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"The Courage to Joy" - A Courageous Christmas (Ep 4) - Sunday Service - 12/22/24 - Mike Warman12/23/2024 "The Courage to Look" - A Courageous Christmas (Ep 3) - Sunday Service - 12/15/24 - Mike Warman12/18/2024  Why don't people like Jesus? Or why do some prefer baby Jesus or Santa Jesus to the real Jesus? The answer might surprise you... or maybe not?
Matthew tells us that when the Wise Men came looking for baby Jesus, Herod became disturbed. Agitated. Angry. After all, he was the King of the Jews. He was in charge. So this caravan of pagan star watchers shows up asking for the "King of the Jews" and Herod tries to play the nice guy. Asks them some questions. Gives them instructions to send word back so he too can worship. Today we might call this kind of false pretense plausible deniability. It says the people were also disturbed. Why the people? Because if Herod would be scared, or feel threatened, he would take it out on the people. Some about to see this play out in our world shortly. When insecure leaders are threatened, they take it our on others so that their power is not interrupted. Herod felt his rule, his throne, his base of power.was going to be attacked. So he didn't like Jesus all that much! Today it's the same but different. People don't want give up their power. Power over their life. Over their choices. Over their amusements. They want someone else telling them what to do. With their money. With their careers. How they might spend their time. Jesus is still a threat today. Jesus didn't come to just be the baby in the manger. He came to be our Savior. Our leader. The one we choose to follow. He came to show us how to love & live differently. But not everyone likes this. So Jesus becomes a threat. He was to Herod. He's still a threat to many today. What about for you? One way you can tell if Jesus threatens you or not is how you respond to Him. When the wise men found Jesus, they bowed low to the ground. To a toddler. They gave some pretty incredible gifts. In short, they worshiped Jesus. It takes courage to look for Jesus. For we become responsible for what we know. To remain ignorant of Jesus makes us feel safe. Do you have the courage to worship Jesus this Christmas? To bring your life and offer it to Him? This Sunday the kids will remind us of the story of Jesus birth, and it will be cute and make us smile. But I also pray it brings us to a place where we worship the King. That like the angels we cry Glory. We sing praise of adoration. May we all have A Courageous Christmas- See you Sunday Friend! - Pastor Mike PS-Christmas in Dardenne on Christmas Eve at either 4 or 6pm. Invite someone to join you in celebrating the birthday of our Savior! "The Courage to Trust" - A Courageous Christmas (Ep 2) - Sunday Service - 12/8/24 - Eric Szymanski12/11/2024  We don't often think of the Christmas as a time calling for courage, but it certainly can be. Joseph needed courage. When he found out Mary was pregnant and he knew he wasn't the dad, he wasn't sure what to do next? He could publicly shame her. Possibly have her put to death. Stay on the path to marriage, but that was highly unlikely. After all, how would he ever trust her again?
Many a marriage or friendship has ended over betrayal, and make no mistake Joseph felt betrayed. So with thoughts of ending the marriage an angel paid Joe a visit and told him, "Do Not Be Afraid". In other words, have courage! What did Joseph have to fear if he stayed in this relationship? He would most certainly lose his reputation and then along with that his business. He would have to live with stares and curious looks. Was he even ready to be a father? The angel told Joseph to Not Be Afraid and then to do something really hard, to take Mary to be His Wife. The Son would be a Savior. A lot for him to take in. Sometimes we're not sure what to do next, where the courage will come from to do what God asks of us. This week Eric will lead us in a study of Joseph and the Courage to Trust God, even when it seems crazy to do so. I hope you'll bring your family and join us at 9:33am. A Courageous Christmas- This Christmas! See you Sunday Friend! Pastor Mike PS- Make plans to join us Christmas Eve at either 4 or 6pm. Invite someone to sit next to you. Lots of Christmas music and special night that will inspire and encourage you as you celebrate the Birthday of Jesus! |
AuthorStonebridge Community Church is a Bible-based non-denominational church located in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri. Archives
January 2025
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