Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Celebrating Advent and Christmas in Isaiah




“Twas the Night before Christmas”
Christmas in Isaiah

More than any other, Isaiah is the prophet of Christmas.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (7:14, ESV). “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6).

These are Isaiah’s words and they have become as much a part of the Christmas story as the angels heralding the birth of Christ and the shepherds watching their flocks by night. Writing hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah grasped the whole story of redemption, from the birth of Jesus to His passion.  Many of Isaiah’s themes resonate with the Christmas story including the Lord doing something “wholly” new (Isa. 43:19), the Lord bringing forth the longing of the world – the Messiah (His salvation), the overwhelming joy of the Lord’s salvation (35; 52:7-10), and light breaking in on the darkness. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone (9:2).

On Sunday mornings in December during this season of Advent and Christmas, we will walk through some “Christmas in Isaiah” passages of Scripture. I hope you will join us each Sunday. Invite a friend to share in the life-changing worship of the living Christ of Christmas. What an incredible hope we have, we have new life in Jesus, joy to the world, the Lord is come!


Pastor Joe

I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

December Messages:
            3          Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 4:12-16            “The Doom of Gloom”
            10       Isaiah 11:1-9; Matthew 13:31-33         “Christmas Greatness”
            17       Isaiah 55:1-13; John 7:37-38                “The Gift that Keeps on Giving”
            24       Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23               “Immanuel, God Is with Us”
(Special Christmas Eve Day Communion)