SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS
DECEMBER 12, 2010
Y Pray for the co-workers of
Gina Irlbeck who are suffering
from health problems.
Y Pray for Gary Wassam as he
looks for a job.
Y Pray for Dan Ryan, friend of
John Ivers.
Y Pray for those affected by the
collapse of the Dome.
Y Pray for understanding,
peace, acceptance and love
for the Tse family.
Y Pray for Bill Fink as he looks
for a job.
Y Pray for Stephen Muhia as he
struggles with finances.
Y Continue to pray for Kevin and
Nancy for their health and
recovery.
Y Continue to pray for Bill Fink’s
dad who is struggling with his
health.
Y Pray for continued courage on
Dwight Zvorak’s recovery
from alcoholism.
DEVOTION
We have probably read or heard the
Christmas story hundreds, maybe even
thousands of times. But despite the
large number of times we’ve
encountered the story, the details never
get old. We can continue to learn more
by reading the story.
On this Christmas week, I’ve shared the
birth story of Jesus. It can be found only
in Matthew’s and Luke’s gospel. Mark
starts out with Jesus as an adult and
except for the first eighteen verses of
John, this gospel does too.
Each day I’ve tried to lift up a different
piece of the birth story of Jesus. I pray
that your heart will burn even brighter
this week because you’ve encountered
the Christmas story in a new way.
Comments and thoughts about the
devotion can be E-mailed to Pastor Paul
at pastor@colpres.org. Enjoy!!
Monday, December 20
Read Luke 2:1-20
The contrast between Jesus’ birth and
what was happening in the world could
not be more stark in the first seven
verses of the story. The most powerful
Emperor Cesar called for everyone to be
registered. He had the ability to cause
thousands of people to travel.
Jesus was born in the small town of
Bethlehem, to a teenage girl, with not
doctors or nurses surrounding him. The
manger was a feed trough.
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Here is God—vulnerable, lying in a feed
trough, probably only attended to by his
teenage mother and Joseph, who at one
moment was thinking of dismissing Mary
from their engagement.
Despite this contrast, this week the
world is preparing to celebrate the birth
of Jesus; Emperor Cesar is still known,
but his power is small in comparison.
Today, as you pray, thank God for taking
a risk in having Jesus enter the world in
this risky way.
Tuesday, December 21
Read Matthew 1:18-25
According to the customs of the time,
Joseph and Mary would have been part
of a two-stage process of marriage. The
first stage was betrothal or
engagement. When a woman was
engaged to a man she was bound to him
through her words of consent. This
usually took place when the woman was
twelve or thirteen. At this point the
woman was viewed by society as the
man’s wife.
After a year the woman would move out
of her own home and into the man’s
home. When Jesus was born Joseph and
Mary were between the two stages.
The above information was taken from
“Matthew” by Thomas Long, page 12.
Imagine the shock that Joseph felt when
he discovered that Mary was pregnant!
Today as you pray, share a prayer of
thanksgiving for Joseph.
Wednesday, December 22
Read Luke 2:1-20
The phrase, “Do not Be Afraid” (here
found Luke 2:10) is found frequently in
the Scriptures. If you have some extra
time look at some examples in the Old
Testament: Genesis 35:17, Genesis
43:23, Joshua 10:25, 1 Samuel 4:20, 1
Samuel 12:20, 2 Samuel 9:7.
In Luke the phrase had already been
used twice. In each situation an angel
said the phrase to someone who was
very scared. The first was Luke 1:13—
an angel speaking to Zechariah, John
the Baptist’s father, in the Temple. The
second was Luke 1:30—when Gabriel
appeared to Mary.
The shepherds had every reason to be
afraid when they saw the angel of the
Lord. Instead the angel reassured them.
What a source of comfort that a
messenger of God would not want
people to be afraid.
What fears are you struggling with right
now? Imagine an angel coming to you
and saying, “Be not be afraid!”
Thursday, December 23
Read Matthew 1:18-25
We don’t know much about Joseph from
the Scriptures. He disappears from the
Bible after the story of Jesus being
presented in the Temple—Luke 2:41-52.
One tradition has Joseph dying shortly
after Jesus was 12 years old. The
Protevangelium of James, and
apocryphal gospel written most likely in
the 2nd century had Joseph as an old
man with children from a previous
marriage when he took Mary as his wife.
Joseph was hardly mentioned in Luke’s
version of the birth story.
4
Though we don’t know much about
Joseph, we know that he was an
important figure in Jesus’ development.
Today as you pray, again give thanks for
Joseph.
Friday, December 24
Read Luke 2:1-20
It must have been quite remarkable for
Mary to be visited by the shepherds
shortly after Jesus was born. The
shepherds confirmed the message that
Mary had received earlier from the
angel, Gabriel. The message was that
this little baby was going to be the
Messiah.
Often we might wonder how do we know
if God is speaking to us. One way is
through confirmation. Mary was visited
by an angel and told that she would
have God’s son. After Jesus was born
Mary was visited by the shepherds and
told that this was God’s son. This
startling idea was confirmed by different
and independent sources.
When we receive an idea, see if
different people can agree to it. This
confirmation is one way to know if God
is behind the idea.
Today is Christmas Eve. We at Chain of
Lakes will be worshipping at 6:30 p.m.
tonight at a candlelight service with
Communion.
Saturday, December 25
Read Matthew 1:18-25
Merry Christmas!! Though your day is
probably busy, take some time to give
thanks and to praise God for the gift of
Jesus.
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Jesus comes from the Greek form of a
common Hebrew name (Joshua) which
transliterated is yasha’, which means
“he saves.”

The birth of Jesus saves us from our

sins.

Today as you celebrate Christmas,

thank God for this eternal gift of grace!