Blog Archives

December 21, 2016 Candles and Carols

12/22/2016

Call to Worship - Pastor David

Joy to the World (v.1)
Advent Candle Lighting – Joy Rester
Joy to the World (v.2-3)

Narration – Pastor Danny
Valinda Rester reads
Good Christian Men, Rejoice (v.2-3)

Ella Covington reads
Angels From the Realm of Glory (v.1-2)

Narration – Mary Waters
Mark Waters reads
O Little Town of Bethlehem (v.1 & 4)

Narration – Shelby West
While Shepherds Watched The Flocks (v.1, 2, 5)

Narration – Adrian Brackman
Away in a Manger (v.1 & 3)

Narration – Pastor Emily & Nathan
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (v.1 & 4)

Narration – Frankie Tate smith
We Three Kings (v.1 & 5)

Christmas Thoughts – Pastor David
Prayers – Pastor David

Communion (Play CD)

Offering (Play Doxology)
Prayer – Pastor Charlie

Kids Special

Candle Lighting Instructions – Pastor David

Silent Night (v.1 & 4)

Commissioning Prayer (unison) – Pastor Charlie

Benediction – Pastor David

0 Comments

December 18, 2016 Teaching Outline

12/19/2016

0 Comments

In Search of Jesus:
“Giving and Receiving the Gift of Joy”

Isaiah 7:10-16

When our faith is weak, but our fear is strong, God steps in without us evening asking for it. God tells us “I am with you!” Hope and Joy are coming.

For me to Give this Joy I must Receive it! Luke 1:39-56

I can choose to live in fear or I can live in joy!

Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary rejoices because God is her mighty warrior (vv. 51-53).

Mary’s faith led to Mary’s joy.

Mary rejoices because God is her covenant partner (v. 54-55).

Will this act of God inspire joy in you, too?

He sends Jesus and brings us Joy to Receive and to Give!

Advent Reflection Questions:

Mary rejoiced with singing. Why or why don't you believe joy is prevalent in your life?
Mary’s life was radically different because of the gift of God. How is your life different because of God’s work in your life?
Have you made personal commitment to accept God as your mighty warrior and as your covenant partner?

0 Comments

December 11, 2016 Teaching Outline

12/13/2016

0 Comments

In Search of Jesus
“Being Prepared to Say Yes to Love”

John’s questions and doubt give Jesus the opportunity to clarify the true character of the Messiah as Immanuel, not emperor.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
(Is. 35:5-6)

The advent newness depicted here by the prophet Isaiah is not disjointed hope; rather, it is a hope grounded in the physical reality and embodiment of the person of Jesus.

It is not the hope of the status quo or the emperor, it is the hope of Immanuel.

Could it be that Love: Changed the World?
We can see how love changed not only the 1st century world, but also our world.

Luke 2:1-20

Caesar is not in charge; God is.
It is not human power that changes the world; it is God’s love.
And in Christ, God’s love has changed the world.

Love changes the world and gives us power (vv. 11, 14)

Or, to slightly paraphrase Andy Stanley, “People now name their daughters Mary and their dogs Caesar.” Love has changed the world and gives us power.

Love changes the world and gives us pride and purpose (vv. 18, 20).

In those days, the decree of Caesar went out to all the world so that he could take from us;
in these days, the decree of God goes out into all the world so that we can partake in Him.
Love has changed the world and has given us purpose.

Love changes the world and allows us to ponder (v. 19).

In those days, it was Caesar who was pondering his empire to see his vast rule, but in these days, it is God in Christ empowering us to ponder the world as his partners in mission. Love has changed the world and makes us ponder.

Advent Questions for Christians:

Take some time this week to consider the “power” God has given to you. You may not have a title, but what divine talents do you have? Do you have a heart of mercy or a spirit of encouragement?
Re-evaluate your ministries. What are you doing that is of utmost importance and purpose simply because it is part of what God is doing? What are you doing that others might see as very valuable but that doesn’t contribute to the work of God?

Am I Prepared to say YES to Jesus and His Love for me
&
Am I prepared to go share that that with my world?

0 Comments

December 4, 2016 Teaching Outline

12/5/2016

0 Comments

In Search of Jesus
“Preparing for and Receiving Peace”

God’s Preparation: Matthew 3:1-12

In Malachi 3 we see the prophetic message that God will send “messenger who will prepare the way before me.”

This messenger’s job will be to purify like “a refiner’s fire.” John the Baptist dressed like a present-day Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) was here to give credence to the idea that God was about to deliver the “great and dreadful day” (Malachi 4:5) and his job was to “turn hearts” in order to avoid the coming of “total destruction” (Malachi 4:6).

Which takes us to Luke 1:26-38 – Our Preparing For Peace

Mary acknowledged she was God’s servant (v. 38a).

Mary affirmed that God’s plan is best (v. 38b).

Mary accepted being alone (v. 38c).

Our Response: Receiving Peace

Like Mary, we can ask “How can this be?” questions:

How can God call me to himself? I’ve done so much wrong!
How can God call me to ministry? That’s not in my five year plan!
How can God call me to generosity? That doesn’t fit my budget!
How can God call us to marital faithfulness and abstinence before marriage—that doesn’t fit in the world!

Sigmund Freud called shooting the messenger a way of “fending off what is distressing or unbearable.”
Mary may not have been able to “shoot” the angel—a being too majestic and powerful to succumb to her distress. But she could have said, “No.”

Reflection Questions: To help us live in the Peace of His Kingdom!

To what are you tempted to ask, ‘How can this be?” that the Lord may be saying to you?
What fellow Christians do you need to seek out to keep from being alone any longer?
Where are, you following your own life’s plan rather than the Lord’s?
In what areas of life are you experiencing distress or fear? What might these experiences say about your heart towards the Lord?

So How do we Receive peace? Isaiah 11:1-10

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” (v. 2-3)

But this is Advent. Our directive here is to wait.
But not simply to wait, to anticipate! To expect. To look forward.
We anticipate the Peaceable Kingdom by preparing for and receiving His peace!

0 Comments

David Craig, Pastor

I began my journey as the Lead Pastor in June 2011. Prior to coming to Shreveport I served in Texas, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. I studied religion and music at Southern Nazarene University and received my M.A. degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary.

I was raised in a Christian home where I was exposed to the Lord at an early age. As a junior in high school I felt a call to serve Jesus for a lifetime in the ministry.

I and my wife, Dawn, have two sons. Caleb is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University and Adam attends ULM in Monroe, La

In my spare time I enjoy sports of all kinds, but especially the Texas Longhorns.

December 21, 2016 Candles and Carols

December 18, 2016 Teaching Outline

December 11, 2016 Teaching Outline

December 4, 2016 Teaching Outline

David Craig, Pastor

Archives

Categories

Our Address

Contact Us

Stay Connected

External Links

﻿December 21, 2016 Candles and Carols

December 18, 2016 Teaching Outline

﻿December 11, 2016 Teaching Outline

﻿December 4, 2016 Teaching Outline

David Craig, Pastor

Archives

Categories

Our Address

Contact Us

Stay Connected

External Links

December 21, 2016 Candles and Carols

December 11, 2016 Teaching Outline

December 4, 2016 Teaching Outline