Advent Series

It’s Christmas time. Are you making out your gift list and decorating your house? Are you looking forward to holiday shopping and your favorite Christmas cookie or candy? Perhaps you’ve started dreaming about your favorite things like rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens….That is a favorite Christmas memory of mine. My sisters, Mom and Dad watched the classic movie, “The Sound of Music”, every year.

But is that what Christmas is all about? Is that what all the fuss is about? Is that all there is to Christmas? Maybe Christmas joy seems out of reach for you this year. Maybe your sense of peace has been interrupted by concern for a family member or friend. Do you remember Charlie Brown calling out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

With everything going on in the world today we can all use a little spiritual first aid this Christmas.

For the season of Advent leading up to the Christmas celebration, we’re going to offer a 4-part series, with a special message each week.

Week one, we’ll examine the roots of our Christmas tree.
Week two, we’ll aim our Christmas lights into areas of darkness in our life
Week three, we’ll make out our spiritual gift list
And the week of Christmas, we’ll wrap up our spiritual gifts for our friends and family, and maybe even a stranger or two.

Our goal for the series is to help everyone be more confident in the story of God, more aware of where each of us fits into the story and how Satan is trying to trip us up and be better equipped to share the Good News of Jesus Christ this Christmas.

Most of us know, to some degree, about the challenges inside our churches. Participation is down and confusion is up. And, if you’re like me, you know many people, children, and grandchildren, who won’t go to church this year.

All of us at Caught Up in Christ Ministries believe all of this puts a new focus on us, you and me, to be church to our family, friends, and maybe even a stranger or two. It’s my goal to equip lay people, you and me, to understand the story, live out God’s love, and share the message of Christ this Christmas.

After His resurrection, and right before Jesus was taken up into heaven, Jesus told his disciples that He would come again, and that the Holy Spirit would continue God’s work in the world until He did. Jesus also told us about the role that we would play in the unfolding drama. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

Have you ever considered that Jesus might come again during your lifetime? Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus might come again in our lifetime. And what if Jesus really meant that…that you and I would be His witness in our homes, neighborhoods and even to the ends of the world?

The simple thought that Jesus may come again in my lifetime amazes me. And the thought that God wants to use me to save another soul scares me. But after I take a deep breath and ask the Holy Spirit to give me a double portion of help, I feel ready to try and do my part this Christmas.

As I start this series, I am full of thoughts for my own family and friends. I thank God for my wife, sons, daughters in law, and grandchildren. I also think about our extended family and friends.

I have also been blessed to connect with a growing number of people through our Caught Up in Christ events. I think about the mom who hasn’t spoken with her daughter in over a year. I think about the family whose son continues to battle drug addiction. I think of the grandmother whose grandchild attempted suicide this past year-twice. And I think about the wife whose husband will spend Christmas in prison after a pornography conviction.

And do you know any members of the older generations who fear all they’ll find in their Christmas stocking this year will be more loneliness? They’re all wondering if there is anything they can do, if there’s anything anyone can do, and if there are any miracles left in Christmas.

How are you doing this Christmas? How is your family doing? Do you need the light of Christ this year? Do you know people who need the peace of Christ this Christmas?

I hope you’ll join me over the next four weeks. The series will be part support group and part battle briefing to discuss strategies for how we can compassionately and effectively share our faith with those around us.

I hope the series will be a blessing to you.