Teaching Notes

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." - Isaiah 42:9

Old things are passed, All things are new. Many people make New Year resolutions. This is when individuals look at their lives and think about the things they should have changed or that need to be changed and they want to make a resolution to do things better.

Often times these resolutions are forgotten a few months into the new year. This year let us do something different. The former things, which means those things that have happened before are gone. That means the good and the bad. We cannot re-live yesterday.

If you make wrong choices in 2008, thank God for keeping you to come upon the opportunity to make better ones. If you made good choices in 2008 be thankful for God's wisdom and your obedience to follow. Now you stand on the brink of a new year. You cannot re do the past, but you can make a decision right now to look forward to what God wants to do in your life for 2009.

If you were an average student in 2008, prepare to be an excellent student 2009. If you were an excellent student in 2008 seek God's help in becoming even better than you were before. If you read your Bible some in 2008, then commit to reading it more in 2009.

What is the point? The point is this, do not spend your time worry about what has happened before because you cannot change it. Do not spend your time resting on what you have accomplished in the past. You cannot move forward on what has already been done, you have to commit to doing more so that you can grow.

As we end this year I challenge you not to make a new years resolution that will soon fade away, but to making a commitment to God's plan for your life. Those former things are done. Now God wants to show you what he has ahead for you. He is the only one that can help you accomplish the challenges for 2009.

As you pray for God's direction in this upcoming year, I suggest some topics for you to pray for:

1. Pray for God's wisdom - so that you can understand the will of God.

2. Pray for God's direction - so that you can know what things God would want you to do.

3. Pray for God's strength - so that you can accomplish those things God shows you he is requiring from you.

Ask God for his help so that you can read your word as you should, pray more and follow his direction for your life.

May God bless you as we enter into 2009. What mark do you want to leave in 2009?

Teaching Notes

Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep. - Psalm 127:3

Christmas Presents to Christ. This scripture tells us that God says children are the best gift of God to family. Children are a gift just as Christ the child was the greatest gift to the world. This week we will pray as we present our gifts back to Christ. What gift is that? If God says that as children you are a gift to your family then you are the gift we present to Christ.

MONDAY

Lord today I am thankful that you say I am important to you. You formed me and created me for a great purpose. You created me first as a gift to my parents and now you want me to become a gift to the world around me. Help me to let you have the access to my life so that you can make me into the great gift to be given back to you.

TUESDAY

Lord today help me to accept my need for you. I need you as my savior, as my Lord and as my guide. I cannot become all that I was meant to be without you. I need you to be able to stand in this world so that I can become what you have designed me to be. Help me present myself to you completely. My gift to you this Christmas is myself. I give you me.

WEDNESDAY

Lord today as we draw closer to Christmas help me to understand the need for me to draw closer to you. I need you above everything else. No matter how much is going on around me I need to always see you. Help me this year to have eyes that do not lose focus of you even in the midst of the busy world around me. Help me to keep my eyes on you. As I do so, help me to also help others to see you. As they see you in me, this will help them to also see you. Help me in this next year to be more of a reflection of Christ so that those that are around me can see your effect in my life.

THURSDAY

This is Christmas day, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. Help me to celebrate the birth, death and resurrection of Christ daily. Help this to be always before me and not just once a year. Help me to find new joy in these events so that I can share it with others.

FRIDAY

I want to be more of what God has called me to be. I am thankful for being created as a gift to my family. Help me to bring joy to the lives of those that I come in contact with. Help them those that cross my path to feel that I am truly a gift, a gift from God. God have complete control of my life so that I can be presented to Christ as a true gift. God you gave your Son for me help me to give myself for your Son.

Teaching Notes

The Road to Christmas

Luke 1:26-38

MONDAY

26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you. - Luke 1:26-28

Last week we studied about the childless couple concieving a child in their old age.  Now we turn to the virgin that will concieve.  We are already looking at the miracles that God can do.  So we turn from Elizabeth who is in her sixth month of pregnancy to her cousin Mary.  The scripture tells us that Mary is a virgin that is engaged to be married to Joseph.  When Mary enters into the room an angel greets her.

