Hillside Missionary Church
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12/17/23 Worship Gathering
Whether you’re a guest or a long-time attendee we’re glad you’re here with us. We’re a friendly and caring group of Christians who are here to help people be CONNECTED with Jesus, CHANGED by Jesus, and COMMITTED to the mission of Jesus. If you're new with us today, thank for joining us! We truly believe that you’re not here by accident and that God has some amazing plans for your life.
Locations & Times
21567 Ireland Rd, South Bend, IN 46614, USA
Sunday 10:45 AM
Guest Information Card
If you’d like some information about who we are and how to get plugged in here at Hillside, please fill out the “I’m New” page on our website
https://hmcworship.com/im-new/Week 3 - Matthew 2:1-23 - What do the wise men teach us?
Introduction
Have you ever noticed the wise men (or kings) in the nativity scene and wondered, “what’s that all about”? Today we’re looking at their story, vs. Herod’s. By doing so, we’ll learn what it really looks like to follow Jesus.
Message Outline
The Wise Men...
- Used their resources to pursue Jesus.
- Were open and honest in their pursuit of Jesus
- Joyfully rejoiced
- Were protected by God
Herod...
- Used his resources to protect himself.
- Was deceitful and impulsive.
- Became furious.
- Tried to take away Jesus' life.
- Suffered the natural consequences of his actions.
Have you ever noticed the wise men (or kings) in the nativity scene and wondered, “what’s that all about”? Today we’re looking at their story, vs. Herod’s. By doing so, we’ll learn what it really looks like to follow Jesus.
Message Outline
The Wise Men...
- Used their resources to pursue Jesus.
- Were open and honest in their pursuit of Jesus
- Joyfully rejoiced
- Were protected by God
Herod...
- Used his resources to protect himself.
- Was deceitful and impulsive.
- Became furious.
- Tried to take away Jesus' life.
- Suffered the natural consequences of his actions.
Reflecting on God's Word
Getting Started
-Have you ever heard about the wise men before?
-What did you learn about the wise men through hearing about this passage of Scripture taught on?
-What do you think the wise men’s journey to go see Jesus was like?
Diving In
Read Matthew 2:1-4. The wise men took the resources that they had, and pursued Jesus, while Herod took the resources he had to protect himself. Both of these actions would have had costs and risks involved. What do these actions tell us about the difference between Herod and the wise men?
- Take some time and list out all of the resources that you have at your disposal.
- Taking a look at your list from above, how well are you using your resources to pursue Jesus, as the wise men did, versus using those resources for selfish means, as Herod did?
- What do you need to do in order to use your resources to better pursue Jesus?What would your life look like if you were to use your resources to better pursue Jesus? What effect would doing that have on your life (i.e. more patience, greater self control, having a deeper faith, ect.).
While reading Matthew 2:1-9, think about the attitude that the wise men have versus the attitude of Herod. The wise men seem to be open, honest, and diligent in their pursuit of Christ, while Herod seems to be deceitful and impulsive. What do you think led to the differences between Herod and the wise men?
- Read 2 Corinthians 8:21. How well does your attitude honor the Lord?
- How could you better honor the Lord with your attitude?
- How would it affect your life if you could honor the Lord better with your attitude?
Read Matthew 2:10 and 16. What is the difference between the reaction of the wise men versus Herod?
- Joy is a major theme of the Christmas story. When you think of your life, what percent of the time are you joyful? What percent of the time are you angry?
- Read Proverbs 14:29 and Galatians 5:19-23. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. What would your life look like if you had more joy and less anger?
- Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to give you more joy, and less anger this Christmas season.
Applying the Scripture
- What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
- How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
-Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
-Have you ever heard about the wise men before?
-What did you learn about the wise men through hearing about this passage of Scripture taught on?
-What do you think the wise men’s journey to go see Jesus was like?
Diving In
Read Matthew 2:1-4. The wise men took the resources that they had, and pursued Jesus, while Herod took the resources he had to protect himself. Both of these actions would have had costs and risks involved. What do these actions tell us about the difference between Herod and the wise men?
- Take some time and list out all of the resources that you have at your disposal.
- Taking a look at your list from above, how well are you using your resources to pursue Jesus, as the wise men did, versus using those resources for selfish means, as Herod did?
- What do you need to do in order to use your resources to better pursue Jesus?What would your life look like if you were to use your resources to better pursue Jesus? What effect would doing that have on your life (i.e. more patience, greater self control, having a deeper faith, ect.).
While reading Matthew 2:1-9, think about the attitude that the wise men have versus the attitude of Herod. The wise men seem to be open, honest, and diligent in their pursuit of Christ, while Herod seems to be deceitful and impulsive. What do you think led to the differences between Herod and the wise men?
- Read 2 Corinthians 8:21. How well does your attitude honor the Lord?
- How could you better honor the Lord with your attitude?
- How would it affect your life if you could honor the Lord better with your attitude?
Read Matthew 2:10 and 16. What is the difference between the reaction of the wise men versus Herod?
- Joy is a major theme of the Christmas story. When you think of your life, what percent of the time are you joyful? What percent of the time are you angry?
- Read Proverbs 14:29 and Galatians 5:19-23. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. What would your life look like if you had more joy and less anger?
- Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to give you more joy, and less anger this Christmas season.
Applying the Scripture
- What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
- How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
-Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Things to Pray For
CHURCH FAMILY NEEDS: Pray for Katy, as she recovers from her wrist surgery. Pray for Carolyn Dodd and what’s going with her thyroid. Pray for Jerry Jamrozy, who has bone cancer. Pray for the Walter family, as Bill recently had surgery for skin cancer.
MISSIONARIES: This month pray for the Bellas.
FAMILY OF THE WEEK: Each week we’ll pray for a different family in our church. This week pray for Josh Lamble.
HILLSIDE HAPPENINGS: Pray that the church would continue to stay unified under Christ. Pray for our livestream and for the people joining us there. Pray for Casa Del Alfarero, the Spanish-speaking Missionary Church 5 minutes from our building.
CURRENT HAPPENINGS: Pray for the war in Israel. Pray for the war in Ukraine.
MISSIONARIES: This month pray for the Bellas.
FAMILY OF THE WEEK: Each week we’ll pray for a different family in our church. This week pray for Josh Lamble.
HILLSIDE HAPPENINGS: Pray that the church would continue to stay unified under Christ. Pray for our livestream and for the people joining us there. Pray for Casa Del Alfarero, the Spanish-speaking Missionary Church 5 minutes from our building.
CURRENT HAPPENINGS: Pray for the war in Israel. Pray for the war in Ukraine.
Numbers
Attendance
In-person on 12/10: 42
Online views through 12/15: 15
Giving
Online (12/4/23-12/10/23): $265 for general
In-Person on 12/10/23: $3475 for general, $50 for missions
Total general needed weekly to meet budget: $1480
Prayer Guide for Israel
Pray for the families who have lost loved ones
Pray for a swift end to the conflict, and for stable peace
Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Israel
Pray for wisdom for world leaders
Pray for those being held hostage
Pray for the Christian leaders and churches in Israel
Pray for the salvation of the lost
Pray for a swift end to the conflict, and for stable peace
Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Israel
Pray for wisdom for world leaders
Pray for those being held hostage
Pray for the Christian leaders and churches in Israel
Pray for the salvation of the lost
Pajama Drive
Our foster closet is holding a pajama drive to bless their foster families with new, warm winter pajamas, sizes 3T to adult. Contact our foster closet team-leader, April with any questions.
Hillside's Story
Thank you to all who shared in this year’s volume of Hillside’s Story. If you would like to share in next year’s video, please see Pastor Josh. To watch this year’s volume of Hillside’s Story, you can go to our website, YouTube, or Facebook.
Christmas Services
We are having our annual Christmas Candlelight Service on Saturday, Dec. 23rd at 7pm. We encourage you to invite friends and loved ones to this special Christmas service. On Sunday, Dec. 24th, we will be having service at our normal time, 10:45am.
Email List
If you do not receive our weekly emails, announcements, and prayer requests, please join our email list! You can do so by going to hmcworship.com/im-new
Opportunities to Help
TECH: Our worship team is looking for someone who would like to run sound and/or slides. Please see Pastor Josh.
WORSHIP TEAM: Would you like to help out on the worship team? Please see Carolyn Dodd for details.
PRAYER GUIDE: Will you be in prayer for Hillside? Prayer guides are available at the welcome counter. Also, if you would like to be a prayer advocate, please see Pastor Josh.
MAINTENANCE TEAM: Would you like to help out on the maintenance team? We need help inside and outside the building. Please see Jeff Soule for details.
WORSHIP TEAM: Would you like to help out on the worship team? Please see Carolyn Dodd for details.
PRAYER GUIDE: Will you be in prayer for Hillside? Prayer guides are available at the welcome counter. Also, if you would like to be a prayer advocate, please see Pastor Josh.
MAINTENANCE TEAM: Would you like to help out on the maintenance team? We need help inside and outside the building. Please see Jeff Soule for details.
Pray for the Ukraine
Our denomination, the Missionary Church, has set a prayer guide to pray for the Ukraine.
https://www.mcusa.org/pray-for-ukraine/Ukraine Relief Project
Our denomination, the Missionary Church, has set a relief project fund for the Ukraine. The funds for this project will be used to provide crisis relief for those caught up in the turmoil in and near Ukraine.
https://wpartners.org/ministries/projects/world-partners-ukraine-relief-project