Grace Blog
Talking to your kids about Santa
Mark Driscoll has written a helpful article on thinking critically about how parents can talk to their children about Santa Claus. Driscoll explains that, like other cultural artifacts, we can reject it, receive it, or redeem it. His approach is to redeem Santa by teaching your children about Saint Nicholas, whom he argues “was a wonderful man who loved and served Jesus faithfully.” You may not agree with Driscoll’s approach with Santa, but he provides a meaningful alternative for the usual thinking about Santa. He concludes by saying that “we gladly include him in our Christmas traditions to remind us of what it looks like for someone to live a life of devotion to Jesus as God. Our kids thank us for being both honest and fun, which we think is what Jesus wants.”
Labels: Advent, Cape Coral, Christmas, Grace Baptist Church, Mark Driscoll, Santa Claus | posted by TimBrister at 9:29 am | Categories: Advent, Culture and Society, Current Events |
Christmas is for those who hate it most
Matt Redmond has written an excellent article about how Christmas is for those who hate it most. Here is an excerpt:
Jesus came for those who look in the mirror and see ugliness. Jesus came for daughters whose fathers never told them they were beautiful. Christmas is for those who go to “wing night” alone. Christmas is for those whose lives have been wrecked by cancer, and the thought of another Christmas seems like an impossible dream. Christmas is for those who would be nothing but lonely if not for social media. Christmas is for those whose marriages have careened against the retaining wall and are threatening to flip over the edge. Christmas is for the son whose father keeps giving him hunting gear when he wants art materials. Christmas is for smokers who cannot quit even in the face of a death sentence. Christmas is for prostitutes, adulterers, and porn stars who long for love in every wrong place. Christmas is for college students who are sitting in the midst of the family and already cannot wait to get out for another drink. Christmas is for those who traffic in failed dreams. Christmas is for those who have squandered the family name and fortune—they want “home” but cannot imagine a gracious reception. Christmas is for parents watching their children’s marriage fall into disarray.
Labels: Advent, Cape Coral, Christmas, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 9:26 am | Categories: Advent |
Ten Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering
Many of us struggle to make conversation at Christmas gatherings, whether church events, work-related parties, neighborhood drop-ins, or annual family occasions. Sometimes our difficulty lies in having to chat with people we rarely see or have never met. At other times we simply don’t know what to say to those with whom we feel little in common. Moreover, as Christians we want to take advantage of the special opportunities provided by the Christmas season to share our faith, but are often unsure how to begin. Here’s a list of questions designed not only to kindle a conversation in almost any Christmas situation, but also to take the dialogue gradually to a deeper level. Use them in a private conversation or as a group exercise, with believers or unbelievers, with strangers or with family.
1. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since last Christmas?
2. What was your best Christmas ever? Why?
3. What’s the most meaningful Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
4. What was the most appreciated Christmas gift you’ve ever given?
5. What was your favorite Christmas tradition as a child?
6. What is your favorite Christmas tradition now?
7. What do you do to try to keep Christ in Christmas?
8. Why do you think people started celebrating the birth of Jesus?
9. Do you think the birth of Jesus deserves such a nearly worldwide celebration?
10. Why do you think Jesus came to earth?Of course, remember to pray before your Christmas gatherings. Ask the Lord to grant you “divine appointments,” to guide your conversations, and to open doors for the gospel. May He use you to bring glory to Christ this Christmas.
Labels: Advent, Cape Coral, Christmas, Donald Whitney, Evangelism, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 8:22 am | Categories: Advent, Evangelism |
Counsel from Spurgeon on Christmas
My friend Tony Reinke has written an excellent blogpost about Charles Spurgeon’s counsel for his church members during the Christmas season in his sermon entitled “Going Home“. As Tony explains, Spurgeon’s “the aim of the message was to encourage each member of his congregation to humbly, wisely, and appropriately find opportunities to share their personal testimony with family and friends.” His sermon, based on the demoniac in Mark 5 going home after being converted, provides helpful practical instruction, including:
* Christmas is suited for sharing the gospel with family and friends.
* Aim to share the story of God’s grace in your life.
* By sharing we edify believers.
* By sharing we reach lost friends and family.
* Be alert for one-on-one opportunities to share your story.
* Don’t expect this sharing to be easy.
* Overcome this fear by sharing to honor your Savior.
* Share your story with gratitude to God.
* Share your story with humility.
* Share your story truthfully—don’t embellish it.
* Tell your story seriously—don’t share it flippantly.
* Don’t neglect your personal devotions during Christmas.
* Rest upon the Holy Spirit’s help to share.
* Remember that this story you share over the holidays is the story that will be on your lips eternally.
Take a look at Spurgeon’s sermon itself and the excerpts provided in Tony’s blogpost.
Labels: Advent, Cape Coral, Charles Spurgeon, Christmas, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 8:21 pm | Categories: Advent, Evangelism |
Advent Conspiracy
It’s that time again. Thanksgiving turkey has been devoured, and the advent season has begun. This video is a few years old, but it is worth watching at the beginning of every Advent season to remember what this time of year is all about. More presence, less presents. More giving, less gifts. More Jesus, less credit cards. I can dig that. How about you?
Labels: Advent, Advent Conspiracy, Cape Coral, Christmas, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 11:25 pm | Categories: Advent |
Preparing for Grace Gathered :: December 20, 2009
On the Sunday before Christmas, we will be celebrating the Incarnation of Jesus, the promised Messiah who has come to earth to bring peace with God by winning the battle against rebellious hearts, sinful lives, Satan, and hell. Peace on earth comes because through Jesus, we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1).
