Peace Presbyterian Church

“God Keeps His Promises”

As December begins, we are entering the season of Advent. Advent means waiting, and during this season we remember how the birth of Jesus was the answer to so many years of waiting, and that our God is a God who always keeps His promises to us.

In our Sunday worship services, we will look at Luke 1, to see how God’s perfect plan for saving us and the world came to glorious fulfillment in Jesus. We will see anew how we can wait in trust and expectation on God in all of the areas of our lives. We will rediscover how our God is always faithful, to us and to His word.

“...How ready are you today for what God wants to do in your lives?”

The birth of John the Baptist is part of His redemptive plan. The angel Gabriel told his father Zechariah in Luke 2:16-17, “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” God wanted John to make Israel ready for Jesus, for the coming of His kingdom. How ready are you today for what God wants to do in your lives? Are you too busy with or distracted by life to spend time with Him? Are you willing to wait and trust in Him?

“...The virgin birth of Jesus is part of God’s perfect plan to save the world...even Mary had trouble grasping how God would do this”

The virgin birth of Jesus is part of God’s perfect plan to save the world. When told of this, even Mary had trouble grasping how God would do this. Gabriel tells her in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.” In our own lives, when we face situations or are dealing with people that seem impossible, do we believe that with God all things are possible? Are we willing to really entrust all of our hopes and fears to Him?

The promise of God to save us from our sins through faith in Jesus should lead us to grateful and thankful praise and worship. Some of the greatest hymns of the church are sung during Advent, such as Joy to the World, Silent Night, O Holy Night, and Angels we Have Heard on High. Mary affirms the importance of praising God in Luke 1:46-7, singing, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” The birth of Jesus also shows God’s tender mercy for us. In Luke 1:78-9, Zechariah sings that the births of John and Jesus are “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” God loves us and because He loves us, He keeps His promise to send us the Messiah, the One who will save us from our sins. How will we respond to His mercy? Will we share and show Jesus and His mercy to and with others?

“...Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.”

In Isaiah 30:18, we are reminded of who our God is, for Isaiah says, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” In this Advent season, let us wait on the Lord. Let us trust in Him, in His grace and in his tender mercy. Let us praise Him together as we celebrate His gift of Jesus, to us and to our world.

Love in Christ,
Pastor Brian

Sermons for December 2007
Advent 2007, God’s Perfect Plan

December 2, 2007:     “Making Ready”
    Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:1-25
    “Communion Sunday”
    Lighting of the Candle of Hope By the Eslabon Family

December 9, 2007:     “Nothing is Impossible”
    Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38
    Lighting of the Candle of Peace By the Kirton Family

December 16, 2007:     “Rejoicing in His Tender Mercy”
    Psalm 111:1-11, Luke 1:39-80
    Lighting of the Candle of Joy By the Kuma Family

December 23, 2007:     Christmas Play, “A Christmas Mouse”
    Lighting of the Candle of Love By the McHenry Family

December 24, 2007:     “Good News of Great Joy for All the People”
    Micah 5:1-5; Luke 2:1-20
    Lighting of the Christ Candle By the Spangler Family

December 30, 2007:     “Guest Preacher TBA”

During the season of Advent, we will study the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, to see how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan to save us and to give us new life. When provided, please read and reflect on the Scriptures ahead of time in preparation for hearing and responding to God’s Word as it is read and proclaimed.

Archive of Pastor’s Pages: links to Pastor Brian’s newsletters and now his sermons, too.
View Pastor Brian’s Personal Statement of Faith.