Luke 1:39-56. Caleb Crosby. The Christmas season brings a lot of joy into our lives with holidays, presents, families and feasts. We get so caught up with those little joys we forget the reason for our greatest joy -- the birth of Christ Jesus. In Luke we see the joy of Mary, Elizabeth and even the unborn, John, as they rejoice in the much anticipated coming of Jesus. While we are not waiting for the birth of Jesus anymore, we do share in their joy. Do you have reason to celebrate this joy at Christmas?

Luke 1:26-38.  Tony van Drimmelen.  With the last, literal mother of Jesus we see how she deals with apprehensions about her own pregnancy. We can make the observation that her situation is not a whole lot different to those fore-mothers listed in the genealogy (Matt 1:3,5,6,16). But there is no need for us to be embarrassed by this. It is surely fitting that a supernatural person should enter the world in a supernatural way! What the angel said to both Joseph (Matt 1:18-25) and Mary helps us recognize the miraculous grace of God bursting through all the expectations of men. How will you receive Him this Christmas?

Ezekiel 34:11-31.  Tony van Drimmelen.  Today we celebrate what God does when He raises up leaders in the church to lead and care for us. In one of the most powerful metaphors in the whole Bible, we identify ourselves as sheep needing the care of a shepherd. God gives us leaders who follow the example of the Great Shepherd (1 Peter 5). Imperfect though, our human leaders maybe, it is God who has the ultimate solution to our shepherding needs in mind when He sent Jesus to be our Shepherd-King. At Christmas time we remember the Shepherd who is the sacrificial Lamb and came into the world to give his life for the sheep (Rev 7:17).

1Ki 15:1-5; Ac 13:13-23; Mt 1:1-6.  Tony van Drimmelen.  The message of Christmas means so much more when we understand what the stories these fore-mothers of Jesus are telling us about their lives. When Matthew refers to Bathsheba, he doesn’t mention her by name; instead, he refers to her as Uriah’s wife (v.6). Why? He wants us to know about King David’s story and, how God chose to further the line to Jesus. Through an act of shocking grace, that involves adultery and murder the promise made to Abraham and David is realized. Matthew doesn’t want us to miss that. And we should not miss the shocking grace of God that is Christmas too.

1 Chronicles 29:10-20.  Tony van Drimmelen.  Maybe you have always thought that a note of praise was a good way to sign-off on the Lord’s Prayer. But this is not just saying it is over, this is saying why and how all our prayers will be answered. If we were musicians we would say this is the crescendo: “For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.” Answers to all our requests in prayer depend on the power, the kingship and the glory of God. God is the Winner! He has conquered the devil and God’s victory is ours. All God’s ways lead to glory and ultimately for our good. Praise at the end of our prayer is a way of expressing absolute confidence in the one we address in prayer, Our Father.

Romans 12:3-8. Dan Kroon. This Sunday morning is a service all about service. A special opportunity to consider the calling to serve, the gifts God has given us, and the needs of the church. In Romans 12 Paul reminds us that serving and ministry is part of how we offer ourselves as living sacrifices and part of God’s will for us. It’s assumed for the life of every Christian. It’s essential for the life of the church. It’s the only way the body functions. You are a unique member of the body of Christ. Are you serving in some way? Would you like to be? On top of hearing God’s Word in this passage, we’ll have opportunity to put our faith into action and sign-up for different ministries that contribute to the life of Willo.

Ruth 1-4.  Tony van Drimmelen.  This is a story on the meaning of true friendship. Ruth came in as an outsider and got to know the God of Israel through Naomi. Naomi allowed Ruth to see, hear and feel all the joy and anguish of her relationship with God. Naomi is more than a mother-in-law to Ruth, she is a friend. Before Boaz, (whose mother was Rahab (!)) was a husband to Ruth he was to her a kinsman-redeemer. Love is the reason Boaz brought redemption to Ruth and Naomi and ultimately love is the reason God brought redemption into the world through Jesus. Do you know God’s love? If you do, you have the true Friend. Whose friend can you be?

Luke 5:27-39. Dan Kroon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, says Jesus in Luke 7:34. And it's true. He came to bring love, grace and mercy, and so often it was expressed and offered around the dinner table. He ate and drank and socialised with sinners and prostitutes and tax-collectors because he was bringing something new to the world. A new kingdom. A new covenant. A new grace. It wasn't something restricted to the prim and proper. It was a new hope, shattering old limitations, and going out to all people of all types. This Sunday a number of us will share lunch with each other, and we all do meals with each other at other times. So let's be reminded that such fellowship is a celebration of Jesus, an opportunity to love each other, and great practice for inviting new people into our lives.

Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-25. Dan Kroon. This Sunday evening we consider the second-oldest fore-mother of Jesus: Rahab; the wife of Salmon, the mother of Boaz. And without any doubt, we can say that Rahab is famous for her faith. She is the only one of these five fore-mothers mentioned in Hebrews 11. In fact, she is the only woman listed there, full stop. And in the story of this Canaanite prostitute, we see how faith involves both knowledge and action, but even more than that; mercy. This story is another beautiful picture of God’s grace and love amidst the epic tide of conquest and judgment. And it is a pointer to the day when grace and love become the only epic tide in the work of Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13.  Tony van Drimmelen.  The life of a disciple is a journey to the greatest joy that exists but way to get there is hard. Paul’s challenge to Timothy in 2:8-13 takes on four great truths which, if believed, will keep him bold and courageous. #1 Jesus Christ is risen v.8; #2 God’s Word is not bound v.9 ; #3 The elect will be saved v.10 and #4 God cannot deny Himself vv.11-13 In the face of opposition we can approach our journey of discipleship with great courage – if only we will be believe and trust these same great truths.