Podcasts about christmas jesus

December 24th, 2024 | Watch and Listen today! The post The Characters of Christmas | Jesus appeared first on Christ Point Church.

From Paul's petition that the Colossians be enlightened about God's redemptive working in their lives, he moved naturally into his epistle's main emphasis—the exaltation and preeminence of Christ. In this paragraph (vv. 15–20) Paul mentioned seven unique characteristics of Christ, which fittingly qualify Him to have “the supremacy” (v. 18). Christ is: (1) the image of God, (2) the Firstborn over Creation, (3) Creator of the universe, (4) Head of the church, (5) Firstborn from the dead, (6) the fullness of God, and (7) the Reconciler of all things. No comparable listing of so many characteristics of Christ and His deity are found in any other Scripture passage. Christ is the supreme Sovereign of the universe![1]            Moving from describing what Christ has already done for us. To whom He is in His core. He hangs his thoughts, on the same two words. “He is.”                       To the Pharisees of His day, Jesus affirmed His deity before them in John 8:58, with the words “I AM.” Now, what we have Paul doing to the Colossians of his day and to the church of our day. He's building on what the Lord has revealed about Himself, when He said, “I AM”, by saying, “He is.”   To the church there at Colossae. This young church that was being threatened with this false and heretical picture of Christ. We're going to get more into that, in Colossians 2. Paul here, in our text for today, describes Christ for who He is. That's the title of today's message, “He Is.” Because in our time together, we're going to work through these four magnificent and unequalled verses. Verses which one commentator says, “there never was a higher Christology.” What we're going to do, is work through these verses, through the lens of those four “He is” statements.   Colossians 1:15 - “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” So, right away we have to ask the question? Who is “He” referring to here? Who is the “He” of verse 15? Well, the “He” is the “beloved Son” mentioned back in verse 13. “He” is the One, as we saw back in verse 14, is the One in whom we have “redemption” and “forgiveness of sins.” That's a reference, of course, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth. The son of Joseph and Mary. The Galilean. The long-awaited and foretold Messiah of Israel. The One who died on a Roman cross. The One whose lifeless body was placed in a sealed tomb. The One who eventually rose from the grave. That man. Jesus. The God-Man. Is described by Spirit-lead Paul here, as the “image of the invisible God.”                 John 4:24 says, God is spirit and He cannot be seen Though it is grammatically possible to translate this as “Firstborn in Creation,” the context makes this impossible for five reasons: (1) The whole point of the passage (and the book) is to show Christ's superiority over all things. (2) Other statements about Christ in this passage (such as Creator of all [1:16], upholder of Creation [v. 17], etc.) clearly indicate His priority and superiority over Creation. (3) The “Firstborn” cannot be part of Creation if He created “all things.” One cannot create himself. (Jehovah's Witnesses wrongly add the word “other” six times in this passage in their New World Translation. Thus they suggest that Christ created all other things after He was created! But the word “other” is not in the Gr.) (4) The “Firstborn” received worship of all the angels (Heb. 1:6), but creatures should not be worshiped (Ex. 20:4–5). (5) The Greek word for “Firstborn” is prōtotokos. If Christ were the “first-created,” the Greek word would have been prōtoktisis.[i] 1 Timothy 1:17 says, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Now, contrast the invisibility of the true God, with all the false gods of the world. Whether that be Brahma of the Hindu religion. Or Buddha, or the countless other deities whose likenesses have been carved into tree trunks or painted in caves over the centuries. For those so-called “gods” who are fabricated and made in the image of sinful humans; they are totally visible and creaturely and observable. They have mouths and eyes and noses, and hands and feet. It reminds us of Psalm 115:5-7 which says the following about false gods and idols. It says, “They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear, they have noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat.” Then that same psalmist concludes, “Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them.” We see this phenomenon, men bowing down to deaf and dumb and worthless idols, not just in the Old Testament, in Psalm 115, but in the New. Romans 1:22-23, again, speaking of the unbeliever, says, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and of four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” Isaiah 44:14 He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He [a]secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn,For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread;Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.16 He burns half of it in the fire;With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.He even warms himself and says,“Ah! I am warm,I have seen the fire.”17 And the rest of it he makes into a god,His carved image.He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”   1:15 He is The Image of the Invisible God: Christ was the perfect image, an exact likeness and in the very form of GOD John 14:9 – “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Those words, bringing it back to Colossians 1, testify to the fact that Jesus is a visible representation of God. Now we have Paul here in Colossians 1:15, referring to Christ as “the image of God.” That word for “image” is eikon. It's a word, a Greek term, which we get our English word, “icon”. It means “copy” or “likeness.” Which fits perfectly here. Because what Paul is saying here in Colossians 1:15, is that Jesus is the perfect image – the exact likeness – of God Himself. Jesus is essentially and absolutely the perfect expression and representation of God the Father. As it's put by the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 1:3 – “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact imprint of His nature.”   2 Corinthians 4:3 says, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”                 Back in Colossians , as Paul is writing this Colossian church, you'll recall was staring down the threat of this new heretical teaching. This “Christ-plus” form of theology. This “Christ-plus” form of worship. “Christ-plus-angels.” Or “Christ-plus-philosophy.” Or “Christ-plus-ascetism.” Paul redirects them here, with this supreme truth: Which is that the Christ that they worshiped. The Christ that they'd been taught about by Epaphras, was all the Christ they needed. A Christ who was more than a good man. More than a great teacher. More than a compelling miracle worker. Rather, He is the image of the invisible God. An exact, visible representation of God, and in fact, God Himself.   The Firstborn over all creation: That term – “firstborn” is used in at least three different senses in scripture.   First – you'll see it used in a very literal sense. Like in the description of the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:7 it says that Mary “gave birth to her firstborn son.” In other settings – the word “firstborn” is used in a figurative sense. Like Exodus 4:22, that's that scene where God is speaking to Moses about the coming exodus out of Egypt. God says to Moses, “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn”'.” Now there, there's no sense of any actual birth taking place, as with Mary giving birth to Jesus. Instead, the Lord uses the word “firstborn” there, to describe the special plans and purposes and role that He has for Israel. Then there's this third way that the term “firstborn” is used in scripture. That's to designate one's place of superiority, or supremacy, or uniqueness. In Psalm 89, we're going to see “firstborn” used in that sense, of supremacy.   Psalm 89:20. It says, “I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him.” 27 “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” Now, we know that David was not the “firstborn” of Jesse. He in fact was the last born. But here, the word “firstborn” is being used to indicate supremacy, primacy, sovereignty. To make David, the king, “the highest of the kings of the earth.” That's the meaning of “firstborn” here. Going back to Colossians, it is in that sense, that third sense, that Paul is using that term.               Christ has pre-eminence which means he has the highest rank or position and inherits the Kingdom as the firstborn did in the OT They always received all the inheritance or at least double the portion of the others in the family                  This passage actually highlights and emphasizes the absolute sovereignty and supremacy of Jesus Christ. He is totally and absolutely sovereign over the skies that He formed. Over the land masses He molded. Over the species He developed.  As Hebrews 1:2 says, He is the “heir of all things.” He outranks everything. All people, everyone in the entire world He has made.                  There have been, over the centuries, many false teachers and many false religions, who have taken this verse and run with it, to suggest that Christ is a created being, and that Christ is not God. They'll point to this very verse, Colossians 1:15, as backup for their lies. They'll say things like, “look, its right there in the word.” “Firstborn”. “Christ was born; therefore, He is created.” Now, they'll try to be nice, and play nice. They'll say, He's still, of the highest rank in order of created things, and created beings.” Meaning, He's entitled to our honor and special respect and reverence. But they will still insist that He was born. He was born as a created being. Just like you and I are born as created beings, but He's not God.           Let's go through some of the reasons why “firstborn”, that term “firstborn” in verse 15, does not, and cannot mean “created.”   1.    