DEVOTION: Isaiah 7:10-17(ESV)
"The Sign of Immanuel"
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 "Ask a sign of the Lord your[a] God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." 12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." 13 And he[b] said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.[c] 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!"
Have you ever just sat and thought about "Immanuel", God with us? Isn't it cool? Isn't it wonderful? God loved us so much that he left heaven in all of its splendor and perfection and came to earth to be "God with us". He didn't just let us flounder in our sinfulness. He didn't let us stay condemned. He didn't leave us to be dead eternally. He literally became one off us to be among us, because that was the only way that we could be saved.
That, my brothers and sisters, is what we are celebrating today. We are celebrating the coming of God to us, the "incarnation" of the Son made flesh who "tabernacle" among us. In many and various ways God has spoken to us through the prophets, but now in these last days He has spoken to us directly by "Immanuel", God with us!
And He is still with us! Alive! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for sending your Son to be Immanuel. Amen.
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Thurs- Karate 5:15-7:30
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Sunday school Christmas program Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- Wed- Cierra Figura; 8:30- Addie Hoelscher 11- Gus Klaustermeier
Ushers- Wed- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure; Sun-Scott and Alex Heitgerd, Bob and Tom Linke
Altar- Wed- Terry McKenzie; Set up- Dave and Linda Callies; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- Steve Robine
Piano- Doug Walters Sat and 11am Sunday
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30 Schaumberg 11- Cluver
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who were Felix, Festus, and Agrippa?
Thanks Don Nolte!
Felix, the governor of Judea presided over the trial of Paul at Caesarea. Festes succeeded Felix as governor of Judea . He continued the trial of Paul begun under Felix. Paul asked to take his appeal to Caesar. Festes agreed. When he related his story to King Argrippa, the king said he should be set free.
And thanks Pat King: