The Advent of Life in Christ – Christmas Eve 2020
Christ has come that we might experience true, full life, now and eternally.
Romans 5:1-5
The Advent of Joy – The Life of Joy
All people are motivated by the search for joy and happiness, but the route to real joy is through the shadow’s valley and into the wide-open arms of your Lord.
John 15: 9-11
Advent Devotionals Week 4 – Joy
Advent Devotionals Week 4 – Joy
The Advent of Love
God showed His love for us by sending His Son to sacrificially lay down His life for us, and we are to follow His example by laying down our lives for others.
John 15:13; 1 John 4:7-12
Advent Devotionals Week 3 – Love
Advent Devotionals Week 3 – Love
The Advent of Peace – It’s an Inside Job
Peace comes from within through the strength that Christ provides, not from our external circumstances or possessions.
Luke 8:22-25
Advent Devotionals Week 2 – Peace
Advent Devotionals Week 2 – Peace (December 7 – 12, 2020)
The Advent of Hope in Christ
In times of distress we need to expectantly wait upon God, knowing we can have hope because He is the Sovereign God Who has fulfilled all of His promises in Christ.
Isaiah 40
Advent Devotionals Week 1 – Hope
The first week of Advent Devotionals for 2020 on Hope.
Series Outline for What is the Church?
This 11-week series talk about how the Church is the Body, Bride, and Temple of Christ, the community of all true believers for all time, and all Christians are called to be part of local churches where they worship, care for one another, and serve God’s purposes in the world together.
The Church – God’s People on Mission Together
Question 71: Are Christians only called to be part of the universal Church?
The Church has been given the Spirit to empower us to be on mission together, taking the Gospel forth and displaying the love of God to others from our location to the ends of the earth.
Luke 4:16-19; Luke 24:45-49
The Church – The Community of Servanthood
Question 71: Are Christians only called to be part of the universal Church?
The local church community is where we are taught humble servanthood as a virtue, where we practice acts of servanthood, and where our souls are shaped so that our whole life becomes characterized by the attitude and practices of servanthood.
Galatians 5:13-15
The Church – The Persecuted Community of Faith
The Church is the community of those who are God’s people through faith in Christ and are therefore exiles in this world. Consequently, they must persevere through suffering and persecution, knowing God is worth far more than this passing age.
Hebrews 11
The Church – God’s Nation of Exiles
The Church is God’s Nation in the world today, comprised of believers from every earthly nation, scattered throughout every earthly nation, and with ultimate loyalty and affection reserved for God and His kingdom.
1 Peter 5:1-2; 2:9-12; 5:13-14
The Church – The Community of Worship
Question 71: Are Christians only called to be part of the universal Church?
Worship is the assembly of the local church where God speaks to us through His Word, meets and strengthens us in the sacraments, and we respond as a community in spoken and sung prayers.
Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16
The Church – Elders
Question 71: Are Christians only called to be part of the universal Church?
Each local church must have a group of elders who shepherd the flock by God’s Word, are servant leaders for those under their care, set a godly example in character and conduct, and point people to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd.
1 Peter 5:1–7
The Church – Universal and Local
Question 71: Are Christians only called to be part of the universal Church?
All Christians are called to be part of local churches where they are led and cared for by elders, worship God, learn the Scripture, receive the sacraments, pray together, serve one another, and carry out the Great Commission together.
1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Acts 14:23
Who Is This King?
Christ is the all-sufficient Savior, Lord and King to all his people. He is a King who has done wondrous things for us, and as a result we ought to give him our allegiance, obedience and love.
Colossians 1:9-23 (ESV)
The Church – The Communion of Saints
Question 70: What is the Church?
The Church is the communion of the saints, all of those in every age who have been united to Christ in faith and draw their life from Him and who are therefore spiritually united with one another now and in eternity.
John 10:16; Hebrews 12:22-24
The Church – The Temple of God
Question 70: What is the Church?
The Church is God’s Temple, where He dwells by His Spirit as His people gather to worship and live in holiness and unity.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV2011
The Church – The Bride of Christ
Question 70: What is the Church?
The Church is the Bride of Christ, Whom He loves and for Whom He gives Himself that she might be glorious, full of the beauty of holiness.
Ephesians 5:22-33
The Church – The Body of Christ
Question 70: What is the Church?
The Church is the Body of Christ, in which believers are united with one another and with Jesus Christ, their Head and source of life.
1 Corinthians 12:12–13
The Church – The Community of Believers
Question 69: Does God call you to live the Christian life by yourself?
The Church is the community of those who have personally responded to the Gospel, gather for worship, and care for one another.
Acts 2:36-47
Blessed to be a Blessing
All Christians are blessed by God to be a blessing to others.
Luke 5:1-11
He Is There and He Is Not Silent
The fundamental reality is that God exists and He is speaking to us through creation and the Scriptures, and we are called to respond in prayer and personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 19