SERIES: The Perfect Gift
Christmas 2018
11-25-18 Maximizing Your Advent
November 25, 2018 • Pastor Chris Weatherly
Advent is a translation of the Greek word Parousia which means “coming”. This season is all about the expectant waiting of the coming messiah, King Jesus. We use this time to reflect on where we have come from and where the Lord will take us, but the advent story didn’t start in Matthew or Luke. It began in Genesis 1. So in the business of the holiday season we have to remember to make the story our story.
12-02-18 Our Gift of Hope
December 2, 2018 • Pastor George Gasperson
During a difficult period of hopelessness in Israel’s history, God raised up a prophet named Isaiah to remind the Israelites that in spite of everything going on, hope was alive because the Messiah was coming. Isaiah’s words weren’t just for the Israelites 2500 years ago. They are for us too. Let’s look at what Isaiah wrote and see how Jesus the Messiah is our perfect gift of hope today.
12-09-18 Our Reward for Courageous Faith
December 9, 2018 • Pastor George Gasperson
If we look at the Christmas story from the perspective of Mary and Joseph, the news of Jesus’ birth had to be the most confusing and difficult time of their lives- a time that required an unbelievable step of faith from both of them. They faced a critical choice: would they follow conventional wisdom and react with logic and reason, or would they put their faith in God and take a courageous step of faith?
12-16-18 Jesus: Our Proof of Acceptance
December 16, 2018 • Pastor George Gasperson
Nothing stings like the pain of rejection. We feel rejected when we aren’t selected for a job promotion. We’re rejected when someone we thought loved us pulls up stakes and leaves. And it’s not only adults who can feel rejected. God wants you to know that you are accepted. He has given us a gift, a perfect gift, to ensure that you and I will know how much we’re loved and accepted by Him. That perfect gift is the Christ child, Jesus Christ.
12-23-18: Jesus The Presence of God
December 23, 2018 • Pastor George Gasperson
There are no words to adequately describe exactly what happened when Jesus became a human being. It’s impossible to fully explain, and it’s impossible to fully understand. But I want us to try, because Jesus’ birth as a human is The Event. John’s Gospel describes, in theological terms, what happened on the night that Jesus was born.