Sermon Audio, Calvary Community Church, Williams Bay, WI

As we move into a new year, it is a new opportunity for us to allow the light of Christ to shine from us. What is the light of Christ and how can we let it shine?

Christmas is in our rear view mirror. But there is one gift that is specially wrapped — not only for Christmas, but for all time. Let's link, in a new way, some truths about that specially wrapped gift.To view the video used in today's sermon, copy the following link into your browser: http://www.sermonspice.com/product/13013/the-most-important-gift-open-box-ending

Each of us is born with a deep desire to be loved. Love is the great healer of life's wounds - we learned that as little children. This Christmas, the headlines of our world cry out from the pain of broken hearts, starved for love and living in the brutality of mankind's anger. Christmas is God's LOVE reach to our world. What difference could it make in your life today?

When is the last time you really laughed - till you couldn't catch your breath? When is the last time you went to bed at night with a big smile on your face, as you reflected on your day? Is JOY too rare in your life journey? WHY? The Christmas "memo" to humanity from God is "I bring you Good News of Great Joy that will be for ALL people." What must change so we can find JOY in our lives?

PEACE... everyone pursues it, some frantically, but few ever grasp and live it. The debris evidence of the absence of Peace is undeniable and everywhere. The "no peace" damage done in broken lives is the harsh reality of the human journey in every generation, everywhere in the world. Jesus came to bring peace into our peace-shattered world. Is it really attainable?

Thanksgiving Day Parade and Black Friday begin the "Advent Season" in the marketplace. Hallmark Channel "Count-down to Christmas" is the "Advent Season" in honorable, wholesome entertainment."The Advent Season"... anticipates Christmas, the global celebration of God's visit to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Our Calvary Community Church Advent theme is: "Good News... Great Joy... for ALL people."An Advent Candle will be lit during each worship service from now until Christmas, celebrating "The Good News of... Great HOPE / Great PEACE / Great JOY / Great DELIVERANCE / HIS Arrival!"Bring a friend, join the Advent journey. Experience the life-changing power of "Christ-mas." (more Christ)

Our world is very different this Thanksgiving week, from even one year ago. How has your life changed? God offers us some keys to "ThanksLiving." What difference might they make in each of our lives these last 40 days of 2014?

Life is filled with unexpected opportunities and challenges. What's the difference? How do we react and respond to them? Where is God when we find ourselves in the middle of them?

The 50 days of high potential are about to begin. Friend and family gatherings, business profits, generosity and gladness; music and the mystery of Christmas... and what's going on deep inside each of us? How would God like to refine each of us? How would God like to refresh our world through each and all of us?

Every day we evaluate situations... how good is good enough, how bad is beyond hope of restoration? Sometimes we look at people the same way! In God's eyes, every person is worth restoration; no person is too broken... and no person is good enough.