
Love
Posted on Dec 22, 2019 in Message Notes | Tags: Advent, Christmas, Love

God’s wonderful love is both given and proven to us through Christmas.
Our love for God is best proven in how we love others.
God put His love on display that first Christmas so that no one could miss it.
God loves all people, but his love does not soften His view of sin.
The Holy Spirit at work within us should lead us to live and love like Jesus.
Read more...

Joy
Posted on Dec 15, 2019 in Message Notes | Tags: Advent, Christmas, Joy

Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gift of God.
The Apostle Peter explains the joy of our salvation in Christ in his first letter. See 1 Peter 1:8-9.
Joy is found in receiving God’s greatest gift of all, Jesus our Savior.
Read more...

Peace
Posted on Dec 8, 2019 in Message Notes | Tags: Advent, Christmas, Jesus, Peace

Peace with God.
Peace with God does not come from what you do. Peace with God comes from what Jesus has done for you.
Peace with each other.
If you are not able to make peace with others, it will affect your peace with God.
Peace within our broken world.
Jesus came to bring peace that is personal. See Ephesians 2:14; John 16:33.
Jesus came to bring peace that guards your heart and mind. See Philippians 4:6-7.
Jesus came to bring peace within amidst the chaos without. See Isaiah 26:3.
Peace on earth is not found within what this world has to offer. It is only found within a relationship with Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Read more...

Hope
Posted on Dec 1, 2019 in Message Notes | Tags: Advent, Christmas, Hope

In the darkest moments of your sin hope shines on a Savior who forgives.
In your longest periods of waiting, hope endures in the faithfulness of God.
In times of cultural upheaval and compromise, hope focuses on God’s power and authority.
In times when God seems silent and distant, hope assures us of His presence.
The Advent of Christ teaches us that we can live with expectations of divine hope even in the darkest of times.
Read more...

Good News
Posted on Dec 23, 2018 in Message Notes | Tags: Christmas, Christmas Greetings

The overwhelming message of this passage is the humble circumstances into which Jesus was born. It just seems so un-extraordinary. The simplicity of the Savior’s birth reminds us of the simplicity of our salvation.
The birth of the Savior in your life requires humility.
While the Savior’s offer is universal, it requires a personal response.
The Shepherds weren’t satisfied with just hearing about the Good News. They had to go and see, to experience, to receive this Good News bundled up in the swaddling clothes and lying in a manger — within reach of all who would come with humble hearts.
Those who experience the Good News share the Good News.
TODAY…a Savior has been born to you.
Read more...

Unexpected News
Posted on Dec 9, 2018 in Message Notes | Tags: Christmas, Christmas Greetings

Read: Luke 1:5–7. Right after we are introduced to Zechariah and Elizabeth, we are confronted with the problem and the pain that has plagued their lives for years – infertility. It was often considered a result of personal sin or judgement from God. Because of this, it brought an incredible amount of disgrace upon the women suffering from it. The fact they were blameless and infertile doesn’t seem to go together. This is a great example of bad things happening to good people for no apparent reason. My experience has proven that God is at work for my good (and others) even in the midst of unfair events.
The first bit of unexpected news: Your limitation does not limit the effectiveness of God’s plan. God regularly worked great things through those who felt limited. We need to learn to view our limit as God’s conduit through which He works out His plan.
Your limitation does not limit the effectiveness of God’s plan.
Read: Luke 1:8–13. Why did God wait to make this announcement and answer their prayers at this appointed time? Why not years earlier when they undoubtedly prayed earnestly for a child? God’s plan had multiple layers, multiple players. Next dose of unexpected news is: God’s plan for you isn’t just about you. God sent Jesus, his Son, at the appointed time. Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t know what God was up to and were unaware of His timeline. They were a parallel story that was about to merge with the great story of God’s plan. Their hopes and dreams were bound up in God’s ultimate plan — which wasn’t just a child for them BUT a Savior for the whole world — whom their child, John, would prepare the way for.
God’s plan for you isn’t just about you.
Read: Luke 1:14-17. The name “John” means Gift of God. He was certainly a gift of God to his parents. But this gift of God wasn’t meant to be kept to themselves. As this passage illustrates, John was to be used of God to make way for the Son of God.
You are the gift of God used by God to introduce someone to Jesus this Christmas.
Read: Luke 1:18–25. In its most basic form, disgrace means a reversal or removal of grace; to fall out of favor. Elizabeth experienced disgrace personally and publicly because of her infertility. However, God extended grace to Elizabeth and that expression of God’s favor removed her disgrace. The final piece of unexpected news we can glean from this story of Christmas Greetings is that God’s favor in your life removes disgrace from your life. God’s favor is expressed through His gift of undeserved grace.
God’s favor in your life removes disgrace from your life.
Perhaps you feel as though you have fallen from God’s grace and are left wallowing in disgrace. Please listen to me: God’s grace is still available to you. God still favors you.
Read more...