Christmas Portraits

Date – Thursday, December 3, 2020 – Focus on Elizabeth

Bible Readings: Luke 1:39-45 – “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Observation Questions

1. What is the reaction of Elizabeth’s baby to Mary’s baby?

2. What is the reaction of Elizabeth to Mary’ baby?

3. What is the reaction of Elizabeth to Mary?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day – “She (Elizabeth) believed God. Now she encourages Mary. Mary is a young woman and Elisabeth is an old woman. Elisabeth had walked with God for many years and she assures her that there would be a performance of those things which had been revealed to her”.  – Dr J. Vernon McGee in Thru the Bible

Christmas Portraits

Date – Wednesday, December 2, 2020 – Focus on Zacharias

Bible Reading: Luke 1:13-20 – “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” ¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Observation Question:

1. What was the angel’s promise to Zacharias?

2. What was Zacharias response to this promise?

3. How did God chasten Zacharias for his unbelief?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day: “If an angel said to you, ‘Your prayer is heard,’ what would it mean for you? What is the “too good to be true” news in your life? You may have given up believing God can bring it about.” – Dr. Bruce Larsen in The Preachers Commentary

Christmas Portraits

Date – Tuesday, December 1, 2020 – Focus on Zacharias

Bible Readings: Luke 1:5-12 – In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. ⁸ Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

Observation Questions

1. What was Zacharias’ job?

2. How is he and his wife’s walk with God described?

3. What major need did they have?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day: “Because of the large number of priests this would be the only time in Zechariah’s life when he was allowed to perform this task. As elsewhere in Scripture, the sovereignty of God is stressed even in matters which seem like chance, as in the casting of a lot.”

Dr. John A. Martin in the Bible Knowledge Commentary

Christmas Portraits

Date – Monday, November 30, 2020 – Focus on the Old Testament Prophets

Bible Readings:

Micah 5:2 – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 –“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely;

Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Observation questions

1. What names are given the Messiah in these verses?

2.  What are the characteristics of His kingdom?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day: “Have you ever heard of this as a plank in a political platform?…. I’ve heard politicians make almost every other claim under the sun but that one! They wouldn’t dare make it. But righteousness will characterize the kingdom when the Lord Jesus Christ reigns.”– Dr. J. Vernon McGee in Thru the Bible

Christmas Portraits

Date – Sunday, November 29, 2020 – Focus on the Old Testament Prophets

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Observation questions

1. What names are given the Messiah in these verses?

2.  What are the characteristics of His kingdom?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day: “What a difference it makes in our lives that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins! And what a difference it will make in this world when He comes to sit on David’s throne and rule righteously!” – Dr. Warren Wiersbe in With the Word

Download Pastor Dave’s letter by right clicking below – https://nycshepherd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/letter-from-pastor-dave-1.pdf

Personal and Family Advent Kit Instructions

1. Having opened your box check and see that you have the following items

One letter from Pastor Dave

One Advent Devotional

3 purples candles

1 pink candle

1 white candle

5 wooden candle holders

One small green wreath

One candle lighter

One Christmas Carol Songbook

One Gospel of Luke

One book of Christmas readings

One limited edition Calvary Chapel Christmas ornament

• Open and read the letter from Pastor Dave
• Arrange your Advent wreath in a place you can gather and light the candles every day
• 3 purple and one pink candle on the outside of the wreath circle, white candle in the middle
• Candle meaning – One purple – Hope, One purple  – Peace,   One Pink – Joy, One purple – love, one white – Christ

• Each day/night of Advent (Sunday, November 29^th – Saturday, December 26^th) gather and follow the instructions below. It is recommended that you do this at the same time very day but everyone’s schedule is different). Please also consider sending a selfie of your time together to avent@calvarychapelsi.org or sharing your time with others through a zoom or facetime call.

Every day during week one (Sunday, November 29^th – Saturday, December 5^th) have someone light one purple candle, you will call this the hope candle,  and have someone read the devotional or listen to the devotional through the app or other social media platform, for that day. Discuss using the discussion questions in the devotional. Have someone close in prayer.

Optional – Supplement the reading if you wish from the gospel of Luke or the Christmas reading book.

Optional – Sing a Carol from the Christmas Carol book

Every day during week two (Sunday, December 6^th– Saturday, December 12^th) have someone light one purple candle, you will call this the hope candle and light a second purple candle you will call the peace candle,  and have someone read the devotional or listen to the devotional through the app or other social media platform, for that day. Discuss using the discussion questions in the devotional. Have someone close in prayer.

