Links
Give online: http://paxchristian.churchcenter.com/giving
Worship playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/31nCCT9liNV1opNFWsNYQJ?si=-u10n6U8SBS9TyIHp-YPaQ
Find/join a house church: https://paxchristian.churchcenter.com/groups/house-churches
Message Notes
Get the notes on the Bible app/YouVersion here.
PAX Christian Church
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Love | Brian Lucas | 12/20/20 (Advent 3 of 4)
PAX Christian Church is a non-denominational church in the Carson Valley of western Nevada.
LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE.
In the darkness, the presence of a loved one brings safety, security, peace, and hope.
In these dark times, the presence of a loving God and Savior brings safety, security, peace, and hope.
LET YOUR LIFE SHINE WITH THE LIGHT AND LOVE OF CHRIST.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD
MAKING A WAY (SENDING JESUS)
FOR OUR SALVATION.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT AND LIFE WITHIN US.
GOD IS LOVE, AND JESUS IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THAT LOVE.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD
MAKING A WAY (SENDING JESUS)
FOR OUR SALVATION.
LET YOUR LIFE SHINE WITH THE LIGHT AND LOVE OF CHRIST.
John 1:6-8
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
JOHN WAS SENT TO TESTIFY.
WHY?
SO THAT ALL MIGHT BELIEVE.
WHY?
BECAUSE ALL WHO BELIEVE WILL BE SAVED.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD
MAKING A WAY (SENDING JESUS)
FOR OUR SALVATION.
JOHN IS A WITNESS.
WE ARE TO BE WITNESSES.
LET YOUR LIFE SHINE WITH THE LIGHT AND LOVE OF CHRIST.
John 1:9-13
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
THE LIGHT IS THE ANSWER TO THE DARKNESS:
JESUS IS THE LIGHT.
THE LOVE OF GOD BRINGS US SALVATION. HOPE. JOY. PEACE.
WE ARE ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY WHEN WE ACCEPT THE OFFERING OF GOD’S LOVE: JESUS.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
EMMANUEL = GOD WITH US.
PROPHESIED HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE,
JESUS (THE WORD) BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD…
LOVE IS ABOUT SACRIFICE.
JESUS GAVE UP HEAVEN TO BE WITH US.
GOD GAVE UP HIS ONE AND ONLY SON.
“WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY…”
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD
MAKING A WAY (SENDING JESUS)
FOR OUR SALVATION.
LET YOUR LIFE SHINE WITH THE LIGHT AND LOVE OF CHRIST.
John 1:15-18
(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD
MAKING A WAY (SENDING JESUS)
FOR OUR SALVATION.
LET YOUR LIFE SHINE WITH THE LIGHT AND LOVE OF CHRIST.
COMMUNION
We will be taking communion together today. If you are joining us in person, get the communion juice and wafer from the table at the entrance to the sanctuary. If you are joining us online, please find some bread and juice or wine and join us from where you are.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Give Online
You can give via text as well. Just text any dollar amount to 84321 and you will receive a link to set up text giving.
http://paxchristian.churchcenter.com/giving
Connection Card
If you joined us today in person or online, we want to get to know you better! Please fill out the connection card and let us know how to connect with you, and any prayer requests and questions you have.
https://paxchristian.churchcenter.com/people/forms/198864
CHRISTMAS OFFERING: 100% goes to ALPACAS
A PACK OF ‘PACAS FROM PAX!
We are partnering with World Vision to buy ALPACAS for Christmas!
Each alpaca costs $360.
100% of our offering for Christmas (Tuesday 12/22 – Saturday 12/26) will go to our Alpaca gift with World Vision.
“Alpacas are a great investment in a family’s future! Durable alpaca fiber is prized for its strength and warmth. Each animal produces up to 10 pounds of valuable wool a year, and alpacas live about 20 years. That’s long-term income for farming families in the Andean highlands.” (World Vision)
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