The Connection Church

A new year is upon us. The possibilities and potential are there for our taking. What if you could see the way forward with perfect vision? What if you could hear directly from God for every big decision that you need to make in 2020? We all need to hear directly from God, and the good news is that you can!

What if magnificence and power were not the thing put on display with the Incarnation, the coming of God in the flesh of humanity? What was God showing us in that little baby in a feeding trough? What was it that God put on display in the life and brief ministry that child grew into? And how does that apply to the final line of the Isaiah poem that Jesus read in front of his surprised audience at the very beginning of his earthly ministry? Join us for a glimpse into the answers in the conclusion of our Advent sermon series as we enter into Christmastime with all its joy and wonder!

The Spirit of God was indeed upon Jesus for He submitted to the leading of the Spirit throughout His life, spoke only those things He heard from the Father, carried out His Father’s will, and fulfilled every prophecy relating to His first advent.

Jesus did indeed preach the good news of salvation to the poor, proclaiming freedom from sin, Satan, death and hell—by faith in Him. He proclaimed freedom to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and brought freedom to the oppressed. Now what will we indeed do?

Often when we hear someone talk about getting into the spirit of Christmas or the Christmas spirit, they are talking about getting into a festive mood. Christmas trees. Decorating the house. Bathing the outside of the house and trees in lights. Santa Claus. Wish lists. Family traditions.

All that is great and should be enjoyed, but what if “The Spirit of Christmas” is so much grander than all those things? Last week, we began our Advent sermon series reflecting upon Luke 4:18-19, as we examined the first two lines of the poem that Jesus read from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue. In those two lines, Jesus was claiming that the Holy Spirit had anointed him for a purpose. This Sunday we begin seeing more specifically what that purpose was and what that means for us.

This Sunday we begin our Advent sermon series, drawing from Luke 4:18-19… Jesus read this poetic passage from the book of Isaiah to launch his earthly ministry. It caused quite a shock with all who heard it that day in the synagogue. But those revolutionary words were not just for Jesus as he began teaching and showing the power and truth of God in those days. Those words are still just as strong and revolutionary today. Join us as we begin exploring what those words meant for our Lord then and what they mean for us today…

According to Hebrews 5:12-14, there is a correlation between discernment and maturity. Those that are mature have discernment. Of course, we are talking about spiritual maturity, not physical maturity—there is a big difference between the two. Physical maturity is bound to time. Have you ever seen a 6 foot tall 2-year-old? Of course not! On the other hand, spiritual maturity is not bound to time. Have you ever encountered a believer who is only a year old in Christ but is more mature than many who have been saved for 20 years?

How do we mature and keep from mixing up good and evil? How do we mature and not fall into the same trap Eve fell into when she believed evil to be good, pleasant, and wise? The answer is by Developing Discernment. This Sunday, as we finish up our sermon series, we will talk about a final key ingredient every believer must have in order to develop discernment.

Who in their right mind would want to make a wrong decision? Nobody, of course! Unfortunately, we live in a world where most are taught to make decisions on their own power and are told, “don't worry…you’ll figure it out.” However, as Christians, we are not supposed to just “figure it out.” Believers can make decisions led by the Spirit of God. But in order to make the right decisions, our faith must be built on the right foundation. This Sunday, we look at the foundational principles that every believer must have in order to stay strong in faith and have the discernment needed for every situation.

Most people would say that if something is “good” then it’s okay for me, and I want it because it’s good. But for the believer, “good” is not always right. In other words, just because something seems good doesn’t necessarily mean it’s God.

In Genesis, we learn that a woman named Eve was approached by a serpent and presented with something that seemed good, but it was something forbidden by God. She ended up giving in, which was a grave mistake. So how was Eve deceived by the serpent? How did he get her to turn on God? The answers to these questions can give us valuable insight that will help us make the right decisions and protect us from being deceived by what seems good but is not God's will for us.

Developing Discernment is vital for the spiritual health of all Christians. Without it, we can be deceived by the enemy into believing all sorts of lies. We can even be seduced into departing from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1). This is why it’s so important to develop Spirit-led discernment. This kind of discernment demonstrates wisdom and insight that go beyond what is merely seen and heard. It gives us the ability to properly separate what is, not just good, but best for us.

We are living in a day when countless multitudes have lost their way both morally and spiritually. It seems that our current culture is being tossed to and fro by a flood of deception and wrong influences. This has even influenced many in the body of Christ, causing them to lose their way in a chaotic swirl of moral and spiritual confusion. But there is a way to make sure we make the right choices, stay above the fray, and stay anchored in our faith. The answer is Developing Discernment! This Sunday, we begin a brand new series, which will challenge us to develop true discernment that will benefit us in every area of our lives.