The Hope of Christmas

A Baby Will Come

Dec 2, 2012

Pastor Miles

1. In our broken world, people are looking for hope.

The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us." (Psalm 2:2, 3 ESV)

The rulers of this world have refused to bend their knees to God.
The result is a broken world, filled with injustice, pain, and death.
Everyone is affected by the brokenness of the world, resulting in many loosing hope.

The kings of this world
Have torn it apart
But we can take heart
A baby will come

2. God spoke and announced a message of hope.

And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (Luke 1:30, 31 ESV)

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10, 11 ESV)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:25-32 ESV)

The basis for all our hope is this Child, reassuring us that our hope is not in vain.

The angel appeared
Said do not fear
For peace is here
A baby has come

3. We have hope because God has the last word.

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. (Luke 1:51-53 ESV)

On that day the Lord will punish
the host of heaven, in heaven,
and the kings of the earth, on the earth.
They will be gathered together
as prisoners in a pit;
they will be shut up in a prison,
and after many days they will be punished.
Then the moon will be confounded
and the sun ashamed,
for the Lord of hosts reigns
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and his glory will be before his elders. (Isaiah 24:21-23 ESV)

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, (Revelation 21:22-24 ESV)

Despite what people say, we are valued. Christ came for us because He loved us.
Let this calm our doubts and fears as He has kept His promise.

Cause the kings of this world
Won’t have the last word
That, God, is Yours
For the Baby has come

Remember Me

Mark 14:12-26

Pastor Miles

November 18, 2012

1. Jesus made preparation for the Passover.

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. (Mark 14:12-16 ESV)

2. Jesus predicts His betrayal.

And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." (Mark 14:17-21 ESV)

Jesus continues to minister to His disciples despite the upcoming betrayal and desertion by His disciples. He wants to make sure they remember Him. Therefore He establishes a new tradition to remind them of what He has done for them.

3. Jesus establishes a new tradition.

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:22-26 ESV)

A new covenant:

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV)

To partake of the body and blood of Jesus is to partake of this new covenant established by Jesus.
God knows what we need, and He knows what we need to remember.
Remember what communion (the meal) is represents, what He has done for us.

Tips for surviving the non-Christian workplace

From "The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority" by Adrain Rogers

1. Do not brag

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

• Let your light glow not glare!

2. Do not nag

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5, 6 ESV)

3. Do not lag

• Do your share, and more...

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (Ephesians 6:5, 6 ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23, 24 ESV)

Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. (1 Timothy 6:1 ESV)

4. Do not sag

• Do not compromise on your principles

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

Which King? Which Kingdom?

Mark 6:14-44

Pastor Jeff

Nov 11, 2012

What are your dreams?

• Jesus had a "dream". He called it the Kingdom of God.
• It was the dream He brought and lived for.
• We are designed to give our lives to our dreams, whether we recognize that or not, whether we follow Jesus or not.
• The dream behind all good hopes and dreams is the Kingdom dream of Jesus.

Mark 6:14-44
2 Banquets, 2 Dreams, 2 Kingdoms

• Herod and his banquet birthday party
• Jesus and His banquet - feeding the 5000
• Jesus has compassion on them.
• Sees that they are like sheep without a shepherd

who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd." (Numbers 27:17 ESV)

So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. (Ezekiel 34:5 ESV)

I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. (Ezekiel 34:22-24 ESV)

Compare and contrast the 2 banquets

• King: earthly vs heavenly
• Where: Galilee
• Place: palace vs wilderness
• Food: lavish vs simple
• Entertainment: indulgent, immoral dancing vs sermon
• Character: indulgence vs compassion
• Atmosphere: party vs miracle
• What: death vs life
• All leave: horrified, shock vs satisfied
• Kingdom: "my kingdom"; the kingdoms of the world vs God's Kingdom

Mark's big questions

• What is the Kingdom of God (KOG) like?
• Who is Jesus? The promised King and Son of God
• What He did? Died and rose again.
• What He is bringing? The KOG
• Will you follow Him?
• What does a follower of Jesus look like?

Which King? Which Kingdom?

• It is a choice every day. It is not a one time event. It is a journey.
• It involves death (but results in life)

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? (Mark 8:34-37 ESV)

• It is worth it! The kingdom banquet.

Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. (Mark 6:39 ESV)

"Green grass" invokes Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of The Lord
forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV)