Elements City Church
The Gift of Christmas - CHRISTMAS EVE
The Christmas story is an old story. But let’s see it in a new way because it’s a new year and in fact, it’s been a couple years like none other. Into the turmoil of the day, just like the turmoil of our day comes a gift like no other. A gift that will literally change everything for everyone who opens their heart to receive it. It’s not wrapped like most expected or delivered like any thought. But to those who receive it - it changes them, it anchors them, it blesses them.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Friday 4:00 PM
Thanks for joining us...
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to your soul. May God whisper to you and help you in taking your next steps in a journey with Him. If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbWe want to REMEMBER the GIFT we've been given by God that first Christmas!
This verse from the Apostle Paul captures the gift of Jesus:
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" -2 Corinthians 9:15
This verse from the Apostle Paul captures the gift of Jesus:
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" -2 Corinthians 9:15
We celebrate the arrival of this Jesus at Christmas…this is no ordinary infant, no ordinary person, and certainly no ordinary birth.
Look back to Christmas story in Luke 2:6-7…
"Came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths. She laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn."
JESUS comes wrapped in cloths — but if we look closer, we’ll see other realities at play behind the scenes - BIGGER than simply what is observable in that little stable that night…
Look back to Christmas story in Luke 2:6-7…
"Came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths. She laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn."
JESUS comes wrapped in cloths — but if we look closer, we’ll see other realities at play behind the scenes - BIGGER than simply what is observable in that little stable that night…
JESUS came wrapped in prophecy — hundreds of prophecies over hundreds of years — all predicting who he is, and how things would unfold — to verify his identity & confirm his divinity…
The time of His birth (see the Daniel 8 & 9).
He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12)
He would be mocked. (Psalm 22:7,8)
He would be crucified. (Psalm 22, John 3:14)
He would be pierced. (Psalms 22:16)
He would die with the wicked, but He would be buried with the rich. (Isaiah 53:9)
*The prospect that anyone would satisfy those eight prophecies was just 1 in 10 to the 17th power ( 1 in 10/17 (100,000,000,000,000,000))
The Scriptures have well over 300+ prophecies that Jesus fulfilled
Professor Stoner stated…
Quote:
“Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.”
The time of His birth (see the Daniel 8 & 9).
He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12)
He would be mocked. (Psalm 22:7,8)
He would be crucified. (Psalm 22, John 3:14)
He would be pierced. (Psalms 22:16)
He would die with the wicked, but He would be buried with the rich. (Isaiah 53:9)
*The prospect that anyone would satisfy those eight prophecies was just 1 in 10 to the 17th power ( 1 in 10/17 (100,000,000,000,000,000))
The Scriptures have well over 300+ prophecies that Jesus fulfilled
Professor Stoner stated…
Quote:
“Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.”
Jesus also came wrapped in the history
**the delivery of Jesus into this moment of history WAS NOT random…it didn’t happen by chance — this was all part of God’s plan, sovereignty, and activity
the Lord’s timing is never random
Part of the power of God is the precision of His activity.
Part of HIs sovereignty is his divine punctuality.
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
**the delivery of Jesus into this moment of history WAS NOT random…it didn’t happen by chance — this was all part of God’s plan, sovereignty, and activity
the Lord’s timing is never random
Part of the power of God is the precision of His activity.
Part of HIs sovereignty is his divine punctuality.
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
Jesus also came wrapped in a bit of mystery.
John 1:14 & 18
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
...
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
The INCARNATION is the beautiful mysterious work of God…
Jesus is fully God, fully man
Jesus = ‘God in a bod’ - arrives...
see Colossians 1:15-19
John 1:14 & 18
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
...
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
The INCARNATION is the beautiful mysterious work of God…
Jesus is fully God, fully man
Jesus = ‘God in a bod’ - arrives...
see Colossians 1:15-19
Quote:
There is enough evidence for those who want to believe in God and enough mystery for those who want to turn away.
-Richard Foster
There is enough evidence for those who want to believe in God and enough mystery for those who want to turn away.
-Richard Foster
…a gift only becomes your gift to enjoy and embrace after you do one thing: Unwrap it for yourself
This Christmas - the real question is: have you unwrapped the GIFT of Christmas, this Jesus - for yourself?
**here’s the bad news, according to the teachings of the Scriptures:
you’re not, nor could you EVER be “nice enough, good enough”.
**But here’s the good news - the good news of Christmas - of Christianity!
Jesus came because we’re naughty and we’d never be good enough.
Life in God's Kingdom, life with God, experiencing God's love is a
= free gift.
God didn’t send us a Santa Claus theology
He sent us a Savior!
Say YES to this gift, open up a relationship with Jesus.
Romans 10:9-10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
2 Corinthians 9:15
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
This Christmas - the real question is: have you unwrapped the GIFT of Christmas, this Jesus - for yourself?
**here’s the bad news, according to the teachings of the Scriptures:
you’re not, nor could you EVER be “nice enough, good enough”.
**But here’s the good news - the good news of Christmas - of Christianity!
Jesus came because we’re naughty and we’d never be good enough.
Life in God's Kingdom, life with God, experiencing God's love is a
= free gift.
God didn’t send us a Santa Claus theology
He sent us a Savior!
Say YES to this gift, open up a relationship with Jesus.
Romans 10:9-10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
2 Corinthians 9:15
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
Thank you for partnering with us...
Thank you for enabling us to be the Church in our city! Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to share His love with as many as we can. You help us bring the HOPE and LIGHT of Jesus to our city! You can give online at the link below or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/give/We hope you have been blessed by your time worshipping with us!
REMINDER: SUNDAY Dec. 26th service is ONLINE ONLY
TUNE IN ONLINE, YouTube or via app beginning at 1030am and anytime afterwards...
Invite some friends and family to join us in the New Year - back on Sunday nights in person and online January 2nd at 5pm.
Merry Christmas all!
*reminder: we will NOT be having an in-person Elements service on Sunday December 26th. We WILL HAVE an online worship experience where you can login and participate. watch our online service via the website, facebook or our YouTube page Sunday Dec. 26th at 5pm. Join us back in person in the new year - Sunday January 2nd, 2022.
REMINDER: SUNDAY Dec. 26th service is ONLINE ONLY
TUNE IN ONLINE, YouTube or via app beginning at 1030am and anytime afterwards...
Invite some friends and family to join us in the New Year - back on Sunday nights in person and online January 2nd at 5pm.
Merry Christmas all!
*reminder: we will NOT be having an in-person Elements service on Sunday December 26th. We WILL HAVE an online worship experience where you can login and participate. watch our online service via the website, facebook or our YouTube page Sunday Dec. 26th at 5pm. Join us back in person in the new year - Sunday January 2nd, 2022.