Optional – Supplement the reading if  you wish from the gospel of Luke or the Christmas reading book.

Optional – Sing a Carol from the Christmas Carol book

Every day during week three (Sunday, December 13^th– Saturday, December 19^th) have someone light one purple candle, you will call this the hope candle and light a second purple candle you will call this the peace candle,  and light the pink candle, you will call this the joy candle and have someone read the devotional or listen to the devotional through the app or other social media platform, for that day. Discuss using the discussion questions in the devotional. Have someone close in prayer.

Optional – Supplement the reading if  you wish from the gospel of Luke or the Christmas reading book.

Optional – Sing a Carol from the Christmas Carol book

Every day during week four (Sunday, December 20^th– Wednesday, December 23^rd ) have someone light one purple candle, you will call this the hope candle and light a second purple candle you will call the peace candle, and light the pink candle, you will call this the joy candle and light the final purple candle, you will call this the love candle,  and have someone read the devotional or listen to the devotional through the app or other social media platform, for that day. Discuss using the discussion questions in the devotional. Have someone close in prayer.

Optional – Supplement the reading if you wish from the gospel of Luke or the Christmas reading book.

Optional – Sing a Carol from the Christmas Carol book

Every day during week five (Thursday, December 24^th– Saturday, December 26^th ) have someone light one purple candle, you will call this the hope candle and light a second purple candle you will call the peace candle, and light the pink candle, you will call this the joy candle and light the final purple candle, you will call this the love candle,  and light the white candle,  you will call this the Christ candle and have someone read the devotional or listen to the devotional through the app or other social media platform, for that day. Discuss using the discussion questions in the devotional. Have someone close in prayer.

Optional – Supplement the reading if you wish from the gospel of Luke or the Christmas reading book.

Optional – Sing a Carol from the Christmas Carol book

The Scriptures are full of admonitions for us to give thanks. During this time of year we hear them often in sermons, songs and personal conversations. It is safe to say that for Christians there is no shortage of thanksgiving reminders.

     That is how the first century church at Colossae must have felt when they read the letter Paul sent them from prison. This little epistle reminds its readers about thanksgiving in every chapter.  Colossians 1:12 tells them that they should be “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” In Colossians 2:7 they are told, regarding their relationship with Christ, that they are to be “abounding in thanksgiving”. In Colossian 3:17 Paul gives a comprehensive command when he says “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“ Finally in Colossians 4:2 he tells them us to “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

     Clearly being thankful people is something that God has as a priority for us. We are though, constantly challenged in this area by life and life’s circumstances. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that in everything we are to “give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. Sometimes this seems almost impossible. I mean really, we are in the midst of a nearly year long pandemic in which we’ve experienced so much loss and insecurity with no clear end in sight.

    Is it possible to really give thanks in all things? Is it feasible to constantly give thanks over a long period of trails? Are we actually able to give thanks even in tremendous loss?  Let’s look at someone who managed by the grace of God to be thankful in all things even a pandemic.

    

Martin Rinkart was a pastor in his hometown of Eilenberg in Germany beginning in 1617. He was just 31 years of age.  This is when the thirty years war began in Europe. Eilenberg, as a walled city, became the fleeing place of many, many refugees. In addition, Pastor Rinkart’s home as well as many of the other homes in the city were forced to house and feed soldiers[DW1] . This went on for what seemed like an eternity.

     Things got worse in 1637 as Eilenberg, fighting the Swiss Army and struggling with food shortages, was hit by the plague.  This further devasted the town. 8000 people lost their lives. It took the life of the other four clergyman in town leaving Rinkart as the only Pastor. It took the lives of most of the town council, it took the life of Pastor Rinkart’s wife. That year he officiated at 4.480 funerals as the city’s lone pastor.

    It was Pastor Rinkart himself who sought to negotiate a truce with the Swiss and after being initially rejected, through a fervent prayer meeting, was able to do so. Knowing the importance of giving thanks even in difficult circumstances he wrote a prayer for family meals. The prayer, “Now Thank We All Our God” became a national song of thanksgiving when the war ended.  

Here is the prayer that became the song.

1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
   Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
   Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
   With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
2. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
   With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
   And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
   And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
   The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven—
   The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
   For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Here is the song performed by reawakenhymns.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecqss2ZvN2c

And here is a contemporary version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GvSMerBDUc

      Pastor Martin Rinkart life is worthy example for us to follow when it comes to giving thanks. These are hard times. Very hard times. With the Lord’s help though you and I can truly give thanks even in in a pandemic.

Blessings,

Pastor Dave Watson

---

 [DW1]

Free download below.