Sports Plus 07 – Application forms are out and places are filling up fast! Don’t be disappointed – fill in forms and send them through to the office! More info

New Year Conference – We have over 40 yr11-13 young people going to this conference and we’re so looking forward to it.  Next year we are hoping to put this conference on in the October half term so that more of you can attend!

In this 8 week series we're searching for the truth behind the real meaning of Christmas so that in the build up to Christmas we may know with certainty and be thrilled!

Week 1- Luke 1 v3-4: Know with Certainty
Week 2 -Luke 1 v31-37: Nothing is impossible for God
Week 3 - Luke 2 v1-7: In God's time, In God's plan
Week 4 - Luke 2v8-10: For All people
Week 5 - Luke 2v10-12: Good News - No, this is fantastic news!

Week 6 – Luke 2v13-14: Glory to God in the highest

Week 7 – Luke 2v15-20 – Let’s go and see this wonder

Week 8 – Luke 2v29-32 – The hope for the world 

We’re finally there – we are coming to the conclusion of the series of finding out the real truth behind the Christmas message! 

Let’s re-cap:

Luke wrote his book so that his dear friend ‘Theophilus’ and others who read it would be certain of the truth.  The story unfolds as angels visit Mary and the shepherds and tell them news of the birth of a baby who is from God and would rescue mankind.  The reaction of the shepherds is quality as they witness this event and then spread the word – because it's news worth spreading. 

What happens next?  We often don’t look into it.  The Christmas story stops at the return of the shepherds but we mustn’t stop there, indeed this is just the beginning of the story.  Mary and Joseph take him to the temple for the rituals of that day.  A guy there called Simeon who had been waiting for this day all his life took the baby Jesus into his arms and praised God. 

V31 – For my eyes have now seen your salvation

He is absolutely thrilled – he has seen the saving work of God in a little baby boy and praises God.  Not only that but he continues – ‘which you have prepared in the sight of all people’. This amazing scene is not just for certain people’s eyes!  No it has been done in the sight of all people – so that anyone may see and believe! 

V32 – a light for the revelation to the gentiles

In a dark world – Jesus is the light and not just for Israel but now for the gentiles – that means for everyone else who is not a Jew!  In such a lost, hopeless world there is hope, real hope and it’s found in Jesus, for he came to rescue you and me! 

We’ll finish this week where we started:

These things have been written Luke 1 v4 –‘so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught’

Are you certain of Christmas?  Do you understand the real meaning? We truly hope so – for it makes all the difference!

May the truth excite and thrill your hearts this Christmas!

Happy Christmas friends – from all the Youth Department.

We're off now for a couple of weeks so the next update will be Jan 12.

 

• That the glorious truth and the hope that the good news brings will stir your heart this Christmas.

 

• For sports mates that still don’t know what the truth is.

 

• For Griffo as he represents Jesus in his Cricket team.

 

• For all those young people attending the conference – that it would be such a good time for them.