Bible Study: The Gospel-Centered Life
Tim Brister and Rick Tarter continue the final section of The Gospel-Centered Life which focuses on how the gospel works through us. We are on the last lesson which focuses on conflict. Because God has created us to live in community, our lives should express an intimacy and unity that is possible because the mess we leave as sinners is addressed by the gospel as we together grow in grace. Throughout Scripture, we see that the proper way to handle conflict between one another is by remembering and applying the gospel of Jesus Christ to our hearts first and to the situation we find ourselves in. Join us for another engaging and relevant study as we seek to drive the stakes of the gospel deeper into our church!
Grace Gathered (Worship Services)
During Grace Gathered, Pastor Tom will be preaching on the advent of the coming Messiah. Hymns like “O Come, O Come Immanuel” call us to rejoice in the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Consider these lyrics:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Reminders
1. Those who are look to visit with us or are coming down as Snowbirds, please note the schedule change for Sunday morning. We have two morning services (8:00 and 10:45) with Sunday School in the middle at 9:30am.
2. Christmas Outreach this Saturday at the church from 10:00am-12:00pm. We will be distributing Bibles in the surrounding neighborhoods, seeking to invite them to join us for our Christmas Eve service. Come join us as we love our neighbors and share the good news of Chirstmas!
3. Our Christmas Eve service will take place on Thursday, December 24th beginning at 6:00PM. Hundreds of invitations have been hand delivered to families in our community, and we are looking forward to a wonderful evening of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!
4. On Sunday, December 27th at 5:00pm, the pastors will be hosting a one-hour informational meeting for anyone interested in participating in our short-term mission trips for the 2010 year. Attending this meeting does not commit you to go; we simply want to provide a context to answer your questions, share about the upcoming trips, and get a better picture of where we see God leading us in the future to take the gospel around the world.
5. On New Years’ Eve, we plan on bringing in the new year with a time of worship, fellowship, and prayer all beginning at 10PM on Thursday, December 31st. Come join us!
Labels: Advent, Gospel-Centered, Grace Baptist Church, Grace Gathered | posted by TimBrister at 4:01 pm | Categories: Grace Gathered |
Preparing for Grace Gathered :: December 13, 2009
Looking forward to this Lord’s Day, here are some ways you can prepare yourself for the gathered worship and Bible Study
Bible Study: The Gospel-Centered Life
Tim Brister and Rick Tarter continue the final section of The Gospel-Centered Life which focuses on how the gospel works through us. We are picking up where we left off last week on the subject of forgiveness, in particular what does it mean to forgive others as God has forgiven us (Col. 3:13; Eph. 4:32). We will also address how the gospel empowers us to fight against bitterness and unforgiveness and speak to justice and vindication.
Grace Gathered (Worship Services)
During Grace Gathered, Pastor Tom will be continuing his series through the book of Proverbs, this Sunday focusing on “Words of Wisdom.” What does Proverbs have to say about our words, the sins of the tongue? A whole lot, actually! Scripture tells us that no man can tame the tongue, and yet we will be accountable on the day of judgment for our every word. Such an important topic requires a thorough investigation from God’s Word and sincere hearts from serious minds followers to live a life of confession, repentance, and renewal that the overflow of our hearts in our words will evidence the transforming power of the gospel in our lives.
We will be singing some classic advent hymns, including “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “What Child Is This?” But as we come together, let our hearts experience and mouths express the lyrics below.
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You,
To receive the food of Your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today,
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all your purposes,
For Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes,
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise,
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built,
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
Reminders
1. Those who are look to visit with us or are coming down as Snowbirds, please note the schedule change for Sunday morning. We have two morning services (8:00 and 10:45) with Sunday School in the middle at 9:30am.
2. Christmas Outreach has begun! If you have not picked up bags of Bibles to distribute to your neighbor and friends, be sure to pick some up at the Welcome Center.
3. Our Christmas Eve service will take place on Thursday, December 24th beginning at 6:00PM. Hundreds of invitations have been hand delivered to families in our community, and we are looking forward to a wonderful evening of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!
4. On New Years’ Eve, we plan on bringing in the new year with a time of worship, fellowship, and prayer all beginning at 10PM on Thursday, December 31st. Come join us!
* “Speak Oh Lord” Copyright ©2005 by Stuart Townend, Keith Getty (Kingsway Music)
Labels: Advent, Grace Baptist Church, Grace Gathered, Proverbs, Tom Ascol | posted by TimBrister at 8:51 am | Categories: Grace Gathered |
He’s Here - The Jesus Storybook Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible has been a great gift to our family for our family worship. We are close to completing it for the second time, and our boys are increasingly loving their Bible with each time of learning about Jesus. Below is a video narration of the birth of Christ. I encourage you to share this with your children sometime during this advent season. You can pick up a copy at Westminster Bookstore for just $11 and change.
Labels: Advent, Jesus, Sally Lloyd-Jones, The Jesus Storybook Bible | posted by TimBrister at 12:17 pm | Categories: Advent, Jesus, Parenting/Family |
Family Worship for the Advent Season
Christ the King Presbyterian Church (Raleigh, NC) has provided a helpful resource for families during the advent season which you can download and use during family devotions or family worship. The PDF includes discussion outlines and songsheets for worship in a nice format. To download this 58-page resource, click here.
Labels: Advent, Family Worship | posted by TimBrister at 8:25 pm | Categories: Parenting/Family, Resources |
