All I Want For Thanksgiving

As we enter into Thanksgiving we remember that Christians should be marked by gratitude.  After all we have to remember that God doesn’t owe us anything. Once we forget thankfulness, we’ll begin to become bitter and resentful. When we remember the amazing gift of salvation, a gift we have not earned, it reminds us that Christians should be the most grateful people.

1 Thess. 5:16-17
Hebrews 12:14-15
Psalms 118:22-24
2 Thess. 1:3
Psalms 107:1
Philippians 4:13

All I Want for Thanksgiving

A Shady Family Tree.

You probably wouldn’t pick a genealogy to start a story and grab people’s attention. Beyond that you would never choose to name the names included in Matthew’s Gospel. Why does Matthew include all of this baggage, all these odd or sketchy characters? Because Matthew understands that they are essential to us understanding who Jesus is and who He came to save.

Matthew 1:1-5
Matthew 9:9-13

The Story Behind Christmas - Part 1: "A Shady Family Tree"

"Why Judah not Joseph?"

Judah, one of the brothers who sold Joseph off into Egypt, is right in the story behind Christmas. His life and his family are a mess filled with evil and deceit. What is Judah doing in this story? How do we make sense of this?  First, God picked Judah, but that’s also true for every Christian he chose including you! Second, it makes us ask the question: What’s your secret – is there something tucked away that you’re hiding? Judah had that problem and those secrets always come to light. Lastly, Christ Gives hope even to lives and people whose lives are a mess, filled with evil and deceit - the Christmas story is for sinners! He can bring hope to you!

Matthew 1:1-2
Genesis 37:23-27
Genesis 38:25-26
Ephesians 1:3-5
Matthew 1:3-5

The Story Behind Christmas - Part 2 "Why Judah not Joseph?"

"What's your label?"

The lineage of Jesus has unlikely characters in it. It makes significant point and at the same time makes us ask the big question – why? Do you like Rahab have a past, or have a label? Look at the God who saves using unlikely, messy, broken, sinful people to accomplish his purposes. God came to save sinners & God uses sinners.

Matthew 1:1-5
Joshua 2:8-15
Joshua 6:22-25
1 John 1:8-10

The Story Behind Christmas - Part 3 "What's your label?"

"A Model Church Goer"

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

Vision 20/20 - Part 2

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