First, it's impossible for Christ to be both created, and the Creator of everything. If verse 15, as the Jehovah Witnesses and other groups would have it, is saying that Christ is created. A created thing cannot create itself. Creatures aren't self-created. They are created, by instead, whatever created them. Second, here's another reason why “firstborn” cannot mean created. We're told elsewhere in the scriptures that the “firstborn” Son of God received worship from the angels. Hebrews 1:6, speaking of God the Father says, “And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.'” Well, creatures, we know from going back to the ten commandments in Exodus 20, mere creatures are not to be worshiped. So, if Christ is a created being, the angels shouldn't be worshiping Him. It would be a violation of the ten commandments. He'd be wrongly and idolatrously receiving worship from other created beings. The angels would be wrong to worship Him. We would be wrong to worship Him. Also if this were true under the Mosaic Law, the Jews were right to kill Him. For He blasphemed by holding Himself out to be God. 3.    A third reason why “firstborn” cannot mean created. Verse 15, and that word there for “firstborn”, it doesn't stand in isolation with what's being said in this section of scripture as a whole. The point of this passage, verses 15-18, as we're going to see, in its entirety, is to demonstrate Christ's preeminence over all things. Which includes the fact, as we'll see in verse 16, that He is the Creator of all; and includes the fact, in verse 17, that He upholds and sustains all things. The context of this whole section very clearly is that Christ has priority and preeminence over His creation. Superiority over and supremacy over everything. Not that He's a created being. If Paul were suddenly, in verse 15, to say He's a created being, he'd actually be agreeing with the very heresy he's trying to refute throughout this whole book. So, for those reasons, and for so many others, we affirm that what Paul here was saying, when he said that Christ is the “firstborn over all creation”, is not that Christ was created by God. Or that He is less in essence than God. Quite the contrary. The word “firstborn” here, instead is a statement about Christ's position of supremacy over His creation. It's a statement of His rank of rulership and dominion. It's a statement of His deity and His preeminence. In fact, the false teachers, who have twisted “firstborn” to mean what they want it to mean. Would do well to read the next verse. Look at verse 16, it says, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.”            So, here in verse 16, Christ's supremacy is expressed in terms of His relationship to creation. His rulership over creation. You'll note that the way that this is done is through these three different prepositions that are being used here. It is “by Him all things were created.” Then it says, “all things have been created through Him.” Last, it says all things have been created “for Him.” “By Him.” “Through Him.” “For Him.” Each of those prepositions expresses a different thought. We're going to look at each of those prepositions and thoughts as we work our way through this verse.            First, is the statement here, that: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.” So, “By Him all things were created.” When it says here that all things were created “by Him.” The idea is they were created through the power that was essential to Him. Creative power that is sourced in Him. Creative power that is a part of His being. Note the scope of His creative power.           The magnitude of His creative power is referenced in these three different areas that we see laid out in the rest of verse 16.               First, His creative power reaches everywhere. First, he says, “All things in heaven and on earth.” So, Christ created all things in the heavens. Meaning, He created the stars, and the planets, and the galaxies, and the constellations, and all other planetary marvels. He created all things. Then it says He created things both living and non-living here on earth. It says, “both in the heavens and on earth.”            Second, it says His creative power extends or reaches to all things “visible and invisible” there in verse 16. As we're going to see when we get to Colossians 2, the false teachers there in Colossae were promoting these false dualistic beliefs. Under which material things, things you can touch and taste and smell. Things that are “visible”, to use the word here, were considered essentially evil. Whereas immaterial things, “things . . . invisible” were considered fundamentally good. Paul is collapsing these two ideas in together, and he's saying that Christ created all of it. He created all the things we can see.  He created all the things we cannot see. He created the trees and flowers. But He also created that unmistakable scent that each one gives off. He created the person. But He also created the conscience that resides within that person. He created the planet we live on, materially. Just as much as He creates the seasons or has created the seasons of summer and winter. Seasons of cold and darkness and seasons of warmth and light. He's created it all. Visible, invisible, all of it.      Third, His creative power, it says, includes “thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities.”  1:16 Paul gives us the ranks of angels and tells us that Christ created them and is superior to them to stop the heresy of angel worship being taught by false teachers.          Ephesians 1:20-21, it says, “. . . when He raised Him from the dead [speaking of Christ] and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion . . .” Or Ephesians 3:10 says “. . . the manifold wisdom of God [that] might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.” Colossians 2:15 says, “When he had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Then here in Colossians 1:16, Paul refers to “thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities.”  Those are referring to angels. We know from Colossians 2, that the false teachers that had started to infiltrate Colossae there, they were promoting the worship of angels, as a part of their heretical teaching.  Paul is outright rejecting those beliefs and practices here.             Paul is making it clear here in verse 16, that angels, whatever their rank, whether holy or fallen, whether “thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities.” They are all mere creatures. Their Creator and Ruler is none other than the preeminent One, the Lord Jesus Christ.            Again, he's getting out in front of this heresy. He's saying to the Colossians here, essentially “Why would you be worshiping angels?” “When the One you ought to worship, is the One who created those angels.” Christ Himself.               At the end of verse 16, it also says, “all things have been created through Him.” That speaks of Christ being the divine agent in creation. In other words, Christ is the Person of the Godhead through whom God's creative acts were performed. Of course, God the Father is the Creator. Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Or Psalm 33:6, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. But the three Persons of the Trinity participated actively together in the works of creation. John 1:3 says, “All things came into being through Him, [Jesus Christ, that's a reference to Christ] and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” Hebrews 1:2 says, “. . . in these last days [He] [meaning God the Father] has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”             In other words, in the act of creation, God did not act apart from Christ. Rather, it was through Christ, that God performed His various creative acts. The Son was the “master Workman” in Creation. Christ was the agent through whom God accomplished His creative acts. The point is, you cannot say that although Christ created some things. That He Himself was created originally. The One who is “firstborn” over all creation, is most certainly not a creature. Instead, as we see here, He is the very Creator.            At the end of verse 16, we're told that all things were created “for Him.” He's the One “for” whom all things were created. Meaning, the purpose and the goal of all things in creation, lies in their relation to Him – to Christ. They are literally for Him, “unto Him”, it could be translated. We need to think of the profoundness of that statement that's being made there. That all things are “for Him.”             People today, should be praising Jesus Christ when they see anything in creation. Whether it be six feet in front of us. Or the minute complexities of life as seen through a microscope. Or when it's looking out into the galaxies through a telescope. Glory should be attributed to Him. Not to the angels. Not to Mother Nature. Not to some atheistic principle of evolution.             No! It's all, as this text says: “By Him.” And “Through Him.” And “For Him.” Our natural tendency, even as believers. Which is to label Christ. We think of Christ as Christmas Jesus. The One who was in the manger in Bethlehem. We think of Him as carpenter Jesus. The son of Joseph and Mary. Building furniture. Never talking back to his parents. The One who grew in wisdom and stature and favor both with God and with man. We think of Him as crucified Jesus. The One who bore the punishment for our sins and the stripes that were laid across His back and took the crown of thorns upon His head. Fulfilled the Father's perfect plan by offering salvation for those who would believe in Him. Or then we put Him in the category of the comforting Jesus. The One whose promises we look to for hope and support. The One we look to in prayer.  The One we cry out to. The One through whom we find kinship with others who have believed in His name. That's good to do all of that. Because He is each of those things. But behind it all, is this great truth. That the Jesus of the bible. The Jesus of Nazareth. Is the eternal Son of God. The second Person of the Trinity. The “image of the invisible God.” The “firstborn of all creation.” The Creator. All things were created by Him. All things were created through Him. All things were created for Him.         [1] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 672). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.   [i] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 672–673). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.   Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Landon Coleman

