Sermon Reflections from Finding Joy | Sara Wade | December 17, 2023
The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 1 to 14, encapsulates the timeless story of Christmas. It's a narrative that transcends time, culture, and creed, resonating deeply with the essence of hope, love, and the divine. On Sunday Sara dived into this sacred passage and unpack the profound significance it holds. Here are some reflections based upon her message. A Journey of Faith The passage opens with a pivotal moment in history, highlighting the reign of Caesar Augustus and the decree for a census to be taken. Joseph and Mary, residing in Nazareth, embark on a journey to Bethlehem, the city of David, as mandated by the decree. This journey, albeit seemingly mundane, foreshadows a greater plan—a divine design set in motion long before the foundations of the world. The Mundane and the Miraculous At first glance, the setting appears mundane—an ordinary couple embarking on a mandatory journey for a census. Joseph and Mary's arduous trek to Bethlehem seems unremarkable, yet it sets the stage for an extraordinary event—the birth of Jesus Christ. Joy in Humble Beginnings The divine birth occurs not in a palace or amidst grandeur, but in a humble stable. A place no one would consider looking for a king, a messiah, or even a baby. The contrast is striking—a king wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger. This juxtaposition teaches us a powerful lesson about joy—it's often found in simplicity, humility, and unexpected places. You ever try to find Joy in stuff, people, money, or things?!? We tend to find ourselves woefully disappointed. But when we find joy in Jesus it feels different. Divine Revelation and Joy Amidst the serenity of the night, an angel appears to shepherds, bringing the incredible news of the Savior's birth. God brought a multitude of angels. It was the greatest spectacle this world has ever seen. The celestial proclamation illuminates the darkness and fills the shepherds with awe and joy. Their ordinary night is transformed into a moment of divine revelation, emphasizing that joy often arrives unexpectedly, transcending the ordinary and mundane. You could not hold back this announcement... The greatest news that has ever been given or will ever be given was being proclaimed. As the angelic message resonates, a multitude of heavenly hosts join in praising God. Their chorus heralds the birth of the Savior and echoes the joy that permeates the heavens and the earth. This celebration underscores the magnitude of joy that accompanies the revelation of God's grace and love. Lessons for Us: Finding Joy The story of the shepherds serves as a beacon, guiding us in our quest for joy. It teaches us that joy is not confined to extraordinary circumstances or monumental achievements. Instead, it's present in the simple, everyday moments—the beauty of nature, the warmth of relationships, and the kindness we share. Moreover, this narrative encourages us to be open to the miraculous amidst the routine. Just as the shepherds encountered a divine revelation in their ordinary lives, we, too, can find joy in unexpected places, in the midst of our daily routines. Think about what God has blessed you with today? Perhaps a roof over your head, food, clothes, family, animals, friends, and so much more. Every day is another opportunity to discover Joy. Celebrating Joy at Christmas As Christmas approaches, let's reflect on the joyous revelation of Christ's birth. Let's embrace the spirit of joy by acknowledging the blessings around us, fostering gratitude, and sharing love and kindness with others. In doing so, we align ourselves with the profound joy emanating from the story in Luke. Let's remember that true joy isn't confined to a specific season but is a continuous journey—an attitude of the heart that finds delight in the miraculous and the mundane alike. May this Christmas season be a reminder to seek and celebrate the joy that surrounds us—a joy that mirrors the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, bringing light and hope into our lives. Merry Christmas and Blessings, Pastor Alex MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Embracing Peace | Alex Hardt | December 10, 2023
I love the Advent season and marvel each year at the symbolism in the candles on the simple Advent Wreath. This Sunday’s candle is the Bethlehem Candle and is known as the candle representing the peace that is to be found through the coming Christ child. Pastor Alex points us to Isaiah 40:1-5. The peace that Christ brings into the world is promised to us in the Old Testament. We are promised in verse 5 “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” Christ came and brought peace, love, restoration, forgiveness and hope. The questions are: Are you prepared to access this peace and if you find it what will you do with it? How can you access the peace of God? Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Here specifically we are told that the source of peace is Jesus. He generates the peace we feel in our lives. No Jesus=No peace. Paul adds to this in Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Philippians 4:7 “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” The peace we receive in Jesus is available through faith in Jesus because of what Christ did for us on the cross. Jesus told us in John 14:27 that His peace is a gift to us for our peace of mind and heart! “I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. What a wonderful gift. The peace Jesus give though faith is limitless. It can be accessed at any time and in in any place. Since He is always with you, you can tap into this peace whenever you need it. Are you to busy or preoccupied with life to worry about His peace? Do you then let the stresses and worries of your daily life and interactions get the best of you and overwhelm you? Remember you can access God’s peace anyplace or time. Don’t let the world overcome you and drag you down. Take heart in Jesus’ peace and ask Him for it. What will you do with God’s peace given as a gift through faith? Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:7 above that . His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” We are to use His peace to keep our minds and hearts guarded from the world’s pressures so we can live for Jesus. Jesus added in John 14:27 “So don’t be troubled or afraid.” His peace is to keep our fears and worries away from our lives so we can focus on Him and be about doing His work in the world. Paul says in Romans 12:18 “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” God’s peace should be used to help us live rightly with others reflecting God in our lives. Hebrews 12:14 puts it this way “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” Being a Christian involves living at peace within ourselves and in community with others. His peace can be accessed 24/7 so it can and does help us live, cope, rejoice and flourish in the world in which we live. No Peace=worry, frustration, hopelessness, restlessness, just plain unhappiness. Peace with Jesus = hope, ability to cope with frustration, worries, restlessness, and unhappiness Jesus is the answer as in Him alone can Peace be found. Claim it in your life through faith in Jesus and then use it liberally throughout the day! Linda Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Awaiting Hope | Alex Hardt | December 3, 2023
What does hope mean to you? Is it in some person, thing or event? Or is it the biblical hope Paul speaks of in Romans 5:3-5 “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” The hope Paul describes comes from God and comes with persevering in Him. The Psalms have much to say about hope. Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” 33:20 “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” 52:9 “For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.” David saw God as the source of His hope no matter what the circumstances. Pastor Alex spoke about the darkness that surrounds us just like it surrounded Paul, David and Mary. Each one of them looked to God as the source of their hope. Mary was in a difficult position with an unplanned pregnancy by a young unwed mother. However, Mary’s focus on God and His provision for her far outweighs the darkness and obstacles she faced. God in His mercy sent an angel to speak to Joseph so he was told of the coming child. He was told to not be afraid to marry his betrothed Mary and that much blessing would come to him through this expected child. Mary’s response to the angel’s message was one filled with questions about how she could be with child, but her questions were not filled with doubt. She knew the power of God and believed in Him. She knew of the prophets, the Messiah that was to come, the miracles God had performed in her nation’s history and the power of God over life and death. Her response in Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” and later in her song known as the Magnificat shows her humility and the acknowledgement of God’s power at work in her. Luke 1:46-49 “And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. Mary allowed her hope in God, His power, might, love and knowledge of His compassion to sustain her through the difficult times ahead. She had many obstacles to overcome but God was with her. I’ll ask again, Where do you place your hope? Can you access the hope you have in God through your past experiences? Paul had many harrowing experiences as he walked with Jesus. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.” Even in all this Paul’s testimony remained strong as he testified in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ Like Mary’s faith in God, Paul’s personal knowledge of Christ and faith brought him through very tough times. David likewise faced great difficulties in his life and clung to his love and knowledge of God. His hope was placed in God as he fought battles, faced giants, was persecuted, hunted by Saul and plagued with family difficulties. As the Psalms attest David knew God as his shield, guide, teacher, savior and hope. God promises to be with us in every circumstance. I love Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” All of us have thems in our lives. Our giants, persecutors, hardships and family difficulties are different but we can claim God’s protection as we belong to Him. We can trust Him like Mary, Paul and David. They knew He would never leave them or forsake them! He will not abandon you either. God is our hope in the midst of darkness, He is our LIGHT! Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflection from December 24, 2022 | The Jesus Perspective
