Preparing Your Heart - Sunday, Nov. 6

Preparing Your Heart for Worship - November 6, 2016

What are you doing TODAY to prepare your heart for our time together as believers this coming Sunday. What a joy and privilege it is to worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ here at Fellowship every Sunday. 

One thing to think about - the more we’re fostering relationships with each other and intentionally intertwining our lives together outside of Sunday morning, the better our time together will be each Sunday morning. 

Other than making focused effort to get to know and encourage others in our church throughout the week, one of the things you can do that will lead to a more Christ-exalting worship gathering this Sunday is to familiarize yourself with not only the passage we’ll be focusing on, but also the songs we’ll be singing together. 

Most of the songs we’re singing this Sunday you’ll be familiar with, but those that you might not know as well, listen to them a few times so that you can better engage in worshiping God as we sing together. 

I know that one of the most encouraging things that happens for me personally each Sunday is hearing the gathered congregation singing together to our God. When I hear everyone singing, it increases my joy as I worship God alongside my brothers and sisters. It puts a smile on my face and in my heart!

Take a few minutes to read through the Scriptures and listen to the songs. 

One of the things I do on Wednesdays, when we’ve finalized the list of songs we’ll be singing, is to put together a playlist in my computer of the songs. I let that be the background music for the rest of the week - it really creates in my heart a joyful looking forward to our time together. If you’re able, I’d encourage you to do the same. 

Call to Worship - Psalm 136

Forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15Rb6cQh-sk

This reminder and call to Sing Praise flows beautifully out of Psalm 136. 

Give thanks to the Lord - His love endures forever!!

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vT6HQ1QaU4

This song was written around 500 years ago by Martin Luther. The original song has TWELVE verses!!! Don’t worry - we won’t be singing all 12 verses. The version in the video is a little different - but really cool. 

And before you ask: a “bulwark” (mentioned in the second line of the song) is a reference to something that acts as a defense. God is our defense against literally anything and everything that would come against us. As a result we actually have nothing  to fear in life or death as His children. What a joy and comfort just that one line is. The rest of the song just gets better...

Prayer - Chris Terry will be leading our Prayer of Adoration 

Choir Anthem - Jesus is the Living Stone 

Our foundation is in Christ. It is HIs sacrifice on the cross that we build our lives upon.

Meditating on God’s Word

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 1:3-14

Fighter Verse - Proverbs 19:11

Keep working on memorizing Romans 5:1-11. 

What a rich passage to have always at the ready for meditation!

We won’t be quoting it together in our gatherings for a while, but it’s still a passage that will encourage you greatly to have memorized. 

The Giving of Tithes and Offerings

What a privilege it is to give back to the Lord, who has so abundantly blessed us in countless ways. 

The Solid Rock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL9S5EnUDWI

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness

Just that line alone is something we could meditate on for quite a while. How amazing is it that we are not under law, but under grace. The law doesn’t save - Jesus saves. It’s our trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ that gives us hope in this life and the next. 

Jesus, Firm Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgLAk9S1gFA

While the song has an entirely new “feel,” these amazing lyrics, from the old hymn “Firm Foundation” will never get old. The song opens with a reminder of the excellence of God’s Word and just gets better and better from there.... 

Jesus Paid it All

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38EVco7eba0

Continuing the idea of placing our hope in Jesus, we’ll sing about what Jesus did. We need to be reminded often that Jesus not only did what I could not and would not do, but when He went to the cross, He did it ALL. There’s nothing left to do. That is seriously good news!!

Sermon: Under Grace - Romans 6:12-14

Read Romans 6:1-14 several times this week. As we conclude this fantastic section, we’ll be reminded again of what Paul wants us to understand: the multi-faceted beauty of God’s grace for us. I don’t think we can ever exhaust all the things that could be said about His love for us!

Grace Greater than Our Sin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgXYRV2B7Tk

I really could sing this song every single Sunday for the next couple of years and never grow tired of singing it. 

