“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “Since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34-35 Could you imagine being visited by the angel Gabriel? Let alone a message from God? What do you think your reaction would be? Mary responded with surprise. Then she moved to steadfast confidence in God’s ability to do anything, no matter how improbable. How do you deal with doubt? How do you choose to believe? Let’s read 1 Peter 5:9. It says,…
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Advent: Day Four
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. Luke 1:31-33 Where do you put your hope in? People, animals, things? We were made to be connected to God. When we grow in God, we can have an unshakable belief in God. We are created to trust God as a provider, healer, and comforter. However, life happens, and this world sabotages our hope in…
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Bless His Holy Name
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103: 1-5 Do you ever talk to yourself about where your soul is with God? Do you bless the Lord and his Holy name? Do you remember the benefits he gives you? This Psalm is an expression of thanksgiving and praise to…
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Songs Of Thanks
Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers. “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known his deeds among the people. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works. 1 Chronicles. 16: 7-9 You may want to read all the verses up to verse 36 of this chapter. I put in verses 10-36 for you to read below. 10 Honor His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek Yahweh rejoice. 11 Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always. 12 Remember the wonderful works He has done, His…
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Giving Thanks In All Circumstances
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Is it easy for you to give thanks in all situations? Is it hard for you to give thanks in all situations? What does this mean exactly? Are we to give thanks in just the good circumstances or also the bad circumstances?? What does the circumstance mean? It means an event or condition connected with what is happening or has happened. It is easy to thank God for all circumstances when life is going well. It is easy to show gratitude to God and others when we have a roof over…
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Lives Unburdened
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 28: 28-30 What do these two passages say? What do we learn about God and Jesus from these passages? Living a life for Christ is all about relationships. When we look…
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Gathering In Small Groups
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord…
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Together In Worship
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 2:46 Let’s start by also reading Hebrews 10:24-25 and Psalm 95: 1-3. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful…
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Spending Time With God
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35 Read the following passages and then answer the following questions. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Psalm 119: 103-105, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a…
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Facing Opposition
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Acts 5:41 Read the following passages. Matthew 5:10-12, 44; John 15:18-25; Acts 5:41 What are these passages saying? What do we learn about God and Jesus? According to these verses, what should our attitude be if we suffer or face difficulty as Christians? How are we to respond to God and those who oppose us? Matthew 5:10-12 says this ” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds…