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Display as music team leaves stage
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8.30 am---REDISCOVER CHRISTMAS VIDEO CLIP—will play automatically when you click on slide (Play this video loop after music team has been seated and Pastor rises from seat).
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WELCOME, ATTENDANCE PAD
Today’s CHRISTMAS CHEER
Church Bulletin Bloopers
Ushers will eat latecomers.
The guest soloist sang "I Will Not Pass This Way Again," giving much pleasure to the congregation.
Sermon this morning: Jesus Walks on the Water. Sermon tonight: Searching for Jesus.
The patient is having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Don’s sermons.
A letter to the men’s fellowship reads: "All members are requested to bring their wives and one other covered dish to the annual banquet."
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This is the 2nd Sunday of Advent—this is the time of the year that we are getting ready for the coming of Jesus Christ.
So now it’s time to get ready for today’s good news for the Advent season as we go to prayer.
PRAYER
God of prophets: in the wilderness of Jordan you sent a messenger to
prepare our hearts for the coming of Your Son - the one who brings true
peace into our world and into our lives. Help us to hear the good news,
to repent, and so be ready to welcome our Savior and to enter into the
kingdom he brings....
Help us dear God to accept and to unwrap the gifts you give us;
especially O God we ask you to help us accept the gift of peace.
Help us to acknowledge our deep and abiding need for you
and to confess that only you can help us find what we are looking for.
That only you can help us repair our broken relationships
That only you can lead us to the peace you want us to have,
Help us walk toward the light.
Loving God as we have prayed for ourselves, so we pray for others. Many
are in despair through physical hardship, seeking relief from their
burdens, and hope in the midst of their cares. Others have minds and souls
filled with hatred, lives shackled by prejudices and the terrible
obsessions that lead to war and to that which is worse. Come to them with
the help that they desperately need. Come to them with the gift of healing
and the gift of seeking, come to them with the gift of loving and the gift
of having found.
Your church in all the world, also needs saving from everything that
threatens its mission. O Lord, where it is persecuted, keep it faithful.
Where it persecutes, rebuke it. Where it is seduced by affluence, shake
it. Where it is self-satisfied, unsettle it. Where it is weak, poor, and
meek, bless it with your joy, peace and strength.
Father, we give you thanks for your peace, for gift to us and for how you
have promised it to the whole world. This day we know some of that peace
within our own experience: we know what it is to be made whole, what it is
to walk through the wilderness and then to enter the promised land, we know
what it is to depend on you - and to find that you do not fail. We hold
before you now those who are upon our hearts - some who need
the peace we have prayed for today, some who need a healing touch, some who
need comforting, and some who celebrate your goodness toward them hear
our prayers, O God for: BIDDING PRAYER
Thank you Lord for your many gifts. Keep alive in us the spirit of seeking
•that we may also have the spirit of having found. We ask it in the name
of the one who taught us to pray for your kingdom to come and for your will
to be done, Christ Jesus your Son and our Savior. Amen..
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8.30 am--BETHLEHEM STAR VIDEO LOOP—will play automatically when you click on slide
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John 12:46 (LB) "Jesus said, I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in darkness."
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the lights. It seems that Christmas lights up the world. The first lights go up in November or October in some cases, when the stores begin to put up their lights -- those who want to get a head start on the buying season. Then next the city lights go up. Then neighborhood lights start going up. All the lights go up on my neighborhood block. Then I put up my lights—if you’re lucky.
December 21st is the winter solstice, which is the longest night of the year and the shortest time of daylight in the year. It’s interesting when we’re in the darkest part of the year, Christmas pierces the darkness with light.
Light is a major theme in the Bible. The Bible says in 1 John "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." The very first command that God gave in creation was, "Let there be light." Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." This is the very reason for Christmas.
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I love this verse from the Bible that is a popular reading for Advent:
Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Lights were important in the first Christmas. The angels did the dazzling light show in the sky and the shepherds went to Bethlehem as a result and saw the baby Jesus. The wise men saw another bright light in the sky -- a star -- and they followed it to where the Savior was born.
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John 12:46 "Jesus said, `I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in darkness." He’s not talking about physical darkness here. He’s talking about personal darkness.
