Sermon Notes, December 4, 2011
Pastor C.M. Pruitt
The message on
the second Sunday of Advent was titled “What Time is Christmas.” The universe is still expanding, ever since
the creation, when God spoke everything into existence, “Let there be
light…” We know December 21 as the
longest night of the year. (No, it’s
Christmas Eve—ask any child!) But
Galatians 4:4-5 says, “When the right time came, the time God decided on, He sent
His Son, born of a woman…so he could adopt us as His very own children” (LB) God waited until the very right time. “Everything that happens in this world
happens at the time God chooses.” Eccl. 3:1 (GN)
Christmas is. .
. (from Luke 2: The first Christmas)
when the angel appeared to the shepherds.
Christmas is
time to release my fears to God.
Most people are held hostage by their fears. We become so accustomed to fear, we don’t
even recognize when people express it.
Fear is worry that has turned to meditation on a problem. The angel told the shepherds, “Do not be
afraid!” (Luke 2:10) Release your
anxiety; there are 365 ‘fear nots’ in the Bible—one for each day. Don’t let fear possess you. Live in the confidence of God. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. So if you follow me you won’t be stumbling
through the darkness…” (John 8:12, LB)
We’re afraid because we’re worried about the future. Christmas comes at the end of the year, and
we don’t know what the New Year will bring.
Christmas is
time to renew my faith. The reality
of Christmas isn’t any of the movies about it—Santa Clause, the Miracle on 34th
Street, Santa, Rudolf, or the Grinch.
It’s Jesus! The angel told the
shepherds “…I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for
everyone! (Luke 2:10, LB) The church is always trying to get the Good News
out in new ways. The best way is to live
like we’ve really got good news. John 10:10 tells us that “(Jesus) has come
that you might have life, and have it to the fullest.” We live in a fallen
world, surrounded by bad stuff. Some
people think they aren’t good enough for God, but remember, you matter to
God. You are not an accident. God wants you to know Him as well as He knows
you. He knows you intimately. He comes to us in a form we can
understand. Jesus is God with skin on.
Christmas is
time to receive forgiveness. God
sent us a savior because we couldn’t save ourselves. Not with religion, or self-improvement. We need a savior. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born for you; he is Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2:11) How do I let Christ save me? Acknowledge that I can’t do it myself. John 3:16-17 tells us “for God loved this
world so much that he gave his only Son, so that anyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life.
God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it!” Guilt is hard to get rid of. People live with fear and guilt, but Jesus
can take care of both.
Christmas is
time to rebuild relationships. God
wants us to live in peace with all men; this includes our families as well as
others. Make peace with them. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14
KJV) give your guilt to Jesus and then
move on. “If we are living in the light of god’s presence, just as Christ does,
then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other.” (1 John 1:7 LB) Take time to focus on your relationship with
God. Then do whatever He tells you to
do. Christmas is time to meet
Christ: “It is time for you to turn to
me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.” (os. 10:13 GN)
Holiday
Schedule
December 24—Christmas Eve Service at 10 a.m.
December 25—NO SERVICE on Christmas Day. Enjoy time with your family.
January 1—NO SERVICE on New Year’s
Day. Church volunteers deserve a break, and to recover from 2011.
January 8, 2012—will be our first
service of 2012. Invite a friend and
come join us!
Prayer Requests
- Pray for our church board, the Pruitts and District Superintendent Phil Fuller as they lead us through this time.
- Pray for all to draw closer to Jesus and that hearts will be touched and healed.
- Praise the Lord for His miraculous touch on Bruce Shumway. Continue to pray for him as he recovers.
- Continue to pray for Gay’s brother, Gary Bolling, who is still weak and undergoing more risky surgery.
- Pray for the sick and hurting in the congregation.
- Sue Davis (scleroderma)
- Gay Hopkins (fibromyalgia)
- Frank Graham (back problems)
- Ross Shackelford
- Pray for those suffering financial problems or hunting for jobs
- Pray for the salvation of our children, youth, and loved ones
- Pray for the local homeless shelters and food closets that are struggling financially.
- Pray for missionaries serving around the globe.
- Pray
for our military (especially Richard Mc Pherson in
- Pray for our nation and its leaders
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