Saturday, January 24.
ROOTS D-NOW WEEKENDRoots students (and moms and dads) – the annual D-Now Student Weekend is happening January 30 – February 1. And we need to know who’s planning to participate. That’s what this link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=bfb8c201ed&e=fbb0a4052b) is for! So click it now!
The D-Now weekend concludes with the annual Roots Bake Sale. Plan to enjoy some primo baked goods and to support the Summer Street Reach program in Memphis with your purchase.
TUNING YOUR HEART FOR SUNDAY
Ready to tune your heart for Sunday? Here is the link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=04edb85ac6&e=fbb0a4052b) that will take you to the Spotify playlist of the songs we’ll be singing together this week. Get ready to sing loud!
In Colossians 1, Paul tells his readers that God’s design for our lives is that Jesus would be preeminent in all things. As this week’s catechism answer advancement says, God is the center and point of everything. And the advancement of His Kingdom in our world today should be the centerpiece of our lives. We’ll look this week at what the Bible tells us about cultivating a Kingdom First mindset as believers in Christ.
See you in church.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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