We are going to start with our disobedience and work our way back to the Rock that makes men stumble (in a good way).
There are certain portions of scripture that we like to obey. However, there are some parts of scripture where we find ourselves getting tripped up. Grant unpacks a "stumble" that seems to trip up even the most mature and spiritual people.
The Bible says that we are all going to stumble. The question is, what are we going to do after the inevitable happens?
Pastor Grant concludes the "Doing Without" series with a review of 2011 ministry highlights and a message of hope for 2012.
I think the innkeeper in the Christmas story gets a bad rap. He has been portrayed as the bitter villain who refuses to put up a pregnant lady and is so rude as to say, "No room!" (Would it freak you to out to know that the innkeeper isn't mentioned anywhere in scripture and that we just made him up?) For some reason, it's so easy to point out the bitterness in someone else's life and to completely overlook the lack of forgiveness in our own.
She is virtually unnoticed in the Christmas story. We only see her in a few verses but her role in the Incarnation is powerful. The Bible says she was faithful to God her whole life, but there was still a hole in her soul. I want Elizabeth to speak to those of us who are asking for a Christmas miracle. I want her to show us how to exchange sadness for joy.
What if we found some parts of Christmas we could do without in order to get a clearer view of how God could transform our lives? What if, through some small strategic decisions, we found a way to let go of the discouragement, stress, and chaos and actually love every moment of this sacred time of year? Jesus did it and so can we.
I want to talk about what God has taught me about thanksgiving. The Bible says that we are to be thankful with everything, in everything and for everything.
