Stories you need to hear!

From the Pastor's Desk

Here are a few links to some stories, articles, and announcements you need to see.

Year-End-Giving

First of all, on December 1, I made the church aware of some wish-list projects that we would love to do for the church but we can't afford at the moment. I gave an invitation for anyone who is looking for a worthwhile place to do some year-end-giving to give toward these projects: 

1. New signage for the church property
2. An updated lobby area 
3. An upgrade to the sound system/acoustics of our current worship space. 

All three projects are lumped together in a giving section on our give page called "Year End Giving" on the drop-down menu. Here's the Year-End-Giving Announcement I made to the church. 

Articles about North Korea from Sunday's Sermon

In the sermon yesterday, I included some descriptions of how the North Korean church operates. Here are the links to those articles. If you only read one, be sure to read "Don't Pity Us." It also includes the radio interview.

1. Christmas in North Korea
2. Don't Pity Us: The Surprising Courage of North Korea's Christians

Stories & Songs!

Last Sunday, December 8, we heard some amazing testimonies from right here in our own body of believers. Here is one video that includes 4 testimonies. Terry and Laurie Taylor, Paul and Ashlyn Crane, Jacob Tshihamba, Becky and Danie Hernandez. 

Click here for Stories & Songs Testimonials 1. 

Notes from the Sermon

Sermon Title: A Sign for You: Birth of John the Baptist

Sermon Video: A Sign for You: Birth of John the Baptist

Scriptures: | Luke 1:57-80 | Matthew 3:2 | John 8:34 | Colossians 2:15 | 1 Peter 2: 16-17 | 

Sermon:

How does the Persecuted Church celebrate Christmas? In North Korea, it is extremely dangerous to become a Christian. The church in North Korea is the most persecuted in the world. Often, the celebration of Christmas is just two believers meeting together, sitting quietly, and maybe saying a scripture. Yet this church is growing. Sometimes, North Koreans merely hear snippets of the Bible and come to faith, showing how the church can not be snuffed out. 

Luke 1:57-80 The message of the first Christmas is that everything about human existence was about to change. A famous historian, Tom Holland, while not a Christian, has repeatedly affirmed that the world changed once Christ came into the picture.

Zechariah was in the temple when the angel Gabriel visited him, telling him his wife would give birth to John. Zechariah expressed disbelief and was made mute. Nine months later, after the baby was born and was to be named, they asked for the name, and when Zechariah indicated that his name should be John, Zechariah’s mouth opened to praise God.

Zechariah then prophesied about how blessed the people of Israel are for God has visited us: “…and has raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:69). The word horn symbolizes the animal's strength. The horn (shofar) is blown during worship and before a battle. It holds oil. It represents the strong rulership of a king. Jesus is the horn of salvation. Jesus is our calm and restoration and our strongest ally against evil. Jesus is a strong savior. He gave up his life so the Lord could raise him up again. The Horn of Salvation means God uses his overwhelming strength to save and set us free.

The horn of salvation means God is using his overwhelming strength to:

• Luke 1:72-75--God remembers his promise of mercy and blessing, and now he is coming to fulfill that promise.
• Luke 1:76-77–John will prepare the people by giving the knowledge of salvation to the people through the forgiveness of their sins. John says in Matthew 3:2,”…repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This message of repentance is a message of hope and peace because of the tender mercy of the Lord. The message of repentance is one of hope and transformation. 
• Israel was looking for an earthly kingdom, NOT a spiritual kingdom. But God delivered spiritual freedom as Jesus pulls down spiritual rulers and authorities. The freedom Jesus brings is a spiritual freedom that every person can have in every circumstance. 
  
• The main point of Zechariah’s prophecy is that God is good and merciful and that people can be delivered from the hand of the enemy and serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness. 1 Peter 2:16-17 tells us to live as people who are free, live as servants of God, honor all men and the body of Christ, fear God, honor the King (president).

How to Walk Intimately with God:

Remember the words of a North Korean Christian to the American church: “We pray for you. You Americans have freedom and money, but in North Korea, we have neither, but we do
have Jesus. Jesus Christ is ENOUGH!!!. So often, Americans are enslaved to freedom, ease, comfort, and sin.

Pray:

“Lord, use me to reach the hurting, sick, blind, lost…those looking for significance in this world…”