So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to David’s house and line. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to marry him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. Luke 2:4-6 . A pilgrimage. Have you ever went on a pilgrimage. Leaving behind the familiar life that you know and venturing into the unknown?? Having to hold onto God as your provider! This makes me think of missionary life. Joseph and Mary were called on a pilgrimage. They left behind…
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Advent: Day Ten
In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. Luke 2:1-3 . Proverbs 4:12 promises that “when you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” God’s love ties us forward on the path He has ordained. Joseph and Mary were not planning on a trip to Bethlehem; however, God orchestrated circumstances in their lives to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah. God can make these promises to us because His…
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Advent: Day Nine
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matthew 1:21-24 Obedience!!! Do you find this to be hard or easy? I find this to be so hard, and I am a rule follower most of the…
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Advent: Day Eight
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew…
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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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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…
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Seeking Him
. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 What is hindering you from a close relationship with God? Could it possibly be disobedience? Each act of disobedience is a step away from God. However, with each step of obedience to God is a step towards Him. In Malachi 3:7, God says “Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts.” Are we being honest with ourselves, others, and God about our obedience? Have God asked something of you and you have yet to obey? Are we at a place in our walk with God where we know God’s truth and now we…
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God’s Glory And Obedience
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart, you shall take My offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According…
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Obedience: The Foundation Of Our Walk
Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! Luke 11:28 If you were brought up in the church as a child, Do you remember singing the song, “The Wise man built his house upon the rock”? This song was based on the parable from Matthew 7:24-27. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings…
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The Essentials for Fellowship – Part 1
Now is the eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3 What are the essentials of having fellowship with God? For Koinonia with God the first basic essential is salvation and eternal life. There is no human list or steps to make this happen. It is all God. Koinonia with God is an experience of His presence. God is at work around us all the time. He is pursuing a relationship with each of us. He is inviting us to be part of his plan. Not everything is on God’s shoulders when it comes to our relationship with him. …