Archive for 2010
Reflect, Revalue, Resolve
Blog | Pastor Duane Smets
We spent the week following Christmas at my parents house up in Redding, California for some holiday family time. Mostly, we basically ate too much and watched my three year old daughter prance around the house as our non-stop entertainment.
On our last night there my dad decided to pull out some old slides and his slide projector and screen. It was fun to see pictures of our family growing up. I now look almost completely like my dad and the clothes in the seventies were much cooler than the ones we have now. Afterward my wife and I were talking about the power of pictures and we both commented on how they have a way of making you think about the things which are really important in life and what kind of legacy we want to leave behind.
We’re coming up on the new year here in a day. Each time the new year comes around I look at it as great opportunity to stop, take some out and reflect, revalue and resolve.
Reflect on the past year. Think about the things God has done in your heart and life. What life circumstances have changed or not changed and how has God used that to grow you as a Christian in becoming more like Jesus this last year? Are there areas or points which stand out where you realize maybe you got a little off track and off focus?
Revalue for the year to come. Think about the things God has yet to do in your heart and life. What would you like to see happen this next year and how do you see yourself needing to grow and change? Are there things you have been doing well you want to continue in? Are there areas you need to make some priority adjustments and assign more value to things you have been neglecting?
Resolve to live in the gospel this year. In 1 Corinthians 2:2 the apostle Paul says, “I resolved to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (NIV).” The most important thing for us each year is continue in our dedication to the good news of who Jesus is and what he has done. There is nothing greater we could aspire towards in this next year in all the things it will bring than simply knowing Jesus.
In all the areas of our lives and families this year, may God grant us the grace to know him and love him more through his son Jesus.
- Pastor Duane
Jan 15th – LampPost Café
On Mission For The City:
About | Vision & Purpose
More info | LampPost Facebook
This Month:
Trevor Davis | http://www.trevordavismusic.com/
Joseph Pfeifer | http://www.myspace.com/josephpfeifer
Christopher Cohen | http://www.myspace.com/christopherstevencohen
Coffee:
Annabelles Coffee Catering | http://annabellescoffee.com
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Carols Of Advent
This series covers a look at four different Christmas carols and relevant biblical texts which coincide with themes of advent. In total there are 4 sermons preached in December of 2010 at The Resolved Church, San Diego, CA.
Audio & Manuscripts Below
The Prophecy Candle of Hope | “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
The Bethlehem Candle of Humility | “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”
The Shepherds Candle of Joy | “Joy To The World”
The Angels Candle of Peace | “Angels We Have Heard On High”
Joy To The World
Advent 2010 | Week 3: The Shepherds Candle of Joy | Pastor Duane Smets
This year The Resolved Church is studying the subjects and text of Christmas Carols which coincide with the weeks of advent. This fourth week of advent focuses on the theme of joy. This week is a short sermonette looking at “Joy To The World” and briefly looking at an aspect of Luke 2:12-14. This sermon was originally preached on December 19th, 2010 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Angels We Have Heard On High
Advent 2010 | Week 4: The Angels Candle of Peace | Josh Feil
This year The Resolved Church is studying the subjects and text of Christmas Carols which coincide with the weeks of advent. This third week of advent focuses on the theme of peace. The sermon looks at “Angels We Have Heard On High” and works through aspects of Luke 2:8-17. This sermon was originally preached on December 26th, 2010 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
7 Ways To Make Christmas About Jesus
Blog | Pastor Duane Smets
1. Read the Christmas story from the Bible. Do it with your family and have a time of prayer together thanking God for his gift of Jesus into the world. Our family likes to do this Christmas eve. It’s always a really special and intimate time and tradition for us.
2. Sing the Christmas carols. They are not simply festive songs but songs of worship. Listen to the words and sing them as praise from the heart. If you’ve got someone musical in the family have them play their guitar, piano or other instrument.
3. Have a birthday cake for Jesus. If you have little kids, this is especially a great and fun way to help them understand the true meaning of Christmas. Our family decks out a whole cake, sings “Happy Birthday” and the whole bit. Just don’t try and put 2000 candles on the cake…that’s a fire hazard.
4. Act out the Christmas story. This is another great one for kids. Have them dress up, use props and act out various scenes surrounding Jesus’ birth in the Bible. You will have a lot of fun and simultaneously be teaching your family what Christmas is all about.
5. Go to Christmas church service. Several churches have Christmas eve service and most all church’s will have a special worship time on the Sunday closest to Christmas day. Jesus birth was announced by angels singing in a great host of people worshipping God together. Join in the everlasting song with God’s people.
6. Give gifts because God has given us Jesus. Think, talk and give not just because it’s a cultural practice but with a gospel motive: God has given us so much in Jesus it turns our hearts into be giving hearts. When you give a gift to another from under the tree, try saying “God has given me so much in giving me Jesus I want to give this to you to show that same kind of love.”
7. Bless Jesus’ church. Jesus came into the world in order that he might be born, die and rise for his bride: The Church. Christmas is a great time to bless Jesus’ church by giving her a special financial gift. The holidays have become increasingly tough times for churches. With the economy, high Christmas consumerism and with people traveling…numbers tend to be low for churches, especially church plants. If you’d like to you can GIVE to The Resolved Church this Christmas.
Have a great Christmas this year everyone and may Jesus be glorified much in your celebrations!
- Pastor Duane
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Advent 2010 | Week 2: The Bethlehem Candle of Humility | Pastor Duane Smets
This year The Resolved Church is studying the subjects and text of Christmas Carols which coincide with the weeks of advent. This second week of advent focuses on the theme of humility. The sermon looks at “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” and works through aspects of Micah 5:2 and its relevant New Testament counterparts. This sermon was originally preached on December 12th, 2010 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Santa Smack
Blog | Pastor Duane Smets
In the past I’ve written a number of posts on Santa, Jesus and the Bible. Below are links to them you may enjoy and be encouraged by during the Christmas season this year.
Santa Was A Pastor – A blog on the history of Saint Nicholas.
Jesus & Santa – A short, good, fun video comparing the character and activities of Jesus & Santa.
The Bible & Santa – A blog on how the Bible is not make believe like modern Santa fairytales.
What We Tell Our Kids About Santa – An article from Mark Driscoll in the Washington Post.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Advent 2010 | Week 1: The Prophecy Candle of Hope | Pastor Duane Smets
This year The Resolved Church is studying the subjects and text of Christmas Carols which coincide with the weeks of advent. This first week of advent focuses on the theme of prophecy the hope it brings. The sermon looks at “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and exegetically works through Isaiah 7:4. This sermon was originally preached on December 5th, 2010 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Jesus Life
Blog | Pastor Duane Smets
The Christmas season is here, which means it is the time of year where Jesus gets massively ripped off. The church’s tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birth gets hijacked and used as America’s most financially profitable marketing scheme. The wrong answer is to react and refuse to celebrate Christmas or any other birthdays at all. The right answer is to simply focus on Jesus as the central importance for our life.
1 Corinthians 1:30 “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
What gives life? If we asked a Doctor he we would say blood, air, water, food etc. If you ask your friends, co-workers or neighbors you’ll hear a plethora of answers (And yes, that’s a good idea, you should go do ask them!). You’ll hear everything from various hobbies and relationships to either a love for or vacation from one’s job. For those who have been touched by the grace of the gospel the immediate answer ought to be Jesus. Jesus is our life.
