The Shepherds heard it first, and even after returning home, back to their duties, back to their responsibilities, even when no one was there to hear but the sheep, they continued to sing about God’s goodness through Jesus Christ.
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Worship
This Sunday will feature our music programs as Leap of Faith presents a Christmas concert in the contemporary service and the Chancel Choir performs a cantata in the traditional service. Join us as we praise the Lord in song!
Put on the breaks!! It’s ok to stop and turn around and head in the other direction. It is ok to change your mind.
Gabriel is known to be an angel of great importance. Gabriel shows up a couple of times throughout the biblical narrative of heaven’s interactions with humanity. When Gabriel appears to Mary, we understand this to be a sign of great hope. Because of the message Gabriel brings, we understand that, like Mary, we are capable of important things. Even if we don’t always see it in ourselves, there are others who are sent to remind us of this truth.
John the Baptist is a faithful man who spent his life devoted to preparing people’s hearts for Jesus. However, his story begins with the angel Gabriel preparing the heart of Zechariah, John’s father. What the angel teaches in this story is how to tame our tongue till there is something worthy of it being set loose for.
We never see the exact phrase, “Jesus laughed,” but one could hardly refer to the faith of children without laughter. One could not sit around a table with a few rough people without being graced by a joke.
We like it when we hear Jesus got angry. Truthfully, it makes us feel better about ourselves. Anger drives a lot of our lives and also drives a lot of people out of our lives. Anger can be good, but the reason matters. Jesus’s anger wasn’t a self-righteous anger. It was a righteous one.
In his depth of love for us, Jesus cries. In his anger over our lack of understanding, Jesus cries. In his compassion over our pain, Jesus cries.
It seemed like everywhere Jesus went, he was taking up a lot of space. Crowds followed him in the streets, stood outside of homes, and even busted through ceilings just to be near to him. But the only real estate that he was and still is interested in is our hearts!
Jesus was a bit of a rule breaker. He helped others to read beyond the words that were written and into the heart of the matter.
Jesus had a knowledge that we did not possess. Yet Jesus still learned and was educated on the knowledge that was available to us. Having not just a superior wisdom, but a common knowledge shared by others, gave Jesus the ability to teach and help others understand what is truly important.
Cynical is not usually the word that comes to mind when we think of Jesus.
With all authority in heaven and earth, with the glory and affirmation of God upon him, the angels on standby to care for him, you would think Jesus didn’t need to be surrounded by other people.
The journey Jesus was about to begin was going to take him to the depth of hell and up to the gates of heaven. A little extra preparation was necessary.
Before going on a trip, there are a couple essential things that well-prepared people do.
Jesus never lost sight of his purpose, but he knew how to party!
Jesus worked, too. He didn’t just come to earth with all heavenly authority to be a king and be served by his subjects; he came to serve.
Jesus seems so untouchable sometimes. In our effort to understand more about who he is, we are going to start by looking at who makes up his ancestry and the heritage he claims. Good thing our family does not have to define our future.
Did Jesus really change water into wine, and did he really walk on the water? Can I really move a mountain?
I’m sure we’ve all experienced it— whether at school, work, church, etc. You walk into the cafeteria, lunchroom, etc. and you freeze.