Welcome

Galatians 5:22-22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. I. SOME ENEMIES OF JOY A. Sometimes we’re robbed of joy by the differences between generations. B. A second enemy of joy is unresolved guilt. C. A third enemy might be a wounded ego. D. The fourth enemy of joy is unpleasant Circumstances. II. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF JOY A. Secondly, let’s look at a perfect example of joy in John 15:5-11. John 15:5-11 New International Version 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “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. B. But listen to what He says in John 15:8-10. III. HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THAT KIND OF JOY? A. I believe, first of all, that we need to develop and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. B. If you’re a Christian, and there isn’t much joy in your life, then you need to be reattached to the vine. C. Secondly, we need to give ourselves in service for others. D. Thirdly, "Focus on the eternal and not the temporal."

LGalatians 5:22-23 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. THE NEED FOR LOVE Well, first of all, I think we’re misguided. Secondly, I think love is misunderstood. Thirdly, love is missing. THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF LOVE Now let’s look to Jesus for the perfect example of love There are many lessons here. APPLICATIONS First: "Love meets the needs. The second application is. The third application is this:

The Letter to the church at Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11 1. The city of Smyrna -- the ancient city of Smyrna had two characteristics that made it difficult to be a Christian there. Caesar worship Crushing persecution 2. The Christ to the church that existed in this ancient city Who He was What He knew 3. The Consolation - Jesus makes three promises to these Christians They would suffer You are secure You will be saved 4. The Caution He does not require the church at Smyrna to be successful, but He does require the church to be faithful To the point of death - be willing to die for Me Faithfulness! That is the requirement of Jesus Christ in every generation

"O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM!" MICAH 5:2-5 I.​WE SEE BETHLEHEM'S WEAKNESS: V2: A.​From the standpoint of sheer demographic Significance. Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Judges 6:15, 1 Chronicles 29:1; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ​B.​So what does that mean to you and me today? Romans 9:16. ​C.​The only thing Bethlehem had going for it was God II.​WE SEE BETHLEHEM'S WAIT: V3: A.​The promise was given: Genesis 3:15; Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Daniel 9:25-26 ​B.​From promise to fulfillment was a long wait. ​C.​The waiting game is hard to play! Galatians 4:4-5; Isaiah 40:31; III.​WE SEE BETHLEHEM'S WONDERFUL RULER: VV2-5 ​A.​Isaiah called Him "Wonderful" and Micah lists 4 wonderful qualities: ​B.​He is King of kings. Hebrews 1:8

Galatians 4:19 I. ​THE CHRISTMAS SEASON HAS COME ​A. ​The first one is this, "The Christmas season has come." ​B. ​The social side of Christmas is beginning, too. II. ​BUT WILL CHRISTMAS REALLY COME? A. ​But will Christmas really come? B. ​Folks, I think that is our greatest need. III. ​HOW WILL CHRISTMAS COME? A. ​Let me raise another question, "How will Christmas come?" B. ​Then I think there is something else that must happen. IV. ​COME TO CHRISTMAS WITH A FEELING OF HUMILITY A. ​Finally, if Christmas is really going to come for us. B. ​And through the doors of that barn

Sights and Sounds of Christmas Luke 2:1-7 I. ​WE ARE REMINDED THAT GOD DOES LOVE US ​A. ​There wasn’t much love, I suppose, in the inn. ​B. ​You know the rest of the story. ​C. ​When we look at the inn. II. ​WE ARE REMINDED THAT JOY IS AVAILABLE TO US ​A. ​Those people in that noisy inn were trying in a superficial way to bring some joy into their lives. ​B. ​Why? Because they are searching for joy in the wrong places. III. ​WE ARE REMINDED THAT REAL PEACE COMES THROUGH THE PRINCE OF PEACE. ​A. ​There was not much peace in the hearts of the people in the inn. ​B. ​Now how about us?

Isaiah 52:13-53:6 I.​The Promise of An Exalted Servant. ​A.​There are many prophecies regarding the Messiah. ​B.​A Successful Servant v13 ​C.​An Astonishing Servant. II.​The Mystery—God’s Servant Suffered. ​A.​A Servant Unaccepted v1 ​B.​A Servant Shunned v2 ​C.​A Servant Rejected. ​D.​Perhaps it is no mystery that the servant was rejected. ​E.​The real mystery comes when we ask the question “Why?” III.​The Meaning—God’s Servant became a Savior. ​A.​V4 brings the realization that He suffered for the sins of others. ​B.​The atonement—The very heart of the Gospel.

PSALM 77:1-9 DON'T LET YOUR PAST LIMIT YOUR PRESENT: The Psalmist dreamed of "the good old days." What happened in our past in some way influences our Present. DON'T LET YOUR PRESENT RUIN YOUR FUTURE: The Psalmist thought that his present distress meant that never again would things be good. Both being involved in wrongdoing and being so absorbed with our difficulties that we lose faith, will surely ruin our future. III. DON'T LET YOUR FUTURE DARKEN YOUR PRESENT: The Psalmist worried. Both being apprehensive about the future and longing too much for it darkens the here and now.