Isaiah 61:10-62:5 | Psalm 147:12-20 | Galatians 3:23-4:7 | John 1:1-18

"The Roots and Shoots of Christmas" series - Pastor Kyle Gerrild

Luke 2:10-11, Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. WATCH: 2024 Community Christmas Outreach Highlights Christmas Message by Pastor Bryan Hudson: “The Joy of New Life in Christ.” Summary: Dr. Bryan Hudson's "Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute" reflects on the birth of Jesus, emphasizing the message of hope and joy found in Luke 2:10-11. He highlights the angel's proclamation of "good tidings of great joy" and reminds listeners that Jesus was born for each person, regardless of their circumstances—whether surrounded by family, alone, or experiencing loss. He encourages focusing on God's presence during the Christmas season. Dr. Hudson also shares updates on his church's community outreach, including deliveries of food and gifts to families in their homes, donations and ministry to various groups such as homeless teens, incarcerated individuals, and those in need. He concludes by celebrating Jesus as the reason for the season, urging listeners to let Christ fulfill His purpose in their lives. Merry Christmas and encouragement are central to his message.

NOTICE: All existing episodes will be moved to Season 1 on December 20.Welcome to our special series, Understanding Christmas, as we consider 4 aspects of Jesus to prepare our hearts for celebration. We need to understand Jesus in order to understand Christmas, and the Bible Brief is here to help.Today, we consider Jesus as Messiah, the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King coming into the world!Key Bible Readings: Luke 2, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App!Support the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgThis episode primarily uses the ESV Bible translation, but may also use CSB, NASB, and NKJV.Search Tags: bible, beginner, bible verse, god, verse of the day, prayer, jesus, bible study, scripture, learn, bible introduction, introduction, intro to the bible, introduction to the bible, beginner bible, bible overview, how to read the bible, what is the bible about, bible story, bible stories, what is the bible, ...

Could you use some peace in this season of your life? Trent Griffith explains how the birth of Jesus not only paints a picture about the peace of God, but displays how Jesus truly IS our peace. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/84/29

Could you use some peace in this season of your life? Trent Griffith explains how the birth of Jesus not only paints a picture about the peace of God, but displays how Jesus truly IS our peace. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/84/29

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Isaiah 9: 1-6; Rs psalm 96: 1-2.2-3.11-12.13; Timothy 2: 11-14; Luke 2: 1-14 THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE   Our meditation on this Christmas Eve celebration has the theme: The Birth of the Prince of Peace. At that time the night was dark. People's activities stopped and they stayed quiet in their houses. In that silent night there was only certain little lights in the houses of the people that broke the darkness of the world. Only a few people who still moved and walked during the night. Among these were the herdsmen in the wilderness. They must guard their flock.   But there was one unusual activity, which was quite a long trip, about 150 kilometres uphill journey from the Judean region to Jerusalem, especially to a small town named Bethlehem. The trip was made by a young couple, a husband and his wife, they were Joseph and Mary. This woman was pregnant and near to give birth to their first and only Child. Upon arriving in the designated town, they did not find a place for the wife to give birth. They were forced to look for a place outside the city, and they had to walk about 10 kilometres more at night. Then they arrived in a place available where they found an animals' stable there. Then there was the first Christmas: Jesus Christ was born.   In Bethlehem, still in the middle of dark night, the shepherds were on one hill. While Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus were on another hill. The distance between the two hills is about 5-6 kilometres. As you shout on top of your voice from one hill, you can be heard over another hill. One who stands on one hill he is best looked like a stick. Moreover, the night was so dark and there was no light in the birth stable. There were practically no signs that could remind the shepherds of what was happening. But the Heaven opened their hearts through the news of the angels. Then they one by one with their animals rushed to the stable. Then there was the first revelation of Christmas: Jesus appeared to people who were very simple and considered sinners, namely the herdsmen.   The first revelation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, when entering the history of this world is to his parents Joseph and Mary. They were specially chosen by God, although they remained simplest and so obedient to God in an extraordinary way. The second revelation is to the shepherds, who were also known to be the poorest in the society, modest and sinful. In their company were the animals representing the world and its inhabitants. After these, the Lord reveals Himself to everyone and all of us.   The peace of Christmas is a heavenly light which is the presence of the Son of God who breaks the darkness of night. This true message of Christmas reaches the life of families, encounters the simple ones, poor, sinners, and finally spreads joy to the whole world. Merry Christmas to all of you. Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, we hope that this Christmas Eve celebration will fill us with true peace from You, that can lead our lives every day. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...

In this festive episode, Thomas and Kari take a trip down memory lane, sharing their favorite childhood Christmas memories and reflecting on how these moments shaped their love for the season. They remind listeners of the true reason for Christmas—Jesus and His miraculous birth over 2000 years ago.  

As we celebrate Christmas Eve at Southstone, Pastor Jason reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus.

Andie speaks at our Carol Service about the true gift of Christmas - Jesus

“Discover the true joy of Christmas in this heartfelt message. Reflecting on the anticipation of Christ's coming, the story of the Incarnation, and how Jesus brings lasting joy into our lives, this sermon encourages us to embrace and share the miracle of Christmas. Join us in celebrating the hope, peace, and joy of the season, and invite someone to experience the transformative power of Jesus this Christmas Eve!”

Jake Graves

harvestva

If you feel overwhelmed at Christmas time, remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem to give you His grace and comfort on your journey towards heaven! The transcription for this Podcast can be found at https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/the-wonder-of-Christmas.html Public Domain Information for Artwork Thumbnail

In this heartwarming episode titled "Great Joy for All People," we explore the incredible story of the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. Imagine the awe and wonder they experienced when the angel of the Lord appeared, announcing the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world! Pastor Owen dives deep into the shepherds' response—fear turned to faith, and their humble joy in spreading the Good News. This episode highlights the powerful message of Christmas: Jesus brings great joy and hope for all people, no matter their background or circumstances. Whether you're seeking encouragement, exploring the story of Jesus' birth, or growing in your faith, this episode will inspire you to embrace the true joy of the season. Don't forget to follow, rate, and share to spread the message of joy! #ChristianPodcast #GreatJoy #Luke2 #Shepherds #Faith #ChristmasMessage #Encouragement #BibleStudy #ChristianTeaching --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/encouragers-united/support

This week, Joey James continues the “Christ-Centered Christmas” teaching series with the second message "Jesus is King."(Recorded December 14th, 2024)To get connected follow us on Instagram @HSRevolution

Welcome to our special series, Understanding Christmas, as we consider 4 aspects of Jesus to prepare our hearts for celebration. We need to understand Jesus in order to understand Christmas, and the Bible Brief is here to help.Today, we consider Jesus as the Savior of the world and the Savior of Israel.Key Bible Readings: Luke 1Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App!Support the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgThis episode primarily uses the ESV Bible translation, but may also use CSB, NASB, and NKJV.Search Tags: bible, beginner, bible verse, god, verse of the day, prayer, jesus, bible study, scripture, learn, bible introduction, introduction, intro to the bible, introduction to the bible, beginner bible, bible overview, how to read the bible, what is the bible about, bible story, bible stories, what is the bible, ...

December 15, 2024Pastor Matt KendrickHow to Celebrate ChristmasJohn 3:16-17; Matthew 11:28-30Christmas should fill us up as we consider and celebrate what Jesus has done for us. Enjoy being in Christ this Christmas. Enjoy the extra time off that God gives you, celebrating the life and peace He's offering you.To celebrate Christmas: Enjoy the Gift of Christmas… Jesus!Enjoy instead of impress.Be still and remember God.Share burdens instead of bearing them all by yourself.Thank you for listening!For more info on Redemption City Church check out our website. If you'd like to connect with us further, please fill out a Connection Card and one of our staff will get in touch with you.Follow us on on social media: Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Landon Coleman

Bible Reading: John 3:16-18"Can we have a candy cane?" asked Josh as he looked at the striped candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree."Yeah, can we? Please?" echoed his sisters, Adriane and Nicole."All right," Mom said. "But as you eat them, I want you to think about how they remind us of the reason we celebrate Christmas."Each of the kids quickly selected a red-and-white-striped candy cane from the tree. Nicole held her candy at arm's length and stared at it. "I don't really see what candy canes have to do with Christmas, except that it's the time of year when you always see lots of them. Or maybe it's because there's red on them--Christmas colors are red and green.""Nah. That's not a good enough reason," said Josh. He stared at his candy cane too. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "Part of our Sunday school verse last week said, 'By His stripes we are healed,' so the stripes can remind us of how they whipped Jesus.""That's part of the Easter story," said Adriane. "It doesn't have anything to do with Christmas.""Oh, but it does," said Mom. "It has to do with why Jesus came to earth. He came to suffer and die and take the punishment for our sins so those who trust in Him could be saved.""So maybe the red stripe on the candy cane can stand for the blood Jesus shed for us when He died on the cross," said Nicole."And the white can stand for having our sins washed away when we trust in Jesus," added Adriane.Josh nodded. "And look," he said, holding his candy cane upside down. "When you hold it this way, it's a J--a J for Josh." He grinned as his sisters started to protest. "Just kidding," he said. "It's a J for Jesus." "Excellent thinking," said Mom. "Those are all great ways candy canes remind us of the real reason we celebrate Christmas--Jesus being born into the world so He could die for us on the cross. I hope these candy canes will help you remember that--not only at Christmas, but all year long."–Jean A. BurnsHow About You?Do you get excited about Christmas and all the food, parties, and presents that go along with it? Those are all good things, but don't forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas--Jesus being born so He could die to save us from our sin. This Christmas, receive the best gift of all--eternal life with Jesus. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (NKJV) (1 Timothy 1:15)Today's Key Thought:Jesus was born to save you

Amid the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it's easy to lose sight of the heart of Advent—and the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. In this episode, Jackie Angel, author of the upcoming Memorize Scripture (https://www.avemariapress.com/products/memorize-scripture), shares how immersing yourself in Sacred Scripture—through daily reading and simple memorization—can transform your experience of the season. Discover how slowing down with God's Word can help you embrace the joy of Advent, prepare your heart for Christmas, and encounter Christ in a deeper, more personal way. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Corey Speer

What is Advent? Maybe you aren't even sure about this whole 'Christmas/Jesus' thing. Perfect! You have found the right podcast! In this episode I will give a brief overview on the drama of this baby named Jesus coming into the world. I will be sharing a written version on my website, weekly, under Blogs. Also, if you want to find the sunday morning message, try Pleasant Lake United Methodist Church, or Pleasant Lake United Methodist, or PLUM Church on Facebook! You can find out more about Jamelle at www.jamellegodlewski.comInstagram - Jamelle GodlewskiFacebook - Jamelle Godlewski - Leader and Kingdom InfluencerYouTube - Jamelle Godlewski

12.08.24 Pastor Alex Liu Christmas - Jesus is Immanuel, God with Us Mathews 1: 21-23

Welcome to our special series, Understanding Christmas, as we consider 4 aspects of Jesus to prepare our hearts for celebration. We need to understand Jesus in order to understand Christmas, and the Bible Brief is here to help.Today, we consider the Humility of God in the incarnation.Key Bible Readings: Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 20:25-28Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App!Support the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgThis episode primarily uses the ESV Bible translation, but may also use CSB, NASB, and NKJV.Search Tags: bible, beginner, bible verse, god, verse of the day, prayer, jesus, bible study, scripture, learn, bible introduction, introduction, intro to the bible, introduction to the bible, beginner bible, bible overview, how to read the bible, what is the bible about, bible story, bible stories, what is the bible, ...

