Matthew 6:25-34For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6Don’t worry about your pastDon’t worry about the opinion of others. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”John 14:27“Do not worry about your life.”  Matthew 6:25“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”Matthew 6:27For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12Don’t worry about growing old.Worry is an achievementWhat, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.Romans 8: 31,37Worry is a killer.  Worry is a sin.  Don’t worry about death.Don’t worry about your enemies.  Don’t worry about what you are not.

Luke 1:26-38There is so much that we can learn from Mary in her response to trouble and pain. Mary knew very well that there was going to be pain associated with this announcement. The first thing that we can learn from Mary is to: 1. Be honest in our pain. We must first acknowledge pain in order to receive healing. Pain reveals Where you put your trust & where you find your peace. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Luke 1:29 Mary was told why Jesus was to be born in Luke 2:35 “so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.Psalm 34:18God wants to sit with us in our pain. 2. Be patient in our pain. The second thing we see from Mary through this process is she waited to hear from the messenger of God. She quietted herself to hear what the angel had to say. We will never learn a single thing without pain. C. S. Lewis said that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pains: It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”So this raises the question: “How do we become patient in our pain?”i. We Pray – When we pray, we are reorientated. When we are praying, we are reminded that we are not in control and do not have the answers.One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4 ii. We Wait- Waiting is uncomfortable, and hard. Waiting causes us to slow down and view the world differently. Waiting takes strength Later in Psalm 27:14 the David writes: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! iii. We fix our eyes on Truth: Don’t distract yourself, this will be something you will be tempted to do. Life from God doesn't solve our fears or pains. It only distracts us for a little while. Distraction is not the same as deliverance. We want to stay distracted from our fear or pain so that we don’t have to feel. But then we distract ourselves from pain, we distract ourselves from God as well. But when the center of life is fulfilling desires and avoiding pain, no redemptive purpose for pain can be given. It is merely something to be avoided and soothed.3. Be hopeful in our pain. For no word from God will ever fail.”“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.Luke 1:37-38We grieve differently than the World. To bookend the life of Jesus, near the end he shares these thoughts in John 16:20-23“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”John 16:20-23 NIV“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33 Jesus gives us a hope that we do not have to be in pain forever.When we begin to worship, pain will find its rightful place.And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49Advent is all about hope coming to this world, in unlikely fashions and working in ways we never anticipated.Because of the birth of Christ, we can have hope in the midst of so much pain, the world is full of pain and Christ wants to be actively engaged with us as we walk through the darkest valleys. 

Psalm 103:1-21. Thanksgiving: The Holy Spirit is Always at Work in Everyone EverywhereLet all that I am praise the Lord;with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.Let all that I am praise the Lord;may I never forget the good things he does for me.Psalm 103:1-2 NLTThe Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.2 Peter 3:9 NLTThe Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:15-17 “This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forgetThat though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!God reigns; let the earth be glad!” (UMH # 144 / OGRP # 19)2. Advent: Living Between the Cradle and the Coming AgainCome, Thou long-expected JesusBorn to set Thy people free;From our fears and sins release us,Let us find our rest in Thee.Israel’s strength and consolation,Hope of all the earth Thou art;Dear desire of every nation,Joy of every longing heart.(UMH # 196/ OGRP # 163)3. Christmas: Messiah Jesus is the Center Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLTI have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”Luke 2:30-32

John 18:37 NKJV37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”MATTHEW 28:18-21 NIV18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” HOW DO WE LIVE WITH KINGDOM PURPOSE? 1. MAKE IT ABOUT GOD AND OTHERS John 15:9-14 NIV9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.2. BE PLANTED, NOT POTTED Psalm 92:13-15 NKJV13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, 15 To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.3. REALIZE YOUR ROLE AT UNION CHAPEL Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [a]edifying of the body of Christ, 

II Corinthians 8:1-7 A “faith promise” offering is simply FAITH in God to provide an amount of money followed by a PROMISE to give it. Paul called this the “grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Grace is always a provision of something we don’t have. A “faith promise” offering is a commitment to give what we will trust God to provide.I. An offering supplied by God’s grace. “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches… They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability… See that you also excel in the grace of giving.”II Corinthians 8:1-7The grace of new opportunity  The grace of discipline  The grace of the unusual  II. An offering to be completed within a year.“Last year you were the first not only to give, but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by our completion of it.”II Corinthians 8:10-11III. An offering to be carefully administered.  “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.” Paul understood the need for financial accountability and strategic investment!II Corinthians 8:20-21

Acts 3:1-10I. HEALING IN THE BIBLEIn the Old Testament.The Ministry of Jesus. The teaching of Jesus  “The time has come,” he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”Mark 1:15 All who believe will be totally healed on that day!The Kingdom of God is both “now” and “not yet"The ministry of Jesus“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”Matthew 4:23 The commission of JesusII. HEALING IN CHURCH HISTORYIII. HEALING TODAY

Matthew 28:16-201. The Command of Jesus (Great Commission)2. Needs of Others.  3. The Gospel is Good News.  I. PRESENCE“…if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.”I Peter 3:1-2II. PERSUASION (not pressure)III. PROCLAMATION Invitational Relational Telling our own storyIV. POWERV. PRAYER

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12A life without connection brings:a. Isolation“Rising from the debris of our lost values is the new value on the individual. The ‘me’ generation has given way to a ‘me’ world. The question is, how will the church, the ultimate ‘WE’ organization, adjust?” – Church Consultant, Lyle Schaller in The Connecting Church by Randy FrazeeLoneliness is a warning light on the dashboard of your life that confirms that you are running low on the primary fuel you need: connection.b. Exhaustionc. FrustrationGodly and meaningful connection brings:a. Productionb. Provisionc. ProtectionAn unconnected life brings isolation, exhaustion, and frustration but when you enter into a life of Godly and meaningful connection, you’ll see that it brings production, provision, and protection!Next Steps to Help Live a Connected Life:1. Surrender to Jesus2. Join a small group3. Connect with others through serving4. Get baptized5. Attend the “DISCOVER” class

Matthew 19:1-9The culture does not need from the Church anger and judgment nor accommodation and compromise. The Church’s best posture is to joyfully teach and model God’s original design and intent while loving, accepting and forgiving ourselves and one another when we fall short.I. Isn’t this much ado about nothing?II. Why is the Church so focused on these issues?III. Can’t we agree to disagree?Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.Jude 3 God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.Romans 1:24-25Consequently, their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.Romans 1:26-27  If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? I Corinthians 14:8IV. Why are some Christians so angry and bigoted?The goal of our instruction is love, from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.I Timothy 1:5 1. Extravagant love for all people.2. Inside the Church we must be clear about Christian identity.How do we become more distinctive? We do it by quietly building good marriages, families, churches and friendships. We don’t need better words, we need better demonstrations of God’s best design! 

Acts 6:5; 7:54-60I. Commanded to forgiveMore people will be emotionally, relationally, spiritually and physically healed by the power of forgiveness than by any other power.II. Unforgiveness is destructiveUnforgiveness makes you weak because it makes you subject to the weakness of another.The great paradox of Christian forgiveness is that as long as I stay in a forgiving mode, I am stronger than those who are pursuing me to hurt me.III. The grace to forgive1. Forgiveness is a matter of choice not emotion.2. God will do through us what we cannot do ourselves.3. Understand that forgiveness is a process4. Remember, the power of God to forgive is in you through the person and work of the Holy Spirit.