That Christmas Feeling Archives - Eagle LifeChurch

Jesus Compassion

January 2, 2014 by Brad Murphy Leave a Comment

This entry is part 7 of 7 in the series That Christmas Feeling

Don’t you love the feeling of Christmas?

Cheer, wonder, excitement, generosity.

This year, our whole church, will be taking a journey through the feelings of the First Christmas through the Eyes of those who were there. Our children will be having their own special experience at LifeKids, in Professor Playtime’s Christmas Shop of Wonders.

Listen to Jesus Compassion: Removing the Mess
December 29, 2013 | Pastor Brad Murphy
2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51, Ephesians 2:1-10

Jesus Compassion: ReMoving the Mess

The days following Christmas are often the messiest. The tree branches droop, the water in the stand is rotten. The living room floor is covered in wrapping paper and torn packages. The kitchen is full of dirty dishes, and the counters covered in flour and other debris.

The first Christmas probably wasn’t as silent and picturesque as our nativities and carols imply. Jesus came into a messy situation. His was an unplanned pregnancy that nearly led to divorce. His poor parents had to make an unexpected trip at the time she was about to deliver. He was born in a dirty manger, received ominous prophesies, and was nearly executed by a homicidal king, but escaped to Egypt just in time.

This description may sound similar to your family or life, but the good news is Jesus isn’t afraid of your mess.

This week we look at the life of King David, and how to allow Jesus to ReMove the Mess:

How a Mess Grows
Recognizing We are in a Mess
Repenting of our Mess
Jesus Replaces our Mess

From Mess to Masterpiece

You will be encouraged to give Jesus your mess and accept his mercy and grace in it’s place, as he chisels your life to become his great masterpiece.

Wisemen Worship

December 30, 2013 by Brad Murphy Leave a Comment

This entry is part 6 of 7 in the series That Christmas Feeling

Don’t you love the feeling of Christmas?

Cheer, wonder, excitement, generosity.

Listen to That Christmas Feeling | Wisemen Worship
December 22, 2013 | Pastor Brad Murphy
Matthew 2:1-12

Fool’s Fear, Wisemen Worship Pt.2

Christmas is a season of signs.

Shopping Signs: Black Friday Sale. 50% off.

Signs of Love: Family gathered for dinner. Gifts exchanged with loved ones.

Do you recognize the other signs of Christmas?

The Spiritual Signs? The ones that say, slow down and worship. Pause. Remember the Christ of Christmas.

The Magi saw a sign in the heavens, a star. They recognized this sign and came to worship Jesus.

Though the message of this Sunday encouragement, we learn the truth:

Wisemen Recognize the Signs
Wisemen are Humble before Jesus
Wisemen Give Jesus their Best
Wisement Return Another Way

What will you do with Jesus, this Christmas?

Herod’s Fear

December 16, 2013 by Brad Murphy Leave a Comment

This entry is part 5 of 7 in the series That Christmas Feeling

Don’t you love the feeling of Christmas?

Cheer, wonder, excitement, generosity.

Listen to That Christmas Feeling | Herod’s Fear
December 15, 2013 | Pastor Brad Murphy
Matthew 2:1-18

Fool’s Fear, Wisemen Worship Pt.1

Christmas time can often be a time of fear. If fear has it’s way it could kill your Christmas. Scripture says that, “Perfect Love, casts out all fear.”

Fool’s Fear

Social fear will cause us to become busy and overworked as you try to keep everyone happy and attend all the parties.
Economic fear will cause us to become materialistic as we strive to keep up with the Jones’s.
Fear of past hurts will cause us to become bitter, lonely, and grieving during this season of great joy for all people.
Fear of losing control will cause us miss Jesus, as Christmas turns into a holiday all about ME.

Be encouraged to keep Christ alive this Christmas, and avoid letting paranoid fear make it a not-so-great Christmas.

Next Sunday, Wisemen Worship. We will finish this 2-part lesson, with the other side of this story.

Expectation

December 9, 2013 by Brad Murphy Leave a Comment

This entry is part 4 of 7 in the series That Christmas Feeling

Don’t you love the feeling of Christmas?

Cheer, wonder, excitement, generosity.

Listen to That Christmas Feeling | Expecting Comfort & Freedom
December 8, 2013 | Pastor Brad Murphy
Luke 2:21-35, John 14-15, Matthew 23:37

Expecting Comfort and Freedom

Christmas is a time of expectation.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nickolas soon would be there.
-Clement Clarke Moore, Twas the Night Before Christmas

Some look forward to the giving of gifts. Others long for that moment when the whole family gathers around the table for diner. Still others agonize that it the first Christmas without a loved one.

As we continue the series, That Christmas Feeling, we look at the expectation of Simeon and Anna. Two often overlooked characters at the the first Christmas. These two were used by God to confirm and testify to the deity of the Christ. The Apostle Luke recorded their eye witness accounts:

This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
Luke 2:34-35

Through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the thoughts of hearts are revealed.

This Christmas, will you be one who falls away, or will you be lifted up through the encouragement to Expect Comfort and Freedom?

Jesus Compassion

Don’t you love the feeling of Christmas?