How Should We Celebrate the Birth of Christ?

How do you celebrate Christmas? If we are honest, we must admit that many persons, even Christians, celebrate it most by buying presents, decorating their houses, visiting relatives and friends, or watching football games on television. Others celebrate it by getting drunk, some beginning at the office party on the last working day before Christmas and not sobering up until sometime after the twenty-fifth or even after New Year's. This, of course, is monstrous. These celebrations are inadequate to say the least.

But how should a Christian celebrate Christmas? Before we turn to the book of Luke, I want to say first that by far the best and greatest way to celebrate Christmas is by becoming a Christian if you have never done so. In other words, the best way to celebrate Christmas is by becoming a follower of Him whose birth we commemorate. This is why Jesus came. The Bible tells us that the birth of Jesus was unlike all other births in that Jesus existed before birth as the second person of the Godhead and He became man, not to provide us with a sweet story to tell children each winter or even as a theme for our greatest musical compositions, but in order to grow to maturity and then to die for our sin as a means of our salvation. Jesus was born to be our Savior as the carol says:

    Good Christian men, rejoice,
    With heart, and soul, and voice;
    Now ye need not fear the grave:
    Jesus Christ was born to save!
    Calls you one and calls you all
    To gain His everlasting hall.

    Christ was born to save!

Anyone can understand Christmas in just three sentences:

• I am a sinner.
• As a sinner I need a Savior.
• Jesus Christ is that Savior.

Three sentences! So, the best way to celebrate Christmas is to believe on Jesus as your Savior. If you have never done that, then this is a great season in which to believe on Him. Come to Him! Come to Him now!

But now, assuming that you have believed on Him and that you are a Christian, what can you add to this in order to properly celebrate Christmas? At this point our Bible text comes in, for it is a report of how those who witnessed the first Christmas observed it. The passage begins by speaking of the shepherds.

    "When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told" (Luke 2:17-20 emphasis added



 Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)
¹  Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
²  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
³  And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
⁴  Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
⁵  in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
⁶  While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
⁷  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸  In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
¹⁰  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
¹¹  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
¹²  "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
¹³  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
¹⁴  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
¹⁵  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
¹⁶  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
¹⁷  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
¹⁸  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
¹⁹  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
²⁰  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

This passage suggests four ways of celebrating Christmas:

• Tell others about it.
• Be amazed at the event itself.
• Ponder on its meaning.
• Glorify and praise God for what was done that first Christmas.

Pastor Kim's Note

Note from Pastor Kim!!

Pastor Muazzam John has been doing great work in Pakistan. Since his visit here at Faith Church, he and his team have planted 4 new churches with an approximate attendance of 360 people total.

I want you to think about this for a moment. We are NOT just a bunch of people waiting for our own salvation. Faith church is involved in global evangelism. We have helped plant 4 churches in the 6th most dangerous country in the world for believers. We have just sent off 36 Action Packs to Christian refugees in Syria - the 3rd or 4th most dangerous country on earth for followers of Jesus. Some of you just donated to Bible distribution to the least reached people groups in the world! Faith church is anything but an "old folks" church. We are workers in the Kingdom of God and our hands reach all the way around the world! I am certain Jesus is well please with Faith congregation and our service to His Kingdom.

Locally several of you are volunteering at various locations such as the senior center etc. Locally and globally, Faith church is alive and doing great things for the King and the Kingdom. I think you need to feel a proper pride in that, but not vanity. We are not better than anyone else, but, we are going above and beyond the norm in the Kingdom work. Pat each other the back and say, "You are doing great stuff!”

Announcements and Pastor Kim's Notes

Prayer Requests And Announcements

Please Come By– Birthday Celebration on Sat. Dec 17 for Carol Teel’s 86th at the Church. Details coming. 2-4pm. Drop by and give Carole a hug and say Happy Birthday!

 Dec 18th, Sunday 4 pm – Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration . Card Bingo & Potluck & bring an ornament to give, Everyone welcome!

Christmas Eve Service December 24th at 4PM

Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. Jan 2nd at 10 AM at the church. Bring a salad for lunch. 

Faith Church is a Praying Church!!

Prayer/Praises Requests

Dixie Wright– Heart issues
Larry & Mary Selby– He Colin & Her Breast cancer. Rubin's neighbors
George & Oleta McGee–George dialysis– Oleta surgery December 30th
All the Christians being persecuted.
Brian Morton- Quick recovery
John Swenson– Heart Attach– in Joplin
Pray for Pastor John in Pakistan
Sharon & Larry Anderson– Strength for Sharon & Health of Larry.
Pray for our church members to be able to reach out and touch people with Gods message and encourage them to come to Faith Church.
Carol McCaslin– Daughter-in-law of Lela. Lives in Washington-Pray they have removed all the cancer.
Safe travels for all traveling.
Ivy’s son– Health to continue to improve.
Hannah– Rubin’s 15 year old granddaughter. Depression. improving

Huge Thank You to Lela McLaskin for being a part of this church and to all those that are helping this church family to grow & TO GOD for all his Blessings every day!!

Huge Thank You to all that participated in the Action Packs!!

Verse For Today
 Isaiah 65:11-12 (NASB)
¹¹  "But you who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny,
¹²  I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."




Brethren, I was asked about how to donate money for Bibles to reach the least reached peoples, and I thought I would pass this information to everyone in case others are interested . Here are two ministries that do this for $5.00 per New Testament Bible.



Open Doors USA
PO BOX 27001
Santa Ana CA 92799
888-524-2535
opendoorsusa.org

VOM
PO Box 443
Bartlesville OK 74005-0443
800-747-0085
persecution.com/bibles

VOM = The Voice Of The Martyrs
A non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

  Pray for the continued blessing of Faith Church that we may continue to prosper and grow!!

