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Good News, Great Joy

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:51:40 GMT

“The Promised King and the Hope of Christmas” (Micah 1-7)

Micah is one of those books you may have heard of but never closely studied, which naturally raises the question: why talk about Micah during the Christmas season? The book of Micah contains prophecies about the coming of Christ that are unique within the Old Testament, and I believe it has something vital to say to us as we approach Christmas.

Micah is largely a book of judgment—filled with accusations and warnings against Israel for twisting the Word of God. This guilt did not rest only on everyday people; it extended to Israel’s leaders and prophets as well. The nation was marked by greed, corruption, and injustice. Leaders crafted laws that protected the wealthy while the poor were stripped of their land, dignity, and hope.

In response, Micah announces the judgment of the Lord. This judgment would come through oppression by foreign nations—first Assyria, and later Babylon—and would culminate in the destruction of the temple. Yet what is most striking about Micah is that even in the midst of judgment and the certainty of future suffering, God speaks words of hope. With each declaration of judgment, Micah also proclaims a promise of restoration and a future for God’s people:

- The first glimpse of hope appears in Micah 2:12–13. Here, God is portrayed as a shepherd who gathers the remnant of Israel, leads them back to good pasture, and reigns over them as their king.

- The second promise of hope is found in Micah 4:1–7. In this passage, God declares that He will exalt His temple and fill it with His presence, gathering the remnant of His people to Himself. Israel will become the meeting place of heaven and earth, and the nations will stream to Jerusalem as God establishes Himself as King over all.

- The next promise of hope emerges in Micah 5. After exile, the people will return, and from Bethlehem a new Messianic King will be born. He will rule in the restored Jerusalem over what was once only a remnant. That remnant will then become a blessing among the nations—a theme that should sound familiar.

- The final promise of hope appears in Micah 7, where Israel is personified as a suffering individual crying out for forgiveness and restoration. This figure clings to hope for two key reasons. First, there is confidence in the character of God—His mercy is abundant, and He delights in forgiveness. Second, there is remembrance of God’s promises: the covenant with Jacob still stands, and God’s steadfast love endures. This reaches back to the promise made to Abraham, that through his descendants all nations would be blessed. That ancient promise had not been forgotten. Yet for redemption to come, evil must be confronted and judged.

So, what does Micah teach us during the Christmas season? Some of these prophecies have already been fulfilled, while others await their completion. Still, we see that even in judgment, sin, and suffering, God has always intended to keep His promises. From the covenant with Abraham onward, God remained faithful. He sent the King—Jesus—who gathers His remnant and reigns even now.

The child in the manger was the answer to these promises. Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are given hope for the day when God will be King over all nations—when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. God was not obligated to give us this hope, yet He did, so that we might know Him.

Is this not the heart of Christmas? That we might know the living King who entered our world and became the promised blessing to the nations. But this blessing was never meant to stop with us.

As those who have been gathered by the Shepherd-King, we are now called to reflect His mercy and hope to others. Just as God preserved a remnant to be a blessing among the nations, He calls His people today to live as witnesses of His grace in a world marked by darkness, injustice, and despair. The hope we celebrate at Christmas is not merely something we receive—it is something we carry.

This Christmas season, remember that our God is a God of mercy and steadfast love. Even amid brokenness and uncertainty, He is faithful to His promises. As we look toward the future He has secured, may we live as people shaped by hope—extending forgiveness, practicing justice, and proclaiming the good news that the King has come. In doing so, we participate in God’s ongoing work of blessing the world, until the day when Christ reigns fully and finally overall.

Good News, Great Joy

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:01:28 GMT

Carlos's Christmas Complaint

For parents and adults, over the last couple of years, I’ve been working on a preaching/teaching style for kids called third person narrative preaching. There’s a whole cast of characters that I’ve developed that I use to teach kids the Word of God. Some of them you’ll meet in this devotional. If your kids or grandkids come to AWANA or Best Week Ever, I’m sure they can fill you in.

Carlos loves Christmas – everything about Christmas. He loves the snow on the ground, decorating the Christmas tree, helping his dad put lights up on the house, his mom’s Christmas cookies (of course), and he loves, I mean really loves, the church kids’ Christmas play.

In last year’s Christmas play, Carlos acted as a shepherd, and he was quite sure that he was the best shepherd ever. He looked “sore afraid” when the angels appeared from off the stage, he traveled with perfect pace across the stage, and he bowed the deepest bow before the baby doll in the manger when he arrived at the other side of the stage. He was confident his previous performance would get him promoted this year.

Carlos was hoping to be Joseph this year, but the odds were against him. Fourth graders rarely got the opportunity to play Joseph, so Carlos thought to himself, “I should at least make Wise Man this year.”

After a few weeks of practicing their songs, it was finally time for the acting roles to be casted. First the angel and shepherd assignments were given out. Carlos was relieved to not his name called for one of those roles. He was ready for the spotlight this year.

His Sunday School teacher then announced some of the big roles.

“Jimothy Timothy Jones, you will be playing Joseph this year.”

Carlos’s friend, Jamie, was pumped, but Carlos was a little bit jealous. Jamie was a shepherd last year too, and Carlos didn’t even think he was as good a shepherd as he was, so how did he get Joseph this year?

“Penelope Pendergrass, you will be playing Mary.”

“Ok”, Carlos thought, “she’s tall for her age and she’s super smart. She can memorize all the lines easily.” Plus, he didn’t want to be a girl character anyway, so that was fine.

“Rita Bonita, you will be the narrator this year.”

Carlos assumed he’d be called next. He stood there with his fingers crossed, whispering to himself “Wise Man carrying gold… wise man carrying gold… wise man carrying gold…”

“Carlos Charles Charleston,” his teacher said. Carlos started to walk forward to proudly accept his role as lead wise man, and his teacher said, “You will be playing ‘Puffy the Well-Fed Sheep’.”

Carlos stopped dead in his tracks. “WHAT?!” he blurted out!

“Is there a problem?” his teacher asked.

“No. No problem here,” Carlos answered, but he was really mad. “A lousy sheep?!” he mumbled under his breath. “Did she even watch my performance last year?!

And, as costumes were passed out, Carlos realized why Puffy was described as a well-fed sheep. There was one sheep costume that was too big for all the Kindergarten and First Graders, so an older kid had to wear it and still stuff it with pillows to get it to fit right.

Carlos put on his costume, stuffed all the pillows into it, and then he waddled out for the dress rehearsal… “This is the worst moment of my life,” he thought to himself. As he stood on stage, he continued to pout and complain. He looked down at the kindergartener sheep next to him, and he said, “My talents are wasted as a sheep.” The kindergartener looked up at him and said, “I like jelly beans,” and he pulled one out of his nose and ate it.

“Ugh,” Carlos sighed, “I’m standing next to the kid who eats jelly beans with boogers.”

Throughout the performance, Carlos stood on stage with the grumpiest look on his face that you’ve ever seen. He didn’t sing the songs. He tried not to look at the other performers. He just stood there – thinking about how unfair it all was and complained to himself over and over.

But, then he heard a line that Rita read as the narrator.

“The King of heaven began life in a feed box, showing us that God loves humble hearts.”

The line swirled around in Carlos’s brain. It bounced from front to back and left to right and up and down. He couldn’t stop thinking about that line.

“The King of heaven began life in a feed box, showing us that God loves humble hearts.”

“I’ve been miserable because I didn’t get what I wanted,” he thought. “I’ve been the opposite of humble, I’ve been proud!”

As Carlos thought about his attitude, his pride began to go away. He decided that he was going to be humble and do the best job playing “Puffy the Well-Fed Sheep” as he possibly could. He was going to sing loudly and would “baaa” with enthusiasm!

The rest of the practice went spendidly, and when the main performance on Sunday morning came around, Carlos acted the best that he possibly could. The whole performance was a blessing to the whole church.

When their performance ended, and they were walking off the stage, Carlos leaned over to his Kindergarten sidekick and said, “Hey buddy, you got anymore of those jelly beans?”

The kid pulled another jelly bean out of his nose and handed it to Carlos, and he popped into his mouth as they walked off together.

It was the worst jelly bean Carlos had ever eaten, but it was the best Christmas play Carlos had ever been in because God changed his attitude.

Boys and girls, Christmas is a season that should remind us to be humble. Being humble means that we don’t act like we’re the most important person in the room, and that we are ready to help other people before ourselves.

Being humble also doesn’t mean we’re bad, but it means that we choose to love others rather than showing off.

Being humble is choosing to be happy with what we have rather than always wanting more.

And Christmas should remind us to be humble because Jesus gave us the greatest example of humility.

Philippians 2:5–7: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus showed incredible humility when he was born as a helpless baby in a manger (which is what animals ate from), so that he could save us from our sins. He left all the glory of heaven to come down to earth and live a human life, just like you and me, except Jesus never sinned, of course.

This is the greatest example of humility ever, and it reminds us that Christmas is a time for us to remember to be humble and loving, just like Jesus our Savior.

“The King of heaven began life in a feed box, showing us that God loves humble hearts.”

So, how can we have humble hearts this Christmas?

You can think of ways to show love to other people more than to yourself. There are lots of ways to show love at Christmas.

Don’t complain when you don’t get what you want or things don’t go your way. Maybe you don’t get the ultimate present that you wanted so bad, or maybe you think that someone else gets better presents than you. That’s ok. Being humble means that we don’t have to think about ourselves all the time.

Make sure that you take time to thank Jesus for what he has done for us – that He humbled Himself to be born as a baby and laid in an animal feedbox, so that he could live a perfect life on this earth and die as a sacrifice for our sins.

And if you never have, talk to your parents about asking Jesus to save you from your sins. That’s why celebrate Christmas in the first place!

What other ways can you have a humble heart this Christmas?

Good News, Great Joy

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:31:43 GMT

“How to Read the Christmas Story”

When I think about the Christmas story, I think about six important chapters in the Bible. The first four chapters tell the story of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The next two help explain the significance of those events.

In my recent sermon, I mentioned that Matthew and Luke tell the story of Jesus’ birth, but each has a different emphasis. Matthew focuses on Joseph’s perspective while Luke sees these events more through the eyes of Mary. In fact, to get the full story, it is necessary to read from both gospels, flipping back and forth.

Luke 1 starts by introducing us to a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. God miraculously allows them to conceive in their old age. About six months later, the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and explains that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of the Most High. Mary immediately leaves Nazareth to go visit her cousin Elizabeth in Judea.

Matthew 1 picks up the story with Joseph. Mary has returned to Nazareth and is about three months pregnant. Joseph seems to assume that Mary cheated on him and plans to quietly get a “divorce” to annul the engagement. Then an angel appears to him in a dream and tells him to marry Mary because the baby is from the Lord.

Luke 2 is next as we see Joseph and Mary make their way to Bethlehem where there is no room in the inn. Mary gives birth in a stable and puts the baby Jesus in a manger. Soon shepherds arrive to see this baby having been told by angels that Christ the Savior has been born.

Matthew 2 brings us to the end of the story. Wise men from the East come following a star that leads them to Jesus. Joseph and Mary are now staying in a house, and it is probably 1-2 years later. The wise men worship the baby and bring expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Unfortunately, they tip off King Herod to the baby’s birth, and the family must flee to Egypt for safety. I imagine those gifts from the wise men helped pay for their refugee experience.

This is the order I will read the story of Jesus’ birth in the days leading up to Christmas. But then I will read two more passages that help explain the significance of His birth.

John 1 refers to Jesus as “The Word” that existed from the beginning of creation and then entered human history through the miracle of the incarnation. That’s a big, theological word that just means that the Son of God became a man and lived among us.

John 1:1,3,14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made... 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2 is the last passage I recommend. This passage teaches the incarnation and also shows the purpose for why the Son of God became a man. He didn’t come to be a great teacher or prophet. He came to be our Savior. Jesus was born to die. We must never separate Christmas from Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Jesus, that little baby in the manger, is God in human form. He grew up to be the greatest man who ever lived. Jesus lived a perfect life and then offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

Philippians 2:5-11 - 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God the Father accepted this sacrifice. He raised Jesus from the grave. Jesus is alive today. If you receive Him as your Savior and Lord, then you can know God and have eternal life. And Jesus will come again. One day all people will acknowledge Him as Lord of all.

