Berea Update for January 9, 2026
When Israel stood on the edge of the Jordan River, the wilderness was behind them and the Promised Land lay ahead. The years of wandering were over—but the future was still unknown. Before they crossed, God did not give them a detailed map of what lay ahead. Instead, He told them this: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God… then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it… so that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:3–4).
That phrase rings true at the beginning of every new year: you have not passed this way before. A new year is not simply a repeat of the last one. It brings new terrain, new challenges, and new opportunities to trust the Lord. This week’s devotional invites us to begin 2026 the same way Israel did—not with certainty about the path, but with confidence in the presence of God. As you walk through the devotional thoughts, may you learn again what it means to follow Him daily, trust Him fully, and rest in the faithfulness of the God whose mercies go before you.
As a church family, we step into this year with unknowns as well. Yet seasons like this remind us of a vital truth: God has never asked His people to have all the answers before moving forward—He has asked them to trust Him and walk together in obedience. The same Lord who has faithfully guided our church to this point remains present with us now. As we have conversations and make decisions at the upcoming annual business meeting, may we do so with humility, unity, and prayerful dependence, following the Lord step by step, confident that He will lead us where we have not yet been.
Upcoming Events
1. This week, Pastor Miller will beginning a short series from the book of Ecclesiastes called "Passing the Torch." This week's message is called "The Crisis" and will be drawn from Ecclesiates 1. We hope you'll all be able to join us!
2. As mentioned above, we have the Annual Business Meeting coming up on Sunday, January 18 after the morning worship service. During this important meeting we'll be recapping 2025, presenting goals for 2026, sharing financial updates, providing an update on the building renovation plans, and also electing elders and deacons. Please plan to attend! There will be lunch provided between the morning worship service and the start of the meeting. Packets will be available this Sunday to review in preparation for the meeting.
3. There will be a worship team meeting on Sunday, February 1 following the morning worship service in the front left room in the Family Life Center. This meeting is for anyone who already is a part of the team, or for anyone who would like to join in the worship team. So, if you enjoy singing, or can play an instrument, please consider participating in this meeting!
4. Looking for a fun way to stay active and connect with others? Pickleball will begin on Thursday, January 15 and will then happen each Thursday from 7:00–8:00 PM in the Family Life Center. I've heard it's easy to learn, and hard to stop playing. All skill levels are welcome! If you have any questions, please contact Mike Greenwood.
5. There have been some questions about small groups now that we've moved into the new year. Due to the staff transitions taking place, the elder board has decided to not have small groups until at least the month of March. An update will be provided as we move into February. Looking ahead, if you are interested in leading a small group, or potentially hosting one, please contact me (Pastor Mark).
6. Sermon journals are available in the Gathering Area. It was brought to our attention that the journals that were distributed last week had too few pages. We are sorry for this inconvenience! The ones that will be available on Sunday now have the correct number of pages for the year. We are able to add additional pages to journals that have already been written in. If you would like to have your journal corrected, please make sure your name is on it, and it can be dropped off in the church office for correction.
7. If you use giving envelopes for your offering, 2026 envelopes are also available in the Gathering Area. If you have not used envelopes in the past, but would like to start now, please contact the office.
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray for the upcoming annual business meeting! Pray for wisdom for our church family as we make several important decisions for 2026 and beyond!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1 — A New Year, the Same Faithful God
Lamentations 3:22–24 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'”
The turning of the calendar always brings a sense of newness. A fresh year can feel full of possibility—or heavy with uncertainty. Yet Scripture reminds us that while years change, God does not. His mercies are not tied to the calendar. They are renewed every morning. Jeremiah wrote these words in the midst of suffering, not celebration. Even there, he declared that the faithfulness of God was enough to face whatever came next. As we step into 2026, we do not do so alone or unanchored—we step forward resting in the steadfast love of the Lord.
Reflection Question: How does knowing that God’s faithfulness is unchanging shape the way you enter this new year?
Day 2 — Leaving the Past in God’s Hands
Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
A new year invites reflection. For some, that reflection brings gratitude; for others, regret. Paul reminds us that the Christian life is not lived by clinging to the past—whether successes or failures—but by pressing forward toward Christ. God does not waste our past, but He also does not want us trapped by it. In Christ, forgiveness is complete, and purpose is renewed. The past may inform us, but it does not define us.
Reflection Question: Is there something from last year you need to release to God so you can move forward freely?
Day 3 — Trusting God with What Lies Ahead
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
The future can feel intimidating. We don’t know what this year will bring—personally, nationally, or globally. But God calls His people not to figure everything out, but to trust Him completely. Trust grows as we choose daily dependence. When we submit our plans, fears, and hopes to the Lord, He promises to direct our paths—not always easily, but faithfully.
Reflection Question: What area of your life do you need to more fully entrust to the Lord this year?
Day 4 — Walking in Daily Obedience
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
God rarely reveals the whole path at once. Instead, He gives light for the next step. Faithfulness in the new year will not be found in grand resolutions, but in daily obedience—opening His Word, choosing prayer, and walking in humility. When we walk by the light God provides today, we can trust Him with tomorrow.
Reflection Question: What is one daily habit that could help you walk more closely with the Lord this year?
Day 5 — Renewed Strength for the Journey
Isaiah 40:28–31 (ESV): "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Many enter a new year already weary. God does not ask His people to rely on their own strength. He invites us to wait on Him—and promises renewed strength in return. Waiting on the Lord is not passive; it is active trust. As we look to Him, He supplies endurance for the long journey ahead.
Reflection Question: Where do you need God’s strength rather than your own this year?
Day 6 — Living with Eternal Perspective
Colossians 3:1–4 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
The new year often brings new goals, plans, and priorities. Scripture calls us to lift our eyes higher. Our lives are hidden with Christ, and our greatest hope is not found in earthly success but in eternal glory. When eternity shapes our perspective, it transforms how we live today—how we use our time, love others, and endure trials.
Reflection Question: How might your priorities change if you intentionally lived this year with eternity in view?
Day 7 — Stepping Forward in Hope
Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
The Christian life is described as a race—not a sprint, but a steady pursuit of Christ. As we begin a new year, we are called to lay aside what hinders us and fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the One who began our faith, and He will carry it to completion. Whatever this year holds, our hope is secure because Christ goes before us.
Reflection Question: What would it look like for you to fix your eyes on Jesus in the year ahead?
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Cow says.
Cow says who?
No, a cow says moo.
Have a great week! Hope to see you Sunday!
Mark