This year we decided to go big & have 3 services for our Christmas Eve Celebration! The day started out great as I broke in my brand new wedding/funeral suit with a... wedding. After running around like crazy leading up to the services, I was feeling a little stressed to be quite honest. I got pumped when I walked through the doors and witnessed all of our leaders (people that serve) stepp'in it up big time. So many people took time out of their day to either prepare the table (the local church) or bring people to it! Almost 700 people filled our 3 services with 4 people making decisions to follow Christ! So thankful for a great team and a great church family that is passionate about doing whatever it takes to help people hear the good news of Jesus Christ! In all honesty, I'm pretty tired from this year, it's been full of a variety of challenges. It's been full because of another precious baby in our family! Even though I'm pretty tired, I'm also feeling really inspired from this year because we've witnessed 210 people make decisions to follow Jesus and 66 of them take a step of obedience and become water baptized! Absolutely incredible! What a privilege and honor to serve Jesus!
Back to Christmas Eve... if you missed our Christmas Eve service, here are the notes from my message that I adapted from Rick Warren's fantastic book, "The Purpose Of Christmas." Take some time to read through the scriptures as you spend time studying God's Word this week! Merry Christmas!
The Second Purpose Of Christmas Is SALVATION.
“For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NASB)
1. JESUS CAME TO SAVE YOU FROM SIN.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Rom. 3:23
“Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That’s why He doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see His face.” Isaiah 59:2 (CEV)
“I’ve tried everything, nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?... The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.” Romans 7:24-25 (MSG)
2. JESUS CAME TO SAVE YOU FOR A PURPOSE.
“(GOD) saved us and called us to be His own people, not because of what we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9 (TEV) *see also Ephesians 1:11-12
3. JESUS CAME TO SAVE US BY HIS GRACE.
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Remember this... Grace is very simply God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Back to Christmas Eve... if you missed our Christmas Eve service, here are the notes from my message that I adapted from Rick Warren's fantastic book, "The Purpose Of Christmas." Take some time to read through the scriptures as you spend time studying God's Word this week! Merry Christmas!
The Second Purpose Of Christmas Is SALVATION.
“For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NASB)
1. JESUS CAME TO SAVE YOU FROM SIN.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Rom. 3:23
“Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That’s why He doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see His face.” Isaiah 59:2 (CEV)
“I’ve tried everything, nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?... The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.” Romans 7:24-25 (MSG)
2. JESUS CAME TO SAVE YOU FOR A PURPOSE.
“(GOD) saved us and called us to be His own people, not because of what we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9 (TEV) *see also Ephesians 1:11-12
3. JESUS CAME TO SAVE US BY HIS GRACE.
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Remember this... Grace is very simply God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense