You Have a Part in God’s 2017

How do you feel about the coming of the new year – 2017? Some people are extremely pessimistic while others believe this year might be the beginning of good things for them. Christians have emotions like everyone else, yet, for whatever we feel, we are part of something much bigger. When Jesus left this earth he made it clear he wasn’t abandoning it, just ruling it in a less visible way.

As you look ahead to the future, give the following passage some thought.

Ephesians 1:22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

The church is made up of all people who have received Jesus Christ into their hearts as Savior and Lord. Now that passage from Ephesians says that Christ is ruling human history so that the church will be blessed.

After Jesus rose from the dead he told his followers that they would be his visible, physical representatives in this world. That means in 2017 we will have a part in Christ carrying out his plan for each human being and humanity as a whole. That massive truth shatters any fear we might have of the coming year and it overwhelms any positive expectations. To put it simply, you have a role to play in God shaping eternity. What could be more exciting?

There is no better way to begin the new year than to be in the presence of your Lord with other Christians: worshiping, singing, praising, praying, confessing, learning and taking Holy Communion.

New Year’s Eve worship at Rainbow Pavilion: 5:30 pm
New Year’s Day worship: 10:00 am

Shocking!

The message of Christmas is shocking! There is no other way to put it. Unfortunately, over the years our culture has so watered it down that for most Christmas is just a time of relaxation, enjoying a break at the end of the year, exchanging gifts and hoping for just a little more peace in our violence driven world. That, however, is a far, far cry from what actually happened.

Matthew, Luke and John leave no doubt – Christmas is about God entering the planet earth as a human being and living in history among the people he created.

Don’t read over the previous sentence too fast. If it is true, none of us can be the same. If God came into the world to tell us about himself, can anything even come close to matching that in importance? Really, if we can know God, how could money, or power or anything compare to that? Knowing God is the holy grail of human life! And it is exactly for that reason Christians make so much out of Christmas. God coming into this world did change everything, forever.

Skeptics wonder, “God was born as a human being of a woman who was a virgin?” Well, a lot of people believe everything came from nothing. That takes a lot of faith too! If you are skeptical about Christmas, think about all the things you have to take by faith such as the origin of matter and life, the exquisite fine tuning of the universe, that human life has a meaning and purpose. Yes, everyone lives by faith in something. What matters is that what we put our faith in is reliable.

Give the Christmas message the chance this year to demonstrate that it is worthy, very worthy of your trust.

Christmas Eve worship: 7:00 pm
Christmas Day worship: 10:00 am