This year's Christmas Eve message is called Joey to the World.

When C.S. Lewis wrote his classic book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he picked up on the Biblical imagery that the Messiah is a Lion.  As he tells his story, he actually helps us understand Christ better, and why His arrival into our world at Christmas is so important.  

As we continue this Advent series on Who is the Messiah?, today we are talking about how the Messiah is a Servant.  Since we are called to be like Christ, it's important for us to understand Who He is, so that we can be like Him and live like Him.  Being a servant is central to Who Christ is.  

This is message #2 in our four week Advent message series on Who is the Messiah?  Today we are looking at the idea that the Messiah is the Creator.  

This is the first of four Advent messages.  Advent is the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Historically, it has been a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the birth of Christ.  We will be looking at four message on Who is the Messiah?  This is the first where we talk about how the Messiah is the Word of God.

With this message, we conclude our walk through the Old Testament book of Judges.  We look at the problems we find in the book and the solutions that the book points us towards.  The time of the Judges in Israel is much like the time we are living in today in the United States.  The lessons are as relevant today as they were back then.

The end of Samson's life achieved a victory in defeat.  His greatest achievement came in his death.  It is when we become weak that we become strong.  

Sometimes we have talent that we waste.  Sometimes we have knowledge and skills and relationships that we waste.  Some time we don't take full advantage of the opportunities that come our way.  This was true of Samson in the Old Testament.  He had this amazing strength, this amazing ability, but he wasted what God had given him, and he did not live up to his potential.  We don't want to do that.  Today, as we look at part of Samson's life, it is an encouragement to us to not waste our opportunities.

Many people feel a sense of hope about the birth of a baby.  It's a time that can bring excitement, fear, anxiety, and wonderment about the future.  In Judges 13, we read about the birth of Samson to his parents after his mother had been unable to get pregnant.  The announcement of his birth from the angel brought a great sense of hope to them.  And the story tells us some things about how God still works in our lives today.  

The story of King Midas from ancient Greek mythology has some connections with the story of Gideon in the Book of Judges.  It shows us the Danger of Success, the Danger of Desiring a King, the Danger of Acting Like a King, and the Danger of Judgment.  The message for us today is - Be Careful What You Wish For.