Bible Verses for Sunday Service December 11, 2022
Luke 1:31
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
John 12:46
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Announcements:
We would like to have some special musical numbers on December 18, choir or children. Please let Pastor Jim know if you are planning to have a special.
It with joy we share what perhaps you already know, that Madison Orelup and Malichai Warenke will get married in December. We will provide them with a basket bridal shower. If you wish, please bring a gift and leave it in the basket in the foyer. They are also registered at Amazon and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Please make sure your gift is in by today.
It is that time of year again, time to update the church directory so please fill out the insert if your contact information was wrong or needs changed. If you are not listed in the directory and want to be listed, please fill out the form and let Pastor Jim know.
Through the church directory from, you can let us know about your prayer chain preference. You can receive updates via text, email or phone.
Our annual meeting and potluck will be on January 15. If you would like to nominate officers for next year, please put the name of the person you wish to nominate on the sheet in the foyer bulletin board. Also, if you are presently an officer, and wish to continue to serve, please let Pastor Jim know.
Sermon:
In honor of the birth of Our Savior, Pastor continued his series in Luke with “Steps to Surrender, a sermon on the birth of Jesus foretold in Luke 1:26-39. In this sermon, Pastor contrasted the response of Mary to the angelic news that she would have son to how Zacharias responded over angelic news he would have a son, John the Baptist. Thinking about these two events, Pastor drew out the idea of a battle of wills, our will versus God’s will. With that in mind how do we surrender to God’s will?
Firstly, Pastor encouraged us to be like Mary and forget our fears. Rather than disbelieving the news offered by the angel, Mary focused on the greatness of the promise and that got her past a common human failing, our fears on hearing something new. Mary was able to do this because she saw the status bestowed on her as the chosen of God. Perhaps she could see herself as God’s promised woman in Genesis 3:15 or the person in David’s line that would deliver the messiah, 2 Sam 7:16. Also, besides seeing herself as chosen, Pastor preached to us that she saw herself as empowered by God. Through His Holy Spirit, Mary entered in and accepted that things that are normally impossible, the virgin birth would be possible. And, the angel confirmed her elderly and formerly barren relative Elizabeth was pregnant too through the same kind of divine intervention.
Mary really illustrated forfeiting control. She readily submitted to God, to the information provided by the angel. Pastor connected this to us by asking us have we done this with Jesus by surrendering to him control of our entire life, every minute of every day? Again Pastor illustrated this concept from other scriptures. He reminded us about Job, though he slay me, I trust him, Job 13:15, and Paul’s admonishment in Romans 12:1 to present ourselves as living sacrifices. Pastor also made this concrete for us by reminding us that God might ask us to surrender some specific thing to him. In that, if we resist, we know we have not truly surrendered.
In closing, Pastor related a couple of things to help really understand scripture. He offered a quote from Billy Graham, “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” In other words, the fear of man mentioned above shouldn’t keep us from being obedient. Pastor also told a story about true surrender, and the benefits it brings based on the recollection of an infantry commander in Vietnam. Let’s make sure we have surrendered before we celebrate His birth here at Christmas.
Accessing the Service, Bulletin and Sermon Outline:
Here are the pages from the bulletin, click on the images below to see them full size:
If you would like to have the sermon outline, you can download it here, a pdf file.
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