May you have a God Blessed Day!

Sunday December 11 2016

Children's Christmas Program By Children From First Baptist Church In Grove

We were blessed with the Christmas Program this morning by the children from the First Baptist Church! What a uplifting performance.

Pastor Jim Pasley From First Baptist Church In Grove spoke about the two important days in December, December 7th which started World War II. United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt described it as a "Day That Will Live in Infamy!" Delivered to a Joint Session of Congress on December 8, 1941.
Infamy--(The state of being well known for some bad quality or deed, an evil or wicked act.)

 December 25th The birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus! For it is only thru him that our sins are forgiven.

Conception and Birth of Jesus

 Matthew 1:18-25 (NASB)
¹⁸  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
²⁰  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
²¹  "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
²²  Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
²³  "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
²⁴  And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
²⁵  but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Prayer Requests And Announcements

Put on your Calendar– Birthday Celebration on Sat. Dec 17 for Carol Teel’s 86th at the Church. Details coming. 2-4pm. Drop by and give Carole a hug and say Happy Birthday!

 Dec 18th, Sunday 4 pm – Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration . Card Bingo & Potluck & bring an ornament to give, Everyone welcome!

Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. Jan 2nd at 10 AM at the church. Bring a salad for lunch. 

Harbor Village-—Sat Dec 10 2:30-4:30. Pat Kraft will be playing Christmas songs and singing. Come on out and visit the decorated houses and participate. 

Faith Church is a Praying Church!!

Prayer/Praises Requests

Dixie Wright– Heart issues
Larry & Mary Selby– He Colin & Her Breast cancer. Rubin's neighbors
George & Oleta McGee–George dialysis– Oleta lung cancer
All the Christians being persecuted.
John Swenson– Heart Attach– in Joplin
Pray for Pastor John in Pakistan
Sharon & Larry Anderson– Strength for Sharon & Health of Larry.
Pray for our church members to be able to reach out and touch people with Gods message and encourage them to come to Faith Church.
Carol McCaslin– Daughter-in-law of Lela. Lives in Washington-Pray they have removed all the cancer.
Safe travels for all traveling.
Ivy’s son– Health to continue to improve.
Hannah– Rubin’s 15 year old granddaughter. Depression. improving

 Pray for the continued blessing of Faith Church that we may continue to prosper and grow!!

May you have a God Blessed Day!

Sunday December 4 2016

First we want to recognize our people each week!
Huge Thank You to…
Connie Marco for being a part of
this church and to All those
that are helping this church
family to grow...& to God for
all his Blessings!

Special Thanks go out each week to our Pianist —Pat Kraft, & our Song Leader—Priscilla Wenzel

Verse for today
Psalm 11:5-7 NIV
"The Lord examines the
righteous, but the wicked
and those who love violence
His soul hates. On
the wicked He will rain
fiery coals and burning
sulfur; a scorching wind
will be their lot. For the
Lord is righteous, He
loves justice; upright
men will see His face."

 The Sermon today “Christmas, the Waiting Game”

Pastor Kim's Sermon Notes

Things To Ponder
Christmas--The Waiting Game
Christmas--And Our Society
Christmas--And Childhood
Christmas--In An Educated Society
Christmas--And Waiting On The Second Coming 

Luke 2:22-40

²²  Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took Him up to Jerusalem to offer Him to God as commanded in Gods Law;
²³ "EVERY MALE WHO OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE A HOLY OFFERING TO GOD"),
²⁴  And also to sacrifice "A PAIR OF DOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS." prescribed in Gods Law,
²⁵  In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel; And the Holy Spirit was on him.
²⁶  The Holy Spirit had shown him he would see the Messiah of God before he died.
27 Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, 
28 Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God.

29 God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised.
30 With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation.
31 It’s now out in the open for everyone to see.
32 A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations and of glory for your people Israel. 

³³Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. 

34 Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,

This child marks both the failure and
 the recovery of many in Israel,   
35 A figure misunderstood and contradicted the pain of a sword-thrust through you But the rejection will force honesty as God reveals who they really are.  

³⁶ Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman.

37 She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. 

38 At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.

³⁹ When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. 
40 There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.


 Luke 2:21-52 (NASB)
²¹  And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
²²  And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
²³  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"),
²⁴  and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."
²⁵  And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
²⁶  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
²⁷  And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
²⁸  then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
²⁹  "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
³⁰  For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
³¹  Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³²  A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."
³³  And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
³⁴  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—
³⁵  and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
³⁶  And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
³⁷  and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
³⁸  At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
³⁹  When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
⁴⁰  The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
⁴¹  Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
⁴²  And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;
⁴³  and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,
⁴⁴  but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
⁴⁵  When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.
⁴⁶  Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
⁴⁷  And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
⁴⁸  When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You."
⁴⁹  And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?"
⁵⁰  But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.
⁵¹  And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
⁵²  And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Put on your Calendar– Birthday Celebration on Sat. Dec 17 for Carol Teel’s 86th at the Church. Details coming. 2-4pm. Drop by and give Carole a hug and say Happy Birthday!

 Dec 18th, Sunday 4 pm – Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration . Card Bingo & Potluck & bring an ornament to give, Everyone welcome!

Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. Jan 2nd at 10 AM at the church. Bring a salad for lunch. 

Harbor Village-—Sat Dec 10 2:30-4:30. Pat Kraft will be playing Christmas songs and singing. Come on out and visit the decorated houses and participate.

 May you have a God Blessed Day!