Elements City Church
The Gift...of choice (Christmas 2019 wk3)
This Christmas we lean in again to the amazing gift that has been given to us from God. We’re to unwrap the fullness of God’s goodness to us in Jesus. God has given us Good News, not bad news. He’s given us a call for rescue, not a plan to follow. He’s given us a choice to choose Him. God has given us His best - and He gives because He loves.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us...
We pray that tonight would be encouraging for you. If you're a guest here with us we want to invite you to our 10 Minute Party immediately following service. We'd love to meet you, and we have a free gift just for you. Click the link below to see THE WEEKLY - our digital announcements/info for all things happening in and around Elements, or find everything you need in our app.
http://elem.cc/weeklyEveryone, Everywhere – including you, loves to receive gifts!
One of the traditions that many partake in during this season – is the annual White Elephant gift exchange.
Where you get to choose the gift you want from a pile of gifts and then you can try and barter/trade as the event progresses. BUT YOUR CHOICE IS the key factor. SO YOU BETTER CHOOSE WISELY!
One of the traditions that many partake in during this season – is the annual White Elephant gift exchange.
Where you get to choose the gift you want from a pile of gifts and then you can try and barter/trade as the event progresses. BUT YOUR CHOICE IS the key factor. SO YOU BETTER CHOOSE WISELY!
This season of Christmas also extends to us a CHOICE. We each lean in, we each listen - we each get to choose.
The GIFT OF CHRISTMAS – this bold message of Christmas shouts to us – God decided to do something uniquely different in history.
LISTEN: that Good News wasn’t just instructions from afar.
The Good News: was himself.
It’s a relationship. It’s the person of Jesus who came on a rescue mission for us -- and he did it! He’s made a way to rescue us, redeem us and invite us into a relationship with him.
LISTEN: that Good News wasn’t just instructions from afar.
The Good News: was himself.
It’s a relationship. It’s the person of Jesus who came on a rescue mission for us -- and he did it! He’s made a way to rescue us, redeem us and invite us into a relationship with him.
Luke 2:11
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
The first step in embracing the incredible message of Christmas is to acknowledge and admit that I need what God has sent: a SAVIOR
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
The first step in embracing the incredible message of Christmas is to acknowledge and admit that I need what God has sent: a SAVIOR
Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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.
God’s incredible offer was extended – And the Shepherds responded.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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.
God’s incredible offer was extended – And the Shepherds responded.
I don’t understand why EVERYONE doesn’t except the offer of Christianity and this Christmas story?! I don’t understand why everyone in the world, doesn’t at least stop and consider the beauty and amazingly GOOD NEWS that comes with this Christmas story…
There’s simply just no better offer out there!
God loves you, He came to prove it – He gave up his life, so you could be rescued to eternal life with him. He forgives all your sins and invites you to live the way you were ultimately created to live. Your eternal life with Him, begins now, on into Heaven when you pass from this life to the next. You’re forever connected to Him through faith in His Son Jesus! You’ll never experience a moment again where He’s not WITH YOU & FOR YOU!
There’s simply just no better offer out there!
God loves you, He came to prove it – He gave up his life, so you could be rescued to eternal life with him. He forgives all your sins and invites you to live the way you were ultimately created to live. Your eternal life with Him, begins now, on into Heaven when you pass from this life to the next. You’re forever connected to Him through faith in His Son Jesus! You’ll never experience a moment again where He’s not WITH YOU & FOR YOU!
Why wouldn't everyone choose to say YES to this message?!
sometimes it's an insufficient explanation of the story of Jesus that may cause people to hesitate.
sometimes – is improper application. Sometimes what holds people back from becoming a Christian is that they’ve met too many Christians! Sometimes this amazing story of Jesus can get miss-applied by those who say they’ve given their life over to him…and we watch their life and we don’t necessarily like what we see.
sometimes it's an insufficient explanation of the story of Jesus that may cause people to hesitate.
sometimes – is improper application. Sometimes what holds people back from becoming a Christian is that they’ve met too many Christians! Sometimes this amazing story of Jesus can get miss-applied by those who say they’ve given their life over to him…and we watch their life and we don’t necessarily like what we see.
This Christmas story is an amazing story – and I wanna lean into a short synopsis that the writer of the book of John records for us.
John was one of the disciples that followed Jesus around. Heard his teachings. He stood there at the cross while Jesus was crucified. He saw Jesus buried. And He saw Jesus after he came back to life! And then for the next 30-40 years, John went around telling people (not just what he believed) but what he had SEEN & HEARD. Now, John is looking back and he writes one of the verses that nearly everyone has probably encountered before. One of the most famous verses in the Bible.
And this, in so many ways, is his summary of the Christmas message!
Not during the time of the birth of Jesus – but recorded some 30+ years after the death and resurrection of Jesus!
John was one of the disciples that followed Jesus around. Heard his teachings. He stood there at the cross while Jesus was crucified. He saw Jesus buried. And He saw Jesus after he came back to life! And then for the next 30-40 years, John went around telling people (not just what he believed) but what he had SEEN & HEARD. Now, John is looking back and he writes one of the verses that nearly everyone has probably encountered before. One of the most famous verses in the Bible.
And this, in so many ways, is his summary of the Christmas message!
Not during the time of the birth of Jesus – but recorded some 30+ years after the death and resurrection of Jesus!
Back in Luke 2 - We see the Shepherds choose. What we see the shepherds do = is what we each are invited to do. They heard the news, They believed it, They acted on what they heard.
They chose wisely!
Key takeaway:
Choose Jesus. Choose him today and then the next, and the next.
Orient your life and living, around choosing him & his ways continually.
They chose wisely!
Key takeaway:
Choose Jesus. Choose him today and then the next, and the next.
Orient your life and living, around choosing him & his ways continually.
IF YOU'RE NEW:
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room. If you're new, we'd love to meet you and we have a small gift for you! We also want invite you back with us next Sunday at 5pm as we continue our series together.
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room. If you're new, we'd love to meet you and we have a small gift for you! We also want invite you back with us next Sunday at 5pm as we continue our series together.
Thanks for partnering with us...
Thank you for financially & faithfully partnering with us! You can give here, online or easily within our app on your phone or tablet.
http://elem.cc/giveWe'll see you Tuesday evening for Christmas Eve Services!
4pm or 6pm
*family friendly, candlelight services - invite some friends!
4pm or 6pm
*family friendly, candlelight services - invite some friends!