HIS BIRTH AND OUR NEW BIRTH
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23
His Birth in History. “Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being, He is a Being who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside. His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the lowliest door. Our Lord’s birth was an advent.
His Birth in Me. “Of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:19). Just as Our Lord came into human history from outside, so He must come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter into the realm of the Kingdom of God unless I am born from above by a birth totally unlike natural birth. “Ye must be born again.” This is not a command, it is a foundation fact. The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me. Immediately Christ is formed in me, His nature begins to work through me.
God manifest in the flesh — that is what is made profoundly possible for you and me by the Redemption. – Oswald Chambers
The Lord's Day Services
Sunday, December 24th
NO Sunday School today
11:00a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
International Lunch following the morning service.
2:30p.m. Afternoon Service – Scripture Reading & Carols
NO Evening Service today.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
On behalf of the entire Session and Board of TFPC, I want to wish each of you and blessed Christmas and a new year filled with the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your love and prayers and all the practical support given throughout 2017.
Pastor Saunders.
Advance Announcements
Sunday, December 31st
10:00a.m. NO Sunday school today
11:00a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
6:00p.m. Pre-service Prayer Meeting
6:30p.m. Evening Service – Testimony & Praise Service
Wednesday, January 3rd
7:25p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
Please note there will be no Sunday school on the December 24th & 31st to give the teachers a well-earned rest.
CHRISTMAS CARD APPEAL
Each year, instead of exchanging Christmas cards among the congregation, we donate those funds to a worthy cause. This year we are supporting the Good News Bible Club. If you would like to help with this special offering, please mark you offering envelope, “GNBC”. Thank you!
BAPTISMAL SERVICE
We are planning to have a baptismal service at the end of January. If you have come to Christ in salvation and desire to be baptized, please speak to Dr. Saunders.
