Christmas Service 2011

Message by Matt Donovan, Dave Piehl, Jim Marner and Craig Diestelkamp

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The Son Revealed!

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

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In the opening verses of Matthew’s Gospel we find a genealogy that begins with the patriarch Abraham and runs through King David down to Joseph the legal father of Jesus. Matthew intends to show his Jewish readers that Jesus is indeed the royal heir to the throne of David. He is true pedigree. from the royal blood line. So humanly speaking, Jesus is clearly the Son of David. However, Matthew ls more concerned to show that Jesus is also the Son of God, the rightful heir to the throne over all things. It the genealogy were all that could he said about Christ then He may have had the legal right to be the King of Israel, but He could have never redeemed men. Notice how Matthew reveals Jesus. not just as David’s son, but as He truly is God’s Son.

Jesus is revealed the Son of God by the names given to Him! 

Jesus – Joshua, “Jehovah is Salvation” (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:21)
Christ – “The anointed Messiah” (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:16)
Immanuel – “God with us!” (Matthew 1:23)

Jesus ls revealed the Son of God by the sign that accompanied Him, He ls born of a virgin!Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 NKJV)

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. (1 John 4:2-3a  NKJV)

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV)And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15b NKJV)

Jesus ls revealed by those who obey God and step out of the shadows Into His purpose!

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20 NKJV)

How can we reveal the Son of God?

1. Hearing God’s voice and trusting His presence.
2. Putting our faith in God’s plan, not our plan.
3. Relying on His strength (Isaiah 40:31)

The Gracious King

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Scripture: Matthew 1

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The gospel of Matthew begins in a very unique way. Matthew doesn’t begin with narrative like the gospel of Luke and he doesn’t begin with high theology like John’s gospel. Matthew begins with a genealogy of Christ. And for this reason Matthew’s account becomes a very important bridge linking the Old and New Testament. The main purpose that Matthew writes is to demonstrate the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the predicted Messiah, the King of the Jews. Matthew is the story of the King revealed; a King rejected and a King who will return.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1)

Jewish heredity was always important
Numbers 26
Ruth 3-4
Ezra 2:62
Luke 4:1-2

Jewish heredity must be proved
Matthew’s genealogy is in descending order.
Luke’s genealogy is in ascending order.
Matthew traces the royal line through Joseph.
Luke traces the priestly (blood) line through Mary.

Jesus is a King like none other!

Jesus is God’s Son!
Jesus – Joshua, “Jehovah is Salvation” (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:21)
Christ – “The anointed Messiah” (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:16)
Immanuel – “God with us!” (Matthew 1:23)

He is a gracious King!
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld  glory, the glory as of the may begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

He IS the Savior King from a long list of sinners!
Tamar (Genesis 38)
Rahab (Joshua 2, Hebrews 11:31)
Ruth (Genesis 19, Ruth)
Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11)

“For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13b)

What Does The Incarnation Mean?

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Scripture: John 1:14-18, Hebrews 4:14-18

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John tells in the first chapter of his Gospel that Word from before the beginning is the Eternal One, the Creator, the Promised One, the Rejected One and the One who is our Savior. And more he is going to tell us that the Word becomes the Incarnate One. This is John’s Christmas Story.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

The word “incarnation” is derived from the Latin word which means “in the flesh” -

What does the Incarnation mean?

1) The Incarnation means God truly wants us to know Him!

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

2) The Incarnation means God can make us like Him!

Council of Chalcedon 451 – The early church fathers described the Incarnation by saying Jesus Christ is one person with two natures–fully God and fully man. To describe the union of these two natures they used the term “hypostatic union”. This is the theological nomenclature we use to explain the Incarnation.

Why is the humanity of Jesus important? (1 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 4:14-15)

It is Christ’s humanity that uniquely qualifies Him to be a faithful High Priest on behalf of His people. Jesus entered into the full human experience. He understands the full catalog of temptations we face. He understands betrayal, rejection, physical pain and aloneness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

3) The Incarnation means we now relate to God on the basis of grace and truth!

