Sunday, December 13th, 2020 | Michiana Chinese Christian Church | English Worship service

 Sunday, December 13th, 2020 | Michiana Chinese Christian Church  |  English Worship service

This week is Communion Sunday.  Please prepare the elements of the bread and the cup for yourself and family to partake.

Chinese Worship and Service: click here: http://mcccin.org/
Sunday school Materials for the Youth and Children:  

https://mccc2020youth.blogspot.com/

CALL TO WORSHIP:

WORSHIP:  ENGLISH WORSHIP MUSIC:

Upon Him | Matt Redman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-oxYcoinzI
 
Hark The Herald Angels Sing (King Of Heaven) | Paul Baloche
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3IghOn18VY
 
Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) | Amy Grant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWo3qlqyW1c

BEGIN PRAYER | SCRIPTURE | SERMON VIDEO LINKS: 

ENGLISH SERVICE

CLICK HERE> https://youtu.be/sScf9BHSOmE <CLICK HERE               

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING:       

John 3: 16-18  |  Luke 2: 1-20

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  John 3: 16-18   NKJV

 

Now lets read the greatest story ever told!

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar

Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

 

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  

Luke 2: 1-20   NKJV 

SERMON:

Teach the Children!

*Santa explains the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas.

*The Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen, with its unchanging color, represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Its needles point heavenward as a reminder that mankind's thoughts should turn heavenward as well.”

*"The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills His promises, and that wise men still seek Him."

*"Red, is the first color of Christmas." A red ornament for the tiny tree. "Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life-giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God's greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave His life and shed His blood for them that they might have eternal life. 

*A silver bell:  "Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to listen for the bell and follow the true Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep."

*A lit candle on the mantle: The soft glow from its one tiny flame brightened the room. “The glow of the candle represents how Jesus is the light of the world.  People can show their thanks for the gift of God's Son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children to follow in Christ's foot steps... to live by faith and to go about doing good.” 

*Let the light of Jesus so shine before all men that they will see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree, like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see.”

*A red and white striped cane. As I hung it on the tree, I spoke softly. “The candy cane is a stick of hard white candy.  Hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, Jesus, and the firmness of God's promises.”  

“The original candy cane is white to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus.  It also has three small red stripes, which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus, so that we can have the promise of eternal life.”

And it is in the shape of a ‘J’ to represent the Good Shepherd's crook, which He uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.”  In English, ‘J’ is also the first letter of Jesus’s name.

*a beautiful wreath made of fresh, fragrant greenery tied with a bright red bow. “The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned needles of the evergreen.”

Even its very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle, without beginning and without end.

“The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection, which is love. The bow tells the story of good will towards all men and its color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice..”

*These are the things you must teach the children.”

*A smile broke over Santa's face. “I'm only a symbol myself. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving.  If the children are taught these things about Jesus, that is the important message.”

*All of these symbols and elements of Christmas truly point to the true spirit of Christmas, Jesus Christ.  He is the true gift of Christmas, God, the Father’s gift to all men that they will turn their lives and follow Him.  

*God's love for the world, and everyone in it is so awesomely great and incomprehensible that we cannot know it except by His great gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.  God gave His only begotten Son!!

*Paul speaks of this in Romans 5:7:

     "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good 

     man someone would even dare to die."  Romans 5:7
Yet Jesus came to earth and died for sinners, people who by their actions and hearts were estranged from God, you and me.
*Christmas happens at the darkest time of the year.  We live in a dark world.

*John 3: “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

*The birth of Jesus, God’s Son at the darkest time of the year is entirely fitting and proper in a dark world of men, women and children given to sin.  

*We are given to sin in our attitudes and actions.  In the way we treat others with contempt or hatred.  And in our pride, prejudices, greed and lust.  One doesn’t have to actually commit the action to harbor hatred and lust and pride.

*God tells us in Hebrews 9:

     22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and      without shedding of blood there is no remission. [of sin]   Hebrews 9: 22 

*You and I are deserving of death for our attitudes and actions simply because we have ignored God’s righteousness and seek after our own desires and pleasures.

*God gave His only begotten Son to redeem us, to cover us with His blood for the sin we commit. 

*For those who believe in Him, we are called righteous by Him!  Sin brings death.  Jesus gives us life, here, and promises us eternal life. Jesus is alive!

*These are the lessons we must be teaching our children. 

*The truth of John 3: 16 & 17 resounds through the ages when men’s worldly philosophies run in opposite directions.  People cling to it's truth because they came to know that He who spoke those words IS alive.  In Jesus is truth!  They walk with Him everyday, and see His hand guiding them.

*This is a time for our faith to become real!  Trust Him.  Hear Him!

BENEDICTION

RESPONDING HYMN: ENGLISH

Angels from the Realms of Glory | The Piano Guys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImNs1E7xSM

English Pastor                          
Pastor Kevin Haislip                
972 800-0307                           
vinzeig@gmail.com