12/07/24 Christmas: Jesus Saves Us from Sin by Heritage Church

Honor God and Deliver His Benefits

Sermon Summary: Christmas - God With Us Summary: Nick's sermon delves into the heart of the Christmas story, emphasizing the reality of God's presence in human lives, particularly in challenging circumstances. He challenges the common perception of Christmas as a magical, idealized time, highlighting the often-overlooked struggles and hardships faced by Mary and Joseph. Nick argues that the true essence of Christmas lies in God's incarnation, His decision to become human and enter our world. He emphasizes that God doesn't wait for invitation but actively seeks us, even when we're lost, broken, or unaware of His presence. The sermon draws parallels between Mary's experience and contemporary life, suggesting that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, we can find hope and worship. Nick encourages listeners to recognize God's closeness, to embrace His grace, and to become agents of God's love in their communities. Key themes explored in the sermon include: God's Immanence: God is not distant or aloof but intimately involved in human lives. The Reality of Christmas: The Christmas story is not merely a fairytale but a powerful narrative of God's love and grace. The Invitation to Worship: Even in the midst of struggle, we can find reasons to worship God. God's Initiative: God takes the initiative to reach out to humanity, regardless of our circumstances. Becoming Agents of God's Love: Christians are called to embody God's love in their communities and the world. Ultimately, the sermon invites listeners to embrace the true meaning of Christmas, to experience God's presence in their lives, and to share His love with others. Transcription Nice to see you all. Happy Christmas. It's Christmas time. There's no need to be afraid. There's a real sense in me that God wanted to say something. I do know, you know, I can put my, I'm not just saying something, I don't know what it is. But the challenge of sensing that and putting it into words and putting it down on paper is a real one. And I was sort of on my third go at this this morning. But as we've worshiped and prayed and heard what's been said and what's been shared, so much of it resonates with what I feel that God has wanted to say. And so I'm just trusting him this morning that he will communicate his word through my efforts. And so we're going to look at a video. I think, have you got a video there for me, Michel? This is from a ministry called Proximity that's to do with the Eden teams. And it's about people that are involved in mission in all sorts of urban settings just as we have our Eden team here. And they've produced a whole load of resources and particularly some resources for Christmas. And this video I found really interesting and inspiring. And so I just want us to look at that as a prelude to what I want to say this morning. And now the angel is nowhere to be seen. And she wakes from a dream with her head down the loo and next down something for the acid, the youngest at antenatal classes. Feeling like a strict smart lump, trying to hide a bump in oversized clothes, waddling down the street with swollen feet, scared witless, wondering whether she's got what it takes to be a mother. Now she knocks on the door of another knuckle, someone else who feels each kick and every elbow flick and wakes up sick, a cousin with stretched hips who's both blessed and broken. And immediately, almost as if obediently, Elizabeth feels heaven and earth kicked and flipped inside her as her heavy belly moans with sympathy and angelic symphony burst from her amniotic sack. And Mary answers back, my soul magnifies the magnificent. It glorifies the glorious for the God who kicks the wall of the uterus who was worshiped from the womb to the God of bedsit rooms of tower blocks of basketball and shots of part took four by fours and shut up shops to the God of tear stained cheeks and grazed knees of caffeinated drinks and quarter pounders with cheese. Praise be to the father of cold and rainy nights of overcrowded buses of flickering street lights in the name of bright white nights and leggings, hoodies, caps and knackered looking jeggings in the name of not living but surviving in the name of ducking and diving in the name of poverty. God comes to me. Wrapped in hand-me-down clothes, dirty nappies and blankets. As the creator of the universe, the maker of all planets is pushed in a boogie and laid in a basket. For he is with us, not against us, one of us not opposed to us. And he has not forgotten the honest or the humble, the straight talking, the musn't grumble. His eye is on the single mum with no disposable income drowning in debt and depression. The OAP try to make ends meet from a pension. Those falling through the cracks, they're the ones who've got his attention. Yes, in a world that don't make sense, he's the golden frankincense overturning tables, turning the world upside down, right side up, bringing heaven to earth with a seasonal burst of Christmas. And in case you missed this, he makes Christmas every day. No, not in the shops or on the telly or the jingle jangle of songs and sleighs and snow. No, in the stomachs of the hungry, in the arms of the lonely, in the hearts of the broken, Christ can be found knocking on doors, kicking on walls of a mother's womb, asking us to make room for the kingdom to be born in us and through us. Glory be to the infinite, magnify the magnificent. Oh my soul, bless the incarnate. Glorify the omnipotent. Praise be to the God who became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood. The gist of that, it's on the super wide version there, so you can't actually see what's happening, but we'll share it later. Yeah, we'll skirt over that. Yeah, so yeah, there's a whole lot of visual stuff to that as well, but there's just a description, hopefully a description of the reality of Christmas and what the first Christmas really meant. The so-called magic of Christmas lifts us in a way out of the reality of midwinter and plants us firmly in this winter wonderland, plays our emotions, our memories, our aspirations, sort of gives us a sense of unreality. It can give us a real mixed bag of emotions. Christmas can be really difficult, can't it? Maybe for people here, Christmas is a really difficult time, not a magical time. It's a time that really challenges all that we go through and makes us think in, perhaps, not in the fairy tale way, but in a really, in a real, in a very difficult way. It can be a desperately difficult time. A lot of artistic license is used in telling and retelling the story of Christmas to make it magical and wonderful and we can left, we left scratch in our head when you actually go to the scripture itself and you read the story of Christmas, you think, how does this match up with what we hear, what we see, what we see on the screens, what we see in our Christmas cards or in our, in the presentation that Christmas, the presentation of Christmas is given to us. Desperately hard, real life struggle of the Christmas story gets lost as it's retold to create the magic and wonder and the sense of unreality. And we need to try and get into the mind of Mary and Joseph. It was nothing other than a desperately difficult and challenging time for them and yet God was in the middle of it all. And I think that's what's been coming through this morning in the worship and the prayers, that sense that God in the middle of the mess, God in the middle of the reality, God in the middle of real life, that's what Christmas is all about. And we need to see if it's possible to get away from the glitz and the glitter and the elves and the snowmen to get a handle on what this story is really telling us because there is power in this story that we can lose. Tradition is wonderful. Celebration is wonderful. Atmosphere is wonderful. But if we lose the power of the story, then we lose everything. We lose the sense that, you know, and if it doesn't actually touch our real life, touch our experience, we think, oh, well, if our experience is only just in evoking a sense of wonder and excitement and childhood memories, then really Christmas is losing something in our experience. And just as Genesis is the foundation for our understanding of our place in the world, we've been going through over these months, a Christmas story is the foundation for our understanding of the purpose of our lives and the nature of our mission. A Christmas story is about heaven's interaction with earth, the unfolding of the greatest story ever told. And so we can't afford to lose it under all the snow and the starlight in the present. It should leave us built and encouraged and strengthened and empowered and ready for the year ahead rather than just nursing a headache in a credit card bill. That's not a good deal when the greatest story ever told, the greatest credit card bill ever seen, doesn't match up. And that's what I like about that video, if we could have seen it fully. It takes what's actually plain in the scripture, takes away all the layers of glitter that have been put on it over the years and it roots it in the experience of real life. The first Christmas was rooted in the experience of a real couple. And it's so hard to get behind what they actually felt away from the magic of the Christmas cards. And many times religious tradition can separate important things from reality. Jesus has a way of connecting and including and uniting things with reality, of bringing us. That's why Christmas is Emmanuel, God with us, not God out there, God somewhere there, God somewhere to be found, but God with us, God coming close, God alongside, God in it with us. The creator of the universe, he said, the maker of all planets is pushed in a buggy and laid in a basket. They had buggies in those days, but you know what I mean, is bringing it into the real life of the everyday. There's nothing separate or aloof or unreachable about this God. He's presented himself in the humblest form and destroyed all natural preconceptions about the way God will introduce himself to us if he does. Which God could actually do that? Who could actually write this? Who could actually imagine this story except that it come from the heart of God himself, that he would become a baby and be born in humility, born in poverty, born against misunderstanding, born in shame, born against the background of a young couple that are thinking, what on earth is going on with our lives? And yet God in the middle of it all, God with us, Emmanuel. Christmas tells us that he doesn't wait to be invited. You know, one of the things that evangelists often have said over the years, I've heard it many times, is that God is a gentleman. He waits to be invited. He waits until we open up our hearts to him and then he comes in. Well, Christmas tells us actually that's not quite true. He doesn't wait to be invited. He comes even when we don't want him. He comes even when we're dead in our sins. He comes even when we're lost in our transgressions. He comes when we're drowning in the confusion of our circumstances and the mess of our lives. He steps into our lives when we didn't even think of inviting him. We didn't even think we wanted him. We perhaps even thought he was responsible for the mess that we're in. And yet he comes in to introduce himself on a normal night, born to a young woman whose life has been thrown into absolute chaos through her encounter with God. You're gonna have a baby, Mary. Oh, good news, let's have a celebration. From that moment, everything went wrong. And yet, when all the pieces fall into place, when she understands the magnitude of what has happened to her and who it is that she's carrying in her womb, what happens? Worship comes out of her heart. Her heart explodes with worship. She glorifies God. I heard Sam Ward from the message trust saying the other day that perhaps we might say, if we were in Mary's position, God, you've ruined my life. But she says, my soul glorifies the Lord. That's the connection. That's what happens when in