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Weekend Recap – Losing Jesus?

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Yesterday’s sermon, Losing Jesus from Luke 2:41-52, is now online. In this sermon, I draw applications from Jesus’ parents losing Jesus to how we so easily lose the Gospel and drift from the core foundational realities that are to define our life. I think it was C.J. Mahaney who urged his listeners (in sermons on the Cross-Centered life from New Attitude 2001) to “tighten our grip on the Gospel — no days off allowed.” Too often we relax and subtly drift from the message of first importance. This was the heart of my sermon: for you to not drift from the Gospel but to hold fast to it.

I know we had a lot of people out visiting family, as well. I hope you had a great weekend and continue to delight in your Savior through these days.

What Christmas Is All About…

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…from someone who researched the matter fully:

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

— Luke 2:1-20

Is ‘zat you Santa Claus?

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Lots of confusion about, as the guy asks on top of the Polar Express on one’s “opinion on the big man”. Kevin DeYoung gives us great help with this two part series on Santa Claus with the Baby in Bethlehem. Here’s his brilliant conclusion:

So this Christmas, give gifts if you like. We will in our family. Receive them all with thanksgiving. But do not forget what we need most–salvation from our sins. This is one gift the real St. Nicholas would not have overlooked. In fact, I’m convinced, if given the opportunity, he would have loved to be there with the shepherds and the angels, bowing down around the manger in Bethlehem. And I bet he would have brought a present too.

Kevin DeYoung “Santa Claus with the Baby in Bethlehem” (Part 1, Part 2)

Mapping America…

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Darrin Patrick author of Church Planter and Pastor at The Journey in STL tweeted this NT times tool “Mapping America.” You basically can enter a zip code and it shows you the “neighborhood demographics” for where you live. When I entered the ones for our town, I was struck by the need and the “lostness” that exist here. Oh that God would allow us to reach these so that His glory is seen.

A Gift Idea (yes, it’s do-able even this late in the game)…

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…a gift of grace in the words we say. In a blog post from earlier this month, C.J. Mahaney offers this wise counsel: “Buying the appropriate Christmas gift for someone requires that we know and study them. But this is no less true of our conversations.

So as you consider certain individuals, and seek to buy meaningful gifts for them, also consider how you can give them grace through your words.”

It’s not too late, you can impart this gift every day.

Hope for the “Average” Church…

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You might know that “the median church in the U.S. has 75 regular participants in worship on Sunday mornings.” (Stats here) While many pastors would love to be in the mega-church, the simple fact of the matter is that many are called to more “meager pastures.”

I found great hope and encouragement, therefore, in a message given at the 2010 Sovereign Grace Pastor’s Conference entitled, “The Advantage of the Small(er) Church“. We often don’t think of smaller churches as having much to offer. But, Loftness, with typical Sovereign Grace Ministries humility, finds the evidences of grace prevalent in churches of this size and urges us to get after our Lord’s work with renewed vigor. I think leadership teams, in particular, of smaller churches would benefit from this message.

Now is the time…

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…to invite people to church…

So says Doug Wolter:

I saw this statistic today and thought it was worthy to share:

Top Five Times People Are Open To Considering Matters Of Faith…

* #5 – After the birth of a baby (28%)
* #4 – After a natural disaster (34%)
* #3 – After a major national crisis i.e. 9/11 (38%)
* #2 – During the Easter season (38%)
* #1 – During the Christmas season (47%)

Might be a time to see if others would join you to celebrate the Savior!

Weekend Recap – Peace

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Today’s in the books and to recap the Lord’s day, had a fine AM, looking at Peace from Luke 2:13-14. Our world’s definition of peace and the peace that comes from God are two different things. Jesus came so that we might have open access to God Himself. It is only through Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins, that the unrighteous are made righteous. It was an amazing morning.

Tonight, our church gathered and we worshipped using Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God music. Our people always walk awed by God and His descending to earth for us through this musical. At any rate, we’re full. Looking forward to a great week celebrating these foundational truths.