New Beginnings
This week we’re finishing up 2020 and the “Let us Adore Him” sermon series.
A few years ago, an insurance company released a series of funny commercials with the theme “life comes at you fast.” The gist was that because unexpected things can happen quickly, you need insurance. I will not speak to the pros and cons of various insurance products, but I wholly endorse the idea that life indeed comes at you fast. Want a quick personal example? On a shelf near me at this moment sits one of my favorite stuffed animals from when I was a kid. His name is “Ert” and he still looks and smells exactly like I remember. Near him is my daughter’s high school senior picture.
Life does come at you fast.
We spend a lot of time at Christmas talking about Jesus’ birth; and in a few short months at Easter, we’ll talk a lot about His death and resurrection. The rest of the year we mostly think about Jesus’ three-year ministry at the end of His life on earth and how His teachings influence the way we should live and treat each other.
We talk very little about what Jesus was doing in the “in-between” time between His birth and His ministry. We just don’t know much about it. Luke chapter two starts with His birth, and by chapter three He’s thirty and launching His ministry. What happened in between? Was Jesus like other boys, good-naturedly shoving His buddies around in the hall before class, or inexplicably trying to jump and touch the top of every doorway? We don’t get much detail:
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:52 HCSB)
During this “in-between” time Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, where stature isn’t simply physical presence, but also influence. Our lives as Christians are marked by our spiritual birth and then by our physical death. In between, we should demonstrate our adoration of Jesus by following His example, to grow our own wisdom and stature.
This Christmas I hope you spent time adoring Jesus. As we enter 2021, how can we continue to demonstrate what that means?
By Mark Stuart
A few years ago, an insurance company released a series of funny commercials with the theme “life comes at you fast.” The gist was that because unexpected things can happen quickly, you need insurance. I will not speak to the pros and cons of various insurance products, but I wholly endorse the idea that life indeed comes at you fast. Want a quick personal example? On a shelf near me at this moment sits one of my favorite stuffed animals from when I was a kid. His name is “Ert” and he still looks and smells exactly like I remember. Near him is my daughter’s high school senior picture.
Life does come at you fast.
We spend a lot of time at Christmas talking about Jesus’ birth; and in a few short months at Easter, we’ll talk a lot about His death and resurrection. The rest of the year we mostly think about Jesus’ three-year ministry at the end of His life on earth and how His teachings influence the way we should live and treat each other.
We talk very little about what Jesus was doing in the “in-between” time between His birth and His ministry. We just don’t know much about it. Luke chapter two starts with His birth, and by chapter three He’s thirty and launching His ministry. What happened in between? Was Jesus like other boys, good-naturedly shoving His buddies around in the hall before class, or inexplicably trying to jump and touch the top of every doorway? We don’t get much detail:
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:52 HCSB)
During this “in-between” time Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, where stature isn’t simply physical presence, but also influence. Our lives as Christians are marked by our spiritual birth and then by our physical death. In between, we should demonstrate our adoration of Jesus by following His example, to grow our own wisdom and stature.
This Christmas I hope you spent time adoring Jesus. As we enter 2021, how can we continue to demonstrate what that means?
By Mark Stuart
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Archive
2021
January
New BeginningsBe a LightPraying for the Gospel to AdvancePraying for Church LeadershipPraying for RestorationPraying for the Persecuted ChurchPraying for Our NationBridging the GapJesus UnderstandsYour Spiritual TankMade to WorshipProtection and WisdomDeliver Us From TemptationWholly Following the LordDistinguishing Characteristics of a True Disciple of ChristLoving Others as God Loves UsOvercoming Resistance to the GospelHow to Love Your EnemiesWinning Influence with Reciprocating LoveF-O-C-U-SA Job RejectionRejected by Your FamilyRejected by Church PeopleRejected for Your ViewpointThe Most Dangerous Rejection of AllWhat Are You Seeing?
February
112 YearsJesus Is Followed - Beth's StoryJesus Is Followed - Bryce's StoryJesus Is Followed - Jeff's StoryJesus Is Followed - Lily's StoryJesus Is Followed - Sarah's StoryClean SlateTake. Your MatHe Ain't HeavyFind Another WayPick Up And GoIt's Not About This LifeMan's Rules & God's LawLord of the SabbathTo Do Good or HarmWithered-Hand FaithGrace and TruthLooking for the RootsThe Wandering PathA Powerful ForceFinally!Do You See Them?
2020
March
I Am The Good Shepherd Shepherd LeadershipI Am the Good Shepherd that Keeps the GateShepherding the TeamI Am The Good Shepherd: A Note from a Thankful SheepTime OutFour DaysUp from the GraveResurrection LifeThe Shadow of DeathMore Than an Empty TombLet\'s Not Get DistractedThis Is No Time to Be TroubledJesus Christ Is The Way
April
Jesus Christ Is The TruthJesus Christ Is The LifeAn Inconvenient TruthPalm SundayI Am The VineJust Do ItI Am The DoorCuttingsThe StruggleGood FridayThe DoorAbundant GraceAbundant SalvationAbundant SecurityAbundant LifeThe Thank You NoteBreakthrough PrayerLetter to the ChurchA Time for Great ThingsPrayer for a BreakthroughThe Day of ChristAs Far As the Eye Can SeeLoosen the ChainsNothing to FearOn the Same SideWhat Are You Living For?
