Matthew 1:18-25

Today we continue our study of The Advent.  We mentioned last week that the word "Advent" means "coming". In the Old Testament we read of those who anticipated and longed for the "coming" of Jesus the Messiah, God's Salvation. In today's text we will read of the fulfillment of that anticipation and longing.

We learned last week that the book of Matthew presents us with the lineage of Jesus, the royal line of Israel.  Our study today will continue in the book of Matthew where we see Jesus presented as the promised King and Messiah. Let's look together how the supernatural birth of Jesus came to be and how it fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

-Pastor Terry

For centuries God prepared people for the coming of His Son. The prophets had prophesied that there was coming a day when God would send a Savior who would rescue the world from their sin. Christmas is the time that we celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promise, the promise that He would provide a way for us to fellowship with Him.

Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25. The word advent means "coming". So for the next few weeks we'll be looking at and remembering the thousands of years God’s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of Jesus—God’s salvation. Let's begin our Advent season today by looking at the prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ.

-Pastor Terry

1 Peter 4:7-11

This is our final message in our Devoted or Distracted series.  Our text today will teach us about Stewards. In biblical times, a steward was a person who was hired to serve the members of the owner’s household. The steward was to utilize and manage the resources of the owner to meet the needs of each of the members of his household.  

In our text, Peter tells us that we have received grace-gifts from God. And, “as each has received a gift,” we are to “use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). So, we are stewards of the gifts God has entrusted to us. And He has entrusted them to us primarily for the benefit of others. Let’s open our hearts and minds as to how God wants us to best use our gifts to serve others.  

-Pastor Terry

Philippians 4:10-20

Are you content? If we are honest, the majority of us would say "No, I am not content." How do we know this? Because we're always searching for something better, something more. It might be a bigger house, a nicer car, a better job, and so on. "If only I had…  _____(fill in the blank)______ Many are never satisfied. They're always on the search for that next big thing.

What does the Bible have to say about contentment? Is it wrong to want more? Is it wrong to want bigger and better? Let's search the scripture today and see what God has to say about being content.

-Pastor Terry

Acts 17:1-6

For our church, George and Luisa Dimakos continue to make missions real to our people. Our church family loves the Dimakos family. Our people know that when they give to missions they are supporting not only the Dimakos family but the other missionary families CrossBridge supports.

George and Luisa have been missionaries in Greece since 1993. George started a church in Athens, helped start a church in the island of Zakynthos, and recently started a Farsi speaking church reaching Muslims. There is a “perfect storm” to reach the many Muslims in Greece. Many are turning to Christ. Today, our missionary George Dimakos will be speaking on Devoted or Distracted: Missions is our Mission.

-Pastor Terry

1 John 2:15-17

We’re in our fourth week of our “Devoted or Distracted” series where we’ll examine what a Devoted Christian looks like in comparison to a Distracted Christian.

In the society we live in, it is easy for us to move from being in the world to being in love with the world. When a Christian is enticed by the world he or she may easy become distracted with pursuing worldliness. But have you ever considered the truth that Christians are not to love the world? The apostle John writes to Christians to inform them that if they love the world then God’s love is not actually in them.

The question for us this morning to consider: Are you Devoted to God, are you Distracted by the world, or in love with the world?

-Pastor Matt

Selected Passages

I've noticed that people are either devoted to or distracted by politics. It headlines the newspapers, the evening news, and the internet. As election day draws near there is just no escaping news about politics. It can be a very emotional and passionate topic. As I watch people and talk with them, from both political parties, I see many who are truly devoted followers of their candidate. There is nothing wrong with this in itself. But what does cause me concern is to see many Christians who are more passionate about their choice of a political leader than they are about our Lord Jesus Christ.

In my conversations with people I've been made aware that many have never thought to consider how to vote biblically. I believe many believers vote more for what their favorite candidate stands for rather than what the Word of God stands for. Every one of us is to vote responsibly; making a personal, informed, and biblical choice this November. Something to consider: If Christ is Lord of all of your life, then is He Lord of your political views. Are your views in line with His? In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul says that his goal is "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."  Every thought and every choice must be made in obedience to Christ. Let's look today what the Bible has to say about voting biblically.

-Pastor Terry

Selected Passages

In last week’s sermon we investigated Genesis 3 to see the original distraction that took our devotion away from God. The sin of loving something, namely ourselves, more than God caused an inseparable divide in our relationship with Him. Thank God that He sent Jesus to die in our place as payment for our sin. Jesus made a way for us to have relationship with God again, but the effects of sin permeated all aspects of life.

One of the ways that we see the effect of sin in our lives is through our relationships. God had designed us to live in perfect relationship with Him and each other. But our sin broke that relationship and caused effects that still haunt us today. In our sermon, we hope to explore God’s purpose for our relationships and what we can do to restore those relationships when they are broken. I pray that we are encouraged to see our relationships in a new light and have hope that no relationship is past repair.

-Pastor Nate

Genesis 3

Do you find yourselves being easily distracted? It may be a busy schedule, the kids’ sporting events, important appointments, school activities, and so on. We make commitments but our overwhelming distractions can lead us away from those commitments. What is our main focus? As believers in Jesus Christ our focus should be on Him, being Christ-like, being a Christ-follower, and being totally devoted to our Lord. Would you agree with me that life's distractions often interrupt our focus on having a relationship with God?

Today, we'll be looking at Genesis 3 and see the original distraction that lead Adam and Eve away from God. It was a simple but layered approach that led them to disobey God. This choice that had catastrophic consequences for them and for all mankind. They took their eyes off of God and misplaced their devotion. The result? Let's look together at today's text.

-Pastor Terry

Luke 11:5-13

A

couple of weeks ago we read of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was

upset that she was doing all of the work around the house while Mary

sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha thought it just wasn't fair that she

was overwhelmed and busy while Mary did nothing to help. We know that

Mary made the right choice by stopping to spend time with Jesus. But

many of us often feel like Martha. We're too busy, and we have too many

things on our schedule. "Everybody else" seems to have it all together

while we just work, work, work. Stress is your first, middle, and last

name.

In today's text, Jesus continues to respond to the

disciples’ request from last week's message, "Lord, teach us to pray".

Jesus has given them an outline, a pattern of prayer. Today He

illustrates the importance of being persistent in prayer. In fact, we

are to be bold and shameless when coming before the throne of God. We'll

learn today that God gives us the assurance that persistence and

boldness in prayer results in the following promise: "For every one who

asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it

will be opened." God is the one who lightens our burdens and meets our

daily needs. How bold and persistent are you when you pray?

-Pastor Terry