December 4, 2023
Dec. 10 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Eternal Life” (John 3:1-21), by Mark Scott.
Articles for tag: Christmas Season
December 20, 2022
News that Moved Both Heaven and Earth to Rejoice
Luke 2 describes a sky full of heavenly hosts giving glory to God because a Savior had been born. . . . Angels appear elsewhere in Scripture and bring significant news. But those appearances are not followed by a sky full of heavenly beings giving glory to God. . . .
December 14, 2021
Giftmart Ministry Takes Big Steps Back to Normalcy This Christmas
Amy Plummer says the COVID-19 pandemic certainly hasn’t made it easier to reach at-risk families in her community with the love of Christ. Plummer oversees a ministry called Giftmart at Community Christian Church, a multisite congregation in the Chicago metro. Now in its 19th year, Giftmart collects toys for families in need to purchase at a deep discount. . . .
December 13, 2021
Dec. 19 | Discovery
Through the rest of the Christmas season, how will you follow the shepherds’ example of spreading “the word concerning what had been told them about this child”?
November 1, 2021
Doing Ministry During the Holidays
By Jim Estep Christmas is undeniably the most celebrated season of the year. It used to begin with Thanksgiving (the time my wife allows me to set up the tree and decorate the house), but it seems like we begin seeing Christmas items on television and on store shelves earlier and earlier. QVC began having Christmas specials in July! Society may be better prepared for Christmas than the church, although for different reasons. The holiday season, particularly from Thanksgiving to Christmas, offers the church an unprecedented opportunity to minister. However, like most opportunities, we can fail to make the most
May 1, 2021
SPOTLIGHT: 2|42 Community Church (Michigan)
No Needs Meets Many Needs The first few months of 2020 brought a series of major changes to 2|42 Community Church. First, the church added three new campuses, increasing its total number of locations from four to seven. Next, founding pastor David Dummitt departed after accepting the call to serve as senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Then, of course, the pandemic shut down live worship services at all seven of the congregation’s campuses. Despite all of that, executive pastor Eric Rauch said the most significant event of 2020 was “The No Needs Project,” a
November 22, 2020
Worship God . . . No Matter What
Three hundred children were dressed and ready for school when the orphanage’s housemother came to George Mueller and told him there was no food to feed them. Without panicking, Mueller asked her to take the children to the dining room and prepare them for a meal. He blessed the food that they did not have, and he waited. He was confident God would provide. Within minutes, there was a knock at the door. It was a baker who said he could not sleep and somehow knew the orphanage needed bread that day. The baker brought in three batches of bread,
December 20, 2017
In Season, Out of Season
This Christmas editorial from December 20, 1969, was written by Edwin V. Hayden, who served as editor of Christian Standard from 1957 to 1977. ___ By Edwin V. Hayden We observe, without being greatly disturbed by it, a growing tendency for Christmas to be observed as a season rather than as a day. For many it is a season of merchandising and merriment, merely extending what they have always done with the day. For Christians it is a season for becoming acquainted with Christ, and the more greatly that is extended, the better! It is hard to pinpoint Christmas, even as a
December 30, 2015
Meditating on Love: December 30
By Becky Ahlberg Wednesday, December 30 Read 1 Corinthians 13 through the lens of Christmas. Verses 1-3 can sum up much of our problem with the whole Christmas season: it is filled with busyness and observances that are often void of “the real meaning of Christmas.” Why? Because they “do not have love.” How many gifts did you give out of obligation? How many parties did you attend because it wouldn”t look good to miss them? I hope you were able to do plenty of things that were filled with love. That is what keeps the season overflowing with love
December 5, 2015
Celebrate Your Volunteers This Season
By Michael C. Mack This is a great time of year to say thank-you and let your volunteers know how much you appreciate them for their service. Here are five simple but significant giving ideas: 1. Be sure your gift communicates that you care about and appreciate each person as an individual. 2. If you have a large number of volunteers, it may be cost prohibitive to send each one an extravagant gift, but you can send a high-quality Christmas card””not the $3 boxed set of 100 cards!””with a personal note in each one, thanking them for their ministry, letting