Good News, Great Joy

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:11:40 GMT

Many Christians call this season “Advent,” a word that simply means “coming” or “arrival.” Advent focuses our hearts on Jesus’ first coming at His birth and stirs longing for His second coming. This year our Sunday messages are built around Old Testament and New Testament proclamations of the Messiah under the theme “Good News, Great Joy!” One passage I won’t get to preach is Micah 5:2, yet it remains one of the clearest prophecies of Christ’s first advent. Micah ministered around 735–700 BC, a younger contemporary of Isaiah. He prophesied to Judah while the northern kingdom (Israel) fell to Assyria in 722 BC. Micah warned that Judah would also face judgment for idolatry and injustice, yet he repeatedly pointed beyond exile to a coming Deliverer who would establish an eternal kingdom of peace. Micah 5:2 (ESV) declares:

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.”

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, God revealed:

The Messiah would be born in tiny Bethlehem—fulfilled when Jesus entered the world exactly there (Luke 2:4–7).
He will one day rule over Israel and the nations—still awaiting His return.
His origin is “from of old, from ancient days”—affirming His eternal existence as God the Son.
God’s plan of redemption was settled in eternity past.

Jesus, the eternal Son, was born in Bethlehem, lived without sin, died for our sins, rose victorious, and now reigns at the Father’s right hand. He is coming again to make all things new.

That truly is good news of great joy for all people!

Light in Our Darkness

jrmetze@centralmanorchurch.org (Jeremy Metze) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:34 GMT

2 Corinthians 4:6

"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

G.K. Chesterton wrote in The Illustrated London News in 1917, “It is no good to send up a golden and purple rocket for the glory of the King and Country, or to light a red and raging bonfire on the day of St. George, when everybody is used to seeing the same fiery alphabet proclaiming the importance of Tibble’s Tooth Paste or Giggle’s Chewing Gum. The new illumination has not, indeed, made Tibble and Giggle so important as St. George and King George, because nothing could. But it has made people weary of the way of proclaiming great things, by perpetually using it to proclaim small things. It has not destroyed the difference between light and darkness, but it has allowed the lesser light to put out the greater.”

Chesterton wrote this 107 years ago, and although the references to King and Country might offend our American senses, the gist of what he writes rings truer now that it did then. As we near the end of advent and celebrate Christmas Day, we should ask ourselves, “How many lesser lights have put out the greater?” Advertisements tailor-made just to our unique interests now follow us everywhere we go. These lesser lights are in constant attention for our focus, particularly this time of year. If we’re not careful, Advent’s theme of the light overcoming the darkness may be lost on us, but consider what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:6,

For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The Creator of the universe, who created light, has shone in our hearts to expose our sins and to illuminate the way for us to know Him, that is through His incarnate Son, Jesus Christ. There is simply no greater proclamation to be made at Christmas! It cannot be missed in the busyness or over-saturation of this season. We cannot allow “the lesser light to put out the greater” in our lives at Christmas.

Now, I love Christmas, and in no way would I want to discourage you at all from celebrating it merrily, but I do want you to consider this. Think of the many wonderful Christmas traditions that you have as concentric circles moving from outside to inside as least significant to most significant. Is Christ in the center? Is Jesus the most significant? If He has not been, how can you focus more clearly on Jesus Christ this Christmas?

Light in Our Darkness

noahreber@gmail.com (Noah Reber) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 19:43:36 GMT

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, as we remember the arrival of Jesus, the light of the world, coming to dwell among us. Yet for many, it can also be a season marked by sorrow, loss, and heartache. While the world around us celebrates with gifts, feasts, and laughter, some are struggling with illness, loneliness, or difficult memories. In such moments, we may feel a disconnect—knowing we should be joyful, but struggling to experience that joy ourselves.

As we reflect on the season, we are reminded that Jesus, the light brought into our darkness, came not only to bring us hope but to transform how we live. Jesus himself, in Philippians 2:5-6, provides us with a powerful example of selflessness:

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

But what does this mean for us, especially during the holiday season?

In our culture, Christmas is often synonymous with gifts, family gatherings, and festive celebrations. These things are good, but we must ask ourselves: are we also mindful of those who are hurting and in need of the light of Christ? While it’s easy to focus on our own blessings, the Christmas season should remind us that there are many who need the hope we have in Jesus. As believers, we are called not only to rejoice in the light but to be reflections of that light to others.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus calls us to be the light of the world—not that we are the source of light, but that we allow His light to shine through us. Just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden, our lives, transformed by Christ, are meant to be a beacon to those around us. We are called to share the gospel and to serve those who are struggling. We are called to weep with those who weep and celebrate with those who rejoice, sharing the love and comfort we have received from Christ.

