Looking Toward the New Year
My youngest son sent out a message to his siblings and me encouraging us to start the New Year by fasting and praying on New Year’s Day. He said, “I have the feeling we will have to face some tough…
Ultimate Outcomes
Why ideas matter.
Ultimate Outcomes
Why ideas matter.
Marty Elwell
The Second Coming: Returning in Glory
The first coming of Jesus was marked by him humbly taking the form of a man to serve and save mankind. He came as a vulnerable baby and lived a life as we do. When Jesus comes again, he will…
Christmas: Celebrating the Birth of the Savior
ACTIVITY: Read or act out the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20 (below) The Birth of Jesus Christ 2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went…
The Firstborn: Reconciling Us to God
As we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ tomorrow, we want to remember the “Message of the Manger.” The Apostle Paul shares the essence of who Christ is and his ministry in his letter to the Colossians. Colossians…
The Suffering Servant: Bearing our Sin
When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he referred to him as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The prophet Isaiah foretold what this sacrificial lamb or suffering servant would do for us. The message of…
The Word: Coming in the Flesh
As we look at the manger and the birth of Jesus it is very important to remember who Jesus is. We can look at the baby in the manger and forget that he is the God of the Universe and the…
The Child: Given to Us
As we have now finished the story of Jesus’ birth and childhood, in the last four days before Christmas we want to gain an expanded perspective of the baby in the manger. We want to look more closely at who Jesus is…
The Temple: Seeking the Presence of God
The story of Jesus’ birth and infancy ends with him going back to Nazareth. Luke is the only Gospel writer who relates something of Jesus’ childhood when he tells what happened to Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem when he…
Nazareth: Being Despised and Rejected
Mary and Joseph came from Nazareth and when it was safe they took Jesus back there to live. At the time of Jesus, to call someone a Nazarene (meaning from Nazareth) was the same as saying he was “despised.” John…
Herod: Demonstrating Man’s Evil
King Herod was a very wicked man. He could not stand the thought that there was a baby born who might replace him as king. Remember the Magi had referred to the baby as “the King of the Jews.” What…