Silent Contemplation

We’re going to end our service with a time of silent contemplation again this week. After singing together in response to His Word, we’ll sit back down for a few moments of silent contemplation to let all that we have heard and sung about “settle in” before we’re dismissed. I would encourage you to linger a few minutes and talk to others about what God taught you this morning before heading out. 

Prayer of Consecration

We’ll be dismissed us with a prayer of consecration, reminding us that we are to live lives that are consecrated to him in every detail!

As you spend time in prayer this week, please remember to keep all of those who are planning, preparing for, and leading in this week’s Worship Gathering. We all truly covet your prayers. 

Know also that I’m praying for you as you prepare your heart for our time as the assembled congregation this Sunday. I can’t hardly wait.....

Rob

Preparing for Worship - October 23, 2016

Every Sunday it’s a joy to gather with the Body of Christ to Exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I look forward to our time together and pray for it all week. There really isn’t any other meeting, gathering, or event that compares to the weekly gathering of believers in a local church. What a foretaste of glory divine it is when we meet each Sunday morning. 

As we prepare our hearts for our time together, take some time to read and pray through what will be happening this Sunday so that you can make the most of the time. If you read the Scripture passages, listen to the songs (maybe a few times for any that you’re not familiar with), and pray that your brothers and sisters will be edified as we “exalt His name together” our time will, I believe, be even more God-honoring and joyous!

Call to Worship - Revelation 5:11-14

Come thou Fount of Every Blessing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Xd94_RxcU

What a great song to begin our time - we gather to collectively tune our hearts to sing Thy praise and worship Him!

Prayer - Paul Harrington will be leading us in a prayer of adoration. 

Choir Anthem - Alleluia (Glory, Honor, and Majesty)

Our choir always does a great job of leading us to praise our Lord and this song points to some of God’s Attributes in a wonderful way.

Meditating on God’s Word

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 2:1-10

Fighter Verse - Romans 5:1-11

Keep working on memorzing Romans 5:1-11. What a rich passage to have always at the ready for meditation!

The Giving of Tithes and Offerings

What a privilege it is to give back to the Lord, who has so abundantly blessed us in countless ways. 

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqWiIp_KLUc

The rich lyrics of this song are such a beautiful expression of the gospel truths we see not only in Romans 5, but in the entire letter. 

Amazing Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-4NFvI5U9w

John Newton wrote this amazing expression of God’s grace because he had experienced on a deeply personal level, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” The lyrics to this song will never grow old.

He Will Hold Me Fast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4tTPDyEtPE&app=desktop

(there’s a new album, which includes this song, being released on Friday. You should get it! http://sovereigngracemusic.org/Albums/Together_for_the_Gospel_Live_III )

As we continue to meditate on Romans 5:1-11 and live lives that (let’s be honest) don’t always honor Christ as we wish they would, these words are so comforting and encouraging in reminding us that HE holds us FIRMLY in His hands!! What a joy it is to sing this song!! (this is my personal favorite song right now - I can’t stop singing it)

Sermon: Walking in Christ: Romans 6:1-4

Read Romans 6:1-14 several times this week. We’re turning another corner in Romans this week as we get to the section where Paul turns to discuss the results of our salvation: sanctification. Romans is just getting better and better!

All I Have is Christ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0vfz5lr37g

As we consider the depth of the sin that we all lived in before we knew Christ, our new life in Him will result in living a life of good works. Ephesians 2:10 summarizes it well – we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Silent Contemplation

We’re going to end our service a little different than we typically do this week. After singing together in response to His Word, we’ll sit back down for a few moments of silent contemplation to let all that we have heard and sung about “settle in” before we’re dismissed. I would encourage you to linger a few minutes and talk to others about what God taught you this morning before heading out. 

Prayer of Consecration

Ed Willoughby will dismiss us with a prayer of consecration, reminding us that we are to live lives that are consecrated to him in every detail!