Well, everybody has dark days. Ever have days you don’t want to get out of bed? You’re afraid to face the world. You don’t feel like it’s worth the effort. You just want to throw in the towel. You don’t want to see anybody. We all go through dark days.
I want to take a look in the remaining days of this Advent season up until Christmas at Christmas lights for your dark days. I want to look specifically at four types of dark days and how you can get though Christmas and the rest of the days of your life in light of the life of Jesus.
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Each Sunday and Christmas Eve I will take a look on one type of dark day and one way the light of Jesus’ life can help you through all of those dark days.
Keep in mind that there is an Antidote to all these days of darkness:
"You, Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness!" 1 Sam. 22:29 (GN)
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A. WHAT ARE COMMON DAYS OF DARKNESS?
1. Dark Days Of Distress.
It has been said
We live in:
The age of the half-read page
And the quick hash and the mad dash.
The bright night and the nerves tight,
The plan hop, the brief stop,
The brain strain and the heart pain.
The cat naps till the spring snaps,
And the fun’s done.
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, stretched to the limit, frustrated? You’ve got too much to do and you don’t have enough time, you don’t have enough money, you don’t have enough energy?
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I’ve tried to compile a list of potential things that happen at this time of year which may contribute to increased stress during the holiday season. See if any of these ring a bell, no holiday pun intended.
Shopping for gifts
Getting to the necessary holiday parties
Putting up the decorations
Cooking a meal
Wrapping the gifts
Making enough cookies and breads to give away
Buying a tree
Fighting the traffic
Having enough money to buy gifts
(If married) Figuring out when to celebrate at both sets of parents without offending either
All the stores are out of the gift you’re looking for
Three frightening words –Some assembly required
Having the right clothes for social occasions
Untangling the strands of lights
Sending out Christmas cards
Hearing “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” for the 150th time
Knowing the year is coming to a close and you didn’t accomplish what you intended to
Facing relatives you don’t get along with
Knowing that maybe you’ll spend Christmas alone
Three often overlooked words – batteries not included
Missing loved ones who have passed away
Members of your family who find where you hid their presents.
When you compile a list like this, it’s easy to see why Christmas is a major period of increased stress for many people, not mention distress you are already experiencing.
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Mary probably felt distressed in the very first Christmas. In the first place, she was nine months pregnant and she had to ride a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. That would be stressful. She has the first baby she’s ever had by herself, alone in a stable. Talk about stress!
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David experienced stress. "I cry desperately for help but it still does not come." Have you ever felt that way? Help me, somebody! I’m overloaded! I’ve got too much to do! I’m stressed out." But nobody helps me. Dark days of distress when you’re stretched to the limit.
That reminds me of the little boy that got separated from his mom at the Mall. He was standing by the door crying. People coming in started giving him money. The supervisor came over and said, "Don’t worry, son. I’ve found your mother. I know where she is." The boy said, "I know where she, too. Please be quiet."
My guess is that some of you are in dark days of distress right now. You may be stressed out financially. There’s too much of the month left over at the end of the money. I heard of a guy that went to a creditor and said, "We’re having trouble with your easy payment plan. Do you have an easier one?"
You can be stressed out physically. Your get up and go has got up and went. You don’t feel good and you don’t feel like doing anything. You get stressed out physically.
You can be stressed out relationally. Your marriage isn’t working out right. Your relationships aren’t working out right ?- with your kids, your friends, your boss.
Well that’s not the only type of darkness you may experience –I’ll talk about another one next week.
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So where do you turn in your dark days. What’s the antidote? Again 1 Samuel 22:29 reads"You Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness." How does Christ do that? He says, "I’m the light of the world." He came to light up our dark days. How does Christ dispel the darkness? How does He light up my life?
Because of the Christmas event you don’t have to stay in the dark. Jesus Christ wants to do four things in your life. I’ll talk about the first one today
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B. HOW CAN JESUS DISPEL MY DARKNESS?
1. He strengthens me when I’m distressed.
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This is a great verse. Philippians 4:13 (Amplified) "I have the strength for all things in Christ who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me."
