By Raj Attiken | 22 December 2020 | Christmas, heralded by some as “the most wonderful time of the year,” routinely receives a bit of a bashing in Christian circles. The haranguing may be over such things as Christmas ads, decorations, greetings, songs, trees, shopping, and even the design on Starbucks holiday cups. There is […] Source: https://atoday.org/another-look-at-christmas/
2020 Christmas Sermon by Pastor Ted Wilson
What is it about this season that makes it so special? Well, let's go behind the scenes to understand the background as to why people are focused upon Christ as the baby who came to Bethlehem. Well, what is it about this season that is really so unique in terms of the presence of Jesus? It is the incarnation. Jesus willing to descend from heaven, to save us, to redeem us; His creation, His people, and to die for us as our Savior. That is the reason for the season. In the Book of Romans Chapter five, we read in verse six: "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." You see, the Lord, in His graciousness has died for those who at times don't even know that He has given His life for them. And then when they awaken and realize what Jesus has done and they give their hearts to Him because of what He has done, that is the new beginning, the awakening in a person's life that yes, Jesus is my Savior. Well, it says in verse seven, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;" I mean, somebody might give their life or risk their life to save someone who's drowning. If that was a good person. "Oh, I don't want my loved one to die. Let me help them." But then it says here, "yet perhaps for a good man, some would even dare to die." Then it says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners– while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." And so, here we were, sinners. We are sinners in need of a Savior. And even though at times we reject Christ, it's a sobering thought. But we reject Him every time we do our own will and not the will of the Heavenly Father. Even in those situations, Christ died for us. "Much more then," verse nine "having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." His blood covers us with His righteousness. That's justification. Well, it goes on to say in verse ten, "For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son." In other words, we were rebellious, sinful people, "…much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life." His perfect life. His magnificent life. His life without sin. He died for you and for me that He might take on our sins and we might take on His righteousness. This is the magnificence of Christ becoming incarnated into a human being and being fully human, fully divine. Now, I can't explain that, but He is fully human and He will maintain those special characteristics throughout eternity. We will identify with this one that has come to take us into eternity by His grace. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the reason for the season and I thank God for Jesus and what He means to me. My Lord, my Savior, my soon coming King, Emmanuel, God with us. I appeal to each of you, to recognize that God wants you to humble yourself before Him. To be filled with His Holy Spirit, and to then proclaim this magnificent message to all those around you as we look forward to Jesus soon coming and proclaim those three angels messages in a powerful way through the Holy Spirit's power. The Lord will use you as you commit your life to Him, for He is the reason for the season. Let me pray with you. Our father in heaven, we pray for our dear believers, and workers and leaders, churches, teachers, health professionals, literature evangelists, publishing workers and so many more. Encourage them right now and help each one to say, "Yes, Lord, I will go. I will be part of the final proclamation. To tell people, about this incarnation and about Christ's soon second coming and about the three Angels messages helping people to turn back to the true worship of God." Lord, thank you for hearing us and thank you for the incarnation of Christ who will forever bear the marks of humanity and of His crucifixion, reminding us of what He has done for us, as the reason for the season. In Jesus' name, we ask it. Amen. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTvBfHo54z8
The Incarnation of Christ
Editor’s Note: Below is a transcript of a special Christmas message, posted to YouTube on December 22, from president of the Adventist Church, Ted N.C. Wilson. Elder Wilson will release a new video ea…… Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/2J0KYHjoWoI/the-incarnation-of-christ
Olio sulla barba di Aaronne
Meditazione a cura di Luca Faedda Registrato presso la comunità di Firenze il 12 dicembre 2020 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c9ID8LGlAQ
NewsPoints ON THE AIR: Episode 07 – Becoming an Essential Service feat. Mark Tamaleaa
We’re right in the middle of the holiday season. It’s a time filled with the spirit of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. With gift-giving as a central theme this time of year, many look for ways to become more service oriented.
With this episode, we're highlighting a ministry in the heartland of the United States known as the Renewed Hope Food Pantry. The weekly operation is a service New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Kansas-City greater area. It was literally designated as an essential service by its local government officials.
The church’s pastor, Mark Tamaleaa, is here to talk about how the pantry went from serving 300 people a week to more than 3,000 a week in response to the effects of the pandemic.
Visit New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church online to learn more about the Renewed Hope Food Pantry: https://www.newhavensda.org/pantry Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueh1dUhuJkY
Sharing Scripture for December 20 – 26
This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […] Source: https://atoday.org/sharing-scripture-for-december-20-26/
North American Division President Offers Encouraging Remarks at the End of 2020
Dear North American Division Family, I want to extend to you, on behalf of my fellow directors and the entire family at the North American Division (NAD) office, our warmest Christmas greetings at the…… Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/1uVHqpRzglI/north-american-division-president-offers-encouraging-remarks-at-the-end-of-2020
Washington Adventist University Welcomes New Members Through On-Campus Baptisms
Washington Adventist University (WAU) continues to be a community of prayer and faith. During this challenging time in history, distance is ideal in preventing infection; not so ideal in fellowship an…… Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/DDVMh85G6Jw/washington-adventist-university-welcomes-new-members-through-on-campus-baptisms
Jesus in quarantine
An empty church. Sadly, that’s been the reality for most of us this year as COVID-19 meant churches were closed. Life in 2020 has become two-dimensional, a flat-screen world. My wife and I missed the …… Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/oRH4gnwjf8g/jesus-in-quarantine
A deeper kind of peace
One of the most common sentiments in the cards and carols of the Christmas season is peace. It is biblical—based on the stories around Jesus’ birth—but might also seem one of the most wishful and some…… Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/5xDkLspYZD8/a-deeper-kind-of-peace