It's a new year and what do you want to accomplish this year? This is a question that we need to ask and understand what it will take to accomplish the goals that we set. Without setting goals we get stagnant and lifeless, we just maintain the status quo and get to thinking all is well. This may very well have been the problem with the church at Sardis found in Revelation 3:1, And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; "These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." This can happen to individual Christians as well as whole congregations of the Lord's people. We need to set goals and then work to fulfill them.
This is one of the reasons behind a budget for the congregation. A budget sets a financial goal for the congregation to reach. A budget is necessary because many of the other goals that we set need some degree of finance to make them come to fruition. We also need to set spiritual goals as individuals and as a congregation to cause us to grow. Will this be the year that you help teach a Bible class or get more involved in personal work? Will this be a year in which when next January rolls around you can look back and say I accomplished something last year!