[0:00] of the world to come. Amen. Please be seated. And I'd like to ask the children who are usually in Sunday school to come up to the front of the church. And I want you to help me with the sermon this morning. So if you can come on up real close to me up front, that would be wonderful. It's good to see you guys. And today is the second. I'm going to. Does anybody make any resolutions? Raise your hands if you've ever made a resolution, New Year's resolution.
[0:39] Not many of you guys. That's very interesting. Just a couple of you. The thing with resolutions is they're good, but the best resolutions have to do with God and the ones that God help us with. Those are the ones that are the best resolutions. Did you know that people make predictions also in the new year? They try to guess what's going to happen in 2011. And what's that? Usually they're wrong. Usually those predictions are wrong. In fact, you know, the weather departments are the ones who have the toughest time with it. You know, in Great Britain, eight weeks before December, the weather department said there that they're going to have one of the warmest winters and no snow and it would be balmy. Well, they just had the coldest, snowiest winter, December in a hundred years. So there's the predictions. But what we're going to do today is I want you to help me because, um, as I said, the best, the best resolutions are from the Bible and the true predictions all come from the Bible as well. And we're going to talk about this. I want you guys to help me with it. I'm going to need six people who will, uh, who are happy to read it. Okay. Uh, I will get one here. There you go. No, you guys,
[2:13] I'll just give it to you right now. Um, you can, there you go. And there you go. Um, and there you go. Um, I think, let's see, Tim, there you go. And, uh, I need one, I actually need a girl to do this one, two, one more. Okay. All right. Very good. Now here's what I want. I'm going to have somebody read something that a person from the Bible would have said, or actually did say, and you guys have to guess who it is that, uh, this person is talking, who that person is, who's talking. And then I'll just say something about a prediction from there and a resolution that that person tells us about. Okay. And it'll be good for us to think about. Okay. So I want the first person and the first person, number one, to come up and you have to sound a bit annoyed.
[3:16] Read your piece there. Ruth, are you kidding? Have you seen how many people want to stay in this little town? You'll have to have your baby in that stable. Okay. Now, very good.
[3:32] Now, uh, who can guess who that person is? Yeah. Who do you think it is? It is the innkeeper. And, uh, and I want to, and I want to make a prediction that in 2011, there will be times when Jesus is an inconvenience for you, just like he was for the innkeeper. And the resolution is to ask yourself often, am I too busy for Jesus and to make room for him? Okay. Now I want you to sit down. The second person, number two, I want you to stand up and read.
[4:14] Okay. You have to be a little bit excited. Let's go over to Bethlehem and as fast as we can that, and let's see for ourselves what God has relieved to us. Let's tell everyone to meet what the angels had said about Jesus.
[4:32] Uh, okay. Yes, it is. It's the shepherds and the shepherds tell us that in 2010, Jesus himself is the good news for everyone and that he is someone to be very excited about. Uh, and our resolution is, will you pray for people that you can talk to Jesus about just as those shepherds did? Okay. Now, um, the third person, I think we need somebody who has served, uh, in the temple for a very long time. Uh, maybe I'll have Jim stand up and, uh, I want you to read your piece, Jim. Dear God, thank you for this baby. You can now release your servant. Release me in peace as you promised with my own eyes. I've seen your salvation. Now it's out in the open for everyone to see a God revealing light to the non Jewish nations and of glory to your people, Israel. Okay. Now he's got the longest one. Now who can tell me who, uh, Jim Ferguson is, yes, you're right. It's Simeon and Simeon shows us that in 2011, God keeps all his promises and that, um, uh, all of his promises have to do with saving the world. And he is someone, uh, that will accomplish everything in Jesus. And so our resolution is, uh, is Jesus the person, the thing that you hope for most in 2011? That's the question to ask for a resolution. Is Jesus the one we hope for most? Now I want to ask number three to stand up and to read, uh, who you are and read nice and loud into the microphone. We saw the star when it rose and we have come to worship him. We know that baby Jesus is the King of Kings and we offer him our costly gifts.
[6:52] Okay. Yes, that's right. It's the wise men and they were, uh, Kings as well. Now, uh, the thing is for us to know, this is the prediction that in 2011, Jesus is the King over everything who deserves our worship alone. And our resolution, the question to ask ourselves is, will you serve Jesus as your King with all that you have? Will you serve Jesus as your King in 2011? