Sometimes, characters from nativity displays go missing. Unfortunately, nativity theft is a common crime. Can you guess which character is stolen the most? The baby Jesus is the character that’s most frequently stolen. In that case, we ask the question, where is Jesus? That’s a great question to ask during Christmas Eve worship. Has Jesus gone missing from our lives?
The Nativity story could generate some captivating headlines because God is challenging the world to change. Mary’s Magnificat is somewhat revolutionary. There have been times in history when governments have banned the reading of Mary’s Magnificat for fear it might stir up the people they are oppressing. What headlines do we see in Mary’s words?
There are times when we may feel isolated. A husband’s life is empty because his wife died. A person might lack friends, community, or a social network. We might feel distanced from our spouse. God knows some of us struggle with feelings of desperate loneliness. That’s why the thought that Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us,” is a powerful theological concept. In this message, we explore how Jesus’ arrival as a baby transforms our life and brings us comfort.
God didn’t want people to be surprised or unprepared for the coming of Jesus. This is why God sent his word through John the Baptist. John was to get people ready for Jesus and prepare the way of the Lord. He was like the Doberman Pinscher of Christmas.
Arthur Roche once said, “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” Did you know anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States? Fortunately, the Apostle Paul gives us a remedy for anxiety and fear in Philippians 4:4-9.
The topic of heaven can certainly spark questions. What is heaven? What does it look like? What will the people be like in heaven? Ghosts? Angels? Will people argue in heaven? Will there be cheating or bullying in heaven? No, of course not. Will heaven be perfect? How can heaven be perfect if you and I are in it? In this message, we will look at how heaven might come down to earth.
We, humans, are naturally fearful. We feel insecure. Our confidence may go up and down with the stock market. Lately, it has been going down and down. There will always be problems, disasters, wars, and shootings. During elections, politicians play to those fears. So, where do we find security? Where do we find life-giving water when we are under attack? In this message, we will look at how Psalm 46 points us to several sources of security in fearful times.
Learn to listen: We have two ears and one mouth- use them in ratio.
Who is invisible to you? What bridges are you building?
Christ came to make us into a new creation. We ceased to resemble what we once were. The essence of Christianity is that each person is given a new script, a new reality, and a new identity. There is a moment when people change. A thief on a cross becomes a guest in paradise. A prostitute becomes an example of divine love. A murderer of Christians becomes the most significant Christian missionary of all time. This week we focus on how the old has passed away and everything has become new!