What Do I Do Next?
Today, in the grand finale to the "Unplugged" series, Pastor Henry began by talking about those times when something happens and it makes you stop and ask, "What do I do next?" How do we get unplugged from the world and get plugged in to God?
In Matthew 28:18-20, just before Jesus returned to heaven, He told His disciples what they were to do next. He said, "
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." After spending 3 years with His disciples, Jesus made their calling clear because He is in control. They were to go and share that great message that He is in control and He has come to restore and forgive. He ended His Great Commission with a clear statement of His commitment:
"And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age."Jesus is also speaking to us in this calling and commitment. As we enter in to 2007, Pastor Henry gave us 2 things to think about: 1) How are we going to be discipled? and 2) How are we going to go out, and who are we going to go out to?
Blessings to you for 2007!!!
Wise Men Still Seek Him
Today Pastor Henry talked about the story found in
Matthew 2:1-12 of the wisemen who brought their gifts to Jesus and he asked us the question, "What does your heart desire?" He contrasted the posture of those who seek and find the Playstation 3 Gaming System with the posture of the Magi, or wisemen, when they found Jesus.
The Magi were a priestly cast in Persia who read signs in the stars. God, in His inspiring way, sent them a birth announcement in their own "language" when Jesus was born. This made me wonder at the different ways Jesus' birth is announced to us. When they found Him by following the star, their response was to bow down and worship Him and give Him their gifts.
In conclusion, Pastor Henry asked us to think about our response to the announcement of the birth of His Son. We prayed and sang for God to open the eyes of our hearts to see what has been given to us in the birth of Jesus. What can we bring to Him?
A Glimpse of His Glory
Today, Pastor Amy talked about the Christmas story as told in Luke 2:8-20. She described how the shepherds were sitting on that dark hillside watching their sheep and how utterly dark it would have been with no electricity. This reminded her of the "people walking in darkness" in Isaiah 9 which we talked about last week. But then the angels came to them and they had a glimpse of something that is going on all the time in heaven! "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests," they sang.
Amy also read from Revelation 4 & 5 and invited us to close our eyes as we pictured this scene from heaven which ends with thousands of angels surrounding the throne and singing,
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
To receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
And honor and glory and praise."
At the very moment that the angels were singing to the shepherds, God came down to earth in the shape of a helpless baby. He came to join us in our suffering. And it is because of this moment that we can hold the hand of the hurting, help people with broken relationships, sit at the hospital bedside of the sick. In this way, we can help people who are walking in the darkness to see the Light of the World, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Happy Birthday MCC!
Today we celebrated the 4th Anniversary of MCC by having a potluck after the worship time. People shared their best memories of times in our church and it is obvious that there is so much for which to be thankful. We have an awesome God!
In preparation for Christmas and the upcoming Advent season, Pastors Henry and Amy talked about different prophecies in the Old Testament and how they were fulfilled with the birth of Jesus. Pastor Amy talked about Isaiah 7 where Isaiah was bringing God's message to King Ahaz of Judah. At that time, people believed that the tribe who won a battle had the strongest god. Isaiah told King Ahaz that the sign from their God would be a child called Immanuel who was born of a virgin. This promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born of a virgin. Pastor Henry described how the promises in Jeremiah were also completed when Jesus was born.
I think this shows what a powerful God we serve because all of the hundreds of prophecies made in the Old Testament were fulfilled to the letter in Jesus Christ. What do you think?
