Small towns remember. 

Bethlehem’s memory. (Gen. 48:7; Ruth 1:1-2; Judges 12:8-10; 1 Sam. 16:1; 1 Chron. 11:26) 

Bethlehem’s hope! (Micah 5:2)

Bethlehem in New Testament times. (Lk. 2:1-7) 

Follow King Jesus, not King Herod. (Phil. 2:5-11) 

God is not impressed by a person’s image.  God looks at the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7)  

God keeps His promises. (Micah 5:2; Lk. 2:6-7) 

Next Step: 

The biblical Christmas story is not a short story!  (Gen. 1:1-4) 

Prophets:  People chosen by God to speak God’s truth.

The Prophet Isaiah:  A great light from God will come! (Isaiah 9:2)    

John the Baptist:  The great light from God is here! (Luke 1:78-79)                                              

Jesus is the light! (John 8:12; Psalm 119:105)

Jesus brings us into his light! (Eph. 5:8) 

Are you in darkness or the light? What’s your next step? 

Daily Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, I renounce the darkness and affirm that you are the light of the world!  Thank you that you give me the light that leads to real life – eternal life.  Show me ways I can shine your light on people you’ve placed in my life.  Amen. 

God’s children win!  (1 John 5:1-5)

The testimony about Jesus.  (1 John 5:6-12)

John’s wrote so we can be assured of eternal life!  (1 John 5:13-15)

God’s children move away from sin.  (1 John 5:16-19)

We find our home in Jesus Christ.  (1 John 5:20) 

A plea for faithful worship.  (1 John 5:21) 

Daily Prayer: 

Jesus, I trust you.  I believe you are the Son of God who died for my sin, and rose again to defeat the power of sin, death, and the devil.   I find my true home in you.  I trust your love for me.  Amen. 

What love looks like.  (1 John 3:11-24) 

Discerning false prophets.  (1 John 3:4:1-6)

We learn from God how to love!  (1 John 4:7-20) 

Next Steps: 

God is light!  (1 John 1:5) 

God’s light cleanses and forgives.  (1 John 1:9) 

God’s children live in the light!  (1 John 2:6) 

To live in the light is to live in love.  (1 John 2:7-8) 

We love the light, not the “world”.  (1 John 2:16) 

Warning about “anti-christs”.  (1 John 2:21-22) 

Living as children of God.  (1 John 

Next Steps: 

Jesus as God.  (1 John 1:1; John 1:14)

Fake Jesus, Part-time Jesus, Real Jesus. 

How we know Jesus.  (1 John 1:1) 

Jesus is eternal life.  (1 John 1:2; John 5:39) 

The fellowship of Jesus.  (1 John 1:3) 

The joy Jesus brings!   (1 John 1:4) 

“The good life is to know Jesus.”  (Eldon Cornelius) 

Next Steps: 

What’s your goal for your kids?

Christ-confidence.  (Joshua 1:9)

Realistic expectations.  (John 16:33)

Stubborn hope.  (Isaiah 43:1-3)

I changed what I pray for my kids:  Jesus, give my kids what they need to face the challenges that will come their way.

Next Step:

Commit to being who we want our kids to become.

We want to be resilient when those storms come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Psalm 34:4-6

We have to get to a place where God is who we go to first.  He is the first one we call.

When we go to God, we are worshipping instead of worrying.  Philippians 4:6-7

I also turn to the people God has placed in my life for and support help during a storm.  

Proverbs 18:24- There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 27:9- The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

God also gives us the church to turn to during the storms of life.

Next Steps:

  
- Make Jesus your foundation.

- Turn to God first.

- Reach out to those God puts on your heart and mind.

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 18, Peter asks Jesus the famous question: “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

Do you remember Jesus’ answer?  “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.”

Luke writes that all the disciples could say was, “Increase our faith.”

Matthew 6:14-15 “…if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Ephesians 4:32  “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Colossians 3:13 “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 20:20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ 22 Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Receive Forgiveness.  Let’s pray this together. "Jesus, help me.  I need to get unstuck. I need to move on.  Thank you for loving me and forgiving my sins and the pain I have caused.  Thank you for saving me from the painful memories that have haunted me.  Help me to lay my past, present, and future before you, Lord.  Thank you!"

Use your Authority to Forgive.