The Spirit at Christmas
Advent 2023
Spoken by Son
December 31, 2023 • Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs • Hebrews 10:1–14
Christmas has come and gone, but I hope you won’t mind thinking about Jesus again and how he humbled himself when he took a body . As the old hymn says, he “went out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe.” As we prepare to look at this on Sunday please read Hebrews 10: 1-14.
The Birth of Jesus, Israel Messiah, Savior of Sinners
December 24, 2023 • Dr. Eckhard Schnabel • Luke 2:1–20
The birth of Jesus is not a story, in the sense of a narrative that is either true or fictitious, mostly told to maintain the interest of readers and listeners, to amuse, and perhaps to instruct. The birth of Jesus is told by https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202%3a1-20&version=niv and https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201%3a18-25&version=niv as a historical event that took place in a specific location and at a specific time. The birth of Jesus was, for Jesus’ followers in the first century, a unique birth and the most significant birth that ever took place, a birth leading to a life and to a death and a resurrection that impacted millions upon millions of people. This is a great Sunday to invite family, friends, and neighbors to hear from our friend, Dr. Eckhard Schnabel, on this amazing event as we worship Jesus together.
Curtain Time
December 17, 2023 • Pastor Kevin Baird • Luke 1:13–17
People talk of the Spirit of Christmas and they mean the good cheer and kind expressions that happen around the holidays, but this Advent we have been focusing on the Spirit at Christmas, looking with fresh eyes at the role of the Holy Spirit in the Messiah’s coming. Join us this week as we see the Holy Spirit’s work in a variety of people’s lives preparing them for Jesus’ birth. As you prepare to join in worship, read through https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201&version=niv and look for all the places the Spirit is mentioned.
The Prophetic Overture
December 10, 2023 • Pastor Matt Schuberth • Isaiah 11:1–5, Ezekiel 36:24–29
Our Advent series continues with, ‘The Spirit at Christmas: The Prophetic Overture’. In preparation for worship, please read https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+11%3a1-5&version=niv and https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel+36%3a24-29&version=niv.
Waiting in the Wings
December 3, 2023 • Dr. Sean McDonough • Genesis 1:1–5
We begin our Advent series, ‘The Spirit at Christmas’ with a sermon entitled, ‘Waiting in the Wings’. We will be taking a bird’s eye view of several passages which speak to the work of the Holy Spirit in creation including: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+1-2&version=niv; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+33&version=niv; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+104%3b&version=niv https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+6-8&version=niv; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+1-2&version=niv; and https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+14&version=niv.