The Take Home

As you leave the worship center, be sure and pick up a “Take Home” Card. This card will have some thoughts, questions, and suggestions for putting all that you learned this morning into practice throughout the week (maybe starting with a discussion over lunch?).

Preparing for Worship - October 9

What a wonderful time of worship it was gathered with everyone this past week as we celebrated 57 years as a church here in Joplin. It was truly a joy to hear everyone singing together, the testimonies were good, and I thought it was all "topped off" (for lack of a better way to put it) with a wonderful meditation of the Gospel when we came to the Lord's Table. 

As I stood in the front of the room during our last song, Victory in Jesus, it was truly a powerful moment. 

I'm really looking forward to this Sunday as we get to come together again and sing about the Amazing Grace that the Lord has poured out on us. Not only as individual believers, but as members of Fellowship Baptist Church. It truly is a joy, honor, and a privilege to be your pastor. I always look forward to Sundays, not just because I get to share God's Word, but also because that's the day that I get to be with our Fellowship Family. 

And don't forget to be working on your memory verse. We're memorizing Romans 5:1-11 together and this week, we'll quote, together, Romans 5:1-8. There will be cares with the verses on them in the Foyer that you can take with you and use as you work on memorizing the verses during the week. 

A Guide to Prepare your Heart for our Worship Gathering this Sunday, October 9:

1. Read Romans 5:1-21 slowly and carefully several times this week. Pay attention to how Paul speaks of the grace of God and what it does in verses 15, 17, and 20.

The sermon title is: Overwhelming Grace 

2. Listen: to the songs we’ll be singing this Sunday so that you’re ready to sing together with your brothers and sisters of the grace of God in salvation. 

• Our choir will call us to worship with a song celebrating our unity in Christ. As we follow up our celebration of 57 years as a church, I can’t think of a better way to begin our time together than this song: Oh How Good It Is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV_hNTpKO-E

While we’re not 1,000 tongues on Sunday morning, we are gathered to sing praises to our Great Redeemer. What a great way to begin our time of singing together as a congregation! O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzB8DZQxCk8

New Song Alert: We’ll also be singing Jesus, Firm Foundation - this song takes the lyrics to the classic hymn, which are rich and deep and sets them to a new tune. As you learn the tune, pay close attention to the words and what they say about our salvation. What a beautiful expression of the assurance we have of God’s love for us as believers that Romans 5:1-11 points to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgLAk9S1gFA

When we think of the amazing grace that God has poured out on us, we should be in awe. The song I Stand Amazed is such a great expression of our thinking through His grace and what our response should be. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z5vMWofn-A

Grace Greater than Our Sin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgXYRV2B7Tk

This is one of those songs that I just can’t stop singing all week long. I could sing this song every Sunday for the next six months before I get tired of it. 

As we prepare to hear God's Word (we'll be studying Romans 5:15-21 this week), Cody Western will be sharing a new song with us to point our hearts toward what Paul addresses in our passage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqWiIp_KLUc

After hearing about God’s amazing grace as Paul presents it in Romans, we’ll sing Isaac Watts most well known and probably best-loved hymn, Amazing Grace

Here’s a cool acapella version online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1AL8ST2eas

As we leave, our concluding song will again celebrate God’s amazing grace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFRjr_x-yxU

3. Be praying for yourself and your family, that you would come Sunday morning with hearts prepared for worship. Pray for others by name that they would also be prepared for what God wants to say to us through His Word. Come expecting God to work in your Heart as a result of our time together as a Family. 

3. Pray for Rob, Rex, Ed, and the others that will be leading us.  

4. Pray that God would use our worship gathering to exalt His name, bring joy to the body, and salvation to the lost.

Can't wait to see everyone this Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob Signs

Preparing for Worship - October 2, 2016

I’m getting excited about what’s coming this Sunday as we gather together...

