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The Spirit of Christmas

December 6, 2020 • Gregg Parris

John 3:16-21

I. A Spirit of giving.

At the very heart of a liberated, joyful, Spirit-filled Christianity is the nature and character of giving.

II. Giving in relationships.

III. The giving nature of God.

Ephesians 1
Vs. 3 “…God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing…”
Vs. 4 “ He chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
Vs. 5 “In love he predestined us/chose us to be adopted as his sons and daughters.”
Vs. 7 “In him we have redemption through his blood.”
Vs. 9 “He made known to us the mystery of his will.”
Vs. 11-14 “you were chosen and included in Christ and marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…”

God says, “I want to spend eternity with you!”

The great announcement of Christianity is not that you have accepted God. The great announcement of Christianity is that God has accepted you!”

Christmas Eve at Union Chapel

December 24, 2020 • Gregg Parris

Finish Well

December 27, 2020 • Gregg Parris

II Timothy 4:1-8 I. Endure hardship gladly. II. Prepare well. III. Keep your eye on the goal. IV. Finish well.

Celebrate Christmas

December 20, 2020 • Gregg Parris

Deuteronomy 16:9-17 I. Remembrance PARRIS’ TOP TEN CHRISTMAS SUGGESTIONS 1. Attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight service 2. Invest some time caring for/serving others. 3. Drive around and look at the light displays. 4. Feast with gratitude and eat too much without guilt. 5. Take a small gift to your neighbor (and introduce yourself). 6. Do not turn down fudge or Christmas cookies this year. 7. Sing Christmas carols loudly (on key is optional). 8. Watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” at least once. 9. Greet people with “Merry Christmas!” 10. Give yourself afresh to the Christ of Christmas. II. Rejoicing III. Feasting TOP TEN THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR AT CHRISTMAS DINNER 10. I’m just using up cranberry sauce I had left over from last Christmas. 9. So, I figured if I’m dieting, everybody’s dieting. 8. Just brush the frost off the turkey before you carve it. 7. Who wants bologna? 6. Thought I’d save a little time and just leave the feathers on. 5. I’m trying out a brand new stuffing recipe. Hope you like licorice. 4. Before we eat I thought we could just go around the table and take turns telling our favorite Christmas memory. 3. Wait! We didn’t get a picture. Everybody put your food back. 2. Put on that cute record about grandma and the reindeer while we eat. 1. Here’s the fruitcake! IV. Giving