NATIONAL COMMUNITY CHURCH



NATIONAL COMMUNITY CHURCH

Christmas Devotional 2016

December 25, 2016

Mark Batterson

[Song: Joy To The World]

[Speaker]

Merry Christmas from National Community Church. Thanks for letting us be a small part of this special day. And we would like to extend a special Merry Christmas to family and friends of NCCers who are joining us today. We celebrate this season of joy, gratitude and expectation and pray that the wonder of Christ’s birth fills your hearts and home. In the midst of light and songs and gifts, we know that Christmas can also be a difficult time for many of us. We pray that the peace of Christ would fill your heart and mine. For all of us, our hope is anchored in the reality that over 2,000 years ago, God became flesh and made his dwelling among us. In just a moment, the video will prompt you to pause and read the Christmas story found in Luke 2. Families with kids, you received a special gift at church that will help you walk through the Christmas story as you read. We hope this will make the story come alive for your children this Christmas.

[Mark]

I want to wish a Merry Christmas from the Batterson family to your family. Thanks for letting me be a little part of your celebration. I’m going to share the shortest message you’ve probably ever heard. Just a quick thought on this Christmas day. I remember before I started pastoring NCC, I was at a gathering of pastors. It was around Christmas time and there was a guest speaker by the name of Dick Foth. I didn’t know Dick real well at that point but I remember the message he shared. It was the simplest Christmas message I think I’ve ever heard. He said,

God left his place. He came to our place. He took our place. And then He invites us back to his place.

I’ve always loved that very simple description of the gospel.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleiveth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

I can’t guarantee that you are going to get the gift you want today. In fact maybe you have already opened your gifts and I don’t know if you got what you wanted or what you needed. But here is the bottom line. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been given an incredible gift. It is the gift of salvation and it is a gift that all of us can receive. I think Christmas to me is about God with us.

Matthew 1:23

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).

In Bethlehem, He is God with us. At Calvary, He is God for us. And at Pentecost, He is God in us. So my prayer for you and your family is that you would just simple receive and celebrate that gift of salvation that God has given to us. And as we give gifts to one another, what we are doing is reflecting what God the Father has done for each one of us.

So a very Merry Christmas. I pray God’s blessing on your family and your festivities and we look forward to seeing you next weekend. God Bless.

Transcribed by:

Ministry Transcription

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