Not only are we celebrating 57 years as a local church, but we’ll be singing many of the old, classic hymns of our faith, as well as celebrating the Lord’s Table AND our church picnic is later in the afternoon. The picnic is always a great time. 

It’s always such a joy to gather together as members of Fellowship each Sunday morning as we sing, pray, and look into God’s Word together. It truly is a joy and privilege to be your pastor, and I am thankful to God daily for the blessing it is to both me and my family. 

To help you be prepared and to make the most of our time together, below are the songs and Scriptures we’ll be singing and considering this Sunday. If you have a few minutes, listen to the songs, and read the Scripture with a mindset of anticipation as to what the Lord is going to do in our midst. 

And as always - be in prayer for each other and for those who will be leading in the service. 

Here’s what our Worship Gathering is going to look like:

After our choir (joined by children and youth) call us to worship, 

We’ll sing a Hymn Medly

   I Will Sing of My Redeemer

   Blessed Assurance

   He Keeps Me Singing

   How Great Thou Art

We’ll also get the joy of hearing some testimonies of what it has meant to be a part of Fellowship, from some of our long-time members as well as newer additions to the Body. 

We’ll be reading Colossians 1:15-28, a beautiful passage that speaks of our awesome Savior and what we, as a church, are all about - proclaiming Christ to a world that so desperately needs Him.

Firm Foundation

The Solid Rock

Sermon: What Membership Means

What a joy and privilege it is to be part of the Body of Christ. We’ll be looking at what it means to be a member of a local congregation, examine some of our culture’s wrong thinking about it, and learn to think Biblically about what church membership really is. Be thinking about how you would describe or explain what church membership is to a friend if they asked. 

At the conclusion of our service, we’ll come to the Lord’s Table. This picture of the Gospel is always a time of reflection and celebration as well as a wonderful reminder of our unity as a local Body of believers. 

During the Lord’s Supper, we’ll be singing some beautiful classic hymns of our faith:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Jesus Paid It All

Victory in Jesus

Don’t miss out on this wonderful time together as we focus our minds and hearts on the Lord. And as if the morning weren’t enough, don’t forget to join us for our annual Church Picnic at Landreth Park from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Bring a salad, side-dish, or dessert and join us. Bring games to play with others, maybe lawn chairs, but most of all, just bring yourself and your family for a wonderful time of fellowship as we Love One Another!

See you Sunday!
Rob Signs

Preparing for Worship - September 25, 2016

As you think to our time together this coming Sunday morning, below are some suggestions that will help you make the most of our time together as the body gathered to worship and adore our risen Savior!

• Read Romans 5:1-21 several times. This sermon's text is Romans 5:12-14, and the title is, "Why Do We Sin?"
• Listen to the songs we'll be singing together on Sunday. If you're familiar with the melody, words, and general ideas in the songs, you can better engage in worship.
   Come Praise and Glorify
   Let Your Kingdom Come
   All I Have is Christ
   Show Us Christ
   Grace Greater Than Our Sin

• Be praying for Rob, Rex, Ed, the praise team, band, and choir as they lead us during our time together.

• Remember that Sunday morning really begins on Saturday night. Do you need to get clothes ready, set out anything, or otherwise "prep" to make things easier to get up and out of the house on Sunday morning? Do you need to go to bed earlier so that you can wake up refreshed and ready on Sunday morning?

• Don't neglect Sunday evenings. In our culture, many have abandoned coming back to church on Sunday evenings for a variety of reasons. What we do on Sunday evenings is an important part of life in the Body here at Fellowship. This Sunday evening we're finishing our "Atheist Delusion" series that will help to equip you to converse and share the gospel with atheists.

Three Words for 2014

Forward for 2014

One Question: How will I move FORWARD?

This is a question that we should continually ask ourselves. 

Philippians 3:13-15 – Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way...

Three Words:

1. Saturating

Like a sponge, soaking up water, being wrung out, soaking up more water, etc. we need to be “Word Sponges.” We need to be in the ongoing process of soaking up the water of the Word, wringing it out on others, and soaking up more.....

