December 5th-11th

Welcome to Confident in This!  This week, Pastor Chris started a sermon series called “Come Let Us Adore” which was based on the Christmas hymn “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.”  Inspired by that, this weeks blog will focus on another Christmas song, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and the scripture each verse is referencing.

Focus Song- Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Click to Listen!

Enduring Question- What do the words of this song really mean?

	Song Lyrics	Scripture	Things to Consider…
Thursday	Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!	But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (Luke 2:10)	Many times Zac has talked about the meaning of joy and the difference between it and happiness. Do you allow the good news of Christ bring you joy?  Click here to answer.
Friday	Peace on earth and mercy mild	“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)	Are you consumed with the world or are you focused on Christ and filled with his peace? Click here to answer.
Saturday	God and sinners reconciled"	All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)	Have you praised God for his gift? He does not hold our wrong-doings against us. Instead, his sinless son died for us. Click here to answer.
Sunday	Joyful, all ye nations rise	The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (Revelation 21:24)	Our nation struggles to walk in the light. Are you being the light others need to see to be a change in our world? Click here to answer.
Monday	Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"	“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)	Think about how God chose a simple setting and a simple girl to fulfill His big plan. What big plans does God have for you? Click here to answer.
Tuesday	Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"	And asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)	How will you worship Our God today? Click here to answer.
Wednesday	About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.  While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.  There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”  At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please him.  As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.  Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! (Luke 2:1-20)		Praise God for the greatest Christmas gift. Keep the story of Jesus' birth on your mind as the busyness and worldly traditions of Christmas continue. Click here to post a comment.