Some of you need to put this verse on your refrigerator. "I have the strength for all things..." I’m ready for anything and equal to anything."
I am competent, I am capable, I am able to handle no matter what comes my way. On my own power. No way! But with the power that God puts in my life through Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate at this time of the year. Nothing can devastate me in ’2005 no matter what happens because I can face it. Say that with me: I CAN FACE IT. Not on my own, but He will strengthen me when I’m distressed.
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Philippians 4:13. "I can handle anything with the power that Christ gives me in His strength. “
There’s this story that I read recently:
“Grandpa walked into the family room and found his little grandson, Jeffy, standing up in his playpen, crying.
“He looked so pitiful, standing there in his little baseball T-shirt and diaper. His face was red and tear-stained from crying. When Jeffy saw his grandpa, his face lit up in a way that smote the old man’s heart. He immediately reached up his chubby little hands in supplication.
“Out Papa, out!”
“What grandpa could resist such a plea? Not this one! He walked over to the playpen and reached down to lift his little buddy out of captivity and distress.
“Just then, however, Law and Order stepped into the room.
“Jeffy’s mother walked out of the kitchen with a dishtowel in her hand and spoke sternly. “No, Jeffy! You are being punished. You have to stay in bed! Leave him right there, Dad.”
“Oh, fine. Now what’s a grandpa to do? His grandson’s tears and reaching little hands tugged mightily at his heart- but he didn’t want to interfere with a mother’s discipline either.
“He couldn’t stand staying in the same room with the boy, reading his newspaper and pretending to be aloof. Nor could he turn around and walk out the door without feeling like a betrayer to his little pal. What could he do?
“Love found a way.
“Since Grandpa couldn’t take Jeffy out of the playpen, he climbed in with him. “If you’re in the playpen, Buddy, I’m in the playpen. What’s your sentence? How long are you in for?” And finding a big, jolly grandpa suddenly filling his little prison cell, the little boy found comfort even in his captivity.” (from Sermon Central illustrations)
That’s what Christmas is all about God through Jesus came to us to be with us and strengthen us in our captivity, in our times of distress.
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Psalm 23:4 "Even though I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me."
The darkest part of the night, that’s when the light shines the brightest. There are 150 Psalms in the book of Psalms. The theme of Psalms in one sentence: Life is tough, but God is good. That’s the theme of Psalms.
It’s not, "Life is good and God is tough." Instead it’s, Life is tough, but God is good! God says, I will not only encourage you when you’re disappointed but I will strengthen you when you’re distressed.
There are 365 fear nots in the Bible. That’s one for every day of the year. God is saying "Get the message! Don’t be afraid. I will strength you when you’re distressed."
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Many of you have been going through difficult dark days or you’re getting ready to go into them. You don’t have to go it alone. The good news of Christmas is that in Jesus Christ, the darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines:
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Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
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How do you view distress in your life? Will you allow it to strengthen your faith or weaken your faith? Will the stresses of life draw you nearer to God or push you farther away from God? The choice is yours and yours alone. God has provided the light. Now will you follow the light to the place where the king of victory was born?
I don’t know what distressing events you are facing today but I’d like to pray with you today.
Prayer:
You may want to pray something like this in your own mind this morning:
Thank you, Lord. You are worthy of my praise and thanks. Thank you for every good gift you have given me. Thank you for moments of calm. Thank you for the relief from distress that you give. I love you Lord for you have provided the light for the dark days of winter and the Christmas season! Give me the power to face the dark days of distress. When life is tough, help to remember that you are good – that you will give me the strength to get though it all.
Loving God - forgive us - for those things - which get in your way.
Help us to prepare - for the coming of Jesus - in our hearts and
in our homes - both this Christmas and forevermore. AMEN.
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Jesus will strengthen you when you are distressed. Say it with me again: “I CAN FACE IT!”
I have the strength for all things in Christ who empowers me.
Next week I’ll talk about the second of the 4 D’s—the second type of darkness-- and how Jesus will dispel that darkness.
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Make plans now for our Candlelight service on Christmas Eve—invite family friends to be here with you.
(ideas for this series from a sermon by Rick Warren)