Christmas is not just for us and our families; it is a season for the whole world to hear the message of hope in Christ. As we celebrate His birth, we are reminded that the mission of the gospel is for everyone. This season is an opportunity to let our lights shine before others, not just through words, but through actions that glorify God. When we live out our faith, we point others to the light of Christ, and in doing so, we fulfill our calling as His ambassadors, proclaiming the gospel from here to the ends of the earth.

Let us commit, this Christmas and beyond, to be reflections of His light. May our lives, our actions, and our words shine brightly, bringing glory to God and drawing others to His saving grace.

Light in Our Darkness

sjdavis@centralmanorchurch.org (Scott Davis) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:44:02 GMT

John 1:1–5, 10-14 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The birth of Jesus is the highlight of all human history. Let’s look at God’s plan throughout history to understand why.

First, God created everything, with humanity as the crown jewel of that creation. He created men and women in His image. We can’t know fully what that means, but at the least it means that He gave them intellect, emotions, self-will, self-awareness, authority over creation, and ability to plan. He placed the earth’s resources at their disposal and put all of earth into their care.

Second, in addition to all that God gave humanity, He gave them a stewardship to make decisions about their life and community. That ability includes even the option to refuse to follow God’s order for life and society. Instead of following God’s path, people chose to sin. In choosing their own way, they disrupted God’s order and consequently the path of blessing. Humanity’s choice to sin has infected the whole human race and we are all now sinners by birth and by choice.

Third, man’s choice to sin has blinded all humans to God and His truth. They cannot naturally see God’s truth through that darkness. As a result, people have become separated from God.

Fourth, God’s grace has always been at work to restore humanity to Himself. His crowning act of reconciliation was to shine His light to humans through sending Jesus to earth. He came into a world that did not know Him, and did not receive Him, but He came in such a way that the world could see Him and receive His truth. God’s eternal plan was to send Jesus to earth, born as a human baby. Jesus was God in the flesh. He is the God/man.

Fifth, why would God send Jesus to earth to become a man? I recently heard Tim Keller describe Jesus’ birth and life on earth as writing Himself into the story. When an author writes a book, the characters have no knowledge of the writer. But God wanted to have a relationship with His creation. How could the characters in God’s story know their divine author? The writer of earth’s history, Jesus, is real and is all knowing, all powerful, and all present. Although the world was made by Him, He was still unknowable by His creation. Jesus wrote himself into history so he could be known and so that people could be reconciled to Him.

Conclusion:

John 1 tells us that Jesus came as a human and He began to shine light into the darkness. It goes on to say, that any who would see His light and turn to Him and away from following their own natural path could become the children of God. They could have the relationship that God always intended for them. They could become children of God.

Have you seen Him? He came as a human child and lived a perfect and sinless life. But then He did something unexpected. He died on a cross for the human race. That was His humiliation. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin and death. He now sits at the right hand of God the Father. This is His exultation. He wants people to know Him.

Take time this Christmas to view Jesus and His truth. If you have never accepted Him, please do. For those who believe His truth and receive Him as Savior, He makes us part of His family. For those who have received Jesus, take time to adore Him, and thank Him for providing a personal relationship with God.

Light in Our Darkness

smscoffone@centralmanorchurch.org (Steve Scoffone) — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:59:00 GMT

Colossians 1:9-14 - " And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In Colossians chapter 1, the Apostle Paul says that “from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” He continues with some specific requests and then gives “thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

Notice that we can share in the inheritance of the saints in light. What does that mean? Our inheritance includes all the blessings promised to those who trust in Jesus, but it especially refers to heaven where we will spend eternity in God’s presence.

Notice that it is Jesus who has made us “qualified” to share this inheritance. We do not deserve God’s love and can never earn our way to heaven. Jesus did it all for us! He died on the cross in our place and gives us the gift of eternal life, when we trust in Him.

Also notice that Paul talks about the “inheritance of the saints in light.” Why light? Well, Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8;12, 9:5). In his first letter, John writes, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” In the Bible, light stands for goodness, purity, and perfection. Dar kness stands for sin and evil."

Heaven will be a place of light because Jesus is there and cannot allow darkness in His presence. That is good news because heaven will be a place of perfection with no more sin or suffering. Jesus has already forgiven our sins and will make us perfect and worthy to stand in His presence. The Bible calls this our glorification, and it is a wonderful promise we have received.