Five ways to be saturating yourself:

1. Hearing

Every believer needs to formally join a church that’s committed to the Scriptures. Part of that membership involves participating in the weekly worship gathering. How will you be committed to the weekly worship gathering? 

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another...

2. Reading

No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. (Donald Whitney)

You need to have a plan in place to read Scripture, preferably reading through the entire Bible each year. There are many ways to do this, here are a few ideas:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/12/26/how-to-read-the-whole-bible-in-2014/ This blog article has some great thoughts on Bible Reading as well as links to several excellent plans. The ESV Daily Reading Bible, based on the M’Cheyne plan (which I’m using this year) is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S1LXM0?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B000S1LXM0&linkCode=shr&tag=kellquot-20 How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its key elements and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. 

http://www.gty.org/resources/devotionals/daily-bible This link will take you to a daily Scripture reading that includes a brief commentary on the passage. You can also sign up for a daily email reminder. 

www.youversion.com - YouVersion has many options, including an app for your mobile device. You can choose among several reading plans, including a daily email of the reading. 

If you’re really ready for a significant “challenge,” then read this blog: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/12/27/a-bible-reading-plan-for-readers/ 

http://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/ - this link has several reading plan options to choose from in a variety of formats including PDFs, calendar files, and email options.

http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf this is the plan that we’ve used as a church the past couple of years. 

(You can pick up a copy of the M’Cheyne plan or the Discipleship Journal reading plan in the Foyer at the church.)

3. Studying

While reading is good, studying is also necessary. Donald Whitney describes the difference between reading and studying this way: Reading is like riding in a glass bottom boat across a lake. You’ll see the entire lake in a beautiful way. Studying is putting on scuba gear, diving in and spending time really looking at one part of the lake.

The difference between reading and studying is pen and paper. 

This blog article has some very helpful advice on studying the Scriptures: 

http://www.gty.org/resources/positions/P16/How-to-Study-Your-Bible

Living by the Book, by Howard Hendricks

Paperback: http://www.gbibooks.com/ISBN/9780802408235

How to Study the Bible, by John MacArthur

click here for kindle ($4.61)

click here for downloadable audio lessons (free)

click here to order a copy of the book ($7.19)

4. Memorizing

Click here (3:53) to hear John Piper on Scripture Memorization. 

The 8 principles he mentions are:

1. Memorizing Scripture makes meditation possible at times when you canʼt be reading the Bible and meditation is the pathway to deeper understanding.

If youʼre going to meditate on the law of the Lord day and night, you need to have some of it in your head.

2. Memorizing Scripture strengthens my faith.

Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. That happens when I am hearing the Word in my head.

3. Memorizing Scripture shapes the way I view the world.

It conforms my mind to Godʼs viewpoint on everything.

4. Memorizing Scripture makes Godʼs word more readily accessible in overcoming temptation to sin.

Godʼs warnings and promises are the way we conquer the deceitful lies of the devil.

5. Memorizing Scripture guards my mind, making it easier for me to detect error.

The world is filled with error because the god of this world is a liar.

6. Memorizing Scripture enables me to hit the devil in the face with a force he cannot resist to protect myself (and my family) from his assaults.

What are you hitting him with? He is millions of times stronger than you and he hates you and your family and your marriage and your church and God. How can you walk through this devil-ruled world without a sword in your hand?

7. Memorizing Scripture provides the strongest and sweetest words for ministering to others in need.

Ever been caught off guard when you meet someone in need? You donʼt need to be.

8. Memorizing Scripture provides the matrix for fellowship with Jesus 

He talks to me here and nowhere else. But oh sweetly, powerfully, authentically, really speaks to me here. I speak back to Him in prayer. If the words of Scripture are in your mind, you can talk with Him anywhere!

(P.S. - be sure to watch the video, don’t just read the principles)

5. Meditating

Meditation isn’t some trippy-hippie thing.

