Standard Podcasts [47:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (3) Standard Podcasts [ 40:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (3)RE-discovering Christmas!
I. Jesus is
Colossians 1:15-16 (LB) “Christ is the exact likeness of the unseen God. He existed before God made anything at all, and in fact, Christ Himself is the creator who made everything in heaven and earth…”
II. Jesus is God’s
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world He gave…”
In order to enjoy a gift…
· I must be able to it for what it is.
· I must it.
Matthew 2:11 (NLT) “They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The gifts that the wise men brought tell us who Jesus was:
Gold - Jesus is our
Frankincense - Jesus is worthy of our
Myrrh - Jesus is our
Matthew 2:13 (NLT) “But when it was time to leave, they went home another way.”
Standard Podcasts [22:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (4)SURVIVING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Luke 2:10-11 (NIV) “But the angel said to them, `Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’”
1. LEARN TO
Ecclesiastes 5:3 (LB) “…being too busy gives you nightmares…”
Psalm 39:6 (NLT) “ We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.”
2. Learn to say
Psalm 90:12 (LB) “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend (our time) as we should.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (GW) “Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven.”
3. Learn to Say
Luke 2:16 (NIV) “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
Luke 2:19 (NCV) “But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV) “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
4. learn to DECIDE
Genesis 2:18 (LB) “And the Lord God said, ‘It isn’t good for man to be alone…’”
A. Determine to be this year.
Exodus 34:14 (NLT) “God … is jealous about his relationship with you.”
Matthew 1:23 (NIV) “’The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a so,n and they will call Him Emmanuel’ - which means ‘God with us.’”
Romans 10:13 (NIV) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
B. Determine to be with
1 John 1:3 (GW) “This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us.”
Psalm 68:6 (LB) “He gives families to the lonely.”
Standard Podcasts [40:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (4)THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS FOR YOUR DARK DAYS
1 John 1:5 (NKJ) “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
John 12:46 (LB) “I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in darkness.”
I. Everybody has dark days
A. DARK DAYS OF
Job 30:26 (TEV) “I hoped for happiness and light, but trouble and darkness came instead.”
B. DARK DAYS OF
Psalm 22:1 (TEV) “I have cried desperately for help but it still does not come.”
C. DARK DAYS OF
John 12:35 (NIV) “The one man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.”
D. DARK DAYS OF
Lamentations 3:19-20 (TEV) “The thought of my pain… is bitter poison. I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed.”
Psalm 88:18 (LB) “Lover, friend, acquaintance — all are gone. There is only darkness everywhere!”
2 Samuel 22:29 (TEV) “You, Lord, are my light; You dispel my darkness.”
John 8:12 (NLT) “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
II. HOW DOES JESUS DISPEL MY DARKNESS?
a. He me when I’m DISAPPOINTED.
Psalm 34:18 (TEV) “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged, He saves those who have lost all hope.”
Hebrews 13:5 (NCV) “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
b. He me when I’m distressed.
Philippians 4:13 (TEV/AMP) “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me… I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me.”
Psalm 23:4 (TEV) “Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me.”
c. He will me when I’m doubtful.
John 8:12 (LB) “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.’”
Psalm 119:105 (LB) “Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.”
d. He will me when I’m depressed.
Ephesians 5:9 (NLT) “For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.”
1 John 2:8 (LB) “The darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines in.”
Standard Podcasts [39:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (3)HOW TO BE FULL OF JOY WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH!
Philippians 4:4 (GN) “May you always be joyful in your life in the Lord.”
Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV) “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you.”
1. WORRY ABOUT
Vs. 6a “Don’t be anxious about anything.”
(Amp) “Do not fret or have any anxiety”’
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.”
2. PRAY ABOUT .
Vs 6b “… in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
(PH) “When you pray, tell God every detail of your life.”
1 Peter 5:7 (JB) “Unload all your worries on Him since He is looking after you”
1 Peter 5:7 (Ph) “You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him for you are His personal concern.”
James 4:2 (NIV) “You do not have because you do not ask God.”
3. THANK GOD
Vs 6 “… but in everything…, pray… with thanksgiving.”
(GN) “Always asking Him with a thankful heart.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
4. THINK ABOUT
Vs. 8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
2 Corinthians 10:5b (TEV) “We take every thought captive and make it obey Christ”
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Vs. 7 (LB) “If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”
Standard Podcasts [37:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (9)Why doesn’t everybody go to church?
I’m okay with ___________.
I’m okay with ___________.
I don’t like the __________!
The perception is that _________ is for __________________.
I. Church has become too _________________________
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Acts 15:1-2a
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.” Acts 15:4-5
II. GOD’S MESSAGE HAS ____________________________
God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. Acts 15:8-11
III. DON’T MAKE THINGS___________________________
And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19
The Vision of The River
1. __________ as you are.
2. Love __________.
3. ___________ others.
4. Tell ___________________.
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