In the meantime, we live in a world of darkness. Our world is full of sin and brokenness.

The great news is that Jesus entered this dark world on that first Christmas morning and brought light. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

After praying for the Colossians, the Apostle Paul makes this statement: “God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

We still live in this dark world, but we belong to another. Our citizenship is in heaven. We belong to the kingdom of light. And it is all because of Jesus who redeemed us and forgave our sin!

This reminds me of the words of a song by Tim Hughes called “Here I am to Worship”:

Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness, opened my eyes, let me see. Beauty that made this heart adore You, hope of a life spent with You. And here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me!

Will You Make Room?

noahreber@gmail.com (Noah Reber) — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:33:46 GMT

We all know the story of the birth of Jesus well. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because of the census ordered by King Herod. However, when they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room for them and they had to stay where the animals fed. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus and then laid him in a manger to rest. But this was the Son of God who was to take away the sins of the world. Why would he come this way and why does it matter?

There is some speculation as to why Jesus came in this specific way. I think this was not only a fulfillment of scripture, but also a foreshadowing of what was to come. Christ not only showed his humility and fulfilled the prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, he also made himself low so that he could reach those who were considered destitute and insignificant. Shepherds were one of the first people groups to be made aware of Jesus’ coming. Many considered shepherds the lowest of the low, and the religious leaders referred to them as sinners. Jesus had nothing to offer the shepherds other than his presence. He had no form or majesty for them to behold, yet this was enough for the shepherds to go away glorifying and praising God! Jesus was about to shake up all that had been known by the people of the world. But why did he appear to the shepherds on that night, and not to the rest of the people that had been waiting for his coming for generations and generations?

The truth is, that many who were waiting for the Messiah had no room in their hearts for him. The majority of the Jewish people believed that the Messiah would come and be a conqueror or a warrior, and would be the one to end their oppression with a mighty hand. They thought that the Messiah would bring them hope by obliterating their circumstances and reigning over them. So, while the people were waiting for someone to end all their physical pain and suffering, they missed out. They had no room for the Savior of the world who was there to proclaim liberty to the captives and break chains of sin and death. Jesus was there to make a better kind of hope than the people expected! He would make a kingdom that would reign forever and ever.

But isn’t that what we still do today?

It may not be in the same ways as the people in Jesus’ day, but on some level many of us do make Jesus what we want him to be instead of who he is. We get distracted by our daily lives,

our obligations, our circumstances, our comforts, and our emotions. We desire for God to just fix everything. It is so easy to just lay back and become complacent because we now know Christ has come. We make him a supplement to our lives instead of the cornerstone upon which our lives are built. So, the question that we need to ask going into this season is: “Will we be like the shepherds who realized the hope of God and in return glorified him, or are we like the rest of the people who didn’t have room for Jesus?”

If you need to know or be reminded of God’s hope, remember this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” -John 3:16-17

Let hope live in your heart and life. Make room.

Joy and Hope for the World

smscoffone@centralmanorchurch.org (Steve Scoffone) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:44:35 GMT

Luke 2:8-20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying;

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

You all know this story. When I read it, I hear the voice of Linus, speaking these words from the famous cartoon, “Charlie Brown’s Christmas.” The last verse has always intrigued me. Why were the shepherds glorifying and praising God. What had they seen and heard that had such a big impact on them?

Well, I guess it is not every day you meet an angel. That must have been pretty cool. The angel announced good news of great joy for all people. That would have gotten my attention. What is this news? The angel said a baby had been born in Bethlehem. Big deal. Babies are born all the time. Wait. The angel said this baby would be some kind of savior. He would be the Christ which means Messiah. Well, that sounds important. Then suddenly there was a multitude of angels, like a heavenly choir. They were praising God and pronouncing peace on earth.

OK. Now what? Well, they decided to check it out. They went quickly to Bethlehem and found the baby. They told Mary and Joseph and others what they had heard from the angel. Then the shepherds left and returned glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen.

That last sentence has always intrigued me. What had they actually seen and heard? They saw a baby. Who hasn’t? They saw some angels. That’s impressive. But what had they heard that filled them with praise? They heard a message of hope. God cares about people. He has a plan for this planet. This baby was special. He would be some kind of savior. They had no idea what this meant, but it gave them hope and filled them with joy and praise.

