North Main Street Church of God
Salvation from Sin
1201 North Main Street Ext. Butler, PA 16001 12/03/2023
Locations & Times
North Main Street Church of God
1201 N Main St Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Sunday Morning
Join us on Sunday Mornings online where you can Check-in/Connect, Give, and Watch along with us.
https://northmaincog.org/online/Know Christ intimately,
Grow in Christ continually, and
Go for Christ daily
Check-in Here
Thanks for joining us! If it's your first time here we'd love to connect with you! Fill out the form below. <br> For our regular attenders, please check in with your name and email, if you need to update information
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/Joining us online?
Thank you for joining us today! Please check in here:
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/
Newcomers to North Main
If you are a newcomer, we’re so glad you’ve joined us! If you’re here in person, make sure to stop by the Welcome Center where we have a gift bag for you with some information about us and some delicious homemade chocolate chip COOKIES. <br> For those online please visit the website below and make sure to click the COMMUNICATION CARD button and fill that out so we can send you a free gift!
https://northmaincog.org/onlineChurch Mobile App
Did you know North Main has a church mobile app? Access videos anytime from your device and never miss a sermon. Securely and easily give your tithes, offerings, and donations. Instantly register for upcoming events, and stay in the know of what's happening. Contact Us at any time with a simple message. Find others in the North Main directory. To download go to:
https://northmaincog.org/app/Bible Reading Plan
Join us in 2023 as we read through the Bible in a year and highlight evidence of “KINDNESS” throughout our daily Scripture readings. Reading Guides and GREEN highlighters, the color that represents KINDNESS, are available at the Welcome Center. You can also access the resources digitally on NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/BIBLE
https://northmaincog.org/bible/
Events
For more information about events at North Main such as our upcoming softball games, women’s hikes, classes, and groups, please make sure to stop by the Welcome Center or visit our website at
https://northmaincog.org/eventsPoinsettias
Poinsettia orders for our Christmas Eve services are due by NEXT SUNDAY, December 3rd. Make sure to submit your form online or pick up one at the Welcome Center with exact payment.
https://northmaincog.org/poinsettias/TOY SHOPPE
We are collecting items for The Lighthouse Foundation’s Toy Shoppe! This program hosts a shopping experience for local families in need. Stop by the Welcome Center to pick out a tag and bring your NEW unwrapped gift donations back to North Main by Sunday, December 10th.
https://northmaincog.org/events/toy-shoppe/CONNECTION LUNCHEON
Join us after service today for our Connection Luncheon! Newcomers to North Main eats for free! Cost: $6/adult $4/child and a max of $20/household. ON THE MENU: Ham, Potatoes Gratin, Green Beans, Dinner Rolls, Christmas Cookies
https://northmaincog.org/event/19289221-2023-12-03-connection-luncheon/Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://northmaincog.org/give/
(Matthew 1:18-25)
Yearly Theme: “Kindness is… Atonement”
Series Title: “The Kindest Gesture the World Has Ever Known”
December 3rd, 2023
As we look to the birth of Jesus this Advent season, our attention is drawn to the reason for His birth. Though it’s a cute story of a young couple betrothed, making the long journey by foot from Nazareth to Jerusalem to be recorded in the Roman census, and finding the only place to bed down to be a stable where Mary would ultimately give birth to the long-awaited Messiah, there is significantly more to the narrative. Because the story has become so common in our culture, we all too often miss the point of the story for the commercialized babe in a manger. And what was the purpose for the birth of Christ? To save His people from their sins.
Let’s take a closer look:
Key Point: “GOD sent Jesus to bring salvation from sin.”
So, what are the components of Jesus’ birth that led to the fulfillment of GOD’s promise that salvation would come through Him? Let’s take a look…
Matthew 1:3, 5-6 (NLT), 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar [an Aramean]). Perez was the father of Hezron. …
5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab [a Canaanite]). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth [a Moabite]). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba [a Hittite], the widow of Uriah).
Matthew 1:19 (NLT), Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
Matthew 1:24-25 (NLT), 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
“Longfellow could take a sheet of paper, write a poem on it and make it worth sixty thousand dollars. That is talent. Rockefeller could sign a piece of paper and make it worth millions. That is capital. A sempstress can take material worth $5 and make it into clothing worth $50. That is skill. A merchant can buy an article for eighty cents, put it on his counter and sell it for a dollar. That is business. But God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it, cleanse it, put his Holy Spirit within it and make it a blessing to all humanity. That is salvation. And that salvation is available for all who choose to accept it.”[1]
Romans 10:9-13 (NLT), 9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
GOD sent Jesus into the world to bring salvation from sin, all because of His love for humanity. And the way He did this is not only curious, but significant. Strategically, Jesus was born at just the right time, to just the right virgin girl, who was betrothed to just the right man, in just the right town (Bethlehem) to save the world. So, let us this Advent season not just focus on the commercialized version of the birth of Jesus, but, rather, let us celebrate the GOD of Love who sent Jesus into the world as a baby to experience what we experience, to do what humanity has been unable to do, and to deal with the problem of sin that separates humanity from Him.
Key Point: “GOD sent Jesus to bring salvation from sin.”
[1]Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author.
Our concept of the Christmas story has become so sanitized over the years that we often fail to grasp the human reality of it. What would Joseph’s reaction have been to learn that Mary was pregnant?
How can this entire situation be considered an act of “kindness” by God? Can you identify any other areas of this account which might be easier to consider kind? What are they?
What kindness or privileges did God provide for Joseph regarding this coming child? Why might Joseph’s naming of Jesus be considered a kindness?
What are the acts of kindness Joseph shows to Mary and Jesus upon waking from his dream? Why might those things be considered kind?
Pause for a moment and reflect on Joseph’s situation... Do you think he was operating out of sheer obedience to the angel’s instructions? What is in the passage that makes you think Joseph is a man of impeccable character?
Past Sermons
To view past sermons, please visit our website below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/sermons/Contact Us
If you would like to update your information or have a prayer request, please fill out the link below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/contact-us/North Main Street Church of God
1201 North Main Street Ext.Butler, PA 16001 (724) 285-4214 info@northmaincog.org
http://www.northmaincog.org/Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online at NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/GIVE, text "give" to (724) 313-2211, and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://www.northmaincog.org/giveMonday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm