Category Archives: Folders
December 11: “Advent: A Season of Rejoicing” (Zephaniah 3:14-20)
Under the long reign of King Manasseh, the nation of Judah had become thoroughly evil. Even the reform of King Josiah cannot undo the fatal damage. Through Zephaniah, God condemns Judah for her sins but also promises restoration. Though the future is bleak, God tells Judah to rejoice. Why should they rejoice? Zephaniah points to […]
Continue readingDecember 4: “Advent: A Season of Waiting” (Luke 2: 25-32, Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 62:5-8)
Advent means arrival or coming. We celebrate the first coming of Christ and wait for his second coming. Advent is a season of waiting, a kind of waiting exemplified by Simeon and Anna, filled with hope, faith and intense longing. And such waiting doesn’t mean inactivity. As we wait, we prepare the way of the […]
Continue readingNovember 27: “Receiving Grace Through Prayer” (Matthew 6:5-6, Acts 2:42)
Another means which God uses to pour out his grace to us is prayer. Our model for prayer is Jesus. Jesus prayed alone in solitary places, and he prayed with others. We also need to pray privately and corporately. There are many blessings of prayer, but the greatest blessing is that we get to know […]
Continue readingNovember 20: “What Are We Thankful For?” (Colossians 1:1-5, Psalm 118:27-29)
Scholars who study gratitude discovered that those who regularly write down things for which they are thankful experience a wide range of personal benefits. In this Thanksgiving season, what are we thankful for? We can thank God for any growth of faith, love and hope among God’s people at CCSV and ourselves. Most of all, […]
Continue readingNovember 13: “Receiving Grace Through Fellowship” (Hebrews 10:24-25, James 1:19-20)
Another channel through which God pours out his grace is the church, the covenant community. We are to be to each other a means of divine favor. How can we be a means of God’s grace? First, we need to be in close proximity. Second, we seek the benefit of the other. Third, we spur […]
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