This story challenges me. We know so much more than they did. We know the identity of this baby. Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. We know that Jesus grew up, lived a perfect life, and died a perfect death, that we might be saved. Jesus rose from the dead and by faith, we are forgiven, we are adopted into God’s family, and we will spend eternity in Heaven.

This Christmas, I pray that we will be filled with the wonder that those shepherds experienced. May we be filled with hope and joy, knowing that we have been reconciled to God and have a great future. Most of all, may we will be filled with praise and worship for our Savior!

Rediscovering Mirth

jrmetze@centralmanorchurch.org (Jeremy Metze) — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:10:13 GMT

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

My all-time favorite Christmas movie is the 1992 classic, A Muppet’s Christmas Carol. In that timeless re-telling of the Charles Dickens novel, narrated by Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. He is shown the consequences of his miserly deeds and his miserable treatment of others, in contrast with Bob Cratchit’s (Kermit the Frog) difficult yet joyful and grateful life, expressed in the Cratchit family’s stirring song, “Bless Us All.” After being confronted with his wretched reality all night, Ebenezer Scrooge wakes up a changed man – one full of joy and mirth, determined to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Oftentimes, Christmas can overwhelm us, not with joy, but with the stress of the expectations that accompany it – hosting family gatherings, places to go and people to see, buying presents, having a clean enough house – and we can unwittingly find ourselves resembling Ebenezer Scrooge. The contemporary concept of Christmas propagandizes happiness but leaves us with little joy. But, the original message of Christmas is “good news of great joy” because Christ the Lord is born! We who confess that Jesus is Lord should be full of joy! So, let us rediscover the Christian idea of mirth - social merriment; hilarity; high excitement of pleasurable feelings in company.

“Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15

Joyfully speak with your family about Christmas. Bake Christmas cookies. Watch A Muppet Christmas Carol. Greet one another warmly with “Merry Christmas.” Sing Christmas Carols. Enjoy extra time with family, great food and gifts. Bless your family and your friends with your joyful and jocular presence!

Be people of mirth this Christmas! Jesus is Lord!

Christmas is a Time of Hope

sjdavis@centralmanorchurch.org (Scott Davis) — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 16:58:21 GMT

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year filled with many hopes. Hope is fundamental to human existence. It looks ahead to what is next and keeps things moving. Without hope, humanity would be left joyless, directionless, and without motivation. God is the giver of the lasting hope that humanity was created for. God gives hope for the present, the future, and for what lies ahead in eternity. Christians around the world are especially encouraged by this hope at Christmas.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon penned his frustration at what he had been hoping in and how it did not fulfil because he did not have God in the picture. A few times in the book he also gives a way toward real hope by making God the priority. In Ecclesiastes 3:11–12 (ESV) he says “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”

Consider three simple truths from these verses that can bring lasting hope this Christmas.

1. Joyfully embrace what God is doing over the course of time. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” - Eccles. 3:11a

Life brings many experiences. Some are fun and exciting, and others are painful and difficult. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 makes a clear point that there is a time and season for everything under the sun. Life is a journey, but it is all heading toward God’s beauty. In time God is making everything beautiful. It often does not feel that way, but God is in the process of bringing all of life together to make it beautiful. Embrace this evolving beauty this Christmas.

2. Joyfully looking ahead to eternity. “He has put eternity into man’s heart.” – Eccles. 3:11b

Human beings long for something beyond this sin-cursed world, because God planted it in their hearts. It is a desire to prosper and live a life free of suffering and hardship, and to make a lasting difference. All humans look ahead and plan for eternity. God placed that desire for eternity in their hearts. People were not created for this world, but for the one to come. Look ahead to your eternal destination this Christmas.

3. Joyfully experience the life God has given you now. “There is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.” Eccles. 3:12

God wants you to experience and enjoy this present life and the gifts He has given. He says that you can’t do better in this life than to joyfully embrace your current situation and do good all your days. Live life fully right now by taking joy in in God’s blessings and in helping others do the same.

Christmas is the season to be joyful. God makes it meaningful past, present, and future. Do not put your hope in the temporary occupations of life. Find true and meaningful hope this Christmas by embracing and looking ahead to what God is doing. Only He can give lasting hope.