Dear ministers of Jesus:
[caption id="attachment_5219" align="alignright" width="195"] Greg and Susan Williams[/caption]
This issue of Equipper focuses on preparing us for ministry during the upcoming Advent-Christmas season when we'll celebrate Jesus' three comings: 1) his future bodily return in glory, 2) his coming now through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and 3) his coming 2,000 years ago through his incarnation and birth.
This season is a great opportunity for us to share Jesus with people who don't yet know him, though talking about our Lord and Savior should be part of our conversation throughout the year.
I was reminded of that recently as I read Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday... Read the article
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Scripture readings: 2 Sam. 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46-55;
Rom. 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-28
Sermon by Sheila Graham from Luke chapter 1, and 2 Samuel chapter 7
Jesus, a Promise Fulfilled
Introduction
As we come to the close of our celebration of Advent and look forward to Christmas Day tomorrow, we continue to look back and also forward to the overwhelming significance of what the Incarnation of the Son of God means to us as human beings. From Genesis on, the Scriptures point to the fulfilment of the promise that God would send a Messiah to save his people. God promised both Abraham and later David that the Messiah would come from their descendants.
Promises fulfilled
God made many promises concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament. As we... Read the article
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This November issue of "Equipper" (articles and sermons linked below) is focused on helping you prepare for the upcoming Advent-Christmas season.
From Greg: Go tell it on the mountain!
Greg Williams encourages us to use the upcoming Advent-Christmas season and every day to share with others the good news of Jesus.
On Leadership: Go to the source
Continuing our series on leadership, Rick Shallenberger addresses an approach that avoids the problem of making decisions based on gossip.
Kid's Korner: Using Christmas to teach children about Jesus
Ted Johnston shares ways parents and children's ministers can use Christmas to teach kids the good news about Jesus.
RCL sermons for December
Here are five sermons synced with... Read the article
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This Kids Korner is from GenMin co-founder and Equipper editor Ted Johnston. This article excerpts a version published on the GCI.org website.
[caption id="attachment_340" align="alignright" width="156"] Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives. (Proverbs 22:6)[/caption]
Parents or guardians are usually the most important influences in children’s spiritual development. This reality presents both a responsibility and an opportunity. Concerning the responsibility, parents have the God-given assignment to teach their children about God and his love (Deut. 4:10; 6:7). Concerning the opportunity, young children tend to see their parents as “god-like” in authority and credibility.
Because this... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Isa. 61:1-4, 8:11; Ps. 126
1 Thess. 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
Sermon by Martin Manuel from Ps. 126 and John 1:6-8, 19-28
Baptism, Jesus and Joy
Introduction
We are in the midst of the Advent-Christmas season when, more than any other time of the year, joy is in the air---the joy we read about in Psalm 126:
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. (Ps. 126:1-3)
Let's sing about that joy in a popular Gospel song:
On YouTube at https://youtu.be/86_MXU76e0c.
... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Isa. 40:1-11; Ps. 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Pet. 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8
Sermon by Ted Johnston from 2 Pet. 3:1-15a
(drawing on commentary from Warren Wiersbe in The Bible Expository Commentary and David Wheaton in The New Bible Commentary)
Gospel-centered diligence
Introduction
Today on the second Sunday of Advent, our focus continues to be the promised return of Jesus. A classic passage addressing that advent is found in 2 Peter chapter 3. In chapter 2, Peter is addressing the problem of false teachers troubling the churches in Asia Minor with their "destructive heresies" (2 Pet. 2:1). He pulls no punches, calling them out to warn his readers to steer clear of their false teachings (also good advice in our day!).
[caption... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Isa. 64:1-9; Ps. 80:1-7, 17-19
1 Cor. 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
Sermon by Michelle Fleming from 1 Cor. 1:3-9
Expectant Waiting
Introduction
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Ezek. 34:11-16, 20-24; Ps. 100
Eph.1:15-23; Matt.25:31-46
Sermon by Martin Manuel from Matthew 25:31-46
Responding to King Jesus
Introduction
Today is Christ the King Sunday---the last Sunday during what the lectionary calls "ordinary time"---the time between Pentecost and Advent. Our readings today appropriately address the truth that God is the good shepherd, and his faithful sheep respond to his loving, protective care with worship. There is also a warning to those who don't respond.
[caption id="attachment_5680" align="aligncenter" width="284"] (source)[/caption]
As our shepherd, Christ deals with predators who threaten his flock. It's in that context that Matthew tells us of the time when Jesus returns... Read the article
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This sermon is for Thanksgiving Day (November 23). It could also be used for a pre- or post-Thanksgiving worship service.
Scripture readings: Deut. 8:7-18; Ps. 65
2 Cor. 9:6-15; Luke 17:11-19
Sermon by Josh McDonald from Luke 17:11-19
Double Stranger---Double Grateful
Introduction
In Luke 17:11 we find Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, traveling along the border between Samaria and his home area of Galilee (see the map below). This means he was journeying in what was considered "no-man’s land," for Samaritans and Jews went out of their way to avoid contact (for the history of this rift, click here).
[caption id="attachment_5799" align="aligncenter" width="415"] (source)[/caption]
The Samaritans were descendants of the... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Judges 4:1-7 and Ps. 123
(or Zeph.1:7, 12-18 and Ps. 90:1-12)
1 Thess. 5:1-11; Matt. 25:14-30
Sermon by Lance McKinnon from Matthew 25:14-30
God's Got Talent
Introduction
In our Gospel reading today, we're taken to Matthew's account of Jesus' Parable of the Talents. Reading this parable on the Sunday before Thanksgiving is a helpful reminder of how a response of thankfulness plays out in our journey with Jesus.
What this parable is not about
This parable could easily be viewed as an admonition concerning stewardship of everything from our spiritual gifts, money, time, abilities and, of course, our talents. The problem with that approach is that the focus can end up being on our talents, and how well we manage... Read the article
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