As we prepare for the New Year, we must also prepare ourselves for a spiritual battle, but have no fear! God has equipped us with everything we need.

What are you seeking after? What are you putting first in your life? Is Jesus your ultimate prize?

Surely everyone understands that Jesus is the central person in the Christmas story.  But why?  To understand that, we need to know more about Jesus himself, and about the “Christ” of “Christmas”.  Who was he, and who exactly was the “Christ”—the Messiah of God.

Shepherds were extremely common in first century Palestine.  So, it makes sense, but also is a little confusing, that God would grant them a special role in the welcoming of the Messiah to planet earth.  What was that role, and why did he pick common shepherds?  What should we learn from this about celebrating Christmas?

Joseph, one of the “royal family” of Christmas, was also the outsider. He wasn’t the Messiah—he wasn’t even carrying the Messiah. But he was tasked with protecting the baby God became and teach him as a Father. But we know little about Joseph and therefore tend to miss the important life lessons he teaches us in the Christmas story.

When we think of the people we associate with Christmas, several are likely to come to everyone’s mind—and one of these has to be Mary.  When we realize who Mary actually was, and put ourselves in her place as she discovered she was pregnant with the Messiah, we not only grow in our respect for her, but in our ability to learn from her.

Periodically, the people of NOCC gather intergenerationally—meaning all ages (in this case Kindergarten and up) worshiping together.  As we close the Thanksgiving weekend, we will be gathering together in this way to express thanks to our Lord with others in the body of Christ.

With the budget being discussed and voted on in a few weeks, the holidays upon us and the new year around the corner, we need to understand the scriptural expression of gratitude in worship—tithing and offering to God.

Jonah knew God was a just and compassionate judge—and he didn’t like it.  His response was to give God some instruction—let him know what a real judge would say in response to Nineveh.  By doing this, he not only put himself in the place of judgment over Nineveh—he set himself up to judge God Himself.  But his judgment and God’s judgment had a very different basis.

Change is often difficult for people.  It is almost impossible for an entire kingdom.  But because of Jonah’s prophecy against the Assyrian capital, Nineveh repented!  Real repentance brings change, and God can see the change both in our behavior and in our hearts.  God’s response to this repentance is predictable—and comforting.