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Purpose House Church

Herald | December 8th, 2024 | Pastor Jason McKinnies

Herald | December 8th, 2024 | Pastor Jason McKinnies

Thank you for joining us today! We look forward to worshiping with you!

Locations & Times

Purpose House Church

124 Lou Ann Dr, Herrin, IL 62948, USA

Sunday 6:00 AM

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Join us in just a couple weeks for Carols and Communion!

Stay up-to-date!

We love connecting with you! Check out our website for more information about events, classes and ministries!
http://purposehousechurch.org
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Purpose Kids has their PJ's and Praise day coming up very soon!

Connect with a Pastor!

Are fear and uncertainty causing you to struggle with your faith? Do you need encouragement? Are you struggling with your marriage or with parenting? Is someone in need of healing? Sometimes, all we need is a shoulder to lean on or a caring person to talk to. Our pastors are here to listen, offer prayer, and provide Biblical insight.
Whatever you are going through, don’t go through it alone.
https://purposehousechurch.org/connect-with-a-pastor/
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Purpose Gen Youth and Remix - Join us on 12/15 for a Christmas party!

Partner with us!

We give with a joyful, generous and faithful heart. Your generosity allows the ministry of Purpose House Church to happen. We cannot do this without you. We are a debt-free church and this allows us to give generously to others! Thank you for your continued support and generosity through tithes and offerings.
https://purposehousechurch.org/give/
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UShine 2024 is NEXT WEEK!

Need prayer?

Click the link below to submit a prayer request or a praise report. We love praying with you and for you!
https://siwcenter.churchcenter.com/people/forms/391748
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Want more information? Stop by our table in the main lobby!

Purpose Bookstore

Wanting to find a new bible? Need a good book to read? Maybe you're looking for a gift that will encourage a friend. We've got you covered! Check out our current selections and stay connected because we are always adding to our inventory!
https://www.purposebookstore.org
1. An Announcement So Big. (Luke 2:8-15; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25, Genesis 17:19; Genesis 21:1-7)

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Messiah hundreds of years before His birth, declaring, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This prophecy sets the stage for how monumental the announcement of Jesus’ birth truly is. It connects the angel’s declaration to the long-awaited promise of God—and how significant it is that such a profound moment would unfold in the sight of
humble shepherds. The weight of the announcement is rooted in centuries of expectation, making it a glorious event not to be taken lightly. Who else could contain the glorious announcement, not a man, that’s for sure; only Heaven could share this news.

The miraculous conception of Jesus, announced to Joseph through an angelic messenger, showcases God’s direct involvement in human history. The angel’s words, “...for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit,” indicate that this event is unlike any other. The Holy Spirit’s role in Jesus’ birth emphasizes the divine origin of this child. Much like the birth announcement by the angels to the shepherds, God’s interventions draw our attention to the enormity of what is taking place through Jesus. This was a significant announcement that not only affected a few but the entire world!

2. A Glory So Good. (Luke 2:9,14 Psalm 19:1; Exodus 34:29-30)

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, his face shone brightly because he had been in God’s presence. This moment with the shepherds shows how God’s glory doesn’t just shine in holy places; it breaks through to ordinary lives, revealing His divine nature and grace.

Exodus 40:34-35
When the Tabernacle was completed, the glory of the Lord filled it so powerfully that Moses could not enter. This “Shekinah glory” represented God's presence among His people and the holiness surrounding Him. The shepherds were met with a similar manifestation of divine glory—an affirmation that God was once again dwelling among humanity, this time not in a temple but in the flesh of a newborn child.

Isaiah 6:1-5
Isaiah’s vision of the Lord seated on a high and lifted throne encounters God's glory in such a profound way that it moves him to declare, “Woe is me! For I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips.” This fierce encounter with divine holiness underscores the transformative power of experiencing God's glory. Similarly, when the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were not merely spectators but participants swept up in the wonder-yet, filled with fear, yet called to rejoice because of the good news. God’s glory
compels a response, whether it is one of awe, reverence, or obedient joy. The Angels were praising God.

Just a question: what happens to the ones who will not or cannot respond to His presence?

The glory of God is a marvelous theme woven throughout Scripture, marked by His desire to reveal Himself to humanity. The announcement of Christ’s birth is not merely a moment but an invitation to grasp and bask in His Glory. It is a glory so good that it transforms us from darkness into light, death to life, from mortal to immortality. May the Whole Earth be filled with His Glory!

3. A Message So Far. (Luke 2:8-15: Romans 10:14; John 10:11)
The shepherds, far from the religious elite in the temples and the bustling city of Bethlehem, were essentially the “shipwrecked” of their time, yet they received this announcement of hope first. They weren’t waiting to hear—it found them in their isolation.

Romans 10:14 tells us, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” This speaks to God's relentless pursuit of all people, regardless of their status.

It wasn’t a mixed message; in the beginning, there was an ending. At His birth, the Hope of the Cross was on display. You will find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth similar to those used in the embalming process. In other words, swaddling clothes were essentially grave clothes. This was fitting because Jesus came to die. Yet, at His death, a new beginning.

In times of uncertainty, take heart! There’s a message so big, a glory so good, and a reach so far that no one, no matter where they are, is beyond the grasp of God’s love or beyond experiencing His glory!