Saturday, December 27, 2008
Religion vs. the Gospel
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Being a True Fan
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Incarnation
“Seeing is believing.” “Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked in their shoes.” Sentiments like these have woven themselves into the very fabric of our culture. These statements communicate that we are a culture of experience and relationship. Until an idea has “flesh and bone” we typically fail to buy into it. God knows this about us. God knows the power of experience and the power of relationship…for He is the One who created us with those desires. And in His great love to fulfill His great plan of being our Rescuer, he meets us where we are at. The Incarnation – God Himself taking on flesh – shows the height, the width, the depth, and the breadth His love. And more than that…He came humbly…as a baby born in a barn, wrapped in rags to keep Him warm, and placed in a manger.
Scripture: John 1:1-5, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Christmas Hymn “What Child Is This?”
Sing or listen to "What Child Is This?", with our hearts gazing at the Christ Child, singing of the wonder of the Incarnation.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Third Week of Advent
Peace
Confusion…pain…angst…fear…corruption…chaos…not having enough room to breath…always on the move and trying to keep up…these are words and phrases that illustrate both our lives and the world we live in. We inwardly groan for something – for Someone – to bring order and peace to our lives and to still our restless hearts. The quiet birth of the Christ Child amid the hustle and bustle of a town bursting at its seams due to a major national event reminds us that God can and does inject His peace into the busyness that defines our lives.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Reflection: The Christmas Hymn “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
Sing or listen to "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear", reflecting on the peace that is afforded us and that was proclaimed by the angels at the birth of the Prince of Peace.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Second Week of Advent
Joy
The source of our joy is in God Himself. God is good. God is trustworthy. God is love. He sees us in our great need, marred by sin, unable to save ourselves, destined for an eternity without Him. And so, driven by love, grace, and mercy, God plans on sending us a Rescuer; One who will save us from our sin and create peace between us and the Father. This plan for salvation, birthed in eternity past, began to come to fruition in the birth of the Christ Child.
Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God
Song: Sing or listen to the Christmas hymn "Joy to the Word" and celebrate the great joy of the Gospel that is promised us through the birth of the Christ Child.
Practice: Share some 'Christmas joy' with your neighbors or co-workers this week. Personally deliver a Christmas card, some homemade cookies, or a handmade gift.
Monday, December 01, 2008
First Week of Advent
Glory
Our God is a glorious God who had made a promise to rescue us from our sin. The birth of Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of that glorious promise. And as 1 Peter says how even angels longingly look at the wonder of the Gospel, we see the angels present at the birth of the Christ Child announcing the miracle and proclaiming the glory of God to the shepherds; who in turn gave glory to God for the fulfillment of sending our rescuer.
Scripture: Luke 2:8-15, 20
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Christmas Hymn to sing: “Angels we have heard on high”
Practice: Spend this week in meditation on God’s Glory, God’s Word, and repenting of any selfish desires that the holiday season can bring.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Living with True Joy
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Great Nation of Texas
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Internalizing the Gospel
Monday, November 03, 2008
Vote for Jesus
- Submit yourself to Jesus. Following Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords begins with you and in your heart.
- Work for conversions. We can’t expect those in public office (or who want to be in public office) who don’t love Jesus to lead according to God’s standards…so we need to do the work of making disciples. Faith can’t be forced by physical means like voting; that’s not how we influence our city, state, & nation with the Gospel – the influence of the Gospel is proclaimed and lived out by Christ-followers to those who are disconnected and far from God.
- Stay informed. Christians are already caricatured as unintelligent, archaic, backwoods, NASCAR fans…don’t fuel that fire…love God and your country with your mind and don’t make simply emotional and single-issue decisions.
- Don’t look to the government for a moral compass. We’re dealing with fallen, sinful people…add on top of that politicians! Jesus is our only true and reliable standard for righteousness…everyone else falls terribly short.
- Trust in God’s sovereignty. If your guy doesn’t win, that’s OK – the person that God wanted there to achieve His purpose for His glory is sitting in the seat of authority.