Joy To The World: Go Tell It On The Mountain

Joy To The World: Go Tell It On The Mountain_Chris Garrow

Where is it written? Read Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 14:26-27, John 14:6, Matthew 18:9, Matthew 23:1-3. and Mark 9:43 What do you notice about these verses as you read them? What three things does Matthew 18:18-20 commission every believer to do? Is the Great Commission only about salvation, or is it a call to something deeper? How goes your walk? Are you afraid of offending? Was Jesus? Are you afraid of talking about sin, hell? Was Jesus? Are you afraid of the religious? Was Jesus? Are you afraid of the Gospel? Was Jesus? What hinders you from “telling it on the mountain? Who are you asking God for an opportunity to tell?

Joy To The World: Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Joy To The World: Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Charles Wesley wrote over 6500 hymns; which would be writing at least two hymns a week, every week for 50 years. All of which were written at the point of his conversion in 1738, to his death in 1788. His hymns were inspired by what he saw as important occasions. Dominant themes were Christian experience, invitation hymns, sanctification hymns, funeral hymns, and hymns on the love of God. His most popular hymns include “And Can It Be”, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”, “Love Divine”, “All Loves Excelling” and “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”. The melody we usually sing “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” to, was composed by Felix Mendelssohn. Where is it written? Read Philippians 2:1-11 and Colossians 1:15-20. What do these passages tell us about Jesus’ deity? Read John 1:1-14 and Hebrews 4:14-16. What do these passages tell us about Jesus’ humanity? The human and divine nature of Jesus has often been misunderstood. In 325 Church leaders summarized this dual nature in the Nicene Creed. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human. How would you summarize Jesus’ deity and humanity in your own words? How goes your walk? How does Jesus’ divinity help you understand God better? How does Jesus’ humanity help you know how fully God understands you? How could you delight in Jesus more this Christmas?

Kitty Corner - A Christmas Play

What if you were the next-door neighbor to the place where Jesus was born?

Joy To The World - Andrew Thompson

Joy To The World

As a young man Isaac Watts (born 1674) was frustrated with the heartless psalm-singing of his time and sometimes criticized the singing at his church. Listening to his concerns one day, Watts' father challenged him, "Well then, young man, why don't you give us something better to sing?" He rose to the challenge by writing his first hymn. He would write more than 600 songs in his life. The song “Joy To The World” was written as a paraphrase of Psalm 98 about Jesus’ return and was not originally intended to be a Christmas song. 

Where is it written?

Compare the lyrics of “Joy to the World” with Psalm 98. How do the themes of the psalm appear in the song?

Key Passages about Jesus’ Return:

Matthew 24 & 25, Mark 13, Luke 21, John 14:1-7, John 21:22, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 2 Peter 3:1-18. Revelation (the entire book).

As you read these verses, what do you notice?

How goes your walk?

What are you looking forward to in Jesus’ return? (Make a list.)

What fears do you have about Jesus’ return? 

What might your fears reveal about unsurrendered sins, idols or lack of trust in your life?

Daily Worship Ideas:

Participate in an Advent Devotional like the one recommended below in the Bible App.

Read passages such as the above about Jesus’ return. Think and pray about what Jesus’ return will mean.

Joy To The World: O Come O Come Emmanuel

Joy To The World: O Come O Come Emmanuel

Where is it written?

Read Isaiah 11:1-10. What ideas and images stand out to you?

How is the promised new leader in this prophecy different than typical human leaders?

What effect does this have on the poor?

How is animal behavior changed under this new leader?

What leader does this prophecy point to?

What parts of this prophecy have not yet been fulfilled?

When should we be expecting them to be fulfilled?

God Fulfills His Promises:

Read 2 Samuel 7:11-15.

What promise does God make to King David?

Read Matthew 1:1-17.

How is that promise fulfilled in Jesus?

The New Heaven/ New Earth:

Read Genesis 9:2-3.

What change in the human diet happened after the flood?

Read Isaiah 11:6-9.

How is this prophecy a return to pre-flood conditions?

What might this mean for food in heaven?

How goes your walk?

How have you seen God bring something new and better out of places of devastation?

As you think of Jesus’ return to usher in the new heaven and new earth - what emotions does that evoke? Why?

What is something new that God is developing in you?

How might that new “shoot” be connected to God’s larger plan of redeeming the world?

The Gospel of the Anointed One: Phil 1:21_Pastor Chris Garrow

The Gospel of The Anointed One: Phil 1:21

Where Is it written?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Matthew 16:24-26 and Isaiah 9:6

What is the Gospel? Who is Jesus? What is our mission?

Read Philippians 1:21-24, Philippians 3:8-9 and Galatians 2:20,

How does Paul compare the importance of our own lives to the worth of the gospel?

How goes your walk?

What would the people around you say is most valuable to you?

Does your life echo the priority of Paul in Philippians 1:21-24?

What stands in your way of making the gospel (evangelism) a greater priority in your life?

If “Believe-Know-Do” is true, then what beliefs can you start with each day to prioritize your day?

Challenge:

Read all of Philippians several times this week.

On your second and third readings, highlight all of the repeating words or phrases that stand out to you. Cross-reference the words and phrases, pray about them, sink them deep in your heart as an “ethos” to live by.