The Pastor’s Blog
We just completed Black Friday, which really began on Thursday, and Cyber Monday, which really ran all weekend. If we had gone to stores on Black Friday or posted a survey online on Cyber Monday and asked people why they celebrated Christmas I suspect we would receive a variety of answers.
Some would say that Christmas is a time of giving while others would say it’s a time of receiving. Some would say it’s a time of love and others would say it’s all about family. And of course, many would say that it’s all about getting the best deal possible.
All of these answers speak to an element of the true meaning of Christmas, but which answer do you think comes the closest to God’s perspective about Christmas? You may be surprised, but it’s the one that says Christmas is a time of receiving.
Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And in Matthew 1:21, regarding Jesus’ impending birth we read, “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Because of His immeasurable love for us, God came to earth in human flesh as Jesus, what we call the Incarnation, to pay the price for our sin so that as we receive Jesus into our hearts we may also receive the incredible gifts of forgiveness and eternal life that He offers to all who accept Him.
As we celebrate this Christmas season, in all that we do let’s focus on the true reason for the joy and celebration of the season; God has given us the most wondrous gift of all, Jesus, who freely gives us eternal life through faith in Him. What better gift could we ever receive?
With Thanksgiving,
Mark
Read more...
Home Study for November 26 through December 1, 2012
Monday – Read Matthew 28:16-20
By whose power and authority do we serve Jesus?
How is that different than trying to serve in our own?
What does Jesus mean to when He says we are to go?”
To whom is Jesus calling you to go?
Tuesday – Read Acts 1:1-11
What did Jesus want to give the believers before they went out to serve Him?
Why was that important?
Is it still important for us today? Why? What should we do?
Wednesday – Read Acts 8:1-8
Even though the believers weren’t sent out by their own choice how did God use them?
How does what happened here fit with John 14:12?
What does Jesus want to do through us in these days?
What keeps this from happening?
Thursday – Read Acts 8:26-40
Where did Philip encounter the Ethiopian official?
Who led Philip to this man (see verse 29)?
Do you think this man had ever entered a Christian church to get his question answered?
How is this official like many people in our community today?
How might Jesus work through us to reach those people?
Friday – Read Romans 12:1-8
How can we know God’s will?
Why is it important to think of ourselves with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God has given us?
Why is it important to realize that each member of the body of Christ belongs to all the others (verse 5)?
What responsibility does that place upon each of us?
How does this passage challenge you? What will you do?
Saturday – Read Nehemiah 4:1-9
Read more...
Home Study for November 19 through 24, 2012
Monday – Read Galatians 2:20
Why does Paul say he was no longer living for himself?
What difference did this make in how he lived?
Should this verse also be true for us?
What difference should that truth make in our lives?
Tuesday – Read Romans 1:18-25
How can we thank God if we don’t recognize or know Him?
Where will a lack of recognizing God ultimately lead us?
What does this passage tell us about the importance of giving thanks?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read I Thessalonians 5:16-22
Which of these commands jump out at you?
Which seems easiest to you? Which seems hardest?
How does being joyful, praying and giving thanks fan the flames of the Spirit’s fire?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to grow in all of these areas.
Thursday – Read Psalm 100:1-5
How should we respond to the Lord?
Take time to thank and praise Him.
Friday – Read Hebrews 12:28-29
Why can’t God’s kingdom ever be shaken?
What hope does this give you?
How is our thanks to God a form of worship?
What does this tell us about the importance of always giving thanks?
When and where can we worship God by giving thanks?
Take time to worship God through thanksgiving.
Saturday – Read Nehemiah 3:1-32
Read more...
Home Study for November 12 through 17, 2012
Monday – Read Acts 1:4-8
What does Jesus call his followers to be in verse 8?
What power has He given us to fulfill that call?
Where are we to take the Good News of Jesus?
How can you have a bigger part in this work?
Tuesday – Read Isaiah 52:7
How does God view those who take the Good News to others?
How should we view them?
What can you do to better take the Good News to others and to support those who take the Good News to other cultures and nations?
What will you do?
Wednesday – Read Colossians 4:2-6
What we do as individual believers and as a church family to better share the Good News of Jesus?
How can we be wiser toward outsiders and keep our conversations full of grace? Why is this important?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read I Corinthians 13:1-13
What does this passage say about sharing the Good News of Jesus?
Why is this sometimes hard to do?
Why is it important? Ask God to help you grow in love.
Friday – Read Isaiah 35:1-2
We often think of deserts as having little life. How is our nation like a spiritual desert in these days?
What hope do we have here as God works among us?
Saturday – Read II Chronicles 7:11-14
Who must change for us to see God working in greater ways in our nation, those who don’t follow Jesus or those who do?
Why is it easier to blame those who don’t follow Jesus for the spiritual climate of our nation rather than taking responsibility for our own part in it?
How does this challenge you? What will you do?
Read more...