“Keeping Christ in Christmas”

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

The number one way to keep Jesus Christ in your Christmas celebrations is to have him present in your daily life. If you're not sure what it means to become a believer in Christ, check out this article on "How to Become a Christian."  If you have already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and made him the center of your life, keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way you live your life than the things you say—such as "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays"!

Keeping Christ in Christmas means to daily reveal the character, love and spirit of Christ who dwells in you, allowing these traits to shine thru your actions. Here are some simple ways to keep Christ as the central focus of your life during this Christmas season.

1.      Give God one very special gift from you:

Let this gift be something personal that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a sacrifice. David said in 2 Samuel 24 that he would not offer a sacrifice to God that cost him nothing.

Maybe your gift to God will be to forgive someone you've needed to forgive for a long time. You may discover that you've given a gift back to yourself!

Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian who survived extreme brutality in a German concentration camp after rescuing many Jews from certain death during the Nazi Holocaust, was later able to say, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you."

Perhaps your gift will be to commit to spending some time with God daily. Or maybe there is something God has asked you to give up. Make this your most important gift of the season!

2.      Set aside a special time to read and discuss the Christmas story (Luke 1:5-5

    6:2:1-20) with your family or friends.

3.      Set up a Nativity scene in your home:

If you don't have a Nativity, this year may be a good year to introduce one. Gather your kids or grandkids around and explain the characters in it.

4.      Plan a “good will” project this Christmas

Do you know of an elderly neighbor or family member in need of home repairs or yard work? Find someone with a genuine need, then involve your family or friends to help you meet that need and watch how happy you can make someone this Christmas!

I know of one of our LIFE Groups that is going out on Christmas Eve day to hand out practical hygiene items to the homeless such as lotion, soap, combs, etc. along with giving some love and good conversation!  God bless you guys!

(Our Blanket/Coat and Children’s Book drives have been promoted for this purpose, as well.)

5.      Gather a group to go Christmas caroling at a nursing home, hospital or a shelter:

Another one of our LIFE Groups (including the children) already went caroling at a senior home. The LIFE Group’s joy of serving was exuberant!

6.      Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family or to a friend:

Jesus taught us to serve others by washing the disciples feet. He also taught us that it is "more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) The idea of giving an unexpected gift of service to someone is to demonstrate Christ-like love and service. You might consider running an errand, cleaning out a closet or making a favorite dish. Just make it personal and meaningful and watch the blessing multiply!

7.      Send hand written Christmas cards that convey a spiritual message:

This is an easy way to share your personal faith at Christmas time. If you've already bought the reindeer or snowmen cards—no problem! Just write a special Bible verse and include a personal message with each card! 

8.      Attend our Christmas Eve Celebration service together with your family or friends:

If you are alone this Christmas or don't have any family living near you, invite a friend or a neighbor to join you at this beautiful service.

9.      Set aside time for prayer and devotions on Christmas morning:

Before opening the gifts, take just a few minutes to gather together in prayer and devotions. Read a few Bible verses and discuss the true meaning of Christmas.

10.  Give an end-of-year monetary gift to your church or one of their missionaries.

This idea is dear to my heart because Gayla and I spent three years as “home missionaries” raising our own support. Receiving a Christmas card with a monetary gift always felt like opening a priceless gift on Christmas morning, no matter what day it was! Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the holidays, so it can be a very lonely time for them. Along with a monetary gift include a special note, thanking them for giving their life in service to the Lord. Trust me—it’s a gift that’ll mean more than you can ever imagine!

Portions excerpted from: 10 Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

“Come Home To The Father”

Matthew, Tara & Nathan

This week we continue our series titled, “Coming Home For Christmas” as we take a closer look at Luke 15:11-31. This weeks message will truly be a blessing to those who need to come home to the Father. Plan on bringing that person who needs encouragement or may be far from Him and needs a challenge about returning home to God.

READ: Luke 15:11-32

When I come to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I am both humbled and excited...humbled because there has been so much great preaching on this passage that I have nothing unique to add. But excited because I have an opportunity with you to study in greater detail one of the most loved parables that Jesus ever taught.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son follows two shorter parables in which something that was lost is searched for and found, followed by celebrating. Each of them is intended to illustrate that “There is rejoicing in the presence of God over one sinner who repents” (15:10). The Pharisees had grumbled about Jesus’ attention to the “sinners” and tax collectors; Jesus’ response is that God is delighted when these lost ones repents and turns to him.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son makes the same point -- God’s joy at the repentance of a lost and wayward son. Too often we look only at the first part of the parable that focuses on the younger, wayward son, who represents the “sinners” and tax collectors. The second part of the parable focuses on the older son’s reaction -- one of anger and jealousy --representing the Pharisees’ own reaction to Jesus seeking the sinners.

Now that we’ve looked at the overall context, let’s examine the details of the first part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The father, of course, represents God, the Father. The Prodigal Son represents those who have rebelled against God, who repent, and return to God. Here’s what we learn from this parable:
God does not prevent us from sinning and rebelling. We have freedom in our choice to do so.

Repentance is necessary for us to return to God. Without repentance we act as if we have a right to something. Repentance recognizes and confesses our moral bankruptcy and changes our direction. Repentance is a strong theme here, since Jesus mentions it in each of these three parables (15:7, 10, 17-19).

Even though he loves us immensely, God waits patiently until we “come to our senses.” We can’t talk, pursue, or persuade people into repenting. It is a conviction one must come to by them- self with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). Of course, the Holy Spirit can work strongly through anointed preaching and witnessing, but without the Holy Spirit’s work, such preaching can come across as judgmental.

The sinner is morally bankrupt and has absolutely no claim on the Father, only the Father’s love.

God, our Father is ready to show us his abundant mercy. The son deserves nothing, but the father lavishes on him the adornment of sonship. It’s not due to merit but to mercy. Part of the charm of this story is the utter graciousness of the father contrasted with the stinginess and jealousy of the older son.

If this is the way my heavenly Father feels towards the wayward and sinful -- full of compassion and mercy -- so must I nurture his attitude toward the lost around me. As a disciple others, I must not be proud or self-righteous, but boast only of the grace of God. It’s not a matter of fairness toward sinners, but of love.

Parts have been excerpted from  Jesus Walk, by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

OPEN:

What person or incident illustrates for you an exemplary fatherly love?

EXPLORE:

• What series of decisions did the younger son make after receiving his inheritance? (15:13-20)
• What did the father do in response to his son’s return? (15:20-24)
• What was the older son’s perspective on his father’s mercy? (15:28-30)
• How did the father defend his actions? (15:31-32)

GET IT:

• Why do you think we tend to become obsessed with fairness?
• When have you personally experienced God’s unmerited favor and blessing?
• How can every day be a celebration for those who are seeking to follow God and have returned home?
• In what way was the love extended by the father really the same for both brothers?

APPLY:

• Who do you know that is living a prodigal life in relationship to God? What can you do this Christmas season to help them “come home” to the Father? What step will you begin to take to help them move towards God?

Some questions excerpted from illumina