TODAY’S “GOOD NEWS” – December 21, 2003  

MESSAGE:  “THE SEASON OF GREAT HOPE:

                            …Hope Is Received Into Believing Hearts”

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 2:1-7

KEY VERSE:  v. 7  “And she gave birth to her first born son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a

 manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

FOCUS:  The receptive and believing heart is the winner at Christmas.

INTRODUCTION:  “We all know how difficult it is to receive anything from someone who has all the answers, who is completely cool, utterly unafraid, needing nothing, and in control of every situation.  We feel unnecessary, unrelated to this paragon.  So God comes as a new born baby, giving us a chance to love Him, making us feels that we have something to give Him.”                                                                                  ~  Brennen Manning

I.       EVERYDAY LIFE IS THE RIGHT SETTING FOR HOPE

       

 

II.      FAMILIES WITH HOPE HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE

 

 

 

III.        hope OPENS THE door to balanced living

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:  “Like the innkeeper, we are not villains; we’re just preoccupied and harried.”                           ~ Bruce Larson

PREACHING:  Pastor Holland Lewis