Putting on the New Man

The New Year – the time that we typically talk about resolutions and turning over new leaves. We set goals for weight loss, exercise, spiritual disciplines, and spending time with family and friends. Setting goals is always good, even if many resolutions are dropped by February.
For our next worship service, we’re going to have a slightly different focus to bring in the New Year. Instead of focusing on turning a new leave, we’re going to focus on putting on the new man. And we’re going to hear a lot from our church family during this time.
Please plan on joining us promptly at 10:30. Instead of our normal praise and worship and time, we will have an opportunity to discuss in small groups ideas about putting on the new man. Then at 11, we’ll enjoy the benefit of each group’s discussion as we worship God together.

Christmas Through the Eyes of Little Munchkins

In our sermon series, we've been looking at Christmas through the eyes of various characters in the original Christmas story. We ended the series as a church on Christmas Eve with "Christmas Through the Eyes of Dublin Bible Church." Although we were out of town for this event, all reports I've had are that it was a great way to cap off our series.

Instead of being with my church family, Lynne and I were with her family in Kansas City (I'm in the KC airport as I write, waiting for my flight to Atlanta so that I can then drive to Dallas for a week of class). We brought Lynne's parents from St. Louis to her brother's family north of KC. We even got the treat of the most snow on Christmas Day in KC since before I was born.

The delight of our trip was being with our nieces, Elise (6) and Megan (4). We got to see Christmas through the eyes of these two munchkin bundles of fun. Of course they were excited about the presents (happily, they enjoyed giving as much as receiving). But at several turns throughout the week, we asked them in different ways what Christmas means. Without fail, they responded that we're celebrating the birth of Jesus, who came in order to pay for our sins on the Cross.

We thought we were teaching them.

After a wonderful Christmas dinner of prime rib, Elise asked if we were going to have some sort of party for Jesus' birthday. Quickly, their mother (Talli) said, "Sure!" I could tell that nothing was already planned, but that we couldn't miss this opportunity. So, we took the Christmas cake, put candles in it, and the girls led us in singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

How simply logical. If the holiday is really about celebrating His birth, we should do what we do for birthdays. You can't help but appreciate how their way of "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" is more immediate and rational than all the theologically didactic ways we can construct. We absolutely must teach them, and their request was born out of the more didactic moments. But Christmas through their eyes also means we should sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

They were teaching us.

May this be a wonderful birthday party for Jesus in your home this year.

Q of the Day: Which OT event is very similar to the exchange between the angel and Mary, including dialog?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:9-21.

Third, answer the following question: Let's see who has OT chops - which Old Testament event is very similar to the exchange between the angel and Mary, including dialog?

Q of the Day: Considering all the prophecies, what kinds of emotions would angels likely be having as the birth of Christ approaches?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 1 - click here.

Second, read Luke 1:11-38; 2:9-21. Then read Matthew 1:20-24; 2:13-19.

Third, answer the following question: Considering all the prophecies already given in the Old Testament about the Christ, what kinds of emotions would angels likely be having as the birth of Christ approaches?

Q of the Day: How do Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph respond differently to the angel?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 1 - click here.

Second, read Luke 1. Then read Matthew 1.

Third, answer the following question: How do Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph respond differently to the angel?

Q of the Day: What is the significance of the angels "leaving" when they did in Luke 2 v 15?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:1-15.

Third, answer the following question: What is the significance of the angels "leaving" when they did in 2:15?

Q of the Day: How do we oppose Jesus like his enemies did?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to John 1 - click here.

Second, read John 1:1-18.

Third, answer the following question: Herod opposed Jesus politically. The Pharisees opposed him religiously. Satan opposed him spiritually. The world opposed him personally. Are there ways that we do each of these, too?

A Silent Ministry Within the Church

For those in the DBC family, I want to make sure you're aware of something that our youth and children are doing this Christmas season.

You are aware that church-wide, we are "reverse decorating" our Christmas tree to raise funds for the Friends of Christ orphanage in Kenya. This has been a successful project every year to raise much-needed support for the many needs for our Kenyan orphans.

The youth and children have a project of their own this year. They have selected a family in Dublin (a mother with four young children) to help with their financial needs. They are collecting food items and small Christmas gifts to wrap and present to this family after the youth and children's Christmas party on Dec 20.

They want to be careful to not interfere with the Angel Tree project, but I'm sure they would also appreciate any help you can provide - some canned goods, a small toy, anything that a young family might need.

Mainly, though, I want to make sure that you are aware of one of the "silent" projects that the youth and children's ministries have taken on.

I'm grateful for that entire team. I pray that their leadership will instill a habit of giving and generosity in our young people, so that they learn these habits from the start (rather than having to "unlearn" them as adults in order to be generous).

Q of the Day: How did the "world" react to the event of Christmas? Why?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to John 1 - click here.

Second, read John 1:1-18.

Third, answer the following question: How did the "world" react to the event of Christmas? Why?

Q of the Day: If Satan knows he's defeated, why does he keep trying?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 4 - click here.

Second, read Luke 4:1-13.

Third, answer the following question: If Satan knows he's defeated, why does he keep trying?

Q of the Day: It's easy to bash Herod, but in what ways do you identify with him?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:1-20.

Third, answer the following question: It's easy to bash Herod, but in what ways do you identify with him?

Q of the Day: How do the magi and the shepherds both specifically represent what Jesus will become?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Matthew 2 - click here, and

Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Matthew 2:1-12 and Luke 1:1-20.

Third, answer the following question: How do the magi and the shepherds both specifically represent what Jesus will become?

Q of the Day: What elements does the account of the Magi add to the Christmas story?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Matthew 2 - click here.

Second, read Matthew 2:1-12.

Third, answer the following question: What elements does the account of the Magi add to the Christmas story?

Q of the Day: Does it bother you that pagan spiritists are so prominent in Christ's birth narrative?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Matthew 2 - click here.

Second, read Matthew 2:1-12.

Third, answer the following question: Does it bother you that pagan spiritists are so prominent in Christ's birth narrative?