A Season of Renewal: Looking Ahead to a New Year at Roswell Community Church

As we step into a new year, we often find ourselves balancing the lingering joy of Christmas with the anticipation (and maybe a little trepidation) of what’s to come. During our recent gathering, we explored what it means to seek true renewal at the start of a new year—specifically a renewal driven by God, rather than by our own efforts. If you missed it, or simply want to revisit the highlights, here’s a recap of our sermon and a glimpse into how we’re moving forward as a church family.

Beyond the Christmas Eve “High Point”

Christmas Eve often feels like a spiritual pinnacle: special services, big crowds, lots of family and friends. But if we treat Christmas like an end-all event, we risk missing the ongoing story of God’s work in our lives. The beauty of Christmas is that it isn’t the finish line; it’s a launchpad. Jesus’s birth points us toward a life lived in the fullness of God’s story—a story that doesn’t stop when the decorations come down.

In that spirit, we at Roswell Community Church are embracing a second season of our “Worship with a Whole Heart” vision: a Season of Renewal. After exploring rest and Sabbath rhythms in the fall, we now turn our attention to how God renews our hearts, minds, and lives, especially at the start of a new year.

The Pool of Bethesda: A Portrait of Waiting and Hope

We focused on John 5:1–17, where Jesus encounters a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been paralyzed for 38 years. Legend said that an angel would stir up the water, and the first person into the pool would be healed. It’s a story of desperate people placing hope in something that never quite seemed to deliver—at least not for this man.

Jesus cuts through the myths and simply asks: “Do you want to be healed?” In one sentence, Christ shows us the core truth: real renewal doesn’t come from our own striving; it comes from God’s divine movement. In an instant, Jesus heals the man—no magic water, no complicated steps—just the presence and power of God.

Why does this matter for us today? Many of us stand at the edge of our own “pool,” hoping our next achievement or resolution will bring lasting change. But we can’t heal ourselves by willpower alone, nor can we manufacture God’s timing. Renewal is something we receive when we come to Jesus, trusting Him to meet us in our waiting.

Embracing Renewal: Three Pathways

Entering the new year, we’re focusing on three key ways God renews us. These aren’t one-time checkpoints but ongoing postures of the heart as we follow Jesus together.

1. Renewed Love Through Worship
Worship is more than singing songs on a Sunday. It’s our heartfelt response to who God is—His holiness, mercy, and love. Sunday services are a special time to gather, sing, pray, and open Scripture together. But remember:

• Worship is about God, not us. Our preferences (music style, volume, etc.) can distract us, but authentic worship points our hearts toward the goodness of our Father.
• Worship can be messy and imperfect when we’re tired, discouraged, or doubting. Still, God meets us there, renewing our love for Him as we pour out our honest praise.
  
  

Over the next few months, we invite you to come prepared to lean into worship—regardless of mood or preference—and let God fan the flames of your devotion.

2. Renewed Life Through Repentance

Repentance gets a bad rap, but it’s a beautiful invitation to experience freedom from sin. It literally means turning away from one direction and walking in another. In John 5, Jesus later tells the healed man, “Sin no more.” The point is not condemnation; it’s liberation.

• Repentance is personal: We name the ways we’ve strayed from God’s design and turn back to Him.
• Repentance is communal: We need safe spaces where trusted friends or mentors can speak truth, pray with us, and help shoulder our burdens.
  
  

Whether through a Life Group, Discipleship Group, spiritual care, or simply meeting over coffee with a fellow believer, find a place to be known—where confession, support, and accountability can flourish. Repentance blossoms best in honest relationships.

3. Renewed Purpose Through Service
The church isn’t merely a collection of individuals seeking their own renewal. We’re also agents of renewal for one another and the wider world. The Bible calls this the “priesthood of believers”: we all have gifts to share.

• All of us matter. There’s no hierarchy of value; pastors aren’t on a different “level” of faith than anyone else.
• All of us can serve. Whether that’s greeting newcomers on Sunday, caring for children in the Kids Ministry, participating in missions, or simply offering a listening ear, your presence and gifts reflect God’s love.
  
  

God designed His church so that each person’s unique gifts would contribute to the church’s overall health and mission. By serving, we discover deeper purpose, form meaningful connections, and bless others in the process.

Waiting on Jesus Together

You might still feel stuck, weary, or uncertain about what the new year holds. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Like the paralyzed man at Bethesda, we wait on God to move in ways only He can. Sometimes this happens quickly; other times, the waiting stretches on. Yet in that waiting, we walk together, supporting each other in prayer, accountability, shared burdens, and joyful celebration.

If you’re hungry for renewal:

• Engage fully on Sunday mornings. Even if you’re tired or unsure, come expecting to meet God among His people.
• Dive deeper through study and community. Join a small group, a Bible study, or a Christian sexuality class. Build relationships that invite honest conversation, confession, and healing.
• Serve in some capacity. Contribute your God-given gifts, be it hospitality, teaching, prayer, encouragement, or any other area that aligns with your passions.
  
  

Communion: A Tangible Reminder

Each Sunday, we celebrate Communion—a reminder that Jesus’s body was broken and His blood shed for our renewal. When we take the bread and cup, we remember that our hope, our new identity, and our healing are all grounded in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Our new life isn’t self-generated; it’s a gift of grace we receive and renew through faith.

As we come to the table in the weeks ahead, let’s keep our eyes open for the fresh work God is doing. Let’s celebrate where He’s already brought healing and be honest about where we still feel broken. And let’s trust that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Roswell Community Church invites you to join us in this Season of Renewal. We believe God is stirring hearts, and we’re expectant about seeing lives transformed—marriages mended, addictions broken, hope restored, and dry faith reawakened by His Spirit.

Wherever you find yourself this January, remember: God is the one who renews. Our part is to come, to wait, to worship, and to serve—with hearts wide open.

“God, we thank you that you are a God of renewal. As we enter a new year, longing for fresh encounters, help us to rest in your sufficiency. Guide our hearts in worship, repentance, and service. Let us see your transforming love at work in our midst. In Jesus’s name, amen.”