Intentionally Keep One Christmas Decoration Out

intentionally

Christmas is over and the un-decorating now begins, making room for all of the new gifts we received for Christmas. How do we repack the ornaments? Where we store the lights? And what we do with the nativity scene? As you put the decorations away, let me challenge you to intentionally leave one of the items on display. 

When you pack your nativity scene and safely secure Mary, Joseph, and the manger, don’t put Jesus in the box.  At least metaphorically, keep Jesus unpacked throughout the year.

Often, we denounce our culture for “taking Christ out of Christmas.” But do we conveniently leave Christ out of our lives when it seems beneficial to do so? We stand firmly against those who have “taken prayer out of our schools.” But we do regularly pray with our children or pray privately in our prayer closets? We lament culture’s attempts to remove the Bible from public life. But do our Bibles gather dust on our end tables and shelves in our homes?

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Sunday Sermon – Life Is How You View It

We are faced today with two competing worldviews, two ways to view and interpret the realities around us and ascribe value and priorities to the days that lie ahead.

The meaning, purpose, and value of life comes into sharper focus when we view it through the lenses of a proper worldview.

 

Worldview #1 – The CHRIST-CENTERED Worldview

– based on a Relationship with Jesus
– is constantly growing in this relationship (John 3:30 – He must increase…)
– does not waver in commitment to Jesus – established

Worldview #2 – The SECULAR Worldview

– Pseudo-intellectual
– Man- Centered
– Devil-Driven

The Christian worldview is superior because Jesus has given us:

– full salvation
– total forgiveness
– ultimate victory

 

Sunday Sermon – What a Real Life Looks Like

We kickoff our series through the book of Colossians.  The theme is Life: More than a Game.  The book of Colossians reveals to us the mystery of the real life that God desires to give us.  This message opens up the book by looking at four characteristics of a real Christ-centered life:

 

 

Sunday Sermon – When It All Comes Together

What does the church look like when she functions the way Jesus designed?  Here is a look at four “snapshots.”

 

  1. Members are involved in ministry – vs 11-12
  1. Members are growing in more like Jesus – vs 13
  1. Members are grounded in sound doctrine – vs 14
  1. Members living Christ-centered lives – vs 15-16

 

 

The First Valentine

St. Valentine’s Day is one of the most highly celebrated times of the year. Who was St. Valentine anyway?

Valentine was a priest in Rome in the Third Century AD. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II, wanted to amass a powerful army, but could not get any volunteers. It seemed as though men wanted to stay home with their families. So, Claudius declared marriage to be illegal. Valentine defied the Emperor’s decree and secretly married young couples. He was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and on February 14, 269 he was beheaded. The jail keeper’s daughter visited him often and encouraged him. She too believed that true love was a just cause! The night before he was beheaded he left her a note thanking her for her encouragement and signed it “your dear Valentine.” Thus began a tradition!

What a challenge. What are we willing to risk to show love to others or to encourage others to love? The ultimate expression of love was when God sent His Son into the world to become the payment for our sins.Romans 5:8 says it this way, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Did you catch that qualifying statement? “While we were still sinners.” Now that is unconditional love. God does not wait for us to love Him; He takes initiative. God does not wait for us to straighten up; He loves us as we are. God does not love us partially; He went all the way to the cross with His love.

We can follow God’s loving example by loving unconditionally. We find it easy to love those we like, but what about those we do not like, even those who mistreat us? True love extends even to those who are different from us, indifferent about us, or unloving toward us. True love is given for no reasons, it is just given.

Let me encourage you to become a St. Valentine to several people this year. Take the initiative to love unconditionally and without thought of how your love will be received or if it will be requited. Find someone who NEEDS love, take a risk and SHOW them love. You may be surprised at the results. True love is indeed a just cause.