Family Worship Guide 12/28

DON'T PUT THOSE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AWAY YET!!!!!

http://cultivatingahome.com/2014/12/26/my-very-favorite-christmas-tradition/

Before putting your Christmas stockings away think about doing this.

Inside each stocking put letters written to Jesus

In these letter recording ways you plan to serve Him throughout the upcoming year.

Next Christmas open these letters and share what you wrote with family and/or friends.

What does God want for Christmas?

What God wants is not
a selfie of Pastor Dave

What God wants for Christmas.  Now here’s the surprise

In this box is where it’s been disguised.

Peek in the box, for so long you have waited.

What God wants is you – the one He created!

“Me?” you ask.  “Why is this so?”

”I cannot wrap me and put on a bow!”

No you cannot; but what you can give

Are the choices you make in the life that you live.

God wants you to know Him and love Him within.

And this is called worship, an offering to Him.

To do this   trust Jesus, who died in your place

When you didn’t deserve Him – that is called grace

Give him control of your life and your heart

Say, “Jesus I need You.  I’d like a new start.

Forgive me today for the sins I’ve committed

So one day in heaven I will be permitted.”

When you this way, the heavens rejoice
That you have made worship of God your life’s choice.

God wants you to know Him, so choose every day

To love God and thank God

And give Him all Praise.

December 25: The Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke

December 25:  The Christmas from Luke 2.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.  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.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

What to do after The "Present" Message Christmas Eve service

So you were at the Christmas Eve service and you heard about the gifts.
  the pink slippers
  the Bible
  the Snowball
  the present.

You heard
Luke 2:1-21 read.
You were encouraged to
read it as a family
on Christmas day.
You were challenged to
treasure these things
in your heart.


Pastor Duke talked about Separation, Substitute, Savior and Salvation.

Here is what was inside the present Pastor Dave showed the kids.
Not a selfie.
A mirror

What does God want for Christmas?
Us.  Our worship.  Click HERE for the "What God Wants for Christmas"

HERE is a link to some free downloadable resources from the "What God Wants for Christmas" resource.



It is our prayer that this year's Christmas Eve service
focused your heart and mind on Jesus Christ.

During the month of December we have been posting daily advent readings HERE
that you can use throughout the year to help you focus on the greatest gift ever given.
JESUS CHRIST!

Christmas Pitfalls for Parents

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-christmas-pitfalls-for-parents

It’s Christmastime again, and if you’re a parent you may be having familiar conversations about gift-giving, consumerism, and the cross. Discipling children through the Christmas season is challenging. Our lists of errands are as endless as the numbers of cookies we hope to bake. With teachers to honor, traditions to uphold, parties to attend, and all the gifts to buy and eventually wrap, the physical demands can overshadow spiritual needs.

If we want to give our children the gift of clearer gospel understanding this Christmas, we must put more thought into how we lead them than we put into buying gifts and making Pinterest crafts. How should we shepherd our kids through a season laden with greed? Should we give one present per child, tithe in their honor, or stop giving gifts completely? As you think and pray through how to answer these questions for your family, consider three Christmas pitfalls that I’ve commonly observed parents pondering.

Here are the 3 pitfalls with a couple of the main points.
You can read more details at www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-christmas-pitfalls-for-parents

Pitfall 1: How can I keep the world from hijacking Christmas?

The world doesn't define our celebration; we do, in obedience to God. 

 So when the world publicly hijacks our holiday, peacefully take it right back within your home and community by teaching, showing love, and shining Christ’s light to everyone around.

Instead of fearing the world, teach your children to engage culturally for the spread of the gospel.

Pitfall 2: Why should I give my kids gifts when they don’t need or deserve them?

Giving presents can demonstrate the greater spiritual truths in a tangible way.

God gave us the gift of Christ—his birth, his death, and his resurrection—by grace. All gifts we place under the tree should be given in the same manner we’ve received Christ: freely.

Give gifts in an effort to cultivate worshipful longing for Christ’s return.

Pitfall 3: How do I teach my kids to love Jesus more than Christmas presents? 

Salvation is the only gift that will eternally satisfy our longings. Don’t shame your children when you sense their greed; teach them. 

If you are tempted to make wild changes to your Christmas giving (scrapping all presents), pause. Realize you can’t shock children into godliness. 

Don’t shame your children for loving presents more than Jesus; help them to understand what the baby in the manger means and why we anticipate his return.

Here is another article with ideas for parents at Christmas time.

http://www.davidwhiting.org/my_weblog/2014/12/ideas-for-advent.html

This post in no way shape or form suggests you need to do everything listed.  It is our prayer to provide options for you to choose for your family.

If you want to bookmark the advent ideas on this blog for next year use http://ekidzministry.blogspot.com/search/label/Advent

December 24: The Baby Jesus: Jesus Is Born!

http://partofthemain.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/day-24-the-baby-jesus-jesus-is-born/

Do you remember what Advent means? It means coming–the coming of Jesus. This Advent season we have been celebrating when Jesus, God’s own Son, was born into our world as a little baby in Bethlehem. We have been looking at the story of Jesus’ birth–how God made the good world, how we have all gone astray like sheep, how we needed a Good Shepherd to come and bring us back to God. We have learned how the angel came to Mary, and told her that God would give her a special baby by the Holy Spirit. We know that Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem and had to stay in a stable. And Jesus was born! When Jesus came the first time, not many people knew who he was, that he was God’s great king who had come to save us from our sins and bring us peace with God. This is the good news of great joy that the angels sang to the shepherds. When Jesus comes again, everyone in the whole world will know. He will come with a loud trumpet and with many angels. We are waiting for him to come.

Dear God, we all want to thank you again for sending your Son Jesus to be born into our world and save us from our sins. You are so good and so merciful to us, O God! Please help us to be ready for when Jesus comes again. Amen. 

Bible Readings: 1 John 4:7-12; Revelation 22:12-17