Merry Christmas from Mission City Church! We hope and pray you are finding the hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus in this Christmas season. 

During the Christmas season we celebrate what Jesus' birth means for us. During his time on earth, Jesus commanded his followers to love God and to love others. He demonstrated this regularly by showing love and compassion for everyone he met, including the most hurting and marginalized in society. If we are to call ourselves followers of Jesus, we need to do as he did and show love and compassion always. 

What is true love? Many love stories have been written about the meaning of true love, but none may compare to the story of Hosea's pursuit of Gomer in Hosea 1-3. This isn't just any love story though. This is love story of the God of the universe and His people. A story of a love that goes beyond good feelings and attraction. A story that is marked by a choice to love and pursue unconditionally. This is the love of he God we serve and it was brought forth in the form of His son Jesus. 

Love verses:

1 Corinthians 16:14 - "Let all that you do be done in love."

Colossians 3:14 - "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

Proverbs 17:17 - "A friend loves at all times." 

1 John 4:11 - "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 

During the lead up to Christmas lights will be going up on houses throughout the months of November and December. This is a wonderful picture of the light of God spreading from person to person. First one house has lights, then another and another. As we continue our series in John 1, we see that God is light and that He overcomes darkness. Not just physical darkness but spiritual darkness and wickedness in our lives. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and in doing so set us free from darkness.

During the lead up to Christmas lights will be going up on houses throughout the months of November and December. This is a wonderful picture of the light of God spreading from person to person. First one house has lights, then another and another. As we continue our series in John 1, we see that God is light and that He overcomes darkness. Not just physical darkness but spiritual darkness and wickedness in our lives. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and in doing so set us free from darkness. 

The Advent season is a great reminder that God wants us to have joy. The angel that appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born told them that they brought good news of great joy. Jesus told the disciples that his joy would be in them and their joy would be made full. Long before Jesus came though God was setting up rhythms of celebration and rejoicing among his people. We hope that by observing the advent season you find a rhythm of joy in your life as we anticipate the celebration of the coming of Jesus. 

The most important part of the Christmas season is the acknowledgement that God has come in human form. The first few verses of 1 John make this abundantly clear. Jesus was heard, seen, and touched by his followers. Verse two goes on to say that they saw true life in him and that they felt compelled to proclaim the opportunity to experience the fullness of life. This proclamation led to an amazing fellowship between believers and God. This Christmas we encourage you to remember that Jesus truly came to offer life and that our testimony of that life leads to a greater fellowship with other people and God.

The most important part of the Christmas season is the acknowledgement that God has come in human form. The first few verses of 1 John make this abundantly clear. Jesus was heard, seen, and touched by his followers. Verse two goes on to say that they saw true life in him and that they felt compelled to proclaim the opportunity to experience the fullness of life. This proclamation led to an amazing fellowship between believers and God. This Christmas we encourage you to remember that Jesus truly came to offer life and that our testimony of that life leads to a greater fellowship with other people and God.  

Peace can be a tricky thing. Often times in church settings it can feel like because of our beliefs we are supposed to have peace constantly, but we know that doesn't line up with the human experience. Jesus said, "peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." The arrival of Jesus brought with it a completely new opportunity for us to find peace. A different kind of peace is found in Jesus. It may not mean we are always at peace, but in Jesus we can find it. 

Our 7 scripture verses about peace are:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9

"The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20

"Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished, you have done for us." Isaiah 26:12

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Happy Thanksgiving! Sarah Ikerd joins the podcast to play some Thanksgiving Jeopardy and talk about hope.

Our 7 scripture verses about hope are: