For four weeks, we have travelled in and out of the Christmas story, waiting to see not only the birth of Jesus, but also watching for what God wanted to give birth to in our lives. And now, Christmas is here! What has happened? What has God been saying to you? How has Jesus entered into your life, and what difference does it make? 

The story that we rehearse at Christmas isn’t just a tale that we dust off once a year. It’s a story that reshapes us. It’s a story that is meant to be lived. We experience the wonder of Christ coming TO us, and then we’re sent out with Christ living IN us and working THROUGH us, so that everyone we meet can experience the miracle of Christmas, of God coming to dwell with them. 

Listen to “All Glory Be to Christ” by King’s Kaleidoscope to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

It was another morning drop off and, as was the routine, young Daniel gathered his bookbag and his lunch and set to venture into another day of school. As he stood within the car door opening performing his check for all things elementary, he looked back inside the car toward his faith-filled mom to get the most important things he would bring to school that day: “I love you, Daniel. Have a great day. Don’t forget who you are and whose you are.”

Who are you? And whose are you? The answer to those two questions influences everything.

Listen to The One Who Saves / O Holy Night from the Colors of Christmas Mountain Worship album to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

Jesus’ story is not something that will remain in the dark. Sure, he was born in an out-of-the-way town in a back-alley barn, but his arrival has implications for all the earth. The news is starting to spread--both wide, to the farthest regions, and high to the upper echelons of society. Upon hearing it, there are two basic responses: One: to be hopeful and moved to worship, or Two: to be disturbed and bent on destroying him. Now, everyone—the Magi, King Herod, the leaders in Jerusalem—rightly recognizes what is going on here. A new ruler has arisen. He will be the shepherd—the leader—directing the people in the way they should go. He will hold sway and do whatever God has set out for him to do. To some, that is better news than to others.

Consider today, how do you receive this news? 

Listen to “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Sarah McLachlan to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

At the time of Jesus’ purification at the Temple, there was a woman there who “continually lived in the presence of God,” worshipping night and day. Isn’t it interesting that she knows something about this small child that others may have missed? It seems as if God reveals his secret purposes to those who live in his presence, and this woman knew that the redemption of God’s people would be found in this child, Jesus, whose very name means “The Lord Saves”. At this moment, she becomes hopeful that God is active and is going to redeem his people. And because of what she knows of Jesus, she can’t help but spread the word.

Listen to “What Child is This?” by Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

The season of Advent triggers a deep sense of longing and eager anticipation. This time of year at its essence is about the birth of our only source of hope, Jesus Christ, who would go on to free us from sin and death once and for all with His sacrifice on the cross, and will return again to permanently defeat sin and establish His Kingdom here on earth. However, it’s important to remember that during this season of longing and waiting, the Lord has sent you on a mission with all the tools you’ll need to succeed. 

Listen to “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

In this Psalm 72, David expresses his longing for a King that will bring God’s ultimate, of a world set right. He’s anxious for a King who will lead God’s people in all of the Lord’s ways. He longs for a ruler that will bring the gospel—or good news—proclamation and also foster moral transformation of all societies. No earthly ruler like this fully exists, of course. But at Christmas we celebrate the one and only King who checks every box on this list. Jesus is the only one who can live up to the hope that Psalm 72 holds out for us. 

Listen to “He Has Come For Us (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)” by Meredith Andrews to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

The winter solstice will arrive next week with the longest period of darkness of any day of the year. And sometimes life can mirror this darkness as we reflect on painful parts of the year or when we’re lonely and have trouble capturing the cheeriness of the season. But Christmas brings light to people in darkness. Isaiah announces that even though we may be living in a land of deep darkness, a new light has dawned. And we light candles and we hang lights at Christmas to proclaim that this new light is Jesus Christ!

Listen to Sufjan Stevens, What Child is This, Anyway? to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

In sending Jesus, God announced that he was putting the world back together. He would redeem and restore and heal what sin has so thoroughly damaged. He would bring us back home into a relationship with him. The coming of Jesus is indeed meant to signal “Joy to the World!”, for God is faithful and “even those who go out weeping...will return with songs of joy.”

Listen to “Joy to the World” by Pentatonix to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

The book of John views the Christmas Story from a different perspective. John uses figurative language to describe Jesus’ birth, saying “the eternal Word of God came in the flesh and lived among us.” What an incredible mystery!

May you find joy today in knowing that the light of Christ has come to you. Receive it. Recognize it. And walk in the light. And may you be reminded that God sent his son so he could invite you into his family and call you his child. Accept him. Believe in him. And embrace your identity as a child of God.

Listen to “Born is the King” by Hillsong to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.

Luke makes it clear that everyone is invited to the party, Jesus’ birthday party that is – even the shepherds. And the good news of great joy for all people is that the Messiah is finally here! This great joy is available for ALL people – even those stuck in sin patterns, addiction, broken relationships, and emotional pain- for you and me. Author Frederick [BEEK-NER] writes in his memoir Sacred Journey, “There can be no real joy for anybody until there is joy finally for us all.” That joy for all of us is found in Jesus, the Messiah!

Listen to “The First Noel” by Boyz II Men & Kenny Rogers to continue your reflection time with a moment of worship. All songs mentioned in the Advent Reflections Podcast can be found on Mountain’s YouTube Channel at MountainCC.org/YouTube or on Spotify by searching for the playlist “MCC Advent.” 

Mountain is one church with multiple locations. Come and be part of a community of people on the journey to discover more about Jesus. Everyone's welcome. Find out more about in-person and online service times and locations at MountainCC.org.