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Today is the first Sunday of 2026.
2025 was an eventful year. Politically and globally, a lot of things happened. Personally, I went through a lot too.
But today is the beginning of the new year.
Put away the old and let us clothe ourselves with the new. Not just because it is chronologically the New Year but because we are in Christ.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Let us start the new year with boldness.
The theme for this year is “Be Bold in the Spirit.”
We don’t know what lies ahead of us this year. But do not let the uncertainty intimidate you. Do not let fear stop you from enjoying the fullness of life.
Fear – we have it. We don’t need to deny our fear. You don’t need to put your fear under the rug.
Being bold is not living with no fear. It is not the absence of fear.
When Grace was very young, we went biking. And suddenly, a big dog charged at us. It was running fast towards us.
I tried to block it with my bike and ready to fight. Fortunately, the owner called the dog and it went back.
After all this, Grace asked me, “Daddy, were you scared?” Of course I was scared.
Once, we went to Algonquin. It was just four of us. Helen, John, and Jack and me.
Helen and I were in the same canoe and it rained so hard in the middle of the lake. We paddled so hard.
After we landed, Helen asked, “목사님, were you scared?” Of course, I was scared.
We all live with fear. Especially when we face danger, we are scared.
As a matter of fact, the more you try to avoid fear, the stronger your fear gets. Fear will become louder.
Boldness is doing what you ought to, despite your fear.
Being bold is ultimately being true to yourself.
Paul Tillich, a Christian philosopher, discusses this in his book, “The Courage To Be.” At its core, courage is about being true to ourselves.
Being bold is not recklessness. Boldness is not jumping into action without really knowing what you are doing.
Being bold is being true to what you believe and who you are.
You have values, a philosophy, and principles. You have desires, passion, and dreams. But if we ignore them because of fear, and live like zombies, that is not living boldly.
Being bold is not just being satisfied with comfort, safety, and the status quo.
That is not being true to yourself.
God has blessed you with so many good things. Tremendous gifts, talents, potentials, and abilities. If you don’t use them at all, can we say that it is a good life?
When you don’t live out your dreams and passions; when you don’t live out your gifts for the common good; is that a good life, can we say?
Fear paralyzes you. Fear makes you less than who you are. Helplessness is the path fear takes you on.
Fear buries your potential in the ground. Fear blinds you, and you don’t see that you live with false security.
Even the disciples did that too.
After Jesus died, fear gripped them. They killed their master. Why wouldn’t they go after his disciples? So they lived day by day in fear.
Let us see the scene John described.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:19-22)
They were hiding behind the locked doors because of their fear. That’s when Jesus came and gave them the Holy Spirit.
Early Christians had to face fear, but they did not kneel down before fear. But they knelt down before God.
They prayed and resisted living paralyzed by fear. 20 people gathered together and prayed. They all received the Holy Spirit. Then they proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ boldly.
The Bible is clear. The Bible never says that the disciples were fearless.
They were fearful, not fearless. They were like you and me, who live with lots of fear. Lots of worries. Lack of confidence.
The disciples were like that too. That’s why Jesus often said this with a sigh.
Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? (Matthew 17:17)
But they changed when they received the Holy Spirit. Their hearts changed. Their thinking has changed.
I realized that the source of our boldness is not our strong will. It is not about our self-confidence. It is not about our capabilities.
The source of our boldness is the power of the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit comes down upon us, He will give us power, and we will live with boldness.
When the Holy Spirit empowers you, you will dare to do things differently. Dare to think differently, you will. You will deal with your inner fear. You will take a stand for what is right.
My friends, when you live your life with courage, you will become happier.
An authentic life is possible for you. A life of pleasing others is not what you will live. You will live a life of being true to yourself as God made you and called you.
God created and called you to live a life of authenticity.
Probably, the greatest fear we have to face is the fear of death. The same philosopher I mentioned earlier also said.
Courage to die is the test of the courage to be. The test of our existence.
Our bodies die, but our existence is eternal.
Jesus said, if you are trying to save yourself, you will die, but if you die for the good cause, you will live.
If you have a reason to die for, you have a reason to live. Kierkegaard didn’t directly say this, but that was Kierkegaard’s philosophy.
Today is the first Sunday.
In the new year, we make new resolutions. But we break our resolutions so fast.
There is a word for that in Korean: 작심삼일 (jak-sim-sam-il). You make up your mind, and it lasts only three days.
So, a lot of us don’t even make resolutions.
But let us make a resolution to live boldly. Even though you fail, let us remember this resolution.
This year, I will live boldly.
Walk with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will empower you, help you, and guide you.
You will live a happier life.
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