Sunday 2016-12-18

Order of Worship for 7:45, 9:00, & 10:30

God Moved IN!

John 1:14-17

14The Word became flesh and blood,and moved into the neighborhood.We saw the glory with our own eyes,the one-of-a-kind glory,like Father, like Son,Generous inside and out,true from start to finish.15John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”16-18We all live off his generous bounty,gift after gift after gift.We got the basics from Moses,and then this exuberant giving and receiving,This endless knowing and understanding—all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.No one has ever seen God,not so much as a glimpse.This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,who exists at the very heart of the Father,has made him plain as day.

“The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood!”

  • What would your neighborhood do if Jesus….in human form…..moved in?  What would change?  What would remain the same?

The expectation for the Israelites was that God would send someone like Moses; or like David; or like Elijah.

  •  What are your expectations for the Messiah?
  •  How have your expectations been met, disappointed, or exceeded?

Do you prefer to live in a neighborhood of darkness or one of light?  How are you willing to let the Light transform your lifestyle?  How are you willing to allow the Light to fill you with joy?  How are you willing to share that joy with others?

                                          

Debbie Reese 1 Up.png

 

Today's Preacher

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC.

Sunday 2016-12-11

 Order of Worship for 7:45, 9:00, 10:30

The Child of God

John 1:9-13

The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.

Seasoning Verses:  Romans 8:16-17

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

There’s actually 2 parts to these verses of scripture as a unit:

  1. Why was He not recognized by the world or by His own?
  2. The “right to become children of God” or as the Message states, “He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.” - the blessing of being children of God.

What do I want you to get from these verses?

  • A clarity from these verses how to become a child of God
  • An affirmation about being a child of God

What do I hope you will do?

  • Some moments to rejoice if I am a child of God - that I am a child of the Most High God.
  • To develop a heart and spirit of gratitude and a confidence that says “I’m not ashamed of the gospel” Romans.  We’ll deal a bit more about the first, “he was not recognized” in our Tuesday podcast and this morning, we’ll listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice in thinking about being children of God.  

   Today's Preacher

    Randy Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC                               

 

Sunday 2016-12-04

Order of Worship for 7:45, 9:00, 10:30.

Reflecting Light

John 1:6-8;

6-8 There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.

John the Baptist/Baptizer came to POINT TO the light…..not to BE the light.


Jesus came to earth over 2,000 years ago.
Jesus walks with us every day through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.
Jesus is coming to earth again!


What do we do with the Light of Jesus?

  1. Let it BE the light.
  2. Observe what it reveals.
  3. Follow the light.


When light hits an object, it does one of 3 things:

  1. Absorbs the light
  2. Transmits the light
  3. Reflects the light

Every day is a great day to reflect the light of Christ to someone else.  To whom is God calling you to reflect that light?

Today's Preacher

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC