Are you overwhelmed by the godlessness sweeping across our world and flooding every corner of cyberspace? Are you disillusioned that the most vitriolic voices in debates are sometimes those of people calling themselves Christians? In this five-part series, Berni Dymet explores how Jesus engaged with and responded to people who were hostile toward Him. In Jesus’ example, we find a way to hold tight to the truth, while speaking it in love.
Series Trailer
Schedule
Session 1
December 12, 2023
The Rising Tide of Persecution
Session 2
January 9, 2024
Understanding Your Enemy
Session 3
January 23
When Freedoms Come under Threat
SPECIAL
February 13
Valentine’s Meal with Wives at LB!
Session 4
February 27
Speaking the Truth in Love
Session 5
March 12
Shining the Light of Christ
Participant handouts, leader’s guide, and other resources for the series is available here.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Revelation 1:3
I love Revelation chapter 21. The description of the new heaven and earth is staggering in beauty and scale and exceeds of what we could conceive.
But as it is the Last Sunday of the Church Year when we look toward Christ’s return, it is fitting to think about the reality of what awaits those who believe in Jesus.
The real beauty, I think, is that this description probably doesn’t do justice to the reality. I think it is the best way a finite people with a limited language and understanding could paint a picture of the beauty of the Divine reality in store. In parts of the description (not in today’s reading, we hear of things that defy our reality, like gold that is pure like glass.
Wow!
But as amazing as the description is that exceeds our understanding are parts that described that are both full of wonder and miracles in equal parts; like God wiping away all tears and no more pain; or, the very best news shared here: that in this place where we are headed, God dwells with us and we will be His people and He will be our God!
That is the very best and most amazing part of it all! That is our future! That is our heritage!
To have the almighty dwell us us! Forever!
That boggles the mind and should exceed any and every other aspect of the new creation!
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
We heard last week about being ready because the end really could be anytime and living as godly people every day. Today is similar but there is the added appeal: “encourage one another and build one another up.”
Let’s face it: life is already difficult. The end days will be difficult. Every day brings difficulties. That’s just as true for Christians. Just because we believe in Jesus doesn’t mean everything “comes up roses.” In fact, for some Christians – especially those in countries of persecution – being in Christ brings tremendous challenges. So we are to help one another through it. We are to encourage each other. We are to “build up” each other.
I’d say, we know that with our head, but many times you would think there is no difference in the way Christians deal with each other as those who aren’t believers. There is gossip, backstabbing, hurt feelings and not just a lack of encouragement, but active discouragement!
May this not be!
We are one Body in Christ! One! We are to love and depend on one another; not just because it makes living and sharing in this life bearable, but because not doing so discourages others from believing and inheriting eternal life at all!
Far be it from us to take part in this!
So let’s think about those who need building up and contact them with some encouragement today. Think about those with whom you have a chilly relationship and reach out to them with a word of humility.
Because this is how the Lord deals toward us in Jesus. This is how He has called us to act. This is how the world sees a differentiation between how we deal with each other and the way the rest of the world does. This is how we are to live as children of Light and not as children of this dark age.
We are in Christ Jesus! Let us, in Faith, live it in the way we treat one another. They way we encourage one another. The way we build each other up in Jesus! In His name and for His glory!
Pick up an angel and make sure that one of the Angel Tree Elves writes down your name so we know which angel you are shopping for.
Next, have fun shopping for your little angel! ($35 limit, please!)
Have more fun wrapping your little angel’s gift! (Feel free to use a gift bag if wrapping isn’t your “gift!”)
Attach your angel tag to your wrapped gift.
Please return your angel’s gift by Sunday, December 3, or you will find yourself on Santa’s naughty list.
If you feel more inclined to help the mothers, the SPRC is also accepting donations to get special treats for the mom’s stockings! (Ask Shannon or Jen for more information.)
Contact Shannon Walker or Jen Heitshusen with questions or for more information.
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:13
The last several Sundays before Advent focus on the end times: Judgment Day, Jesus’ return, etc,
These are things we think about only abstractly. That is to say, we don’t really think about them and, when we do, we do so only as something more theoretical instead of something that could actually happen in our lifetime.
When Jesus tells us to “watch” and “be ready” we smile and nod as if to say, “yes” but our action belie the truth in our heart: we’ll play the odds that it’s not happening while we’re around, so we don’t really need to head this warning.
But the fact is, Jesus could indeed return during our lifetime and His commands to be ready actually apply to us. Now. Today.
But it goes deeper than that. We get lax, not only in our preparation for Jesus’ return, but we are lax in all of our sanctified, obedient living! We take much of the way we live in a way that communicates to ourselves and others: godly living can wait. I don’t need to really worship weekly. I don’t need to be in Bible studies. I don’t need to be in the Word daily. I don’t need to love or help that annoying person today. Mañana is good enough. There is always tomorrow to head His warning and living in Him. I’ve got enough other things to do today.
Not an option for the Christian; for the end times or today! “WATCH!” Now! Today! Everyday! You and I are followers now; today; everyday! Let’s live like it. Live in Him like there truly may be no tomorrow. Because there truly may not be. But every day, there is His love, grace, forgiveness, and life. And that reality is what motivates us to live in His calling. Now. Today. Everyday.
For our Advent and Christmas journey we are going to look at various aspects of and the importance given to different clothes in Scripture.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
Mark Twain
This may seem odd or trivial, but clothing in the Bible is more than a tangential detail. It often has significant implications for revealing God’s plan of redemption.
Consider: God covered Adan and Eve’s shame and nakedness. He designed and meticulously instructed the Israelites on the priestly garments of the Tabernacle. The Savior Himself was wrapped in swaddling clothes (and later was crucified naked on the cross).
We are going to look at some stories of “The Clothing of the King.” Stories that describe a wardrobe at once splendid and sin-stained, with fabrics that reveal who we are and cover us through His love and redemption. The clothing of the King is both tattered and worn and also incorruptibly glorious – which He freely gives to us!
Join us as we see texture and shape given to the threads of Scripture!
