What do you want more of this year? Today's culture gears us up for getting more. It's hard to turn down anyone who offers us more of anything! We especially want more of the good things of life. We want things that bring fulfillment and peace and lasting happiness. I want more in 2024! How about you?

I believe Jesus is offering us more of everything we never knew we always wanted. He is unique, counter-cultural, and wonderfully surprising. I believe Jesus gives us more than we ever bargained for in ways we might initially believe would bring us less. Here are just a few examples of what He can go:

Greater happiness from serving instead of being served.
Greater happiness through humility instead of self-exaltation.
Greater happiness from sacrifice instead of abundance.

After Jesus warned His disciples of the hardships He was about to endure with the cross He gave a principle for all His followers to be ready to do the same. He said in Matthew 16:24-26 says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"

Jesus prescribes more of Himself for our greatest gain. This past Sabbath we started a new sermon series entitled "Less Us; More Jesus." If we really want more, let's go find it! No one offers more than Jesus. It may initially seem like more of Jesus will bring us a more difficult life, but Jesus is always full of awesome surprises. Ultimately with Him we will experience eternity. And forever with Jesus will be a forever that is absolutely worth everything!

Let's make 2024 the year for more Jesus.

Pastor Michael Brackett