Waynesburg Christian Church

Looking into the new year we come to a crossroad and we are given a choice to live in the past or choose to do something new for God. God is doing something today, He will meet us at the crossroad and gives us hope for the future!

n the first stanza to the song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” we sing these words: Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. Sometimes the world is a dark, scary, and broken place. If you’ve lived long enough you’ve probably endured some obstacles or hardships. Christmas compels us to choose which narrative we will live by when these things occur - Do we believe that Jesus really is the answer to all of our “hopes and fears” or do we believe that we go it alone? May this Christmas be a persistent reminder that even though we find ourselves in dark and weary places, we don’t have to endure it alone. Christmas tells us of God’s amazing move toward us in Jesus! It tells us that Jesus entered the brokenness and darkness of this place and that He has overcome! Christmas tells us to believe and hope and rest in Him! Merry Christmas!

The Christmas season has so many layers. There is a lot of hustle and bustle - special programs at school and church, preparing for special gatherings and parties, decorating, and some shopping too. This season is also tied to a lot of nostalgia- family memories of past Christmases, special family traditions that are passed along, and some new traditions that may be created as well! This is also a season of family - gathering with close family members and some that you only see this time of year. With all these layers to Christmas, it would be easy to miss the heart of Christmas. What is the heart of Christmas? We find the heart of Christmas in a manger of Bethlehem. In the miraculous move of God to come near - to be Immanuel, God with us! At the heart of Christmas is Savior who invites us to pause...to take a deep breath...and come to Him.

Where's your Christmas spirit? A quick internal search about the definition of "Christmas spirit" returns all sorts of ideas - generosity, kindness, and charity toward others; a spirit of "togetherness;" a sense of joy and general cheer, etc. These all sound very wonderful, but the idea of "Christmas spirit" by its very name, sound temporary and fleeting. The routines of "real life" reappear in early January and the joy of Christmas season always seems to fade away. But the true story of Christmas - the real Spirit of Christmas - doesn't have to fade away!

There are some beautiful things about winter, but the winter season brings less daylight and less warmth - we see all around us creation going dormant. It's fitting for us that the season of Advent coincides with the season of winter, God's creation gives us a powerful reminder each year as we go through winter that spring is coming - light is coming, warmth is coming, new life is coming! This what our hearts long for - for God to come, to show up - to show up in the hard things and joyous things, the planned for things and the extraordinary things. Advent reminds us that deep under the surface and out of our sight, God is working - He always has been, and He always will and one day He will come again!

When the Church was born, a building didn't miraculously come bursting out of the ground! From the beginning, the Church wasn't a building but a people whose lives have been captured by Jesus. These lives are often fragile always imperfect...but never abandoned! The Church has outlived empires and will be around long after political parties and factions fade away. Jesus said that He would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it...if you are ready to be part of a movement that will last forever, if you want to be known, loved, and encouraged, then you are invited to put your roots down in the soil of the local church! There is a part for you to play!

Listen as we hear examples from Nehemiah and Esther as they put God first and their trust in the Lord.

"You had to be there..." Sometimes words fail to fully describe something we have experienced and this is our only reply. The gathering of the local church can be one those things. The church gathered is a unique and special occurrence that Christians are instructed not to neglect. There is a special grace when the body of Christ comes together to sing, hear, read, declare, and remember Jesus and all he has done.

Why attend the corporate gathering of the local church? Because life is hard, and we need hope - and hope that is embodied by Jesus 2000+ years ago and hope that is embodied in His people - the Church now! The gathered church is where we are reminded of the promises of God and where the Good News of Jesus is sung, declared, and seen in baptism and the Lord's Supper.

What is the Church about? Culture has all sorts of ideas about what Church should be focused on...so does Jesus! What measuring stick does Jesus use for the Church?

I will never forget something I saw on one of the first trips I made to see my oldest daughter at college. There alongside the interstate was a church. The church had a large sign that everyone passing by could see. What did the church sign say that day? It said, “Church shopping? We’re open Sundays at 9am!” That is kind of a funny thing to say, but it reflects a cultural attitude that has seeped into modern American church life – that Church is a product to consume (i.e., you can consume it in-person or online as long as you consume it) and that you can treat Church like a consumer (as long as the product is appealing and the costumer service is excellent, then I am in, otherwise easy come, easy go). I am painting with a broad brush with my examples here, and I know that finding the right church family to belong to can be a challenge, but the Church is so much bigger – it’s too important – to treat with a consumer mindset! What is the Church? The Church is the vehicle of God’s grace – loving, caring, and de

We will hear a testimony of calling, sacrifice, and God's goodness from Randy Tempest and Lindsey Jeffers.

Hard times can sap us of our enthusiasm and use up our reserves. These hard times require something more than willpower and optimism. We need strength...but it's got to be strength from beyond our human resources. Where can we look to find strength?

Billy Graham said, "A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord." Listen in with Larry Stump as he talks about what ungratefulness looks like and how the Bible calls us to be grateful in all we do.

Apathy....Indifference...Meh...Maybe the greatest danger for the Church is not people denying Jesus but people growing bored with Him. How can we move ways from indifference toward zeal?