Five Words Rather than Ten Thousand

Spiritual Emphasis Month 2020 Verse of the week: 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. Jan 1 Read Psalm 1-3; Proverbs 1 Download a free audio Bible at https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/audio-bibles/download/eng/engesvn2da Also available as an app for your smartphone (listen to it while you get ready in the mornings) Show your love by only saying positive things to your family and friends today. Pray: Give thanks for a new year. Thank Him for new opportunities. Jan 2 Read Psalm 4-6; Proverbs 2 Tell the person that you are closest to that you love them and do something that expresses your love. Pray: Tell God “thank you” for the freedoms we enjoy. Pray for our political leaders to have wisdom. Jan 3 Read Psalms 7-9; Proverbs 3 Call someone you love and pray for them over the phone. Pray: Ask God to help you this week to love othe

Thanks for the Present

Our Gift

1. Our Gift Luke 2:1-20 2. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Please stand and let’s read Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 3. Our Gift What was the best Christmas gift ever for you? 4. A moment in time Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 5. A good marker Quirinius-a trouble shooter for Augustus Census taker-12 BC to 16 AD Served twice as Governor of Syria Jesus’ DOB probably 6 BC 6. Familiar passage Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 7. Why Bethlehem? This was a small Judean village of probably 300 inhabitants was about six miles southw

Parents First Christmas

1. Parents’ First Christmas Stand for the reading of God’s word 2. Key concept Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 3. Parenting It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure 4. The right parents are crucial Mary and Joseph 5. Think God chose both 6. For all of us * Children are a gift from God * Kids, your parents have a God given responsibility for you. * Grandparents those grandbabies are God’s reward for not killing your kids during their teenage years 7. Historically first Christmas parents The first Christmas parents 8. Right names Yowceph Miriam 9. Home sweet home Nazareth 120-150 inhabitants Most were related Related to royalty 10. Economics Peasant class As an artisan Joseph made less than farmers Mary would have worked 10-12-hour days 11. Family life 12. Courtship Arranged marriage 13. Right Lineage Both from the line of King David Mary through David’

Surprise Gift Luke 1:5-25; 57-79

1. Surprise Gift Please stand and let’s read a scripture together 2. Key Concept The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 3. Surprise Gift Ever get a surprise gift? Birth of John the Baptist 4. The proud parents to be Zacharias- “remembered by YHWH,” priest, old man Elizabeth- “God fully satisfies,” wife of Zacharias, advanced in years Childless couple 5. How God saw them They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 6. A special day He was performing his priestly service before God …he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering 7. Something different happened And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 8. The angel Gabriel has a message Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, a

A Promised Gift