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The Gift You Can't Afford (to be without!)
Christmas is a reminder that there is One gift no one can afford to be without! This is such a valuable gift that not even the richest person in the world can afford it! It's the gift God gave to the world on the very first Christmas - Jesus, the Christ-child. He is the HOPE BRINGER, the PEACE MAKER, the JOY GIVER and the UNIVERSAL SAVIOR. He is the gift no one you can't afford - but at the same time, He is the gift that no one can afford to be without.
The Hope Bringer
The first Sunday of Advent focuses on the comparisons between the Jews of centuries ago and Christians of today. The Jews waited with hope for hundreds, even thousands of years for their Promised Messiah. As Christians, we wait with hope for the Second Coming of our Messiah, Jesus Christ. The lives of Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth are lifted up as examples to follow. "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah." (Jeremiah 33:16)
The Peace Maker
The second Sunday of Advent highlights the power of the Messiah to establish peace, both in human hearts and on the international landscape. Isaiah 9:1-7 is analyzed with an emphasis on the promise that the promised Messiah will be, among other titles, the "Prince of Peace." Along with teachings on Jesus as the Light, contemporary prayers for peace and a story about the importance of discarding the things that keep us from experiencing God's peace make this a message you will want to read.
The Joy Giver
The third Sunday of Advent reminds us that the true source of joy is not the presents or the parties, the lights or the laughter of the season. The true Joy Giver is Jesus! This message includes the cost of raising kids today, the "Song of Mary" in Luke 1:46-55 and the only password that will allow us to access the "Joy of Christmas" website.
The Universal Savior
The fourth Sunday of Advent is Christmas Eve. This message focuses on the importance of not taking our Savior for granted. The Savior was announced to the nation of Israel and except for the Magi, everyone was Jewish. It is good to be reminded that it was God's grace that extended the gift of Christmas to 'all peoples.'
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