Never Too Late, Never Too Early Series

Never Too Late, Never Too Early

Christmas Stories – week one

Promo Video of The Story…

Talk about the coming year long series ‘The Story…’

THIS MORNING – we are kicking off a new series that we will conclude on Christmas Eve… (2 services this year 3 and 5 pm). I am calling this new series, ‘Christmas Stories…’ AND – for the next few weeks we are going to look at some of the stories that are found within the greatest story ever told.

AND – as we do we will encounter people and experience events that changed lives 2000 years ago and are still changing lives today.

NEXT WEEK – (Joseph) Awakened To The Call

12/23 – (Jesus) The Image Of The Invisible God

12/24 (The Shepherds and Simeon) The Wait Is Over!

AND TODAY – we are going to meet an elderly couple and a teenage girl who are going to teach us a life altering and world changing truth, that it is… Never Too Late, and it is Never Too Early.

OKAY – would you please stand, as I read a few passages of Scripture…

WE – do this often at The Grove

BUT BEFORE - I read these verses… let me ask you a few questions.

Do you think that what I am about to read is true?

Do you believe that it’s even true for you?

Do you think that even though you may have heard some of these verses countless times before… do you think that God ‘still’ could use them today to speak to you in a new, fresh, powerful and transforming way? Good… me too!

God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. – Genesis 1:27,28

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. - Matthew 5:13-16

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. – 2 Cor 3:16-18

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

– Ephesians 2:10

Prayer

QUESTION… and you don’t have to raise your hands (but you can if you want to…)

Does anyone in this room want to be used by God?

Do you think God wants to use everyone in this room? (look around)

Do you think He wants to use you?

Does it blow you away that GOD (that the Creator of the Universe) would actually wants to use you… and the person to your right and left?

Do you really believe that GOD has plans for your life?

Do you really believe that you actually and literally are His masterpiece? Yeah, I know… this is some ‘crazy stuff’

QUESTION…

Why does God want to use us/you? For what purpose?

For His Glory

To reflect Him and His likeness to a dark world

To fill the earth with the glory and wonder of His image

To be salt

To be light

The first point in your notes…

Never Too Late

NOW - we are going to look at Luke 1:5-25 to unpack it’s fuller meaning…

BUT BEFORE – we go there, we need to take a brief moment and look at some words from the prophet Malachi…

YEAH – I know a lot of you woke up this morning and were wanting to hear a word from Malachi… well hear it is I didn’t want to disappoint you.

UNDERSTAND – our God is a sovereign God. He rules over all times, nations, languages, cultures, races, classes, and genders of people. He is working out everything according to his plan. What He says will happen has and will always happen. And throughout Scripture we see God predicting and declaring the future in advance through His prophets.