Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Stay on the train!


Hey everyone,

A couple of weeks ago when Ben preached on "assurance", he used an illustration of staying on the train in relation to our staying in the people of God, even when it's difficult.

I came across this quote from Corrie Ten Boom that next week and want to share it with you...here's a very brief history on Corrie Ten Boom, in case you don't know who she is...

Corrie was a Dutch Christian who helped Jews escape as well as endure the Nazi holocaust during WWII.  Her family was arrested due to an informant in 1944, and her father died 10 days later in prison. A sister, brother and nephew were released, but Corrie ten Boom and her sister were sent to a concentration camp, where her sister died. Corrie wrote many books and spoke frequently in the post-war years about her experiences.

Knowing how CTB had endured so much and remembering the train illustration that Ben used, this quote from article leapt out at me...

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer."

The train illustration is just an illustration.  BUT, I believe it will be a helpful reminder for us in the days ahead.  I also believe that these Advent sermons will be more than a creative way to remember the Christmas Calendar, but are filled with particulars that will keep us "on the train."

Stay on the train!

Brad




Passion of the Manger


Hey everyone,

Annie Wetzel sent me this quote from the Book of Uncommon Prayers by John Donne...It is some really keen insight into the "passion" of the manger as you engage your families and small groups this week.

"The whole of Christ's life was a continual passion; others die martyrs, but Christ was born a martyr. He found Golgotha, where he was crucified, even in Bethlehem, where he was born; for to his tenderness then the straws were almost as sharp as the thorns after, and the manger as uneasy at first as the cross at last. His birth and his death were but one continual act, and his Christmas Day and his Good Friday are but the evening and morning of one and the same day. From the crèche to the cross is an inseparable line. Christmas only points forward to Good Friday and Easter. It can have no meaning apart from that, where the Son of God displayed his glory by his death."


Praying for all of you as you "consume Christmas",

Brad

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Advent Readings...


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

First, pray for forgiveness for your pastor for delaying in getting today's Advent reading out... :)

Then, read Exodus 28:12. 

God, through the priesthood, would exercise strength for His people. See in this verse how the names of the people were on the priest's shoulders, as he would bring them to remembrance before God. Discuss how God has been your strength. Confess areas of your life where you are relying on your own strength and not the strength of the Lord.

Spend some time in prayer, confessing your weaknesses, asking God for strength that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for bearing us up daily.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Advent Readings...


Read Galatians 4:4-7.

Consider how God spent centuries slowly and progressively revealing Jesus to the church. God always works in His time and is always faithful to His purposes. Discuss how this affects our approach to sharing the Gospel. Do we trust God's timeline? Do we expect that people should come to a complete understanding of Jesus in a moment?

Pray that God would keep us faithful, never losing hope, always sowing to the Spirit and trusting His timing. Thank God for ALWAYS keeping His promises.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Advent Readings...


Read Exodus 12:1-13.

Consider what it must have been like to be an Israelite, soon to be freed from Egypt. What have you heard from God at this point? As you gather around the Passover meal, what is your hope? Has God proven Himself faithful? What are the similarities between the Passover Lamb and Jesus? What are the differences?

Spend some time in prayer, again, thanking God for His provision. Thank Him for sustaining His people through slavery, and sustaining us through our hardships.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Advent Readings...


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Read Genesis 21:1-7. 

Now Read Genesis 22. 

Discuss the promises that God has made that were to be fulfilled through Isaac. Consider how difficult it must have been for Abraham to obey the Lord. What are some of the thoughts that likely went through Abraham's mind as he climbed the mountain with his son? What was revealed in Abraham's response about his heart? For what does the angel commend Abraham? What are some similarities between Isaac and Jesus? What are the differences?

Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for ALWAYS keeping His promises. Pray that He would help us through our unbelief, that we might trust Him in the manner that Abraham trusted Him. Thank God for providing for us abundantly in Christ.

Advent Readings...


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Read Genesis 9. 

Discuss what it must have been like for Noah and his family after the flood. What goals might they have? What hope might they be holding on to? What would need to be done in the coming weeks and months, once the waters subsided? How was the world different?

Noah is, at this point, the patriarch of the earth. But how do his actions reveal that he is not the awaited sinless offspring? What do his actions reveal about his heart? 

Spend time in prayer thanking God for His patience with us. Thank God that our salvation is not dependent on how good we can be, but how good Christ is.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Advent Readings...


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Read Colossians 2:16-17. To rightly appreciate the substance of Christ, it is necessary for us to spend some time in the shadows of Christ. Now Read Hebrew 10:1 and 8:1-5. What are all of the things mentioned that God calls "SHADOW"? Discuss why God might have chosen to reveal realities about Christ in a very slow and progressive manner. 

Spend some time in prayer asking God to keep you patient and steadfast. Thank Him for His wisdom.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Advent Readings...


Monday, December 3, 2012

Read through Genesis 3. Discuss and consider the effects of sin. In what ways does it separate us from God? What would sinless offspring mean for Adam and Eve? 

Spend some time in prayer confessing your sins, repenting, and thanking God for His provision of One who would cleanse us, redeem us, restore us, and make us new...

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Advent Readings

CF,

It was a sweet time this morning getting to start our Advent Series together.  As a part of the series, we will be sending out a family reading each day that coincides with the preaching for the week.  We are hoping that an intentional focus on Christ during this time of year will keep our hearts treasuring that which is most important.  Merry Christmas!

Scott

Sunday, December 2, 2012
Read through Genesis 1.  Discuss as a family the parts of God's Creation that you enjoy the most.  Spend some time in prayer thanking God for being a good, involved, sovereign, and compassionate Creator. 

Children's Christmas Choir sign-up


As a part of our church body's celebration of Advent, our children will be learning the song "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus".  Children who are 4 years through 6th grade may participate in leading the church body in worship on Sunday morning, December 16th.  

Practice will be on Wednesday, December 12th from 6:00-7:00pm. 

Please sign up on the Point to register your children at the following link:

https://cfgreenville.ccbchurch.com/w_form_response.php?form_id=18