What's happening this morning This morning some kids from our church family are going to share the story of the first Christmas through a play called: Festive Frieda Finds the Greatest Gift Along the way we'll need your help with some actions, and there'll be a chance later on for any kids to come on stage and gather around the manger. We'll also be singing some great songs together:

Angels from the Realms of Glory

On That Very First Christmas

Once in Royal David's City

While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

0 Holy Night

Joy to the World

Messiah Medley

0 Come All Ye Faithful

What child is this?  

End of the ages  

Word of the Father  

King of Creation  

Beautiful Saviour  

Risen ruler  

Fix your thoughts on Jesus

The Gospel Paul Preached (v1-11)

If Christ is not raised (v12-19)

Christ HAS been raised (v20-28)

The strange security of elect exiles: The God of all grace is the God of all power! (v. 10-11)  

So…

shepherd with a willing, servant heart (v. 1-4)  

clothe yourselves with humility (v. 5-6)  

cast your anxiety on him (v. 7)  

resist your enemy the devil (v. 8-9)  

This is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it!

Secular suffering?  

The strangeness of suffering in Christ:  

Don’t be surprised…   

but rejoice!   

Don’t be ashamed…   

but praise God!   

Don’t lose perspective…   

but commit yourself to your faithful Creator   

and continue to do good.   

Suffering as a Christian

Making the most of the time

(1) Think like Jesus

Look back at what Jesus did on the cross

Finish with sin

Living like this will mean suffering

(2) Understand that everything is about to be wrapped up

We look to the future

So we pray

(3) Focus on one another

Love one another

Be hospitable to one another

Serve one another

So that in everything God may be praised through Jesus Christ

Intro: “I could never do that”

A Caution: GIGO, ChatGPT & “Odd“ Passages

1 — (v8-14) Doing what doesn’t come naturally.

2 — (vv15-22) What the heart loves, the Will chooses.

Conclusion: A change of Heart.

A dirty word??

The key to being strangers in a strange land: Shine out the goodness of your homeland (v. 11-12)

One beautiful way to do that: Submit yourselves (2:13-20; 3:1-7)

to every human authority

for the Lord’s sake

so that God would be glorified

The strange submission of Jesus is both our gift and our example (2:21-25)

‘but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls’

We are strangers in a strange land. But what now?

We are becoming a Holy Priesthood called to offer spiritual sacrifices.

Jesus is our cornerstone.

The Word of the Lord endures forever, the Love of the Lord endures forever.

We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.

Declare the praises of the Lord. Declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Holier-than-thou?  

The strange holiness of God’s elect exiles:  

strains toward a thought-out hope (1:13)  

is modelled on our holy Father (1:14-16)  

is purchased by the precious blood of Christ (1:17-21)  

works itself out in deep love (1:22, 2:1)  

is fuelled by the living and enduring word of God (1:23-25)   ‘…

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.’