WHAT GOES ON AT YAM?
The Gathering--learning how to make God look good 24/7, Sundays at 10 AM, on the TFB campus, in the Young Adult room
Eating together--most Sundays, around 11:30 am, give or take...
Experience--an alternative worship event, Every couple of months or so
HomeBase--fellowship in homes
Plain wRap--a bible and brain, pen and paper bible study, Sunday nights during the Summer
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IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
Upcoming Events
Next Sunday
The Gathering--God is doing something extraordinary
What's going on? arggggh!
Know God--Christmas Gift Card
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- After Christmas Soda Shop Party, December, 26-- So far it's karaoke and food--have ideas? send 'em in!
- Winter Retreat - December 27 through 29, Cost: $35 ($15 due at sign-up).
- College Winter Camp at Harmony Pines, February 28 - March 2, Cost $95, details later
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NEXT SUNDAY
8:45 am Worship--Worship Center
10:00 am The Gathering--YAM Room
11:45 am LUNCH @ Chili's
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THE GATHERING--God is doing something extraordinary--Week Three
When God does something extraordinary, he calls one to speak to many
Deuteronomy 18:15-22; 34:10-12
What are you expecting from Christmas? Shopping. Stress. Time with family and friends. New speakers for the car. Time to read what you want. The list is endless. Every year things happen that heighten our expectation. The day after Thanksgiving, decorations magically appear. Stores and elevators everywhere begin to play endless version of White Christmas, and various winter songs sung by Bing Crosby and Perry Como. Stores have exceptional sales. This seemingly endless list of holiday appetizers shrinks in comparison to the extraordinary Messiah appetizer God set out.
Some 2000 years before the birth of Jesus, God made a promise to Abram that One would come through his family to bless the entire world (see Genesis 12:1-3). A couple generations later, Jacob prophesied that through Judah a king would come, and all the peoples of the earth would obey him. About 600 years later, God gives another prophecy about his Messiah. Around 1400 BC, when Moses was getting ready to die, he gave a final address to the people of Israel. We call this address Deuteronomy.
Turn to Deuteronomy 18.
In the middle of his speech Moses tells Israel about a Prophet who will come in the future. According to verses 15 through 19, this prophet will be like Moses. He will speak to the people for God and whoever refuses to listen to this prophet will be held responsible. So what kind of prophet was Moses?
Turn to chapter 34.
In verses 10 through 12, the editor of the Torah (that’s the first five books of the bible) adds a sort of appendix. In this appendix he sums up Moses as a prophet.
- Moses knew God face to face; he was God’s friend.
- Moses did signs and wonders.
- Moses performed these signs and wonders with great power and mighty terror.
So here we sit, just a few weeks before Christmas. Every Christmas, we focus on the baby Jesus, small and helpless, humble, and sleeping in a manger. It is no wonder that the Jews of Jesus’ time were confused by Jesus’ Messiahship. They were expecting someone powerful—a king who ruled with strength and a prophet who spoke with power and inspired mighty terror, and what did they get? A baby in a feeding trough. But here’s the deal… the baby in the feeding trough? He’s the same person who spoke all creation into existence. He’s the same person who upholds all creation with his word. He’s the same person who will judge everyone in the last day. Jesus, this tiny baby in a feeding trough, is the fulfillment of everything the Jews expected. Most of them just didn’t realize it.
This Christmas, there are many people who do not have happy expectations about Christmas. Some have endured incredible hardship. Others are alone. Some are looking for answers to questions they don’t really know how to ask. A few weeks ago we talked about our faith stories—the story of life before trusting Christ, how we came to trust Christ, and of life since trusting Christ. Your story. There’s one cool thing about telling your own story… no one can argue with it. It’s an eyewitness account. Telling your story is necessary. Telling Jesus’ story is central. But how? There is a tool called One Verse Evangelism. It is a simple, easy to remember diagram using Romans 6:23. Click here to link to the diagram:
During this season and after, think about your own faith story. Learn the facts of the gospel. But most of all have the courage to speak the truth to those who need to hear. Those who do not obey the voice of Jesus will be utterly destroyed. Humanity is completely unable to pay its debt. Only Jesus can pay the debt. Preach Jesus.
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WHAT'S GOING ON?
Finals week... arggggh!
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KNOW GOD--RESOURCES FOR WALKING THE WALK
Christmas Gift Card
Give someone you love the greatest Christmas gift ever... the great news about Jesus. Here's a resource from the evangelism toolbox:
