Jesus is offering you Himself as your God and Savior. Right now. He quietly, every year, gets the message across. And of all years, he would love to just show up in your life. And the way that happens isn’t just to read about him, but personally know Him.

It’s Christmas. He’s given us another one. Yet another season of time to reflect and respond to him. Do you know him? Have you felt compelled by his life today? What did he cause you to feel? Amazement, astonishment, marveling, questions? Has there been a time where you believed? When you said Jesus you became sin for my sake.

How do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? John 1 gives us 4 reasons. He is eternal. He created all things. He gives spiritual life to man. He was the very representation of God on earth. Receive Him in His fullness.

Advent is a time dedicated to the truth that God always and forever keeps his promises. God makes promises, keeps promises, and fulfills his promises. Ultimately, all his promises have their "yes and amen" in Jesus. Advent reminds us that Jesus is the promise God keeps.

Christ, the Chief Shepherd, has decided that He will do his winning through his sheep. It's not on us to be attractive, powerful, and skilled extraordinary people. All we do as sheep is depend on the ability and wisdom of the Shepherd to know what to do and how to do it.

This is a story that took place in the first century, but is relevant to us, as a warning. A warning against being a Christian fake. Not just in pulpits, but in the pews. And messages like this need delivered on occasion to wake us up to take God seriously and to take these words personally.

These are great days in which to live as a Christian. We have the opportunity and calling to boldly make known the person and work of Jesus Christ. This requires courage. This courage comes through a humble dependence on God's sovereignty and power, as well as our personal dependence and involvement with fellow believers.

Religion is the enemy of authentic Christianity. It seeks to intimidate any who oppose it and it's based on human wisdom. It rejects it's need for Christ and it lacks God's power. Authentic Christianity, has the hope of resurrection, the confidence of the Spirit's power, and the promise of salvation. The main thing we need is a relationship with Jesus. The last thing we need is any other substitute.

We all are born spiritually crippled. Jesus raises us up by his mercy and gives us faith. The result is total forgiveness, spiritual refreshment, and total restoration.

All of us have mental and emotional memories of church embedded in us. Our default setting is to form opinions based on our church experiences. The goal in this sermon is to set those aside and instead let God’s opinion permeate regarding what a local church's priorities are to be.