The final Bible study of the year will be on Thursday (20th December), when we will continue to look at James 4.

Karl Barth, the eminent Swiss theologian, said, “Charis always demands eucharistia”. In other words, grace always demands gratitude. There is a short verse in James 4 that can almost slip us by in its gentleness: “But He gives us more grace.” (James 4:6) Yet its truths can reach deep within and transform the most difficult of circumstances.

More grace. Grace available for every need. Sufficient grace (2 Cor 12:9). Grace that will never run out. Grace that transforms situations and helps us to walk through dark times.

The only appropriate response to that grace is thanksgiving. We overflow with thanks. We are grateful. We deserved judgment, but find mercy instead. Grace seasons the sorrows and leads us to faith.

What other gems will we find in James 4? Come along and find out!

For many of us, music is very important, but the constant Christmas jingles blaring out from supermarkets and in shopping centres can be a draining experience. The fact that these start in early November and go on ceaselessly until the New Year often detracts from our enjoyment of the season; yesterday, I had to swim to the strains of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and other Christmas songs, which always seems rather pointless to me, given that much of the time swimming is spent with water in the ears rendering hearing difficult!

There is also, I think, a vast difference between Christmas songs and Christian songs. The former cover a whole range of themes, ranging from snow (‘Winter Wonderland’, ‘Frosty the Snowman’, ‘Let It Snow’), to Father Christmas (poor old Santa stuck up the chimney or fortunate Santa kissing Mummy, depending on your point of view), to what I call the ‘mulled wine’ experience (‘Mistletoe and Wine’, ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire’ and so on.) Schmaltz doesn’t do much for me personally and I often feel irritated by these lyrics, especially those that combine ‘lurve’ with Christmas (my particular bête noire is the one where you give your heart away on Christmas Day only to have it broken on Boxing Day…) The latter are not exempt from sentimentality (do we really think Jesus never cried as a baby?), but at least they do focus on the reason we are celebrating, rather than simply telling us to be happy without giving us any reason why we might actually find joy!

One of the best Christian albums on this theme I know is Michael Card’s ‘The Final Word’, which looks at the incarnation of Christ. There are songs on this album which would never make it onto the supermarkets’ happy jingles, but which reflect the whole gamut of emotions of Christmas (‘Spirit of the Age’ looks at the slaughter of the innocents, for example, and reminds us that this slaughter continues to this present day: ‘innocent and helpless little babies/ offerings to the spirit of the age.’)

For me, the whole message of Christmas is summed up in the title track: ‘The Final Word’. Let’s leave the sentimentality to one side, forget about the peripherals of the presents and food and decorations (all of which I greatly enjoy, lest you think I am anti-Christmas!), and focus on Christ Himself, our offering and sacrifice, ‘manna became Man.’

“You and me, we use so very many clumsy words.
The noise of what we often say is not worth being heard.
When the Father’s wisdom wanted to communicate His love,
He spoke it in one final perfect Word.

And so the Light became alive and manna became Man.
Eternity stepped into time so we could understand.” (Michael Card, ‘The Final Word’)
Michael Card, ‘The Final Word’

Mark announced a special month of prayer and fasting in January 2013. Church members were encouraged to sign up to specific days for praying and fasting so that we can, between us, cover the whole month with prayer.

Pray that we will see:
1. the community regeneration scheme put back on schedule (this involves schools, housing, refurbishment, street regeneration etc.)
2. the people of Goldthorpe of all ages coming to know God, their lives being impacted by the Holy Spirit
3. God’s blessing, guidance and protection as we prayer walk the streets
4. the empty chairs in church filled (with families, with old people, and with young people alike) so that there is an increase in the congregation
5. God’s direction on the spiritual and practical outreach that He wants us to do (so that we have wisdom to do the right thing & put on the right events)
6. the development and training of people into their calling and ministry
7. Pray for wisdom, vision, strength, protection and health for your church leaders and their families
8. signs and wonders in God’s house; the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be present and active in us!
9. people who have backslidden return to God and to church
10. continued blessing on our outreaches (Mother & Toddler, Youth, badminton & food scheme)

Don’t forget the two carol services scheduled for the week ahead!

Joint Community Carol Service on Friday 21st December at 7 p.m.

We will be joining with the local parish church and Salvation Army to hold this open-air carol service on Friday. Children from the local school will also be joining us. Wrap up warmly and come along to proclaim Christ’s birth to the town! Refreshments will be served after the service. If weather is bad, we will hold the service inside the parish church.

Carol Service on Sunday 23rd December at 6 p.m.

The carol service (entitled ‘Christmas Unwrapped’) will be the usual mix of the old and new, with a range of carols, activities, games and interactive fun. Refreshments will be served after the service and there will doubtless be presents to unwrap as well…

In addition to these services, don’t forget the usual New Year’s Day party at church on 4 p.m.

Dave looked last night at the character of Joseph, another supporting character in the birth stories of Jesus.

Joseph was a skilled carpenter in Nazareth. Doubtless he learned his trade from his father, Jacob, and would have expected his family to continue in this trade. He was pledged to be married to Mary and was probably envisaging a quiet future with his wife. The angelic visit, confirming Mary’s confusing words to him, must have come as quite a shock!

Mary’s news would have devastated Joseph and rocked his world. Tales of angels and miraculous conceptions must have seemed too incredible to be believed. He loved Mary and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, but could not cope with the news she had given him. Into the tumult of this confusion, an angel appeared to him in a dream (Matt 1:18-25) with startling confirmation and direction.

Joseph was required to embrace a mystery. A different role was required from him than that which he had perhaps envisaged for himself. He has to accept by faith the impossible, learning that with God, nothing is impossible. He learns the all-important lesson that salvation is what God does for us, not what we do for God.

Joseph has to go about the child’s business from now on. His function is to provide the child with a home and give Him a name, thus linking the lineage of Jesus to that of David. Joseph is there at His birth in the humble stable and eight days later takes Him to be circumcised according to the law, giving Him that all important name, Jesus, ‘for He shall save His people from their sins.’ He is a powerful example of obedience to us.

Joseph’s sensitivity and obedience are reflected in his willingness to flee to Egypt when commanded and to return when instructed. He has learned, in the words of the old hymn, to ‘trust and obey’.

Joseph accepted the mission of embracing the child and going about His business. We too need to be about the business of the Son, seeking to do His will in everything we do.

John preached this morning on 5 promises God makes to us:

(1) Divine relationship: “I will build my church.”
In Matthew16:1-20, Jesus says that it is God’s divine intention to build His church. That church is built upon our relationship with Jesus (see Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah). The church is not necessarily about numbers, but about those who have a relationship with God. The church is not built on human wisdom or human values but is based on the cross of Christ.

(2) Divine instruction: “I will make you fishers of men.”
Those who follow Jesus are given the promise that He will make us fishers of men. The church is built not by following our own agenda but by following God. We are to take our cross and deny ourselves and follow Jesus, showing compassion and love to others (as Paul did to the Philippian jailer, resulting in his conversion to Christ.)

(3) Divine infilling: “I will pour out my Spirit.”
The promise of the Holy Spirit is given so that we can effectively witness to Christ. The Holy Spirit does not come to make us look good or for ‘spectacle’, not for our vanity but to give us the power to witness for Christ. He is not for show but for sanctification.

(4) Divine insurance: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
God promised His ongoing presence to people. Those who follow Jesus hear the Shepherd’s voice and have God as our helper and protector (see Psalm 121).

(5) Divine inheritance: “I will come again.”
We have the promise that Christ has gone to prepare a place for us (see John 14) and that He will return for His church, His bride. We are not deceived and led astray because we are listening to His voice and hear Him leading us in the everlasting way. We can be sure that He will come again, just as He promised.