Week 4: Dec 19 - dec 24
Arrival of Good News
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20
Deliver cookies to your neighbor and invite them to Christmas at LifePoint.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22
Week 4 Devotional
See Devotional Below
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
DECEMBER 23 & 24
JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
5:30 P & 7:00 P EACH DAY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25
NO CHURCH SERVICES. ENJOY CHRISTMAS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Devotional: Anchored in Hope and Good News
Written by Rene Garcia
Read: Luke 2:1-20 and Hebrews 6:19-20
As we celebrate Advent this year, let us remember that the birth of Jesus into the world is the single most important event ever to have taken place. In the words of Billy Graham, “For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.”
Recently, I had a conversation with someone about hope. This person had just read a book titled Hope Is Not A Strategy. The book expresses that you must plan, forecast, research, develop and work for things to happen. This conversation allowed me to include a spiritual perspective about hope into our relationship.
According to the author of Hebrews, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see.
The Bible mentions the word hope roughly 129 times, and it is one of the most important virtues of a Christian, alongside faith and love. The word hope in the New Testament is from the Greek word elpis. According to Strong’s Concordance, elpis means expectation, trust and confidence.
An anchor has been used as a Christian symbol of hope and steadfastness. If you have ever done any boating, you may already know that an anchor can be one of the most essential items on your boat, especially in the turbulence of a storm. Considering the function of an anchor, the author of Hebrews reminds us of our true anchor.
Hope is what we feel when we envision a brighter future. Hope often helps us through hard times. Hope pushes us to take steps to create a better tomorrow through optimism, resilience and faith.
Can we live without hope? It has been said that a person can live forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air but only four seconds without hope. Hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is our hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we shall be raised unto life eternal, and this is because of our faith in the Savior.
Prayer for Reflection
The Apostle Paul prayed in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Let that be our prayer today and every day as we hold fast to the Hope we have in Christ.
Deeper Walk Scriptures: 1 John 5:13-14, 1 Peter 1:3-6, Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, John 4:13-14
Past Weeks
WEEK 1: NOV 27-DEC 4
Get in the holiday spirit with some fun music! Listening to this playlist might just help you with a game at our Christmas Eve services!
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KIDS MIDWEEK 6:30p
STUDENTS MIDWEEK 6:00P
Week One: Believing Before Seeing
Ledene Johnson
Read: Luke 1:1-38
I had given my notice to retire from my career after thirty-three years. Weeks before my last day, a phone call came. They had heard that I was retiring and wanted me to interview for a job at my company’s headquarters. Twelve years earlier, a friend told me this was going to happen. I wasn’t so convinced; I took a wait-and-see attitude. I couldn’t believe God was answering my prayer now, after all this time.
Much like Zachariah, I doubted. How could God answer my prayer? Zechariah probably had prayed for a child for decades. He had given up on those dreams. He was old and Elizabeth was past childbearing years. Why did it take so long? “God,” he might have cried out, “why not when we were younger? Why now?”
Even today we question God. We wonder if we missed something or heard wrong. Often in the moment, we don’t have eyes to see what God is weaving in the background. It takes the fog to lift and the doubt to pass to see God’s plan clearly. It is only then that we understand God’s perfect timing. Zechariah was silenced until he saw his new son. The fog lifted, the doubt passed, the promise was fulfilled, and then he believed.
How often are our voices quieted because of doubt? We’re afraid to mention our prayers aloud. Where is our faith in these moments?
I stepped off the plane and was face to face with my answered prayers. God was with me the entire time, waiting for me to believe. He let my unbelief catch up with the reality of what he was doing. God had heard and answered my prayers.
What prayers, hopes, or dreams have you set aside because of doubt? Perhaps you have given up praying because the answers are taking too long or don’t seem possible. In these times, we must remember that our God has a plan. He gives us time for our own unbelief to catch up with His will. We must understand that belief precedes sight: We believe and then our eyes are opened to see.
Prayer for Reflection
Father, deepen my belief, open my eyes and help me to have faith that you hear my prayers. Increase my trust in you. Let my heart rest in you and step out in belief for the impossible. For all things are possible with you. In Jesus name, amen.
Deeper Walk Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:18, Romans 8:25, 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Create some family memories while baking this yummy holiday treat!
WEEK 2: DEC. 5-DEC. 11
Break Bread with Friends, Neighbors, Small Group
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1095 STEPHANIE WAY
KIDS MIDWEEK 6:30p
STUDENTS MIDWEEK 6:00P
Week Two: Hope in a Song
Rachel Baker
Read: Luke 1:39-80
Have you ever heard a song that moved you to tears? Can you remember the lyrics, the melody, the worship leader or artist who sang it? Do you find yourself repeating the lyrics, humming the tune in quiet moments? What is it about this song that moved and inspired you?
We find songs of lament and praise, worship and weeping throughout scripture. Undoubtedly, music has the power to move us. There is no exception in the songs of Mary and Zechariah, which we find in the writings of Luke.
Following in the oral tradition of her culture, Mary turned her fleshly fear into a song of praise and prophesy. Through her song, she cited scripture, expressed the theology of God’s character, and poured herself out as an open vessel, ready to be used by God.
I imagine this song left Mary both empty (surrendered) and full in the way only music can.
Mary’s words echo through the generations, “look what God has done.” Songs of his faithfulness are written and adapted to this very day.
Likewise, we look to the song of Zechariah. Through his poetic words, he expresses, “look what God will do.” Zechariah points to a God who is on the move, active and alive. We see this theme again reverberate into our music and arts today.
Indeed, we serve a living and breathing God who has fulfilled and who continues to move in the world today.
Though the world may scream, “God is dead,” the Christ-follower can rest in the comfort of knowing, “God is alive. God is moving. God is, and has, and will move. He is alive and active, even today.” There is hope in this song and a constant prayer on our lips. Let us not cease in singing, praying and rejoicing in the hope that we have in Christ.
Prayer for Reflection
Lord Jesus, you are our constant source of hope. When the world seems dark or situations bleak, we cling to your promises. Jesus, help us grow in deep and wide faith. Let our faith be an offering of hope to others. We sing your praises and rejoice in what you have done. You are a good good father. Amen.
Deeper Walk Scriptures: 1 Samuel 2:1, Psalm 34:2, Isaiah 12:2-3, Exodus 15:11, Job 5:11
Create some family decorating your tree! Share with us on Social Media!
WEEK 3: DEC. 12-DEC. 18
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KIDS MIDWEEK 6:30p
STUDENTS MIDWEEK 6:00P
Week Three: Arrival of The King
Fred Kingman
Read: Matthew 2:1-15
As we get older, the anticipation of Advent can be dulled by the stress of life. We are busy with work or going through conflict or struggling with broken desires. We are besieged people who are wary to heed the call to leave our worries behind and dare to anticipate the arrival of the King.
When Jesus was born, a star appeared over Asia and caught the attention of three wise men, perhaps from Persia, India or China. They are sometimes called kings due to their wisdom and wealth, and once they saw the star they understood its significance. These “kings” left their people to find this new King. They were ready for His arrival, whereas the Jews who had waited centuries for this King were not.
How could they be better prepared for the arrival of Jesus than his own people? Sometimes I wonder the same about my life. Interestingly, the Jews knew what town to find him but hadn’t bothered to wait there for him. They had a king in Herod and were too content to keep him in power as he kept them in power. Their idol was power.
What is your idol, what turns you off to anticipating the King? Have you ever wondered where we are in the Advent story? We’re perhaps not wise men from Asia studying stars, we’re hopefully not Herod protecting power and we’re certainly not Jesus! What if we’re Jerusalem, those who know better but maintain the status quo? “The King is coming!” But we exclaim, “Eh, I know.”
Perhaps we don’t anticipate Advent because we don’t connect the baby in the manger to the man on the cross. Jesus was born to die. And who did he die for? Jerusalem. A wayward people who would one day include people of every nation. And 2,000 years later, he still beckons to us, weary Christians who can live with one foot in this world and one foot in the next.
This Advent, if your weary soul struggles to rejoice, cast your burdens on him. He’s a King who gives so much and requires simple trust in return. Why not leave your home to gather with God’s people? Why not give family and neighbors more emotional energy and feed anxiety a little less? Why not get ready for the arrival of the King?
Prayer for Reflection
Father God, I can sometimes struggle to get excited about your Son. The worries of this world can choke out my faith. Will you help me see Jesus, this child who was born to die, so I can know you? You are sufficient and glorious to share your Son with this world and provide us with a perfect King. Thank you for thinking of us when you sent him and please help us to anticipate his arrival, no matter how obscured our faith has become. Amen.
Deeper Walk Scriptures: Luke 19:41-44, Isaiah 53:2-12, Peter 5:7
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