Merry Christmas: Be A Kid Again

Verde Valley Christian Church
Dec 25 – 31, 2022

Title: "Merry Christmas: Be A Kid Again"
Speaker: Doug Bridge

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

Matthew 18:1-5
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. "And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

Be A Kid Again!
Turn from sin . . .
Be HUMBLE

Philippians 2:15
so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 

Christmas Celebrated

Verde Valley Christian Church
Dec 18 – 24, 2022

Series: The Story Of Reality - Christmas
Title: "Christmas Celebrated"
Speaker: Jim Hammond

I. God gave you a PERSONALIZED and WRAPPED gift

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1-3
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.

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.

Hebrews 10:5-7
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.' "

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

II. HIDDEN by his HUMANITY and HUMILITY

Luke 2:7
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

III. Many people can't see past the WRAPPER

Luke 2:8-12
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Christmas Anticipated

Verde Valley Christian Church
Dec 11 – 17, 2022

Series: The Story Of Reality - Christmas
Title: "Christmas Anticipated"
Speaker: Jim Hammond

Psalms 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

I. While you are WAITING, God is WORKING

Matthew 1:20-23
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

When God is silent, it doesn’t mean he is absent. 

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

II. God's DELAYS are not necessarily God's DENIALS

Isaiah 64:4
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

Psalms 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalms 27:8
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Next step 

Lift your eyes from your problems and look to the Lord and say this: “Lord, I will seek your face, anyway.”

Christmas Predicted

Verde Valley Christian Church

Series: The Story Of Reality - Christmas
Title: "Christmas Predicted"
Speaker: Jim Hammond

How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? What are all of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus?

Isaiah 46:10
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'

I. You don't have to ABANDON your BRAIN to believe!

II. We must use our MINDS to understand the SIGNS

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.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:2
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Galatians 4:4
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

III. BELIEVE the prophecies and RECEIVE the SON

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.