Today's Passage - Luke 2:1-7

Good morning and praise the Lord dearly loved ones in Christ. On this Christmas Eve of 2012 I'm sure many thoughts are turning to our Lord who was born in Bethlehem. For us, reflections on our Lord's birth move us to celebrate all that His birth, life, death, resurrection and soon return mean for us in the here and now and eternity.
We celebrate the birth of our Lord because His birth, life and death speak of His tremendous humility for His people. Biblical humility is mainly the virtue of putting the needs, issues and interests of others before your own rights and privileges. So here is Jesus, the eternal Son of the living God, heir of the the throne of King David and absolute ruler of God's eternal kingdom being born in a stable, put in a feeding trough in a small out of the way village and loved by poor parents who had no political or religious standing. He comes as the fulfillment of all of God's promises of salvation beginning with the promise recorded in Gen. 3:15 and as an expression of the power of God who alone can cause a virgin to conceive and give birth.
He comes to a world and a people marked by brokenness, pain, sorrow, oppression, turmoil, hostility, pride, injustice, selfishness and sin and brings healing, wholeness, freedom, peace, humility, justice, righteousness, sacrifice, reconciliation and salvation.
He comes as our great Savior, merciful High Priest, good Shepherd, faithful Prophet and glorious King. He comes to rescue us from sin and bring us into eternal, blessed, wondrous fellowship with the living God. He come as the One who loves us to free us from our sins and make us a kingdom of priest to serve His God and Father forever. And that's why we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance


Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage? (What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)

Today's Passage - Luke 1:26-38

Good morning and praise the Lord dearly loved ones in Christ. Our reflections on the season brings us to the book of Luke who wrote the most about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once more we ask the question why we celebrate the birth of our Lord? We do so because our Lord Jesus Christ is the present and eternal ruler of God's kingdom. This kingdom is one of complete righteousness, peace, joy, love, grace, justice grounded in the nature and character of its King. It is also a kingdom of worship in which its citizens orient their lives around the joyful worship, praise and adoration of our King. It is a kingdom that will never end, never be defeated, never become corrupt and never, ever cease to bring its citizens total and complete soul satisfaction. Finally, this kingdom is uniquely different and distinct from any and every other kingdom and country that has ever existed because each and every citizen gained entrance when the King took their place of punishment, was nailed to a Roman cross and poured out His own precious royal blood for their sins. And that's why we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance


Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God."
38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage? (What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)

Today's Passage - Psalm 24

Good morning and praise the Lord dearly loved ones in Christ. As you know our celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is also the celebration of His life, death, resurrection and soon return for us. Since the psalms also speak of the person and work of Christ we've also looked at a couple of them for insight on why we celebrate our Lord's birth. Thus in Psalm 22 Christ is revealed as our suffering servant while Psalm 23 teaches that He is our good shepherd. Psalm 24 declares that Christ is our sinless, sovereign and victorious King.
 Why do we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ? We do so because Christ is the only one who can stand in the presence of the Holy Father without guilt, stain, blame or sin. He alone has the spotless life, pure heart, complete innocence of soul and absolute integrity to earn a perfect, permanent right standing before the Father.
But He did not earn this just for Himself. Christ led His life of perfect righteousness for us. For Him life was an ongoing and daily battle against the temptation of the evil one and a sinful world. He engaged in this battle with the weight of our eternal souls on His shoulders and by His sinless life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection won a decisive and complete victory. We celebrate the birth of our Lord because He is the King of glory who has won the battle for God's kingdom and God's people. And now He brings us with Him in a holy procession of worship into the very presence of the living God where we will forever live in His peace, love, blessings, favor and infinite delight.

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance

 Psalm 24:1-6 (ESV)
1 A PSALM OF DAVID. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage? (What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)

Today's Passage - Matt. 1:18-25

Good morning and praise the Lord dearly loved ones in Christ. We're moving forward with our celebration of the birth of our Lord as we enter Christmas week and our thoughts turn even more so to our Lord, Shepherd, King and Savior. So then why do we celebration the birth of our Lord? We celebrate the birth of our Lord because He was born of the virgin Mary to save us from the penalty, practice, pattern and presence of sin. We celebrate the virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ because He was the only way we could be saved from our sins. The fact is apart from the person and work of the fruit of the virgin's womb there would be no salvation, no hope, no real basis for genuine joy and no escaping God's fierce, settled, passionate, righteous and eternal anger against our sin. In the end the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ means that every Christmas day brings us one day closer to our blessed, glorious and eternal salvation.

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance


Matthew 1:18-25 (ESV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage? (What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)

Today's Passage - Isaiah 9:1-7

good morning and praise the Lord dearly loved ones in Christ. This year we'll approach the celebration of the birth of our Lord with great deal more heaviness than usual. The tragedy in Newtown CT. has thrown dozens of families into a grip of grief that may linger with them for the rest of their lives. And like so many others the season of Christmas will now be a season of grief for them not only this year, but for years to come.

What comfort is there for those who struggle with grief and loss during this season and beyond? How do they deal with the reality of their pain during a time when we'd all like to just experience the simple joy of the Christmas season even though it last only a few weeks before we get on with a new year and back to business as usual?

The comfort we have and we can commend to those struggling with the pain of loss is that God has done something definitive and lasting to once and for all banish all grief, pain, loss and sorrow. He's done so by sending His one and unique Son Jesus Christ who lived among a people whose anguish and emotional grief was so deep and lasted so long that Isaiah declared that they lived in the valley of the shadow of death. Why do we celebrate the birth of our Lord? We do so because at the deepest level He knows the effect sin has on our lives. He knows what it feels like to live among a people who day after day struggle through their own sorrow and hardship.  He knows what it feels like to struggle with the pain of loss, the grief death brings, and the sorrow that comes with a life lived among an oppressed, marginalized people. We celebrate the birth of our Lord because in He comes not just to save us from our sin, but to save us to an existence where sin, grief, pain, loss and death will have no place or memory.

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance


Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage?

(What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)

Today's Passage - Psalm 15

good morning and praise the Lord dearly loved ones in Christ. We continue our Advent series with a look at another psalm which answers the question 'why we celebrate the birth of our Lord'. So then, just why do we celebrate the birth of our Lord even though we're pretty sure it didn't occur on Dec. 25th? We celebrate our Lord's birth because it was through His virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death and powerful resurrection that we will never, ever be moved or removed from God's presence. We celebrate because in Christ we have fulfilled every requirement needed to obtain and maintain a perfect, permanent right standing before the Father. In Christ we are blameless, without the guilt and shame of our own sin. In Christ we are welcome to come to, enjoy and flourish in God's presence knowing that we are the present and eternal objects of His love, kindness, favor and delight.

Finally we celebrate the birth of our Lord because He is the one who kept His oath to the Father to save us from our sin even to His own hurt. In fact, Christ kept His oath so save us even toward His own calamity. And this after He was the only one to have ever kept the words of this precious psalm in action, thought, word and way of life. Christ is the one who can sojourn in the Father's tent forever. He is the one who can dwell and flourish on God's holy hill which is a metaphor for the place where God Himself lives. Christ is the one who will never, ever again be removed from the Father's presence. And now because of His virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death and bodily resurrection so will we. That's why we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance

Psalm 15:1-5 (ESV)
1 A PSALM OF DAVID. O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage? (What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)

Today's Passage - Micah 5:1-4

good morning dearly loved ones in Christ. We continue our special Advent series with a look at one of the most familiar prophecies regarding the birth of our Lord. So then, why do we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus? We do so because in Jesus we finally have one who can and will rule our lives with grace, wisdom, gentleness and absolute righteousness. Jesus doesn't just tell us about our sin but by grace forgives us and assures us that His death has paid the penalty that was ours so that we need not carry the guilt and shame that comes with sin. Beyond that our Lord graciously gives us the power of His Spirit so that we can understand and embrace His wisdom for life and thus form new, godly, fruitful patterns, habits and ways of living that replace our old, ungodly and unfruitful ones. And when we still fall short and sin, our Lord still rules us but not with unfeeling harshness. Instead, He rules with the gentleness that a nursing mother shows to her newborn infant.
You see the great thing about taking our sins, faults and shortcomings to our Lord is that He not only knows all about them, and not only has successfully faced every temptation we've failed but rules us for the purpose of building us up and not breaking us down. His forgiveness therefore is neither a ticket to continue in our patterns of sin nor a invitation to wallow in guilt. Rather, it's a gracious but clear command to follow after the righteousness of our Lord for His glory, the witness of His gospel and our own good. That's why we celebrate the birth of our Lord

enjoy a gracious day in our Lord

blessings
pastor lance

Micah 5:1-4 (ESV)
1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

What is the plain straightforward teaching of this passage? (What does the passage teach in plain English)
What does the passage teach about God's character and nature that motivates you to thank, praise, worship, desire to know, love and delight in Him?
Is there at least one thing from the passage that you can reflect on throughout the rest of the day?
What does the passage teach about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
What aspects of biblical character does the passage call you to pursue? (or what aspects of our sinful nature does the passage call us to avoid?)