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Sugar Cookie New Start

Christmas Cookies & Coffee – Sugar Cookie New Start (The Gift of New Beginnings)

Pastor Phil Derstine 12-15-24

The Spirit of Christmas

  • The real reason for the Season 

  • The Spirit of Christ indwelling Man

  • The difference that Christ makes

  • II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

  • Matthew 1:18 “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 

(20) Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

3 Spiritual Things at Christmas:

 

1. Praise & Worship 

  • Luke 2:13-14 "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

  • John 4:24 "God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." 

  • I Corinthians 14:15 “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

  • Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

 

2. Sharing the Good News 

  • Luke 2:17 (The Shepherds) "And when they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child."

  • Acts 3 – Peter and John healed the cripple man

  • I Peter 3:15 “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

  • Caroling in the bars on Christmas Eve 

  • Mark 16:17-18 “These signs shall follow them that believe… They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

  • II Corinthians 5:13-14 “We may be out of our minds… but it is the love of Christ that compels us to tell others…”

 

3. Christ in Your Heart

  • John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,

 he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

  • Salvation is a Spiritual conception – God’s Spirit in YOU

  • Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." 

  • John 14:17 "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither know him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you."

  • Colossians 1:27 “God has chosen to make know among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery,

 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”