It’s not yoga - it’s not relaxation therapy

It’s not some crazy New Age thing.

Meditation is actually commanded in the Bible. 

Joshua 1:8 – This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.

It’s filling your mind with God’s truth. It’s constructive mental activity. It’s not creating your own reality in your mind. It’s following the words of Paul:

Philippians 4:8 – whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

You’re not going to find anything more true, honorable, pure, or worthy of praise than what you find in the pages of Scripture.

Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

There is a flow to all of these. 

We all need to first be hearing God’s Word taught, but we can’t leave it there. We also need to read it for ourselves. We can’t be satisfied with reading only, we need to dig into God’s Word and study it like the noble Bereans. When we’re seeking to be saturating ourselves in Scripture, we’ll also memorize it and when we memorize it, we move quickly and easily toward meditation. 

2. Serving

How are you serving the body?
Check back next week for more on service opportunities at Fellowship.

(There’s one coming in this week’s bulletin)

3. Sharing

Step 1 - are you ready to share the Gospel?

Download a “Gospel Learning Kit.”

This three page PDF is designed to equip you to share the Gospel using Scripture in a clear, comprehensive way. 

Click here to download the kit from the church website.

Check back next week for more on Serving and Sharing. 

Christmas Tradition

The Family Tradition

All of our families have traditions. (cue your favorite “Tradition” song to play as background while you read the rest of this blog. Mine would be from Fiddler on the Roof). We all have those certain things that we always do. In my family, we always played dominoes when everyone got together. And it would go long into the night. The game we played is called “42” and involves bidding or passing. Most of the time, at least two of the four players would say “I pass” instead of bidding. My little cousin’s first words were “I pass” because she heard it so much at family gatherings. 

Of course, Grandma’s famous chocolate pie was something we only got to enjoy at Thanksgiving and Christmas. After I ate half of Aunt Bonnie Beth’s apple pie one Thanksgiving (not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed about that), she would make it again and again. 

Of course, there was Grandpa’s yearly “errand” that he would run mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve. “Errand” was, of course, code for: I’m going to buy Grandma’s gift. And there was always a gift from “Santa” for everyone under the tree which contained a pair of silly underwear. Suspiciously, Grandma & Grandpa never got one of these gifts and the labels were in Grandma’s handwriting. Hmm.....

And Christmas is certainly a time of traditions. Our culture has many traditions surrounding Christmas. Far too many to go into here. And if we polled everyone, we would, no doubt, come up with a lengthy list of great Christmas traditions. 

For now, our culture still recognizes Christmas as celebrating the birth of Christ for the most part. There are efforts to ban nativity scenes here and there and fights over sacred music in school plays from time to time, but most people would at least acknowledge that celebrating the birth of Christ is the reason behind everything going on. 

My wife and I have been discussing how we want to celebrate Christmas as a family for over a year now and have finally come to what we think is a good plan for us. Every family should put together their own plan for celebrating Christmas (remember: it’s not a plan until it’s written down). The goal of this plan should be to keep everyone focused on the central figure of this season: Jesus Christ and His Incarnation. 

After discussing it at length and reading a few blogs from some other families, we’ve put together our plan. This plan will, of course, be modified and adjusted a lot in the coming years. But for now, this is right for us. Not all of these things will work for every family. I’m certainly not suggesting that this is better or “more spiritual” than what your family does. This is just what we’ve decided for our family at this time. We’re trying to be intentional about everything and keep our family focused on Christ and His incarnation. 

Our New Christmas Traditions:

1. Advent Devotions. There are many different forms of this. This will morph and change as Micah (and perhaps some siblings) grows up. First and foremost, we’ll be spending time daily as a family thinking toward the incarnation of Jesus.

2. No Presents. I’ll just pause a minute and let the shock of that statement sink in......

Ok - now that you’re breathing again. You read that right. We’re not buying presents. We don’t think they’re wrong. We don’t think others shouldn’t do it. We’re not offended if someone gives us a gift. We have just decided that for our family, we want to step out of the consumer mindset of much of secular America and turn our focus to other things. Presents are fun. I had a lot of fun as a child choosing, wrapping, shaking, and opening presents. I look back on all of that with fond memories. For our family at this point, however, we want that element removed. We have so many things. We have so much “stuff.” And it’s so easy to get caught up in all the sales and buying this and buying that and getting the perfect gift and..... (you get the picture). Instead of buying presents, we’re going to make a list of gifts we’ve already received. Things that both God and others have given us this past year. That list is most definitely a long list. Salvation is at the top, and then a beautiful son comes right under that. The list just grows from there. 

Okay - maybe one present. The week after Christmas, on New Year’s Day, we’ll give each other some hand-made gifts. It might be made from things we bought, but instead of buying something, we’re going to build or make something for each other.  This will certainly take some thought and probably significantly more time and effort. As Micah (and siblings) grows up, we’ll help him make things for Mom and Dad and others. This creates a whole new dynamic and mindset as we think about the whole concept of giving at Christmas. 

3. Thank You Notes. Notes to everyone. Neighbors, Chick-fil-A workers, the person who cuts my hair, the lady at the dry cleaner (who is always super-nice), the waiter we like at our favorite restaurant, etc. We’re going to write notes to all of these people saying thank you for all that they’ve been doing all year to serve us. Then, we’ll deliver them during the holiday season with a small gift, probably cookies or something we’ve made (homemade goat milk soap, for example)

4. Visit some homebound. Our church has over 20 different people who are members, but due to health issues aren’t able to join us regularly. What better time to visit them and spend time with them? And before we go, we’ll see if we can find out what their favorite Christmas treat might be and take it along with us.

5. Future Giving List. So many things are centered around Christmas. What can we do to serve others? Friends at church, family members, neighbors, who else? How can I serve or help someone in the next few months? We want the mindset of giving and serving to extend far beyond the Christmas season, so we’ll come up with some ideas and put them on the calendar so we don’t forget it. 

6. Prophecy. The Old Testament paints a big, beautiful picture of the Promise of a Messiah/Redeemer. As we look toward the Fulfillment of that Promise in the Gospels, we’re going to spend some time as a family in the weeks before Christmas reading through some of the Old Testament passages that point to Christ. The idea is to build a sense of anticipation about the coming of Christ. We celebrate Advent all month long. This will fit in with the Advent Devotions in #1. 

7. A gift for Jesus. What can we give to Jesus? Maybe give some additional money to a missionary our church supports, or to the Lottie Moon offering, or to something specific at church (like the Building Fund). We spend a lot of money on ourselves all year long. We want to make sure we’re investing in others as well.

8. Family Adventure Time. This will likely change from year to year as we look for age-appropriate family outings. The Dickens Village in downtown Joplin, the Christmas Train over in Oklahoma, and other things. We don’t have a specific adventure in mind yet, but we can’t forget that being together and doing things as a family must be part of our traditions. There might even be more than one Adventure. I remember several neighborhoods that told the Christmas story from yard to yard with decorations that we would visit each year as a child. I always looked forward to it. 

The Bottom Line is to be focused on Christ and not the cultural trappings of Christmas. I speak from personal experience that in the midst of the season, it’s easy to get distracted. By thinking ahead about what we’ll do as a family to give and serve others, it keeps the Gospel front and center. Jesus came to give. Jesus came to serve. Ultimately He was born to die that we might have life. And what better way to celebrate that than to follow His example intentionally with a plan? (remember, if it’s not written down, it’s not a plan!)

I pray that this year is the best Christmas you’ve ever had. I pray that Jesus truly is the central focus of your families life this year and that as we come out of the season into the new year, we have a greater appreciation for the Gospel, for Christ, and for all of the amazing things He’s done for us.