The Angel / Two Kinds of Opposition to Jesus - December 9

The first reading is for family with children.
The second reading is from  Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God

The Angel

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/day-9-the-angel-his-name-shall-be-jesus/

Do you know about the angels? The angels serve God. We learn from the Bible that God often sends angels to be his heralds, or messengers. Before his son was born on earth, God sent one of his angels to Mary. Do you remember what the angel told her? She would be the mother of a special baby. The angel said to name the baby Jesus. The name Jesus means, “The Lord saves.” Jesus is a form of the name Joshua. In the Old Testament we read how God used a man named Joshua to lead his people into the Promised Land. Jesus would be a leader of God’s people, too. He would lead them home to God.

 God, we praise you because you are the God who saves. You planned to save all of us through Jesus, whom the angel spoke about so long ago. We pray now in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Readings: Acts 4:5-12; Hebrews 4:3-10

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy 

by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy

You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/two-kinds-of-opposition-to-jesus

Mary / Bethlehem's Supernatural Star - December 8

The first reading is for family with children.
The second reading is from  Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God 

Mary 

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/day-8-mary-the-angel-comes-to-mary/

This is what happened when the time was right for Jesus to come. In the city of Nazareth there lived a young woman who was faithful to God. Her name was Mary. One day God sent an angel to Mary, to tell her that she would have a special baby. Her baby would be called the Son of God, and he would be a great king whose kingdom would last forever. Do you know who her baby was going to be? God had chosen Mary to be the mother of Jesus! Even though it was so incredible, Mary believed what the angel said. She sang praises to God for making her the mother of Jesus and keeping his promises to his people.

Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus at just the right time. We praise you because you use humble, ordinary people in your plan. Help us to believe your word like Mary did. Amen. 

Bible Readings: I Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:46-55

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy 

by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy

You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/bethlehem-s-supernatural-star

Second Wise Man / Messiah for the Magi - December 7

The first reading is for families with children.
The second reading is from  Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God 

The Second Wise Man

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/day-7-the-second-wise-man-jesus-is-the-promised-king-over-all-the-world/

We have learned that God promised he would raise up a great king for the people of Israel. God’s people were waiting for this great king who would do only what was good and right and who would defeat Israel’s enemies. God’s king would rule not only over the people of Israel but over the whole world. The greatest king that Israel ever had was named David. David’s kingdom spread over a wide land and many people. But David did not rule over the whole world. The king that God promised was Jesus! Jesus was going to be a king like David, but Jesus was going to be far greater than David ever was. Jesus was born to be king over all people and all of creation.

Dear Jesus, you are the greatest king. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords and we praise you! Amen.

Bible Readings: Matthew 22:41-46; John 18:33-38

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy 

by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy

You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/messiah-for-the-magi

An Unplanned Multi-generational Night of Ministry

It was a great night at West Cannon Baptist Church!
It will take a little bit to explain how God used the evening to really bless and encourage me.

Earlier this afternoon, I sent the following message out to the Genesis class which I am teaching.

Hello everyone, 

I forgot to do this on Sunday, so here it is a little later than I would like.  I want to invite you to the wrap session of the Wednesday night study “Your Walk with God Is a Community Project.” 

Now you might be wondering, why would I come to the last night of a Wednesday night study?   

Tonight we will look at ways that we can become better disciple-makers.  Tomorrow, I am going to email an electronic copy of the document I am using in the class.  It is my prayer that each and every one of us, not just the Genesis class but also our whole church, would grow as disciple-makers.  

If you are able to come I would encourage you to come out tonight from 7:00 to 8:05 in the choir room.

When I arrived at the church building, Jordan (from my class) found me and asked if the 9th and 10th-grade small group he and Brian led could join us because their topic for the night was The Great Commission.

Now if you know me at all, the opportunity to share a disciple-making challenge with a multi-generational group of Christians is amazing!

Here are a couple of other things that were really encouraging Wednesday night:

1. Jordan and Brian thought of bringing their small group to the class.
2. The class was open to having the teens in the class discussion time.
3. We had some time as two groups to debrief and talk about some of the things that were discussed.
4. Some members of the class shared ways the ten-session study has been an encouragement to them.

While there have been many difficulties in moving, at least one of the many blessings has been some of the ways God has been showing me connections between the way West Cannon Baptist Church does ministry and my philosophy of ministry.

I am very excited to see how this study will be used in the lives of our church family and those they may impact.  
I also know these written words don't come close to capturing my excitement about seeing God work across the generations.

Here are some of the resources I shared with the group:

Highlights of the 9Marks Journal on Discipleship in the Church

Entire 9Marks Journal on Discipleship in the Church

Quotes from Your Walk with God is a Community Project

First Wise Man / Peace to Those with Whom He's Pleased - December 6

The first reading is for families with children.
The second reading is from  Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God 

The First Wise Man

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/day-6-the-first-wise-man-god-promised-a-great-king/

This is one of the “wise men,” or magi. In Jesus’ time wise men served foreign kings. Do you know what a king is? A king is the ruler of a nation. He is the leader of everyone that is in his kingdom, for as long as he lives. Long, long ago God promised his people many times that he would raise up a great king for them. He promised them that this king would do only what is right and good. The people of Israel had many kings, but most of them did not do what is right and did not lead the people in God’s ways. Each of Israel’s kings died, and then the people would need a new king. But God’s promised king would rule forever and ever–his kingdom would never end. All of Israel was waiting for God to send them this great king. Then there would be justice and righteousness and peace in their land . . . forever.

Dear God, we long for your peace to reign in this world. We thank you for promising a king whose reign would never end. Amen.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 11:1-9; Hebrews 1:7-13

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy 

by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy

You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/peace-to-those-with-whom-he-s-pleased

The Lantern / No Detour From Calvary - December 5

The Lantern

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/day-5-the-lantern-jesus-is-the-light-of-the-world/

Do you know what it is like to sit in the darkness? It is like being blind. You can’t see anything. Have you ever been in the dark and then someone came and turned on the light? There is a verse in the Old Testament that tells what it would be like for the world when Jesus came. It says, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). That was what it was like when Jesus came to earth. He brought light into the whole world! The light he brought is the truth about God and hope for all people. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Dear Jesus, we praise you for shining your light when we were in the darkness. We know that there are many people in the world who are still in the dark. Let your light shine through us, in how we live, that they might see it and believe in you, too. Amen. 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7; John 1:1-9

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy
by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy
You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/no-detour-from-calvary

Chapter 5 of Holiness the cost

Welcome to the 5th week of reading the book Holiness.

This week's chapter is The Cost.

For general info about the reading schedule go to 

http://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/p/t4g2018.html

It is my prayer that God is using this book and especially God's Word

to help you grow in holiness.

Here are the questions for this first chapter.

GENERAL (Questions for each chapter)

1.  What is a quote or two from Chapter 5 that stood out to you?

2.  What was something this chapter said about God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?

3. What was something this chapter said about man?

4.  What was something this chapter said about how a Christian is to live?  

Think general and specific applications.

SPECIFIC (Questions specific to this chapter)

5.  What are the four things that true Christianity will cost a person?

Which is of these is the most challenging for you to give up.

How do you help others consider the cost in discipleship and evangelism

FINAL QUESTION

6.  What is the most significant thing that you learned from this chapter?

For more specific questions on this chapter through chapter 10 

go to www.chapellibrary.org/files/2914/3941/1948/HO1-SG.pdf

Additional Resources:

Tim Challies wrote about this chapter at

www.challies.com/reading-classics-together/reading-classics-together-holiness-the-cost/

The Lamb / For God's Little People - December 4

The first reading is for families with children.
The second reading is from  Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God 

The Lamb

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/day-4-the-lamb-jesus-died-to-save-us/

Do you remember that we have all sinned against God? The wrong things we do hurt us and they can hurt others. But most of all, when we sin we are disobeying God. God is holy, so our sins mean we must die. Our sins need to be forgiven by God. In the time before Jesus came God forgave the people’s sins by having a lamb die instead of the people. This was part of the Law that God gave to Moses. The Law was pointing ahead to Jesus’ coming. It was to show what Jesus would do. He would die for our sins instead of us. Jesus is called the Lamb of God because he died on the cross to save us. God saves us through Jesus.

Dear God, thank you for having such an amazing plan to save us from our sins! Thank you for sending Jesus to be the lamb. Help us to trust in Him. Amen.

Bible Readings: Exodus 12:21-27; Acts 8:26-38

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy
by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy
You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/for-god-s-little-people

The First Sheep / Long Awaited Visitation - December 3

The First Sheep

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/day-3-the-first-sheep-we-have-all-gone-astray/

Do you remember what “Advent” means? We have learned that in Advent we are remembering when Jesus came and waiting for him to come again. But why did God send Jesus into the world? God sent Jesus because every person in the world has a big problem. We are all sinners–we all do wrong things. We disobey God just like Adam and Eve did. The Bible says we are all like sheep: we wander off our own way, far from God. We can’t get back to God on our own. Jesus needed to come to save us from our sins and bring us back to God. By doing this, Jesus showed that God is righteous and merciful. He showed God’s glory.

God, we confess that we all wander off our own way. We confess that we have sinned against you. Please forgive us for our sins. Thank you for sending Jesus into the world to bring us back to you! Amen. 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:19-26

Another Advent Reading Plan is Good News of Great Joy
by John Piper

You can watch an introduction video and/or download the whole book at www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy
You can also get the daily reading at www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-long-awaited-visitation