November 27 2016 Preparing For The Christ Of Christmas

PREPARING FOR THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:1-7 – In these days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was Governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS

Replace The Urgent With The Significant.

Matthew 6:34 – Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matt. 6:33 – But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Replace Physical Preparation With Spiritual Preparation.

Colossians 3:2 – Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Replace The External Side Of Things With Internal sides.

Verse 7 – No room in the Inn.

Lamentations 3:40 – Let’s take a good look at the way we are living and re-order our lives under God.

Replace The Superficial With The Super-Natural.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.

1. Sit.

2. Listen.

3. Chose the best.

December 13 2015 Christmas Is Time To Seize The Moment

Christmas Is...Time to Seize the Moment!

Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.  She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.  But Martha was distracted by all her preparations that had to be made.  She came to Him And asked, ‘Don’t You care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!’   ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.’”

THE BATTLE FOR THIS MOMENT: A FILTER

1. REPLACE THE URGENT WITH THE SIGNIFICANT

verse 39 “She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.”  

Matthew 6:34 (Msg) “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up 

2. REPLACE PHYSICAL PREPARATION WITH SPIRITUAL PREPARATION

Verse 40 “But Martha was distracted by all her preparations that had to be made.” 

Colossians 3:2 (Msg) “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.  Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is.  See things from 

3. REPLACE SELF-ABSORPTION WITH PERSONAL REFLECTION

verse 40 “Don’t You care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  

verses 41-42 “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘You are worried and upset by so many things but only 

4. REPLACE THE SUPERFICIAL WITH THE SUPERNATURAL

verse 42 “Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.”  

HOW NOT TO MISS GOD’S PRESENCE AND PURPOSE THIS CHRISTMAS

1. “SIT” = slow down

Pray
Connect
Serve

2. “LISTEN” = open up.  

Inspect
Correct
Direct

3. “CHOOSE WHAT IS BETTER” = Don’t miss the moment

Relationships
Spiritual Renewal
Transformation

May 4 2014 The Source Of Self Confidence

The Source of Self Confidence 

Verse 5 – My God has been my strength. (Confidence.)

Unreliable sources of self-confidence

1. Appearance

Proverbs 31:30 – Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn’t last.

1 Samuel 17:7 – Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

2. What I own

Proverbs 11:7 – Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing.

3. Achievement

Jeremiah 9:23-24 – The Lord says wise men should not boast of their wisdom, nor strong me of the strength, nor rich men of their wealth. If anyone wants to boast, he should boast that he knows me and understands me.

Luke 16:15 – For what men think is of great value is worth nothing in God’s sight.

The reliable sources of confidence

1. God made you unique

Psalm 9:5 – You (God) made man inferior only to yourself, you crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 139:13 – You (God) created every part of me, you put me together in my mother’s womb.

2. Jesus died for you

Romans 5:8 – God has shown us how much He loves us. It was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us.

1 Peter 1:18-19 – God paid a ransom to save you. He paid for you with the precious life-blood of Christ.

3. God has a plan for your life.

Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Corinthians 12:4 – God gives us many kinds of special abilities but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.

2 Thessalonians 2:17 – May our Lord Jesus Christ inspire you with courage and confidence in every good thing you say or do.

December 8 2013 Experiencing The Christmas Moment

THE BATTLE FOR THIS MOMENT

Replace The Urgent With The significances.
Verse 39 – She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.
Matthew 6:34 – Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Replace Physical Preparation With Spiritual preparation.
Verse 40 – But Martha was distracted by all her preparations that had to be made.
Colossians 3:2 – Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Replace The External Side Of Things with the internal. 
Verse 40: - Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!
Verse 41 & 42 – Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, You are worried and upset by so many things but only one thing is needed.
Lamentations 3:40 – Let’s take a good look at the way we are living and re-order our lives under God.

Replace The Superficial With The super natural.
Verse 42 – Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.

Sit – slow down.

Listen to Jesus.

Choose what’s better.