CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!
Wednesday, December 18th. Christmas Party at the Church. 6:30- 8:00pm.
Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater and bring a White Elephant gift ($10-$15)
Bring a friend !
Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater and bring a White Elephant gift ($10-$15)
Bring a friend !
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THE MAIN IDEA FROM OUR DISCUSSION ON WEDNESDAY (12/11)
- Micah 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
- What is this verse talking about?
- Scripture foretold the details of his birth right down to the place where he would be born! Over and over again throughout the pages of the Old Testament, we see prophesies, predictions, and signs to look for about the coming Messiah. Super specific things!
- Now, you would think that the discovery of the baby Jesus would have ended the search, right?! I mean, if you think about it… If you had heard the prophecy, if you had done the math, and calculated the 490 years, and if you had seen and followed a star for 800 miles shining so brightly in the sky that it shined down like a spotlight beacon on the baby Jesus, that might settle it for you right?!? We have found the Messiah. Just as he was foretold!
- But surprisingly…this not only did not end the debate but only started the it. Are you really the Messiah? Are you really him? We expect the questions from the Pharisees, but do you remember when Jesus calmed the storm? What was the Disciples question? “Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?!” Even the disciples were grappling with who this man was!
- The Pharisees took a different tactic. They just told Jesus to prove it! If you are really the Messiah, do a miracle! Prove it! Give us a sign!
- And it didn’t matter that they could literally find hundreds of signs and predictions that Jesus fulfilled within the pages of their very own scriptures.
- And it didn’t matter that Jesus had already healed the sick, calmed the storm, cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, made the paralyzed walk, fed thousands with a little boy’s lunch, and raised the dead!
- Bottom line was that they still couldn’t believe and demanded, still, another sign!!!
- Matthew 12:38 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
- Question…. They asked for a sign. A sign of what? What were they getting at? What did they want Jesus to prove?
- That he was the Messiah!!! The Christ! Is it really you? Are you really him? Then give us a sign!! And here’s how Jesus responded…
- Matthew 12:39-40 “But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
- As those around Jesus were grappling to come to terms with his identity... Is Jesus truly the promised Messiah?
- Jesus says, Folks… you’ve already been given every sign that you would ever need! You want to know if I’m truly the Messiah or not??? Then look at the Sign of the Prophet Jonah!
- And so what exactly was the “Sign of Jonah”? Who was Jonah? What was the story of Jonah all about?
- How in the world is the story of Jonah the story of Christmas?
- The story of Jonah is about how a man of God was sent to the people of Nineveh. The Ninevites were the worst of the worst!
- The Story of Christmas is about the man of God that came for the whole world, including the worst of the worst!
- The story of Jonah is about a prophet that came to bring the word of God.
- The story of Christmas is about the Word of God being made flesh and coming for all mankind!
- The story of Jonah is about the man of God that spent 3 days in the belly of a fish.
- The story of Christmas is about a man that went to the cross and then spent 3 days in the grave!
- The story of Jonah is about a prophet that after 3 days, arises from the depths and is spit back out onto dry land.
- The story of Christmas is about a risen savior that after 3 days, steps out of that grave!!
- The story of Jonah is the story of Christmas!
It has been such a joy beginning the process of getting to know your students here at Creekside and I am humbled to be entrusted with the task of pointing them towards Jesus. I realize when a church hires a new youth pastor, there is a natural tendency to think that they are here to work with the teens. Whereas that is certainly a part of my role, mom’s & dad’s, I want you to know that I’m also here for YOU! Parenting is no easy task, and as parents you will absolutely be the number one influence on your children and upon their spiritual formation! As you seek to point your kids towards Jesus, please know that you aren’t in this alone! If there is anything at all that I can do to support you as you shepherd your children, my door is always open!
Contact Pastor Chris at the church (907) 376-5576 or chris.vansiegman@creeksideak.com
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Follow Creekside Youth on Facebook and Instagram
PARENTAL CONSENT FORM:
In order for students to participate in various youth activities throughout the year, we need to have a parental waiver on file for your student. You can fill out the parental consent form here for your convenience.
Click HERE to access.
In order for students to participate in various youth activities throughout the year, we need to have a parental waiver on file for your student. You can fill out the parental consent form here for your convenience.
Click HERE to access.