the middle of that confusion, we meet God. There's not that separation that, you know, how do we work this out? How do we come to a point of worship? In actual fact, that is the moment when she suddenly, her eyes are open. She doesn't have answers to all the questions. She doesn't understand what's happening. She doesn't know what her future holds. She doesn't know what this means to give birth to this baby. She knows that there's a lot of trouble ahead. But at that moment, her heart says, my soul glorifies the Lord. And you see, worship doesn't happen when we've got everything together and we feel ready. Worship happens when we finally see God, see God himself even in the middle of our mess and our chaos and our fear and our insecurity and our shame and our upset and everything else. It's that moment of seeing God when all those other things fall away and say, well, my soul glorifies the Lord. And we stand in the middle of it all with all the debris around us. And we say, God, you are great. You have come into my life. You are God, Emmanuel. You are with me in all of this. If you've ever been on the London Underground, whenever a train pulls into the station and the doors open, there's a recorded voice that says, mind the gap. Sound familiar? I grew up down there, so I know it all. It used to be easy to get to London. Now it's not so easy. Mind the gap. And it made me smile as I thought about this because I realized that there's actually no warning for us when we come to God, say, mind the gap, because there's no gap anymore. God has come right close. And actually, religion, traditional religion relies on there being a gap, relies on there being a chasm, relies on there being something to do in order to cross that divide. And yet, there is no gap anymore. Emmanuel, God with us is not something for those who've got it all together. It is good news of great joy for all the people, often reflected on that. When the angels come, the first thing they do, they don't say, right, let's sit down and talk about how we're going to access this blessing of God. They just say, good news of great joy for all the people. A Savior is born. For who? For all the people. Good news of great joy. And we look at the gap sometimes. We stare at what the gap that we imagine, but there isn't one. Mary had a lot of fear, no doubt. There must have been a lot of tears. There must have been a lot of anguish. There must have been a lot of uncertainty, as I've already said. And yet, in that moment, she realized there was no gap between her and God, that there was no sense that she had to sort all this out. She had to understand it. She had to figure it out. She had to find the keys. She had to take some steps. She had to do a number of things in order that she could get herself to a position where she could open up her heart in worship. It was at that moment that her eyes were opened, she saw God, and she said, my soul glorifies the Lord. And God says, do not be afraid. He means there's nothing to be afraid about. You are free to trust me, free to worship, free to praise. No ifs, no buts, no maybes, no gap. God with us, Immanuel. That's the beauty of Christmas. And we can disqualify ourselves from Christmas. I don't like Christmas, but, you know, life has been difficult. Life is a challenge. There's no magic for me in Christmas, but there is a wonder in God coming to us. It doesn't matter whether we've had a perfect life and a perfect understanding and a perfect experience of Christmas, or everything about it makes us want to run away and hide. Yet, for each of us, there is an opportunity to meet with God because He is God with us, Immanuel. Sometimes when God comes close to us, our first thought can be about sin. Oh no, what about sin? What about my sin? What about my shame? If God knew all about me, then He wouldn't, there wouldn't be this, the invitation would be canceled. But the wonderful thing about God coming without invitation is that He, it's because He already knows. He doesn't wait for the invitation because He knows we're not going to invite Him. He knows that we don't actually qualify, we don't actually have any reason why we should believe that God would actually want our worship, but so He comes to us and He closes that gap. And basically He says, I'm dealing with sin in order that you might be free to worship me. He has dealt with sin so that He can draw close. Good news of great joy for all the people. A Savior is born. That means that all of those things can be set aside in order that we might know God, in order that He might come close. We've never been able to solve the issue of sin and so God does it at His own initiative, comes close to us. So Mary responded as Jesus, as Jesus certainly came close to her, as the Spirit of God came close to her, Mary responded, oh how my soul praises the Lord, how my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He took notice of His lowly servant girl and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy and He has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things. He has scattered the proud and the haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped His servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For He made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever. And so the fantasy Jesus, the Christmas Jesus, the life that is suitable for worship is beyond us. But if we open our eyes we can see Him today. And there might be people here like I said that are thinking, well I can't, it's too far away, the gap is too big. Remember what I've said, there is no gap because Emmanuel has come to us. He comes to your life uninvited. He comes regardless of the situation. He comes regardless of the barriers because He said actually all of those things I've taken them in hand. I'm dealing with them in order that you might come close. And you think well I'm a million miles away from being able to worship like Mary. Imagine how Mary felt at that moment and yet as her eyes were opened her heart magnified the Lord. So the wonderful thing as God draws close is that He allows us to take our eyes off ourselves and to fix them firmly on Him. Matt Britton said in that video, in the name of everything we are, everything that defines our lives, He knows it all. He knows everything about us. There's nothing to hide. There's no point even trying to hide because He knows it all. He sees it all and then He comes close. Shepherds didn't receive the angels after an all night prayer meeting and a sacrificial offering. They were just sat doing what shepherds do, probably telling dodgy stories and lighting fires. And in the middle of it all the angels come and say good news, the Savior is born. It doesn't matter who you are or what your story is, God comes to you today. God comes to you at Christmas and He stays with us. He doesn't just visit for Christmas. Christmas can be a problem can't it with visitors? Lots of people come in. A few murmurs. But God comes to stay, comes to dwell, comes to live amongst us. You might have spent years trying to worship and being dragged down by that nagging sense of unrighteousness. We've been following the story of Abraham in Genesis and the covenant promises God made to him and how God credited his faith to him as righteousness. Those promises are real for us today. May Mary's last line in her song is simply this, for He has made this promise to our ancestors to Abraham and his children forever. We are living in the good of the promises God made to Abraham. The Mary's song can be our song. I'm just going to quote from that video. In a world that doesn't make sense, He's the gold and the frankincense. Overturning tables, turning the world upside down, right side up, bringing heaven to earth with a seasonal burst of Christmas. And in case you missed this, He makes Christmas every day. No, not in the shops or on the telly or the jingle-jangle of songs and sleighs and snow. No, in the stomachs of the hungry, in the arms of the lonely, in the hearts of the broken, Christ can be found. Knocking on doors, kicking on walls of a mother's womb, asking us to make room for a kingdom to be born in us and through us. And so we need to see for ourselves what Christmas means. Don't disqualify ourselves ever. Christmas is the great leveler. It's the thing that opens up the doors, the opportunity that Jesus says, I am coming. I am coming to you regardless. He isn't invited. He doesn't come according to our timetable. He doesn't come according to our agenda. He comes according to His will and to His purpose. And so as we see for ourselves what it means for Christ to be born among us, our hearts sing with what that means for us. But it also wakes us up to what we are about, that this Christmas, our purpose, our task, whether as individuals or as a church, is to bring Christ to birth again in our communities and in our world. Give birth to the kingdom, to the reality of God in our world. So we're not just celebrating Christmas or telling the story of Christmas, but we're agents of Christmas. We're people who have seen that God has drawn close and we know that actually He draws close to anybody who will see Him. Bringing Christ to birth in the heart of our neighborhood. Don't shut Him away. Let's see Him live in our communities. He makes Christmas every day in the stomachs of the hungry, in the arms of the lonely, in the hearts of the broken. Christ can be found knocking on doors, kicking on walls of a mother's womb, asking us to make room for a kingdom to be born in us and through us. That's the reality of Christmas. Applicable in any and every situation. Applicable in every tragic situation. Applicable in every lost situation. Applicable in every situation where people think, actually I've made a mess of it. And yet Jesus comes. Not only to us, but to all who will see Him. So we can find Jesus today in the midst of everything we have going on. And be part of seeing Him brought to birth in our families, in our workplaces, and in our neighborhoods. That's good news. Good news of Christmas. Good news of great joy for all the earth. A Savior is born. I don't know where you stand today, whether you've never, ever considered it, whether Jesus has been locked up in the stories of the past, in the stories of tradition. But maybe today might be a day like Mary had where your eyes open and your heart is ready to see and to accept that actually Jesus is not just this huge figure that people all around the world worship, but He's your Savior. He's one who draws close to you. He's Emmanuel, God with you in the midst of everything that you think of and everything that you come up with that says, actually not me. I don't qualify. I'm not good enough. Everything that you come up with, every barrier that you put in place, He sweeps away and says, actually, I'm coming. There is no gap. There is no distance. Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Did you know that about 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas? In the U.S., Christmas has become a largely cultural event filled with twinkling lights, jingle bells, and festive carols. While those traditions contain a special kind of magic, it's easy to let the busyness of the season overshadow the real reason we celebrate. In this episode, Amy and Sara share practical ways to slow down the holiday hustle and create meaningful moments with your kids that keep Jesus at the center of it all. From advent devotionals to baking, they offer 10 simple ways to shine a light on Jesus and make this Christmas not just merry, but deeply meaningful.Blog: 10 Ways to Keep Jesus at the Center of ChristmasAdvent Video Series by The Bible ProjectFree Family Advent Guide by LifewayBook: Advent Blocks Tradition SetCookbook: Bake through the Bible at ChristmasUnwrap Camp for Christmas--Questions of the Week: What is your favorite Christmas tradition that we do as a family, and why?--Hosts: Amy Lowe & Sara JonesProducers: Emily Alters & Cody Braun--Learn more about WinShape Camps at WinShapeCamps.org!Instagram: @WinShapeCampsTikTok: @WinShapeCampsFacebook: @WinShapeCamps

