In chapter 1 of The Story we saw that God has a vision: to be with us. God’s vision was, however, sidetracked by the entrance of sin into the world. The rest of the Bible is simply the story of God’s pursuit to get us back. God was not about to abandon His plan of doing life with us. He decided the best way to fulfill His plan was to establish a nation of people who would love God as much as He loved us. Through this special family the other nations of the world could witness God’s involvement and be drawn to Him as the one true God and ultimately have the opportunity to join His family. The message today is about how God began to build that nation.

Today we embark on a wonderful journey together. In the days and weeks and months ahead we will learn of God’s supreme passion for mankind. We will journey through the gardens, deserts, cross raging seas, climb mountains and experience the wonderful story of how God has worked through individuals, nations and events all to restore that harmonious relationship between Himself and man which was broken by sin. So we invite you to join us as we walk through history and suspense all woven around His Story and discover how His Story intertwines with our life experiences help to mold our story.

Today we embark on a wonderful journey together. In the days and weeks and months ahead we will learn of God’s supreme passion for mankind. We will journey through the gardens, deserts, cross raging seas, climb mountains and experience the wonderful story of how God has worked through individuals, nations and events all to restore that harmonious relationship between Himself and man which was broken by sin. So we invite you to join us as we walk through history and suspense all woven around His Story and discover how His Story intertwines with our life experiences help to mold our story.

Our memories are full of moments that define the stories of our lives. Lodged in the recess of our minds are family vacations as children, weddings, the birth of children, baptisms, sitting behind the wheel of our first cars, to all sorts of memories that take us to a wonderful time and place. Like our life stories, our faith stories are full of moments that have defined our faith. God's story is full of stories that define the biblical characters and ultimately God's own story. This morning we begin an awesome adventure looking at God's story and learning the moments that define His story.

Most of us at one time or another have made New Year’s Resolutions as a part of our tradition surrounding our celebration of this holiday. If you are like most, here we are 6 days into the new year and most of those resolutions have already been broken. Judges 5 records the people’s praise of God for His delivering Israel. One obscure line in verse 5 says, “There were great resolves of heart.” No doubt of renewed reliance and dependence upon God or resolutions to follow God’s ways. From their history, they like us, soon forgot or broke their resolutions. There is only one way to keep your resolution, rely upon God to help you fulfill those promises you made to yourself, your family your church and your God. Perhaps Ezekiel said it best, “I will put my Spirit within you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (36:27).

Most of us at one time or another have made New Year’s Resolutions as a part of our tradition surrounding our celebration of this holiday. If you are like most, here we are 6 days into the new year and most of those resolutions have already been broken. Judges 5 records the people’s praise of God for His delivering Israel. One obscure line in verse 5 says, “There were great resolves of heart.” No doubt of renewed reliance and dependence upon God or resolutions to follow God’s ways. From their history, they like us, soon forgot or broke their resolutions. There is only one way to keep your resolution, rely upon God to help you fulfill those promises you made to yourself, your family your church and your God. Perhaps Ezekiel said it best, “I will put my Spirit within you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (36:27).

Let’s go back and continue our journey through the stable. Last week we tried to look at the stable as Mary and Joseph would have seen it as they arrived…what they smelled…what they felt…what they saw. Today we approach it from a different angle. Our journey through the stable today is kind of like a trip to the farm or the zoo as we look at the animals in the stable. Even though they could not speak or sing of that which they witnessed, animals played an important role in the greatest story ever told.

Let’s go back and continue our journey through the stable. Last week we tried to look at the stable as Mary and Joseph would have seen it as they arrived…what they smelled…what they felt…what they saw. Today we approach it from a different angle. Our journey through the stable today is kind of like a trip to the farm or the zoo as we look at the animals in the stable. Even though they could not speak or sing of that which they witnessed, animals played an important role in the greatest story ever told.

Over the next 23 days we are going to focus on the Christ of Christmas rather than the commercialization of Christmas. To do this we will light one advent candle each week along with a brief explanation of the symbolism involved. This week we will light our first candle of hope and expectation. That hope was realized over 2000 years ago in a manger…in a stable…in Bethlehem. Let’s go back in time over the next 4 weeks and take a walk through the stable. There are other things in that stable other than those we normally see at a manger scene. So as we journey through the stable in anticipation of the birth of Christ, what do you experience as you walk into the stable?

Over the next 23 days we are going to focus on the Christ of Christmas rather than the commercialization of Christmas. To do this we will light one advent candle each week along with a brief explanation of the symbolism involved. This week we will light our first candle of hope and expectation. That hope was realized over 2000 years ago in a manger…in a stable…in Bethlehem. Let’s go back in time over the next 4 weeks and take a walk through the stable. There are other things in that stable other than those we normally see at a manger scene. So as we journey through the stable in anticipation of the birth of Christ, what do you experience as you walk into the stable?