Not very long ago, clocks needed to be wound regularly in order to keep accurate time. A clock requires some source of stored energy in order to keep the mechanism turning, and if you forgot to wind your watch, you would lose track of what time it is! Well, in today’s message, Pastor Jeff teaches you that God’s watch never needs winding. He knows exactly what time it is, and more importantly, He knows exactly when to deliver His blessings to have maximum impact. He has His timing down to the millisecond!
The best gift that you and I can receive at Christmas is a reminder of the reason why Jesus came to this world! It didn’t take long after the Garden of Eden for sin to spread and infect this world, and Satan’s forces corrupted everything that God had called good. But Pastor Jeff reminds us that God has the final word in His creation! He sent His only son, Jesus, to stand in the gap between man and God and restore the bonds that were broken. His sacrifice made a way for us to be saved from death!
Wouldn’t we love to get the most out of church every time we attend? Well, as humans, there are always going to be things trying to distract us when we spend time in God’s presence. But Pastor Jeff encourages us to approach God with thanksgiving in our hearts, and to clear our minds of things that are distracting or that shut us out from good and righteous thoughts. The enemy doesn’t want us to spend time in worship, and he will try and throw every possible obstacle in our way to distract us.
When you go deep-sea diving, you’re usually paired up with a “buddy” that you must stay close to at all times. In the deep, dark ocean, you need someone who is watching your back, and they likewise need you watching their back, to ensure that you both complete the dive safely. Pastor Jeff encourages you today to find a church or a faith community that helps you navigate through life, but remember that it’s just as important to contribute and help others as it is to seek help for yourself.
Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year for those of us who follow Christ! We are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who took on flesh and made His dwelling among us. In today’s message, Pastor Jeff teaches us that the unique circumstances surrounding Jesus, from His miraculous conception and birth to His dual nature as man and God, all contribute to Him being a one-of-a-kind person! There is no other religious figure who can hold a candle to Jesus’ glory.
A lot of things about following God are illogical. Paul and Barnabas singing songs of praise while in prison is illogical. Noah building an ark on dry ground is illogical. Abraham leading his son to certain death on Mount Moriah is illogical. But what Pastor Jeff teaches us today is that the peace that God gives us in uncertain times defies all human logic. It gives us the grace and the confidence to do what He tells us. Even in the toughest of circumstances, we can find comfort as we abide in His peace.
Satan will spend countless resources trying to convince people that God isn’t real, or if He is real, that He doesn’t have any control over this world. When catastrophes happen, one of the first things people ask is why a loving God would allow bad things to happen. But Pastor Jeff reminds you today that, no matter what the world says, Jesus is still in control! You may not understand why things are happening the way they are right now, but you can rest in the promise that He has a plan for it all.
Jesus was born into an extremely difficult time in Jewish history. Under Roman occupation, the Hebrew people had very little freedom, and that freedom could be stripped away with one word from Caesar Augustus. But Pastor Jeff reminds us in today’s message that the birth of Jesus brought joy to those who encountered Him, because He represented the hope of a new Kingdom that would one day replace every kingdom of mankind! Jesus is a bright light that cuts through the darkness of the world.
We’ve heard how Jesus’ birth was miraculous and defied all sorts of human expectations for how the Messiah would come into this world. But what Pastor Jeff wants us to understand today is that just as Christ’s birth was miraculous, His death on the cross was brutal and barbaric. But yet, we read in God’s Word that Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to this fate, because He knew that His sacrifice of pain and death would make a way for all of those who call on Him to be saved from sin.
Look at the richest and most powerful people in today’s world. What are they doing besides trying to gain more power and riches for themselves? Pastor Jeff teaches you today that there is a difference between those who live in contentment with what God has given them and those who are consumed by the drive and desire for more. God wants you to be content and to realize that He will provide for your needs. Look back on your life up until this point, and think about how He has gotten you this far.
Sometimes when you’re in a stressful situation, the thing that helps you stop spiraling is to see the situation from a different angle. Getting a fresh perspective on the situation, either from consulting with a close friend or from mentally choosing a different approach, can ease your anxiety and give you new energy. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you today that God has the ultimate vantage point, and He can show you the kind of perspective shift to give you a hopeful view of life.
There was nothing ordinary about Jesus’ birth. From the immaculate conception to the circumstances that led Mary to give birth in a stable for animals, Jesus came into this world as the result of many miracles. Pastor Jeff wants us to realize that the miracles surrounding Jesus’ birth help highlight Him as the Son of God, the Messiah that humanity had been waiting for. Christmas isn’t just a day to open presents and sing carols; it’s a time to celebrate the night that God took on human form!
How different would things be if you didn’t get second chances? What if every crime were punishable by life imprisonment? What if you only got one strike in baseball before you were out? Sometimes, second chances are a chance to grow and learn from your mistakes, but there are some things you only get one swing at! Pastor Jeff reminds you today that you only have one soul, and there are only two places where that soul will go after death. You need to take the fate of your soul extremely seriously.
We live in a world that desperately needs a source of hope. The problem is that every time we put our hope in something manmade, we end up disappointed! This is a fallen world, and the things that we build for ourselves eventually crumble to dust. Pastor Jeff reminds us today that we have a responsibility to share a message of hope with the entire world! Jesus came to this world to bring hope to the hopeless, and we are empowered to share that hope with everyone we meet!
God rarely uses direct language to guide us in this life. Instead, He gently guides us in the way we should go, so that we can learn to recognize His will for our lives without even being told. Pastor Jeff teaches us today that when Joseph was told that it was safe to take his family back to Israel, he wasn’t told where to take them. But the Lord guided Joseph’s steps, and the family settled in Nazareth. If you are following God’s will for your life, you can be certain that He will bless the steps in front of you.
The story of humanity is permanently scarred by sin. Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, we have had to deal with sin, sickness, and death, as the beauty of God’s original creation decayed and fell into disorder. But Pastor Jeff reminds us that the hope we celebrate in this Christmas season is that Jesus has come to set us free! We are no longer condemned to punishment for our sin, but instead we have the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of the Father.
Have you ever thought that thermodynamics can be an illustration of God’s creation? Well, the first law of thermodynamics states that energy can change forms, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Similarly, the book of Ecclesiastes teaches that mankind cannot add to or take away from God’s creation. Pastor Jeff encourages you to practice humility and recognize that all of humanity’s advancement and knowledge cannot take away from God’s glorious Creation.
Think of the cycles of life that you see in nature. As the seasons change, plants bloom in the spring and summer, then fade and die during the fall and autumn. And in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon observes that human lives function in a similar cycle. Pastor Jeff wants you to realize today that there is something valuable to be gained, no matter what season of life you are in. The opportunities you have right now in your life won’t be around forever, so will you let them go to waste?
When firefighters rescue people from burning buildings, they don’t stop helping them once they reach the exit. Those people are still in danger while they’re anywhere close to the fire! Well, Pastor Jeff reminds us today that God doesn’t just free us from sin, but He places us in a new environment within His Kingdom. If we were rescued from sin but not given a new way to live, we would fall right back into our sinful habits. But in God’s Kingdom, we have the opportunity to live for something greater!
Have you ever watched a spy movie and wished you were given an important assignment of your own? Well, you may not be part of a secret organization like the ones you see in the movies, but you are part of God’s Church, and you are part of the Great Commission to reach people for the Gospel! Pastor Jeff teaches you today that the Great Commission is both a corporate and an individual mandate: everyone is responsible for playing their part in drawing people in to witness the glory of God’s Kingdom.