Dec 24, 2017
Christmas Eve, 2017
Christmas Eve Morning.  Oh Worship the King!
In the pages of the Christmas story we see God's act of grace and mercy.  We see His display of providence and blessing.  We see in the devine baby, the giver of life and love.  The author and finisher of our faith, the author and finisher of our salvation.  And to do that, God could have entered human history in all His subline divinity, majesty and glory and yet He chose to do so with the poverty and humility of a servant.  Though there were indisputable signs that preceded and accomplished Christ's birth, preparing the world for the majestic and kingly appearance, yet the birth of Jesus itself was of the humblest, peasant patronage.  In an unimportant town in the roughest and meagerest of surroundings, everything about Him spoke of servitude.  Jesus didn't come to rule over us or oppress us as human rulers so often do.  Rather, He, the king of glory, the great "I AM" came to be the servant of all.  Matthew 20:28 informs us  28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  So therein is the glad tidings of great joy.  Therein is the good news, the gospel complete in Jesus Christ.  The good news of our salvation.  God loves us and has provided salvation and it is complete and expressed fully in Jesus Christ.  The king who came as a baby in the manger.  God's love gift to us.  He only seeks faithful, committed individuals to love Him in return.
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  • Dec 24, 2017Christmas Eve, 2017
    Dec 24, 2017
    Christmas Eve, 2017
    Christmas Eve Morning.  Oh Worship the King!
    In the pages of the Christmas story we see God's act of grace and mercy.  We see His display of providence and blessing.  We see in the devine baby, the giver of life and love.  The author and finisher of our faith, the author and finisher of our salvation.  And to do that, God could have entered human history in all His subline divinity, majesty and glory and yet He chose to do so with the poverty and humility of a servant.  Though there were indisputable signs that preceded and accomplished Christ's birth, preparing the world for the majestic and kingly appearance, yet the birth of Jesus itself was of the humblest, peasant patronage.  In an unimportant town in the roughest and meagerest of surroundings, everything about Him spoke of servitude.  Jesus didn't come to rule over us or oppress us as human rulers so often do.  Rather, He, the king of glory, the great "I AM" came to be the servant of all.  Matthew 20:28 informs us  28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  So therein is the glad tidings of great joy.  Therein is the good news, the gospel complete in Jesus Christ.  The good news of our salvation.  God loves us and has provided salvation and it is complete and expressed fully in Jesus Christ.  The king who came as a baby in the manger.  God's love gift to us.  He only seeks faithful, committed individuals to love Him in return.
  • Dec 17, 2017Fourth Advent Christmas 2017
    Dec 17, 2017
    Fourth Advent Christmas 2017
    In Luke Chapter 2 we read the Birth story once again.  The scripture tells us that God himself came to us on earth in person.  Not a spirit, not just an idea or a trend, but the actual Emmanuel, God with us, coming in the flesh and living with us to teach and to save. We see these incredible truths: First Emmanuel: It is this God that came and that very fact as encountered in the scriptures, not only in the Christmas story but throughout the Bible, should evoke in you and me the wonder of all the glory that we'll ever need to celebrate, not only Christmas, but to have joy unspeakable, full of glory every day of our lives.
    The second amazing truth is that God became man.  Now, God made many appearances to man in the Bible, but up until this point God never came as one of us, as Luke 1:31 states: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus."   The angel made it very clear that Mary would give birth in the natural human way to a human baby.  Fully God.  Fully human.  He was sinless although tempted just as we were, but remained pure.  He fulfilled the scriptures by going to the cross for our salvation.  If you don't know Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord, if you haven't believed in Him and accepted what He did for us on the cross, then you are still there, bowed at the manger scene, looking at the animals, looking at the little baby.... hoping the stars come out.....  We need salvation.  That's why Jesus came.  That's why we have Christmas.  This was GOD Himself, come down to earth to be born.  To save.
  • Dec 10, 2017Third Advent Christmas 2017
    Dec 10, 2017
    Third Advent Christmas 2017
    A child asked the Pastor "Does God in heaven have a Christmas Tree?"  In Matthew 21:16 Jesus says “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[a]?”  We also looked at multiple passages of scripture that speak of the cross, of the tree that Jesus was crucified on.  So from these passages, both new and Old Testament it is not that much of a stretch to say this morning, but yes, Jesus has His very own Christmas tree. It is no ordinary tree. This tree is the qualifier for mankind’s salvation in and through the person and work of his son Jesus by His sacrificial death on the tree, the old rugged Cross. We have salvation, the remission of sin and guilt, we are saved. That’s where the trees radically differ, Christ’s from ours. Rather under Christ’s tree the imperishable gifts of infinite value and worth, there which are purchased by the death of God’s son again, on the tree, on the cross. Can you see where I’m going with this and how it fits the Christmas scene today? And as we think about God’s spiritual Christmas tree we find that it’s an atonement tree. With all life giving gifts, 
  • Dec 3, 2017Second Advent Christmas 2017
    Dec 3, 2017
    Second Advent Christmas 2017
    Christmas is only and infinitely about the finished work of Calvary. Jesus, upon the cross, called out “it's done! it's finished!” So Christmas is only the arrival, and then the work begins, and if and when we celebrate anything short of that finished reality in our lives called salvation, Christmas will never be complete. We will be unfulfilled and disillusioned, and that's where so many of us are we’re at the beginning, we’re at the arrival. We celebrate profusely at the arrival but we forget that's not what it's about. No matter how much we celebrate and even say it's about Jesus we're only celebrating his coming. 
  • Nov 26, 2017First Advent Christmas 2017.
    Nov 26, 2017
    First Advent Christmas 2017.
    Are you here today wishing and hoping and longing for good feelings of peace and joy and comfort this Christmas, and you just can't find them and you're angry and you don't know what to do and Christmas comes and goes and you’re the same?   Let me assure you, you won’t find them in anything except in salvation.  That's why we preach Christ, because we all need to be saved. We need salvation,  and Acts 4:12 declares “and there is salvation in no-one else and there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”   And the name Jesus means what? Saviour.  Just as the angel announced over 2000 years ago "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."  
    I don't want you to go through another Christmas and say “yeah now I have to put on my happy face, it's Christmas”  I want you to experience Christmas because Jesus came to save you!
  • Dec 18, 2016Fourth Advent: The Spirit of Christmas. Peace
    Dec 18, 2016
    Fourth Advent: The Spirit of Christmas. Peace
    As we light the fourth candle in the Advent wreath, the candle of peace,  I wonder if we are really experiencing any significant amounts of peace in our lives at this busy, hectic and sometimes frustrating time of year.  Just because we celebrate the season that depicts the advent themes, love, joy and peace, it doesn't necessarily mean we truly are achieving all its benefits.  We sometimes fool ourselves into thinking that if we try really hard to do everything perfectly, keep every tradition, give, get and do the right things, those desired qualities will be ours in copious amounts.  But peace, especially, will only be achieved and retained if and when we follow the mandate set out by scripture about peace.  2 Thessalonians 3:16 states, "Now may the God of all peace, Himself, continually grant you peace in every circumstance."  So right away we discover that it is God alone who grants us this desired, somewhat elusive quality called peace.  Therefore in life in general and even more specifically, Christmas, we obviously can have peace.  But there are certain criteria we must follow to achieve this Christmas bliss... and first Corinthians 10:31 says this, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  Then First Peter 4:11 continues by saying  "in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen"  So the real question in regards to Christmas must be, then, are we glorifying God as we prepare and as we celebrate?
  • Dec 11, 2016Third Advent: The Glory of God
    Dec 11, 2016
    Third Advent: The Glory of God

    It is the glory of a saviour, born, lived, crucified, died and risen again.... kind of glory.  When we see the aspect of God's Glory revealed in the whole manger scene then we realize it's complete ramifications then we understand its entire profoundness to our ongoing spiritual growth.  Then we will, as it says in verse 9, "be filled with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,"  And when that occurs, even Christmas will take on an entirely new and glorious meaning that lasts all year.

     

     

  • Dec 4, 2016Second Advent: More Wonder
    Dec 4, 2016
    Second Advent: More Wonder
    On the second Sunday of Advent we light the "Love" candle.  We are re-reading the Biblical Nativity story so that it remains vivid, fresh and real in our minds and in our hearts.  So that "it" and only "it" becomes our theological view of the season.  We are entering into the Christmas season where it is so easy for everything around us to NOT be about the birth of Christ.  We see everything but biblical theology.  Christmas is the start of Jesus' journey.  His birth, life, death, burial and resurrection.  It all starts here.  Watch TV and see movies and commercials about Christmas and what do you see?  Family, food, presents, decorations and happy times!  Which are great!  But that is not all there is.  There is the theological aspect of who Christ really is.  But we are inundated with all the "Glitter".  So hopefully the wonder, the surprise and the glory of the truth that is in this event will rub off on us and once again cause you and me to be overwhelmed and amazed.  Amazed at the marvelous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.      ~ Pastor NIk
     

    So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

    And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

    13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

    14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,     and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

    15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

    16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

  • Nov 27, 2016First Advent: The Wonder
    Nov 27, 2016
    First Advent: The Wonder
    In the First Advent Sunday's message we hear about that wonder.  That amazement.  That joy that must have been felt by Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi.  We are reminded that Christmas and its preparations should fill us with an awestruck wonder at the arrival of the prophesied King.  
    Matt. 1:  an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
    22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g](which means “God with us”).
     
    Matt: 2  9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.