Thought for the day: What do you think the greeting meant? In the KJV is states Mary is "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women". What this greeting signifies is Mary has been honored above all women because she has been chosen to carry the Son of God.  The favor on her life is because of the great purpose she has been chosen to carry out. 

What can be learned from this piece of scripture is that God has a special calling on all our lives.  There will come a time when God will reveal to you what he has purposed for your life. You may be surprises at the encounter.  You may not have even been expecting any thing to happen and then one day you have an encounter with God that calls you to hear God's purpose on your life. Are you ready to hear God's purpose for your life?

Prayer: Lord, you have ordained a purpose for me from the womb.  When you formed me you knew what you desired for my life.  Help me to see clearly that you have a purpose on my life.  Help me to see it and accept it so that you can fulfill all that you purpose in me.

TUESDAY
29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever— no end, ever, to his kingdom." - Luke 1:29-33

Mary was shaken to hear the greeting from the angel.  The angel said to Mary not to be afraid because God has something special for her.  The angel then reveals to Mary what will take place in her life.  he tells her that she will become the mother to the savior.

Thought for the Day: What do you think Mary must have felt after hearing such a greeting?  When we read tomorrows lesson we will understand what she thought.  But for right now, if you were confronted with something unthinkable you would probably wonder at the message.  Mary surely must have thought why would God choose me for this special assignment?

Mary probably did like many of us would, she wonder at the greatness of what was said.  We would probably think this could not be true, surely there must be a mistake. That is what we would do and currently do when we are faced with some things that are amazing.  God has a purpose for each of us and sometimes we cannot believe he would want us to accomplish the things he reveals to us.  Surely he could not want me to be a preacher, or a teacher or a pastor or some other thing.  Yet we can know like Mary did that if God calls you to do something he was not mistaken about who he wanted to do it, he was sure he wanted you to do it.

Prayer: Lord help me to accept the wonderful assignment you have for me.  I cannot even believe you would call me to do such wonderful things, but I will trust that if you called me to do something you will help me to accomplish it.

 
 
WEDNESDAY
34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." - Luke 1:34
 
Today we see what Mary's response was to the angel.  She could not believe it and wonder how could she have a baby when she was a virgin. 
 
Thought for the Day: Mary wondered how can I have a baby when I have not been with a man.  If we look at this one verse we can see how Mary is looking at the situation.  She is looking at it from the natural.  What I mean by that is she is looking at how one naturally has a baby.  Since she knows she has never been with anyone she cannot see how this thing will come to be.  This is a reminder for us that sometimes we are limited by our vision.  We cannot see in the "natural" how God will work something out.  This is how we are often discouraged about the things we believe God wants us to do.  We do not see how it can happen so we begin to believe it cannot happen. Yet we must learn to say, there is nothing impossible with God.
 
Prayer: Lord help me today not to look at this journey from what I "see".  Help me to walk by faith and not by my sight.  Help me to trust you to accomplish those things you have already ordained in my life.  Help me to trust you even if those around me do not seem to see what you are showing me.  Help me today to know it is not by natural means but by your power.
 
 
THURSDAY
35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.  - Luke 1:35
 
Today, the angel answers Mary's question of how this will come to be.  The angel tells Mary it will be by the Spirit of God.
 
Thought for the Day: The angel let's Mary know this thing that will happen will not be a "natural" thing but a "super natural" thing.  In other words this reminds us that those things God has told us he will do, we cannot look for them to transpire by natural means.  For example, maybe God has shown you that he wants you to go to college and accomplish something.  We get excited for a moment until we think about how it will be accomplished.  We think what "man" or person is going to help me accomplish this?  I don't have anyone that will help me so it will not come to be.  Yet, God wants you to remember this thing he wants to accomplish in your life is not by natural means but by his Spirit.  What he says will happen, he surely can bring it to be.
 
Prayer: Lord today I ask you to help me to have faith in what you can do, even those things that seem impossible to me.  I may not be able to see clearly the path but I trust that you have purpose you want to fulfill in me.  Help me to walk in it and do what you have called me to do.
 

