Love is A Verb

Announcements:

Thank you to all who came out and participated in helping us bring joy to our local nursing homes by caroling with us last week.

Service will be at Abide Coffee House next week at 10:30AM.

Bible study will start up again on Wednesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:30PM as we continue on in our study of discipleship.

Advent in Review:

Week 1: Hope in Dark Times (hope in the silence. hope in the trials [of Job])

Week 2: The Prepositions of Peace (peace with God, peace of God, peace of God to others)

Week 3: Where is Your Joy? (joy in all the wrong places; joy disregards feelings and circumstances; joy cannot be taken but can be given up)

This morning we wanted to wrap up the Advent series with the last candle: love.

Body:

Let’s turn to the Gospel of Luke chapter 2:

Luke 2:1–20 CSB

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

He announced His arrival to shepherds! Because everyone matter to Him!

God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to live with us and among us. Why?

He is all about relationship!

He has experienced everything we experience.

Not to be able to say “If I did it, you can too!”

But to let us know that He understands what we are going through and is here to help us walk through what we are facing in this life.

Jesus set aside Him being the Son of God, in order to live among us and, ultimately, die for us!

John 15:13 CSB

13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

John 3:16 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Conclusion:

1. We have hope because Jesus came and we have hope no matter what situation or circumstance we are in. We also have hope in knowing Jesus is coming back again!

2. We have peace with God because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We have the peace of God when we are in difficult situations and we can lead others to the peace of God as well

3. We have joy in the midst of what is going on around us. The only way we can lose our joy is when we are willing to give it up.

4. Lastly, we have the love of God shown to us by Him sending us His Son, Jesus, to live among us and give His life for us. We also need to follow the same example Jesus gave us which is to lay down our life for others and serve them. And we need to share the same love God showed us to others!

We have artists and other celebrities wanting to be saved from whatever they are facing and even singing about wanting to be saved from themself and being a lost cause. (“Save Me” by Jelly Roll).

Jesus Christ came to this earth to give us the example of how we should live and then died for everyone so we would be able to be forgiven of our sins/bad choices, etc. and have Jesus to be Lord and Savior!

It doesn’t matter what race, gender, nationality, etc. you are. It doesn’t matter if you grew up in church or never stepped through the door of a church. Everyone has the exact same opportunity because of what God the Father did by sending His only Son Jesus.

Pray