   Three weeks from today will be Christmas Day and I hope just those words bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart as you reflect on Christmases past in your life story. In our journey to Christmas 2024 we’re dealing with a Christmas Question each day. First was the question “WHY Christmas”? Yesterday was the question “WHAT is Christmas”? Today, here’s the question: “WHO is Christmas Jesus”? If you and I were to spend today asking THAT question of every person we meet all through this day, what answers do you suppose you’d hear? Most babies are named very near after their moment of birth. In the Jewish world the naming of a baby boy is a very special occasion and occurs at the time of his circumcision on the 8th day after his birth.  (Click here to see full text, images and links)   Today’s Scripture: Col. 1:15-17. Choose below to read or listen.​​Pastor Doug Anderson    “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)Have a comment or question about today's chapter? I'm ready to hear from you, contact me here. Interested in helping "Walking with Jesus" financially? Click here

Welcome to our special series, Understanding Christmas, as we consider 4 aspects of Jesus to prepare our hearts for celebration. We need to understand Jesus in order to understand Christmas, and the Bible Brief is here to help.Today, we consider Jesus as the creator and upholder of all things. Key Bible Readings: John 1, Colossians 1Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App!Support the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgThis episode primarily uses the ESV Bible translation, but may also use CSB, NASB, and NKJV.Search Tags: bible, beginner, bible verse, god, verse of the day, prayer, jesus, bible study, scripture, learn, bible introduction, introduction, intro to the bible, introduction to the bible, beginner bible, bible overview, how to read the bible, what is the bible about, bible story, bible stories, what is the bible, ...

Send us a textJESUS The Name – Part 1 Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart December 1, 2024 #God #realspringcreekchurch #christmas #thename #jesus #hopeHis name is, without a doubt, one of the most universally recognized names in all the world. Even now, 2000 years after His life, death and resurrection, Jesus occupies the place of central devotion in all His followers. But what is it about His name that is so unique? Why do Christians always pray in His name? What makes His name stand out above all other names?----DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. Pastor Keith mentioned in the introduction to the message that the Bible gives us 256 different names of Jesus. This series is only dealing with four of them. What other names does the Bible use to describe Jesus and what do those names mean to you?2. Praying in Jesus' name is not a tag line we attach to our prayers. What does it mean to pray in Jesus' name? How does this affect the way you see prayer in His name? Have you ever been so in tune with the will of God, that when an opportunity presented itself, you knew what needed to be said, prayed for or done? What was that like? What was the result?3. Unless we read Scripture through Jewish eyes, we will miss so many details that are important in the narrative we are reading. After seeing the connection between Joshua and Jesus, what were some of your key takeaways from those parallels? Had you made this connection before? In the gospels, what other things are you aware of that are connected in some significant way to the Jewishness of the writers and the story they are telling? 4. In the last section of the message, Pastor Keith talked about salvation that Christ has made available to all who call on His name. He also shared about His own conversion experience. In the time remaining, those of you who are comfortable doing so, share about your own experience of coming to know God. When did it happen? How did it happen? If someone asked you, “How can I be saved?” What would you tell them?

Landon Coleman

December 1: Hope We Can Trust Isaiah 9:1-7; Roman 5:1-5 We all know what it is to be disappointed. We've gotten our hopes up only to be let down. The Christmas story is for people who have had their hopes crushed. The gift of Christmas is a reason to hope again. Because of that baby in the manger, we have a hope we can trust. #Christmas #Jesus#churchonline WELCOME PAD / MY RESPONSE -- Use this link to respond to the sermon, request prayer, or to give tithe/offerings online: https://northridgefellowship.churchce... I'M SAYING YES TO JESUS! https://northridgefellowship.churchce... MORE SERVICE INFO AND INTERACTION: https://northridgefellowship.org/watch/#Biggerstory#Jesus#churchonline WELCOME PAD / MY RESPONSE -- Use this link to respond to the sermon, request prayer, or to give tithe/offerings online: https://northridgefellowship.churchce... I'M SAYING YES TO JESUS! https://northridgefellowship.churchce... MORE SERVICE INFO AND INTERACTION: https://northridgefellowship.org/watch/

Landon Coleman

Zach and Allison discuss what it's like to balance working together and staying married to one another. Also, discover what motivated them to write Red Letter Advent, why you should take your church through the Advent journey, discovering the meaning behind hope, peace, joy, and love. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Thanks to our sponsor today Red Letter Living. We create resources that help people become greater disciples of Jesus. This podcast is one of them. But our newest resource, which is available now for ordering, is Red Letter Advent. This thing is hot off the press! Red Letter Advent is a 25-day devotional that is perfect for your church. For December 1-25, readers will be invited to unbox the four gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus so desperately wants for them to not only open but give away to others. Not only will readers go through a powerful journey but so will the whole church. Alongside the book, we provide every other resource your church would need for FREE for a powerful month of December. I'm talking sermons, small group videos (or for those that do midweek, you can use them for your midweek offerings), kids curriculum, daily family questions, graphics, you name it. It's going to be an epic month of December. Now, here's the deal. Because we have seasonality of this product, we did a presale and we only have very limited copies available. So, first-come, first-serve. Get them now. You can check out our bulk pricing and all of the FREE resources we are building for this project at www.redletteradvent.com. So, get in now, today, you can't wait any longer, and lock your church into a powerful month of December with Red Letter Advent. You can find all the details at www.redletteradvent.com. That's redletteradvent.com.Resources mentioned in the episode: Devotions by Mary OliverRed Letter Advent Advent BlocksKey insights from the episode: Your wife's opinion should count at least double everyone else's because she's the one still sticking around at the end of the day. - Zach ZehnderYou never make something from scratch: you either learn from the school of hard knocks or you are doing a lot of research. - Allison ZehnderThe wonderful thing about writing is that there is a backspace button. - Allison ZehnderWrite something every day. - Allison ZehnderIn all the glitz of Christmas, don't forget the why. - Zach ZehnderRed Letter Advent helps church leaders focus on the most important thing at Christmas: Jesus. - Zach Zehnder. Zach and Allison Zehnder's Challenge: Make a plan for Advent this year. Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don't know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it's free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why the Jesus of Easter is "better" than the Jesus of Christmas.

Episode #293In today's consumerist culture, the true meaning of Christmas is often forgotten - Jesus is the reason for the season. Jesus is the ultimate gift. Our joy should come from His presence, not just the presents under the tree.Ryan provides 3 miraculous reminders about Jesus this Christmas:Jesus' birth was prophesied hundreds of years in advance - over 300 prophecies exist about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection in the Old Testament.Christ's death and resurrection opens the door for us to have a relationship with God. When we repent and accept Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, we can have eternal life.The entire Bible is a picture book of Jesus, with people and events throughout pointing to the coming of the Messiah.Ryan also spotlights a Christmas display his wife made that keeps Christ at the center. It includes Bible verses, a manger scene, activities for kids, and reminders like "Jesus is the reason for the season."This Christmas, we need to remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate. He deserves our focus more than consumerism and gift-giving. Christmas begins with Christ!Watch this episode on YouTubeSharable Episode Links (scroll down or search for this episode): Ryan's Website Buzzsprout Link MORE FROM RYAN: FREE DOWNLOAD: 21 Days to a Spirit-Led Life Subscribe on YouTubeTwitter | Instagram | LinkedInSubmit a question or topic for the podcast at ryanshoward.com/contactGet Ryan's eCourse & Coaching ProgramsSupport the show

Whether you laugh or cringe, we're all familiar with fictional NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby's prayer to “Dear 8lb, 6oz newborn infant Jesus.” When he said “I like the Christmas-Jesus best,” he said out-loud what many of us think internally. Christmas-Jesus is adorable, cute, and easy to imagine. We keep the Jesus of our faith small and contained, like an ancient fairy-tale we recite to get warm feelings. While we should embrace the wonder of God-made-flesh, we also need to remember that this infant is our King, and he calls us to follow him with our whole lives. We're in danger of exchanging a child-like fiath for a childish faith. If you're new with us, or looking to take a next step, or even to let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by texting "WHATSNEXT" to 94000 or visit https://southhillschurch.churchcenter...—To give with us select the Give tab on the Church Center App or visit www.southhills.org/give and select the Corona Fund or Corona BOW Fund—Visit our Linktree to find out more about everything mentioned in today's message or follow along with the message slides:https://linktr.ee/SouthHillsCorona —To RSVP for On-Campus Events select the Events tab on the Church Center App or visit https://southhills.org/corona/

Merry Christmas! Thank you for celebrating the Christ of Christmas at this special Christmas Eve Service. My hope and prayer is that you experience the love and grace of God as you realize that Christmas is for you. The greatest Gift of all has been given to you this Christmas – Jesus, God's own Son. As the angel announced, Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you (Luke 2:11). Jesus has come “to you.” May this be your best Christmas yet as you receive the Gift of Jesus in your heart and live your life for His Name and Glory. This is where you truly become alive!At Rolling Hills, our desire is to help you grow in your relationship with God. This comes first through a personal relationship with Jesus. Next, God may be calling you to be baptized as an outward expression of your inward personal commitment. Then, you join the church and lock arms with other Christ-followers as you grow spiritually. Finally, we want to help you take a Daily Step spiritually, and we have a guide to help you read the Bible every day.I'm praying that this Christmas and next year will be your best yet! I encourage you and your family to get involved at church. Every Sunday morning, there is amazing worship, Bible teaching, preschool, children, and kid's ministry to help you all grow in your faith journey. Putting God first in your life will help you spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. In addition, this will help you grow stronger in all your personal relationships with your family, friends, marriage, and children. God has a great plan for your life, so trust and grow in Him.In January, we are beginning with a study on Heaven. Make a commitment to be a part of this four-week series as we start a new year. Overall, just know how much God loves you. You are so special to Him that He sent His one and only Son for you. This is why we celebrate Christmas, and I pray you will experience His love and come fully alive in your life. Blessings on you & Merry CHRISTmas!

During this message, we look at the traditional Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke. Day one of the Christmas story involves...awkward timing and average companionship. Pastor Mark Pope through these two important points, as we finish our series, Messy Christmas. Full Service

The Priorities Of Christmas | JESUS by Pastor Dan DeBell

I wonder sometimes, if a lot of us like Christmas Jesus, more than we love grown-up Jesus? And so Christmas might be our once a year opportunity to think about this sweet cuddly baby Jesus who isn't old enough  to know our minds, or strong enough to change our ways, or holy enough to convict our hearts. But I believe that we miss the true story of Christmas, if we don't let the baby grow up!In Psalm 23, David describes the grown-up Jesus as a Shepherd. And he declares this truth, "If the Lord is my shepherd, I will lack nothing." Now that's a counter-cultural Christmas message, but if it's true, then all I want, really want for Christmas...is Jesus. 

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob's Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here