Today we’re going to start with a pop quiz! No!! Pastor, you can’t give us a quiz on the day after Christmas. We’re not ready. Our bellies are still aching from the sugar, and we’re tire from opening presents. Okay, but this quiz should be pretty easy because it’s material we hear about every single […]
I Bring You Good News! Luke 2:8–12 (NIV) 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be […]
Life Guide Mary, the Mother of Jesus I. Blessed by God II. Acknowledged by Others III. Giving Glory to God 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the […]
Waiting in fear is the worst kind of waiting. Waiting for Dad to come home and see that you broke the lamp tossing the ball around in the living room is the worst kind of waiting. Waiting for the principal to return to his office for your “talking to” is agonizing, the worst kind of […]
Life Guide Philippians 4:4-7(NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and […]
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Waiting is not easy. Isn’t that right? Last week Pastor Wordell asked how many “cruel” parents put out […]
Life Guide Being an Old Testament prophet is kind of like driving to the Rocky Mountains. As you drive west towards the mountains, you can see them from incredibly far way, but what you see looks like one big mass of mountain peaks that are all exactly the same distance away. And because you can […]
In the name of our Savior who is coming, dear fellow redeemed: IT’S HARD TO WAIT. ‘Tis the season for waiting. How many cruel parents are here, who already put presents under the tree? I’m thinking of the kids who have to look at those presents for weeks before it’s time to open them. ‘Tis […]
Life Guide When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles Himself 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being […]
Thankful from the Inside Out Have you felt the cold? I’m not talking about the blustery cold November days. I’m talking about those cold moments when you feel yourself turning towards God with your hands stretched out in the air? When the only sensation you’ve got left in the daily numbness of it all is […]
Life Guide 3 Ways Christ is a King As usual, today, we heard three different readings from the Bible. Since it’s Christ the King week, each of our readings focuses on a different world in which Jesus is king. Daniel chapter 7 shows us the big picture. Jesus is the cosmic ruler of all time. […]
Life Guide 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NIV) 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring […]
Life Guide The Day is Coming! 1. When Jesus will judge all people 2. When Jesus will give life to those who hear his voice 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does […]
If you ask me, there are few recreational activities that require more courage than skydiving. To be honest, even rollercoasters are a stretch for me, let alone jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet. Maybe what makes it so scary is that you need to have a high level of trust that everything is […]
Life Guide In a few minutes, we will pass around offering plates, and people will put money in them as a gift to God. Little kids will put in a quarter, and grown-ups will put in a check or some cash in an envelope. So if Jesus were in your pew—I mean, he is, but […]