The Well

Peter is writing to believers who are living in the midst of a storm and coping with the uncomfortable sensation of being unsteadied by the winds swirling about them. Opposition, scorn, persecution for the faith—true suffering as believers—these are realities confronting them and threatening to intensify against them. As he concludes his letter, Peter now gives to these believers and to us some concrete and practical advice concerning the way in which we should hold our ground and keep our footing in such unsteady and unsteadying times.

Have you ever thought that thermodynamics can be an illustration of God’s creation? Well, the first law of thermodynamics states that energy can change forms, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Similarly, the book of Ecclesiastes teaches that mankind cannot add to or take away from God’s creation. Pastor Jeff encourages you to practice humility and recognize that all of humanity’s advancement and knowledge cannot take away from God’s glorious Creation.

Anne shares from John 1.

There’s more to the Christmas story than you may realize. There’s a prequel... In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us to the story of a godly, elderly couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist.

Notes:

Luke 1
 
Luke gives us the prequel, the story before the story.
 
Luke opens by saying, “In the days of Herod.”
That’s like saying, “In Germany, in the days of Hitler.”
 
Heaven’s light was about to break.
  
Read Luke 1:5–17
 
Luke’s narrative finds Israel in the midst of a long night of spiritual darkness.
 
Israel was now under the control of mighty and cruel Rome.
But there was something in the air that things were about to change.
 
A promise to Israel of better days to come – Malachi 4:2 NIV
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
 
Malachi 3:1 NIV
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
 
John the Baptist was the bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
 
God was now going to answer the prayer and heart cry of Israel.
 
God sent the mighty angel Gabriel.
 
The last appearance of an angel had been to the prophet Zechariah nearly five centuries earlier.
 
Whenever angels appeared, they would say, “Do not be afraid!”
 
Gabriel came to an elderly couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth.
 
The name Zacharias means, “God remembers.”
Elizabeth means, “My God is an oath.”
 
God remembers His promises and always keeps His word.
 
God was making up for lost time, and He gave them a baby like no other,
John the Baptist.
 
#1 Zacharias was a humble man.
 
James 4:6 ESV
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
 
The obsession with ourselves is at the root of our problems.
 
The humble Zacharias was a country priest.
 
There were many priests in Israel at this time.
To be a priest meant you represented the people to God.
 
The priest also represented God to the people.
The priest would interpret scripture, counsel, and provide wise judgment for the people.
 
I understand that I, too, am a representative of God to people.
 
You, too, are a priest.
And you, too, represent God to people.
 
You are the only bible some people will ever read.
 
#2 Zacharias was a faithful man.
 
God called:
Moses, when he was tending sheep.
David, while he was watching sheep,
Elijah, when he was plowing
Peter and John, when they were mending nets.
God calls busy people.
 
It’s hard to steer a parked car.
 
If you are faithful in small things, God will give you greater opportunities.
  
God has given to every believer spiritual gifts.
 
Romans 12:6 NLT
God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
 
Romans 12:7 NLT
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
 
Romans 12:8 NLT
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously.
 
Paul told Timothy to “not neglect the gift that is in you.”
  
Zacharias was faithful to do what God had set before him.
 
#3 Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly and blameless people.
 
Luke 1:6 NKJV
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
 
To be blameless does not mean they were sinless.
 
They lived lives of integrity, not perfection.
 
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
 
Not to have

Think of the cycles of life that you see in nature. As the seasons change, plants bloom in the spring and summer, then fade and die during the fall and autumn. And in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon observes that human lives function in a similar cycle. Pastor Jeff wants you to realize today that there is something valuable to be gained, no matter what season of life you are in. The opportunities you have right now in your life won’t be around forever, so will you let them go to waste?

One of the most challenging stages of parenting is transitioning to the empty-nest season, especially when our adult children make decisions we disagree with. Mary DeMuth guides us on this journey of finding joy regardless of our wayward adult kids, sharing practical and spiritual tips on how to stay connected with children who have left the Christian faith.

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Mary DeMuth’s Prayer Cards for Adult Children

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