Pastor Alex and his friend Bryson worked in tandem to deliver a compelling recap of all the sermons delivered during the Advent season. His emphasis throughout the month has been that knowing Christ will lead us to live wisely and differently from the world. It was clearly evident in all 4 examples. First, we saw the perspective of the Wise men as their story from Matthew 2:1-12 was read. The Wise men traveled a long distance in search of the child born ‘King of the Jews’. They gave their time to the search, resources and finally their gifts to the child. How are you like the Wise men? Do you seek to know Christ more fully by spending time in His Word? Do you use your resources to serve and help others? Do you give generously of what God has given you? Living wisely and differently involves giving generously of ourselves and our talents with a heart attitude of love and devotion to our Savior. Faith transforms our stingy, self-seeking hearts into ones filled with His love which spills out generously towards others. Second, Pastor Alex read the Shepherd’s story from Luke 2:8-20. Bryson showed us reasons why God would have chosen the lowly shepherds to be the first to worship the Savior. Their place in society was not one that was elevated, but it was one of value. The Christ Child came to all people to save them from their sins. He was needed to restore the relationship with mankind that was broken by the sin actions in the Garden of Eden. His position on earth was lowly born but He was of extreme value and had a high place in heaven. Things are not always what they seem as God uses whom He desires to bring His message to the world. Living wisely in light of the shepherd’s example means one must listen and respond to the Good News from heaven. Their response was immediate and heartfelt as they moved quickly to find the babe and experience for themselves the joy of seeing their Savior. Have you encountered Jesus in a personal way? Has it lead you to embrace the good news and display true joy in your life? Faith transforms our unresponsive hearts into ones filled with joy and a desire to spread the good news of Christ. The truths shown by Mary and Joseph’s part in this Christmas Story lead us to look at the ordinary in a different way. Both the Luke passage 1:30-35 and Matthew 1:18-25 show the encounter of the angel Gabriel with both Mary and Joseph. God chose ordinary people to bring His plan into being. They were devoted Jews but not kings, priests or landowners. By worldly standards they were just village people going about their lives serving God through their faith. God’s trust in them was a reflection of His love for them. How they were to serve Him was profound and challenging. Do you see yourself as one who can serve God? We can take a lesson from Mary and Joseph. Their faith and devotion to God allowed them to serve Him in an extra–ordinary way. Faith transforms our unwilling hearts into ones motivated by His love to do the incredible work He has planned for us. Lastly, Bryson had us look at Jesus and the encounter he had as a babe of just 8 days old. Simeon’s story was read from Luke 2:25-35. The Lord had revealed to Simeon that he would see the Christ, Messiah before he died. What we learn from his story about living differently is that we need to let God reveal Himself in our lives passionately. Our zeal for God should be evident in what we say and do. Our love for Him involves our whole being. Simeon lived his life trusting in God’s promise to him that he would see the Messiah. He lived in faith, knowing God was a promise keeping God and would reveal the Messiah to him. When he was confronted with baby Jesus at his naming ceremony, Simeon knew this was the child who would save all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. Faith transforms the doubting impatient heart into one filled with zealous passion for Him, belief in His promises and a desire to praise Him wholeheartedly. What kind of a heart is God revealing to you today? Is your heart like the Wise men filled with His love spilling out generously towards others? Like the shepherds which is filled with joy and a desire to spread the good news of Christ? Like Mary and Joseph’s hearts which were motivated by His love to do the incredible work He has planned? Or maybe your heart is like Simeon’s filled with zeal, belief in His promises and a passionate desire to praise God? I pray that your heart is like all of the above seeking to love and serve our Savior which is Christ the Lord. He is with us now. Look to Him and grab hold of His truth. It will transform your heart and life so that you can live differently and wisely for Him each day in 2023! By Linda Knight SERMON LINK This Christmas | The Jesus Perspective Click Here to View the Sermon Sermon series, "This Christmas" Today Alex and Bryson teach the Christmas Story If you are local, please join us for our weekly service. Our Sunday service is held at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflection from December 4, 2022 | The King’s Perspective
I loved Pastor Alex’s message on generosity which was shown to us as an example to follow by the Magi, Kings or Wise men. Just for fun this morning I looked up Magi in the dictionary. They are wise men, generally assumed to be 3 in number, who came to worship Jesus. They were thought to be Zoroastrian priests from ancient Media and Persia. Lastly, they were known to be astrologers. All of this fits with the story told in Matthew 2:1-12. Another thought is that these men who studied the stars had been influenced in earlier times by Daniel or Ezra or Nehemiah and that is how they had come to know of the coming birth of the “King of the Jews’. The thought that God used pagan kings, wise men to travel a great distance to worship His Son, speaks of the impartiality of God and His love for all mankind. His Son is meant to be worshipped by all people. Back to the heart of Pastor Alex’s message, generosity. How generous do you consider yourself to be? Does your generosity come from a desire to be recognized and thanked or from the heart in wanting to help and comfort others? Do you desire to please God? God desires for us to have generosity in our character as it comes from the heart of God and connects us to Him in a unique way. Our generosity is to be the result of being ‘in Christ’ and having the Holy Spirit indwell us. Believers have a spirit of generosity that is evident in their lives because they know Jesus! Psalm 112:5 “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” God’s Holy Spirit will be evident in our lives and gives us a spirit of generosity. Pastor Alex mentioned Proverbs 11:25, our memory verse for the week, “A generous person will prosper;whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” God promises to cause us to prosper and be refreshed when we are generous. Prosperity is not limited to material wealth but can include spiritual and emotional prosperity too! I love the promise in Proverbs 22:9 that God gives us about generosity. “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Sharing and giving brings blessings! Jesus is the root of our generosity. He is the one who gave it all for us, that we might know Him and have a relationship with him. Through and by God’s grace, we can be and are made generous if our hearts are willing. 2 Corinthian 9:11 puts it this way: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” God gives us the resources to practice generosity and that generosity should lead us to give thanks to God from which everything comes. Generosity comes from the heart of God and brings Him glory! So as we journey through this holiday season, take time to examine your motives for giving. Seek to align them with God’s desire for you, that you love Him and He is the reason for your generous spirit and giving. Then bask in the joy of giving as you seek to bring glory to God and bless others. Linda SERMON LINK This Christmas | The King's Perspective Click Here to View the Sermon Sermon series, "This Christmas" Today Alex teaches from Matthew 2:1-12 If you are local, please join us for our weekly service. Our Sunday service is held at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. On the fifth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me 5 golden rings. 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, And a Partridge...
Tis the Season! While this should be the season we celebrate Jesus, it tends to be the season of shopping, activities, and things like 5 golden rings (well, maybe not 5, perhaps 1, and I'm not sure I have ever bought 2 turtle doves). In any case, this season is not the O Come O Come Emmanuel that it originally was intended to be. Instead of Away in the Manger our Christmas Carol should be away with my pocket book. I’m not trying to make you feel bad for being excited about getting or giving Christmas presents. I'm inviting you to rediscover the reason for the season. In Matthew 2:1-12, We 3 Kings come to worship the new born king (historically we don't know if there was 3 or if they were kings, magi, or Wiseman). These Wiseman or kings had amassed a lot of wealth. And yet in the scriptures it says at the sight of the newborn king, Jesus, they collapsed with adoration and offered up all they had (Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh). They recognized, experienced, and received Jesus. As expensive as their gifts were, their gifts were measly offerings compared to the gift they were given by Jesus. No human gift could compare to the gift that God gave us through the birth of the newborn king, Jesus. A baby boy, God in the flesh, the one who came to redeem and rescue us from our sin. The one who would go to the Cross and take the punishment for the crimes we committed. Any gift, that had been given by the Wiseman was merely a response to what had already been given to them. Matthew 2:10-11 | When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. So this Christmas may your life be a reflection of the Gift that the One True King has given you. By Alex Hardt December Sermon Series Week 1 - The King's Perspective Main: Matthew 2:1-12 Memory: Proverbs 11:25 Week 2 - The Shepherd's Perspective Main: Luke 2:8-20 Memory: Psalm 139:23-24 Week 3 - The Family Perspective Main: Luke 1:30-35, Matthew 1:18-25 Memory: Ephesians 4:32 Week 4- The Jesus Perspective Main: Luke 2:25-35 Memory: Hebrews 4:14-15 |
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