Don began his sermon series for Advent using Luke 2:1-7. His focus was on the innkeeper - not even mentioned in the scripture who was important because he saw that Mary and Joseph had a place to stay when Jesus was born. We need to reach out to our neighbors during this Christmas Season for these reasons and in these ways: 1 - To practice "Prayer, Share, Care" that we learned about this fall - What's Your One Step?; 2 - Consider the "Bethlehem Factor" which comes from Micah 5:2 – "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Who knows what can come from your actions? 3 - Not only because they need it but because we need it! - Editorial comment – when you concentrate on other people and their problems, your own have a way of shrinking.

From Mark 6:35-44

Covered Mark 6:30-34. The text shows us that Jesus recognized that his disciples needed to rest. He tells them to "Come away…to a deserted place…and rest." We all need to regularly be alone, away from others, and have some quiet time to rest; and speak to and listen to God. Rest in this context means fasting from work. We all need sleep, prayer, and exercise. During the busy holiday time to come, find time to rest – for your spiritual and physical well-being.

Don continued his sermon series "Seasons of a Jesus Follower" last Sunday. His sermon, "Doing the Good News" covered Mark 6:8-13. Jesus gives instructions to His disciples - 8-11 before He sends them out. They went out and did what He has told them – "doing" the Gospel. We are to do the same.

Based on Mark 6:7. Jesus called his disciples and then he sent them out into the world. We are all called and sent.

Using Philippians 2:1-11. Paul instructs Christians in Philippi to adopt the same attitude as Christ regarding position, rights, and the needs of others. By placing our ultimate well-being in the hands of God we find liberation to express the life of Christ--we can get untethered.

It's interesting that people generally view churches by the individuals that they know from that church. So, how do the individuals you know view Decorah Covenant through you? And even more important how are others viewing Jesus through you? You are the individual light that others are viewing. Have you ever noticed that when you stand back and view individual lights from a distant they all blend together into one light. Our individual lights make up the collective light that we will be known by. Let's shine together in a manner worthy of the good news we are called to share.

Our third week of the "What's Your One Step" focused on care. Are we faithful to the gospel as we seek to share it? Are the righteous saved, in Matthew 25's description of the last judgment, because of their good works? They are not righteous because they care for the poor; they care for the poor because they are righteous. Our care proclaims the grace of God because we have received the grace of God in Christ.

Author Dallas Willard calls prayer - "talking with God about what we are doing together". This fits well with our sermon series as we discuss bringing one person one step closer to Christ. Revelation 8:1-5 reminds us that our prayers are so important that God stopped all of heaven for half an hour to listen to our prayers and then he acted. The challenge this week is to respond in prayer and other actions when God brings others up in our minds. Is it your desire to learn to pray this week in this way?