Grace is God’s loving mercy and forgiveness to forgive and cleanse sin and His unmatched power to help us overcome all of life’s battles.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

John’s Christmas Story

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Scripture: John 1:1-13

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One of the most unique and certainly most important accounts of Christmas is found in chapter 1 of John’s Gospel. I say that because John presents the Christmas story without ever mentioning any historical markers that we associate with Christmas; no Bethlehem, no Joseph and Mary, no shepherds, no King Herod and the wise men. Some would wonder, what kind of Christmas story is this? You can’t have Christmas without shepherds. But John’s gives us the “story behind the story” so to speak. This is the story that is told not so much from history, but from eternity. It’s the Christmas story told from heaven not from earth. And that’s why it is so unique. John’s story is rich in theology and unique to all the New Testament. Most of all John tells us who Jesus truly is. He introduces the story by stating some amazing things about Jesus and His coming into the world.

• The Word is the Eternal One John 1:1-2 – In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
• He is the One who created all things John 1:3
• He is the True Life and Light John 1:4
• He is the Promised One John 1:6 -8
• The Rejected One John 1:10 -11
• The Saving One John 1:12 -13

The Incarnate One John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh…!

1. The Incarnation means we are loved and valued by God!  Philippians 2:5-11
2. The Incarnation means God truly wants us to know Him! John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
3. The Incarnation means God can make us like Him!  2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
4. The Incarnation means we can experience Grace and Truth! John 1:14 – and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

He Became One of Us – The Pre-Christmas Story

Message by Dru Johnson

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Why did the entire French village of Le Chambon shelter 5,000 Jews from the Nazis?

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8 – “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (English Bible Version)

Where Is Jesus Today?

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 and Luke 2:10-11

The apostle Paul makes it clear in Philippians 2:5-11, that the counterpart to the humble incarnation of Christ is His glorious exaltation as Lord preeminent. As the second member of the Trinity, Jesus Christ ruled from eternity past as God exalted in Glory. He then humbly entered into history as a man to identify with us. Throughout His life on the earth, Jesus repeatedly said that following his death, burial and resurrection, he would ascend back to heaven where he had come from.

The Christmas Story? A too familiar story!
Luke 2:10-11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Where Is Jesus Today?

lsaiah’s vision foreshadow’s John’s vision
(Isaiah 6:1-59 Revelation 19:11-16)
“By ascending, Jesus took the risk of being forgotten.” – Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew

Jesus has returned to where He had come from.
(Acts 1:10-11)

Jesus is in heaven with all of God’s people who have died before us.
(Ephesians 4:8; Hebrews 12:1)

Jesus is sitting on a throne at the Right Hand of God where He rules as sovereign Lord and King.
(Psalm 110; Hebrews 8:1)

Jesus is interceding as our Mediator!
(1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 2:6)

Jesus is with us as we bring the good news to others.
(Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for you.
(John 14:2-3)

Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart!
(Revelation 3:20-21)

The Meaning of Jesus Birth, A Humble God Drawing Near

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Scripture: Luke 2:1-7 and Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1-11 is one of the most significant portions of Scripture on the person and work of Jesus.  Verses 5 – 11 are considered to be a First Century creedal hymn that the church would use in worship. But Paul has a very practical purpose in mind.   Paul appeals to the church to look at the life of Jesus Christ and follow His example. And its here we find this incredible example of humility. The life of the Lord Jesus Christ is first and foremost about humility.

1. Humility honors God and causes the church to be strong.

Philippians 2 3-4  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Pride is the greatest enemy to humility. (John Stott)

2. The Incarnation shows Christ as the most humble man in history.

Philippians 2:5-7  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

3.  The humble circumstances of Christ birth demonstrate true humility!

Caesar Augustus, Quirinius
Joseph & Mary, Bethlehem

4. The greatest act of humility was demonstrated in the Cross.

Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus humbled himself…
For our glory (Hebrews 2:10)
To reach the lowest places in our heart (Hebrews 2:11)
To humble us (Psalms 34:18)
To help us have humble ministry (Luke 4:18)