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HOMETOWN

A Hometown Christmas Eve

December 24, 2019 • Gregg Parris

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:18-23 God became human.

Letting Go of Your Past

December 22, 2019 • Gregg Parris

Luke 2:1-14 Thought for the day: Although you can’t change your past, God can change your future. You are unforgivable. You are unlovable. You are unusable. 1. Close the door to your past. - God’s grace is bigger than your sin. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 - Your standing with God is determined by relationship not rules. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Romans 5:20 Therefore, if anyone be in Christ they are a new creation. The old things have passed away. And behold, all things have become new. II Corinthians 5:17 2. Step into your future. - God saves you from your past so you can step into your future. I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 - Your story is not a story about your failure, but about God’s victory.

Letting Go of Control

December 15, 2019 • Gregg Parris

Luke 1:26-32, 34-35, 38 And Mary said, “Behold the servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38 ESV You don’t always have the power to control, but you always have the power to surrender. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39 What are you trying to control that you need to surrender?

Letting Go of Bitterness

December 8, 2019 • Gregg Parris

Hebrews 12:14-15 You can’t control what people do, but you can control how you respond. I. Bitterness has a dangerous root. II. Bitterness produces a poisonous fruit. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 III. Kill bitterness with compassion. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:28 IV. Kill bitterness with forgiveness. Get rid of all bitterness … Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Letting Go of Distractions

December 1, 2019 • Jeff Hughes

Your enemy, the devil – would like nothing more than to DIVIDE your mind, DISCOURAGE your soul, DISENGAGE your faith and DISTRACT you from the things that matter most! The devil’s distractions are destined to destroy us! Luke 10:38-42 So often, the most difficult choices are not between good and bad, but between good and best. 1. Diminish the distractions. “I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible." 1 Corinthians 7:35 NLT “Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house! Proverbs 5:8 NLT 2. Focus on the important. “Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions. Watch where you’re going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you.” Proverbs 4:25-26 TPT 3. Listen to the voice of God. “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21 ESV

Letting Go of Stuff

November 24, 2019 • Jeff Hughes

1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15 1. THROW OUT. 2. BUY LESS. “Cause my heart to bow before your words of wisdom, and not to the wealth of this world. Help me turn my eyes away from illusions, so that I may pursue only that which is true. Psalm 119: 36-37 3. GIVE MORE. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:19 4. MAKE THE MOMENTS MATTER.