The SermonCentral.com Weekly Newsletter
—December 9, 2003

Theme: The Advent of Christ

Dear SermonCentral.com member,

Two months ago I met Mel Gibson and viewed a private screening of his new movie – The Passion of The Christ. Let me tell you it was simply amazing. It was beautiful, brutal, and biblical.

The Passion of The Christ portrays the betrayal, trial, beating, and crucifixion of Jesus. The morning after seeing the movie I was on my knees thanking God for the sacrifice He made for me through Jesus. Others who have seen this movie (Christian leaders as well as nonChristian celebrities) have been profoundly impacted.

We believe that this movie will open the hearts and minds of those who see it to explore the claims of Christ and to hopefully make Him Lord and Savior of their lives. For the next few months we will be providing SermonCentral Newsletter subscribers with special resources, sermons, outreach ideas, and the latest news on The Passion of The Christ.

Your Passionate Partner,
Brian Mavis
brian@sermoncentral.com

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In This Issue

1. Top 5 Sermons On The Advent of Christ

2. The Passion of The Christ

3. Top 5 Illustrations On The Advent of Christ

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1. Top 5 Sermons On The Advent of Christ

The Hope of Advent: Coming Alive in Christ
by Rodney Buchanan: Ephesians 2:1-10
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by more

Advent is a Time to Value Relationships
by Ray Ellis: Matthew 1:18-25
Our goal this Advent Season is to go from Humbug to Hallelujah! For some reason many find themselves struggling with humbug feelings during the holiday season. There seem to be added stresses, pressures, hurts and frustrations. more

Advent 2001
by Jason Hefner: Isaiah 11:1-10
Advent always catches me by surprise. It is on the calendar for months ahead of time. It comes the same time every year. Thanksgiving is a good indication that Christmas is on the way. Yet, I’ve noticed that the first Sundays of Advent always more

In the Nick of Time
by Joseph Smith: Romans 5:1-10
Infants, not yet born, seem to have a mind of their own. Infants, not yet born, pay very little attention to the doctor’s predictions, the mother’s preferences, or the father’s fears. When they want to arrive, they arrive; and if they don’t want to. more

I’ve Got a Surprise For You
by Joel Pankow : Luke 1:26-38
Angels don’t make a habit of appearing to people in the middle of nowhere. There are actually very few examples of it happening in Scriptures. Jacob was visited by angels several times in his life - on his way from and back to Israel. more

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Dec. 1 - Reach More People in 2004!
Make a resolution to reach out to your community in the New Year. Visit www.outreach.com to see New Years-themed outreach tools and see sermon ideas!
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2. The Passion of The Christ


The Passion of The Christ Sermon Series - Free
We want to help you prepare for the release of The Passion of The Christ. We put together a team of pastors and authors - who saw a private screening of the movie - to write sermons inspired by The Passion. We have two series for you to download:

Experiencing the Passion of Christ.
1. Experience Pure Love
2. Experience Complete Forgiveness
3. Experience Ultimate Wholeness
4. Experience Everlasting Life

The Passion: True or False?
1. Jesus is the Son of God – True or False?
2. Jesus is the Only Way to God – True or False?
3. Jesus Died for You – True or False?
4. Jesus is Alive – True or False?

Click here to download these sermon series.

Get Christmas PowerPoint Templates at SermonCentral.com. Click here.

     

3. Top 5 Illustrations On The Advent of Christ

IF YOU EVER WANT TO SEE YOUR MOTHER…
A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. "I’ve been good for six months now," he wrote. But after a moment’s reflection he crossed out "six months" and wrote "three". After a pause, that was crossed out and he put "two weeks". There was another pause, and that was crossed out too. He got up from the table and went over to the little crib scene that had the figures of Mary and Joseph. He picked up the figure of Mary and went back to his writing and started again: "Dear God, if ever you want to see your mother again…!"

Contributed by: Owen Bourgaize

KEEPING THE HOLIDAY
How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.

— Benjamin Franklin

Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown!

SOURCE: Daily Bread, December 23, 1991. Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO

FROM HEAVEN’S THRESHOLD
Praise God for Christmas.
Praise Him for the incarnation,
for the word made flesh.
I will not sing of shepherds
watching flocks on frosty nights,
or angel choristers.
I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem,
or lowing oxen,
wise men trailing star with gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
Tonight I will sing praise to the Father
who stood on heaven’s threshold
and said farewell to his Son
as he stepped across the stars
to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
And I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son,
who became most finite, a baby
who would one day be executed for my crime.
Praise him in the heavens,
Praise him in the stable,
Praise him in my heart.
Joseph Bayly.

Contributed by: David DeWitt

THE LONG WALK OF LOVE
An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other," she said.

When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty. "Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?" the teacher asked.

The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless. "Why ... why, it’s gorgeous ... wonderful, but you shouldn’t have gone all that way to get the gift for me."

His eyes brightening, the boy answered, "Long walk part of gift."

God came from heaven to a manger, from a manger to a cross, from a cross to the grave and from a grave back to heaven. And we ask, "Why all this trouble, God?"

And God would say to us, "Long walk part of gift."

SOURCE: from Sharon Jaynes’ book, Celebrating a Christ-centered Christmas.

Contributed by: Dana Chau

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