May
Stand Firm in One SpiritOur God of CertaintyWhy Desire Humility?The Joy of HumilityHumility in ActionThe Ultimate Example of HumilityThe Glory of HumilityThe Faith of a Mom and a GrandmotherKeep OnCelebrate Your DecisionLet Your Light ShineHow Are You Being Poured Out?Be an EncouragementManna from HeavenSafeguarding Your HeartThe Proper Way to BoastHaving Nothing to Offer GodChrist Is All I Want and NeedOn Knowing ChristNo Greater LoveBiblical ObedienceBiblical MaturityBack to ShoreEnemies of the CrossA Bridge to HeavenIt's About Time
June
A New Way of ThinkingThe Lord Is at HandWait to WorryReal PeaceRight ThinkingSuch a Time as ThisA Lesson from Homer SimpsonHesitationThe Power RangerPep TalkSea Billows RollDo You See Them as Gifts?The God QuestionA Hopeless JourneyThe Hope of GraceDon't Miss the PartyThe Joyful GodWho's Listening AnywayThe InheritanceWhat Do You See?Give Me, Give Me, Give MeTearful PrayersFaithfulnessGo and DoIt Seems GoodTrust the Creator
July
Welcome His PeaceLet Us SingGod Is AbleOur Dependence on GodJealousyWhat Dreams Are Made OfServant LeaderChoosing ForgivenessCourage To Be TransformedHeaven and Earth ReuniteHope ReachesA Hope EternalA Hope InheritedHope RebuildsHope UnseenThe Promise of HopeOur Hope Comes From The LordThe Lord Takes Care of His PeopleFree from HarmThe Protective Hand of God\'s Loving CareThe Security of God\'s Watchful LoveThe Traveling TabernacleCommunityCommunityThe FloodThe Cool KidOpposites Attract
August
Open Our EyesThe Call to DiscipleshipA Strategy to Change the WorldImitators of ChristGrowth in Uncertain TimesA Legacy of DiscipleshipHard QuestionsQuestionsThe Answer, Part OneThe Answer, Part TwoThe Answer, Part ThreeThe Answer, Part FourUsing What God Has Given UsBest Laid PlansLive Without LimitsWhat Do You Want To Do?Unlimited SupplyJust A ... ?Who Is Jesus To You?Why Do the Wicked Prosper?Living By ConvictionThere's No Price Too HighAn Epoch BattleConfusion: A Sign of Trouble AheadDay and NightBuilding Brave
September
The Faith GapWhen Bravery CallsFor Such A Time As ThisBravery In The SilenceOpen Our EyesThe Cheese Stands AloneDreamThe StandoffStrengthFather Knows BestAmbassador for ChristPapa BearBest Seat In The HouseWaiting On The LordThe Last Chapterin God\'s Tender CareDo Not Be AnxiousFinish The PlayA New DecreeThat All Might KnowThe Formula For BraveryHow Will You Respond?Stepping Out In FaithHappily Ever After?P.S.Superlatives
October
The Final Curtain CallBraveLet Your Light ShineThe God Who SeeksI Once Was Blind But Now I SeeSalvation for the Chief of SinnersA Picture of RepentanceJesus Is The Son of GodThe Red BinGoAllInAlwaysJesusOur Identity In ChristThe Christian Duty to ForgiveJesus Paid Our Sin Debt In FullThe Power of Forgiveness ExperiencedThe Consequences of UnforgivenessThe Freedom of ForgivenessDo Not Be Conformed to the WorldBetter Than I DeserveGrace Considers Us WorthyGrace Seeks OutGrace ExtendedUnconditional GraceNovember 3, 2020 | HopeGod Is ConsistentNovember 2, 2020 | Never Alone
November
November 4, 2020 | Stand the HeatNosy NeighborsUnintended ConsequencesCultivating a Biblical View of Sorrow in the Midst of a Global PandemicIt's About MoneyBeing ShrewdAre You Rich?PrioritiesThe Big IdeaThe Bigger PictureDifficult SilenceDifficult AnswersReverent HonestyHumble WaitingFrowning ProvidenceLove One AnotherGod's Love Is...Write It DownTalk It OutPandemic FatiqueHappy Thanksgiving!Stuff-MartSilenceFocusing On The EternalKnowledge of God is a Prerequisite of Faith
December
Praising God by Remembering His FaithfulnessThe Relationship Between Fear and FaithThe Transformation of Affirming FaithThe Freedom of HumilityFaith In The StormThe Adventure of AdventA Sure FoundationA Long SilenceA Divine MessengerA Doubting ResponseGod RemembersChristmas Is Still Worth CelebratingNothing New Under The SunNazareth?Highly Favored OneNow THAT'S An Understatement!He KNOWS You!Mary's SongReading Like An Ancient HebrewGo Tell It On The MountainWonder In The FamiliarOur High PriestThe Horn of SalvationTo My Grandmothers, With LoveMerry Christmas!Hope In JesusThree DaysNow I Can Die in PeaceWait, What?Rejection