FRIDAY
36-38 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:36-38

The angel now tells Mary about Elizabeth.  He tells her that Elizabeth has conceived a Son in her old age.

Thought for the Day: Why do you think the angel told Mary about Elizabeth?  He told her to give her a testimony of what God had already done.  Surely if he could open up the closed womb past child bearing age, he could hand this.  Mary was then moved to make a commitment to the words of the angel.  Mary accepted the assignment and said let it be done unto her.  There is something vitally important for us to understand.  When all the information has been given we stand at a cross road.  We stand at the place of acceptance.  Will you accept your assignment or will you turn away because it seems to hard to bear?  God already knew Mary would accept the assignment.  Did you know whatever God is calling you to do he already knows you can do it.  If you were not able, he would not call you to it.

Today, accept the path that God has set for you.  Accept his perfect plan and do not allow anything to get in your way.  Do not allow doubt to stop you.  Do not think there is no one here to help me, because God is with you and he will accomplish it in his power.  Let nothing or nobody stop you for fulfilling God's purpose.  Say as Mary did, let it be done unto me.

Prayer: Lord today help me to begin to walk fulling in the path you have for me.  Do not allow fears, doubts or anything to stand in my way of being what you have called me to be.  Help me today to say, let your will be done in me. Amen.

Teaching Notes

We come to worship the true king.

MONDAY
During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old. - Luke 1:5-7

This scripture sets the tone of the beginning of the book of Luke.  This story starts not with the life of Jesus and his mother Mary, but with Elizabeth and the child that she will have.  This child we will later come to know as John the Baptist.  We see that this couple is old and have never had any children.  We also get a description of their character. They lived honorably before God and kept the commandments.  They stood holy before God, yet they had not had any children.

Thoughts for today: What can we learn from the life of this couple? This couple teaches us that we must be obedient to God even when the things we desire seem to never come.  This couple could have lost hope and refused to trust God because they did not have a child.  Yet, God has another plan and we will see that as we continue this week.  For right now we can take the lesson that we must be willing to have a character that people will say we are upright before the Lord.

Prayer: Lord today help me to be like those in the scripture today. Help me to obey you and live for you even if things do not seem to be going the way I want them to.  Help me to trust that you know what is best for me, so help me trust.

TUESDAY
It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear. - Luke 1:8-12

It now fell on Zachariah to carry out the duties before God. This was his first time to do this. It was at this time that he had an encounter with God.

Thought for today: Can you image what it must have been like to have such an encounter? Well we have an idea it says that he was paralyzed with fear.  To be in the presence of God was something unexpected to say the least.  We do not yet have what was said (that will come tomorrow) but we can take away this valuable lesson.  We should always be in the place where we can meet God in the most expected ways.  How do you do that?  You simply do it by going along with the duties that God has ordained for you to do.  When you are trusting God and obeying him, he simply shows up and allows you to be in his presence.

Prayer: Lord today I thank you for your presence being with us.  Thank you for helping me to obey you.  I want to obey you more so that during this Christmas I can come to know you better. 

WEDNESDAY
But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God. "He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for God." Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."  - Luke 1:13-18

The angel told Zachariah not to be afraid.  He also came to tell him about his wife, Elizabeth.  She would have a child and he tells him what this son will do.  He will be the one that will go before Jesus and prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of Jesus.  Zachariah's response was disbelief.  How could this be since me and my wife are old?

Thought for today: What can we learn from Zachariah's doubt? We all have times when something seems to great to be that we doubt it happening.  Haven't you doubted that you might be able to get a good grade in a class or that you would not accomplish something you wanted to do?  Well this is the same thing.  Zachariah doubted because he was looking at what things were.  He was old and so was his wife so they should not be able to have children.  However what seems impossible for you and I is not impossible with God.  So for this season let us have an expectation of the impossible being possible (with God).  Let us begin to seek God for impossible things he want to do in your life.  It might seem impossible to you that you will be able to go to college.  Yet God may be waiting for you to trust in him so that he can make the impossible, possible.

Prayer: Lord there is nothing too hard for you.  There is nothing to great or wonderful that you cannot do.  Help me not to doubt like Zachariah did.  Help me not to look at my situation and think that this is all there is.  Help me to see my life with your vision and no longer with my own.

THURSDAY
But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time." Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people. - Luke 1:19-22

Because of his doubt he was not able to speak.  The angel Gabriel told him he would not be able to speak until the birth of his son.  Gabriel also told him at that time everything spoken would come to be.

Thought for today: Why do you think his mouth was shut up?  Did you know that doubt has a way of "shutting you up"?  It might not be physically but doubt has a way of stopping you from focusing on what God wants you to see.  Sometimes God has to shut us up and allow us to simply see what he can do.  When he does then we can only focus on him and no longer "voice" our doubts releasing them into the air.  In other words God does not want us speaking those doubts over our lives.  What we can learn is God wants us to trust him even when things seem too great for our understanding.  We must trust that he will do things in his time and in his way.

Prayer: Lord shut up my doubts.  Help me to release anything that stands in the way of me being able to trust in you.  If there be any doubt in my heart please remove it.  You have spoken a purpose over my life so help me to reach out and receive it.

FRIDAY
When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.  - Luke 1:23-25

The scripture says it was not long before Elizabeth conceived.  The promise that God made was going to happen.  Elizabeth's response was this is how God is going to change my life.

Thought for today: Why do you think Elizabeth responded the way she did?  Surely she was old so she may have given up on the hope of every having a child. So when what she thought was never going to happen she must have surely thought, God you are giving me back a hope that I had lost, this is how you are going to release me from this place of lack.  Did you know that we can learn a lesson about not giving up hope in what God can do.  It does not matter how long you think you have had to wait for something, God can still fix it or change it.  You might be struggling in some area and it feels like it will never end.  Yet God wants to remind us that he is able to do even what we think is impossible.  So this week as we reflect on the scripture let us think about how Christ came to offer you and I the opportunity to trust in the wondrous work of God.  It is through Christ that you and I can trust in God to make the impossible, possible.

Prayer: Lord thank you today for placing in me a purpose.  It might seem at times that the purpose will never be fulfilled but there is coming a time if I contiue to trust you, when you will bring that purpose to light.  You will birth in me that which you want.  There is nothing too hard for you.

Teaching Notes

The Road to Christmas

We are now in December. Christmas is everywhere. You can go in the stores and you can find Christmas music playing, trees decorated and the atmosphere of festivity everywhere. Is this really Christmas or something else? Well this week and up until Christmas we will take a different road than the one we see in our modern times. We want to take the road that will lead us to the true meaning of Christmas.


MONDAY
The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. - Matthew 1:18-19

Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant and he did not want to disgrace her. Joseph had every right to be upset. The woman he was to marry was having a baby and he knew it was not his. Yet his first concern was not about himself but about Mary. He wanted to keep her save. Mary could have been more than disgraced she could have been stoned because of her apparent sins.


Thought for the day: What lesson does Joseph teach us on our journey toward Christmas? Joseph teaches us that we must be more concerned for others than ourselves. We may have situations or things done to us that are really wrong, but we should not seek to harm others because of it. What sometimes "appears" to be wrong, doesn't have to be. This situation appear to Joseph to be wrong, but it was not it was part of God's plan. And had he reacted differently he may have been out of God's will. This lets us know that even if things do not appear right, we should seek God because he knows all that is behind the scene.


Prayer: Lord help me during this time of the year not to react to things that appear to be wrong. Help me instead seek you and find out what is the right way to handle it.



TUESDAY
While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—'God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins." This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us"). - Matthew 20-23


Yesterday we talked about Joseph having the correct response. This continues that lesson. While Joseph was thinking about what to do, he had a dream where God showed him that this was his doing. He also told Joseph to marry Mary and that the child she was carrying was the Messiah, the savior of the world.

Thought for the day: When we stop and think about what should be done before reacting we give God the opportunity to show us. Joseph shows us that when we wait for direction we will recieve it. For our journey into what Christmas is all about, we need to learn this lesson about waiting on God. Christmas is a time we share with family and friends, however God wants us to take a closer look at what it really means to him. It means you are willing to be like Joseph. Joseph was willing to take some "heat" for God. Can you image what people might have thought about him with a pregnant wife and the child was not his? For us today it reminds us that we will be willing for people to even misunderstand us if it will allow God's perfect plan to be fulfilled in our lives.


Prayer: Lord help me today to wait for you to speak clearly to me. While Joseph was thinking about what to do, you sent your answer. While I wait for you to show me your plan for my life, please send your answer. And when you do, I will walk it that way even if I have to take some heat for it.


WEDNESDAY
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus. - Matthew 1:24-25

When God finished showing Joseph what to do, he then obeyed it. He did just as God told him to.

Thought for Today: This simple statement is important for us as we journey together. We must be willing to obey God in whatever he tells us to do, even if we do not always understand what the complete outcome will be. Joseph followed what God told him even though he does not have the complete lay out of what this will call for from his life. We often do not want to do things unless we know how much effort and sacrifice it will call for us to give. Yet we must be willing to trust God and simply follow.

Prayer: Lord help me to follow you. As I journey on this road to understand what you want me to see through Christmas help me to understand you are showing me the importance of obedience. When I am obedient to you this allows your purpose and plan to be fulfilled in my life and the lives of others. Help me to follow.


THURDSAY
Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. - Matthew 2:9-11

The wise men or scholars as this version calls them were seeking to find where Jesus was born. The king Herod heard this and had the wise men brought to him so he could try and find out the information. When he finished talking to the men he told them to come back and tell him where the child was. After this conversation the men set off and found where the child was at that was born.


Thought for Today: King Herod was disturbed because he did not want any other king being honored besides himself. The three men when they went into see king Herod we do not hear of them bowing down and paying honor to him. Yet we see them doing differently to this child that was born. They were overcome with joy and they worshipped him. The brought him gifts. All these gifts point to him being the true king. This is a reminder for us today that we should not allow the ruler of this world to take our affections. The three wise men did not give their praises to the wrong king. They praise the true King. Jesus is the true king. We should not give our praise and our offerings (those things that are important to us) to anyone else but God.

Prayer: Lord help me to give you all the honor that is due you. Help me not allow anything else to be more important than you are in my life. Help me to see the importance of total submission to you. I want to rejoice and find joy in your presence.



FRIDAY
In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country. After the scholars were gone, God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him." Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: "I called my son out of Egypt." - Matthew 2:12-15


After the wise men saw the child they were warned in a dream not to go back and tell Herod where Jesus was. Herod was angry so he made a decree to have the infants killed from the age of a newborn to about 2 years old. God speaks to Joseph and tells him to take the child and go to Egypt. In Joseph's obedience this action fulfills scripture spoke of by the prophet Hosea that God would call his son from Egypt.


Thought for Today: It seems as we read the scripture that if Jesus was meant to be born why was there so much drama going on around him? Why didn't God make it easier? That is sometimes the same questions we ask about our own lives, why doesn't God make it easier if he wants to fulfill something in us? God does not promise us that life would be without conflict, but what he wants to show us through the life of his son is that even conflicts cannot stop his plan and purpose. Take comfort in this truth. There is not one thing you can face in this life that can stop God's plan for you. Jesus faced all so that you and I could have confidence in his power to help us reach his plan. This week as we journeyed on our way to Christmas we saw that God requires us to obey him even in situations that we do not fully understand. He also showed us that he wants nothing to take his place of honor. He is the true king and we must worship only him. Then he showed us that if we obey him he will protect us and help us to reach his purpose for our lives.

Prayer: Lord you have a plan that is specific for my life. Help me to hear you. Also help me to walk in the way that you have for me so that I can reach and fulfill your purpose for me. It was through this Christmas Gift of Christ that you opened up all that is available to me. Help me offer this gift to someone else.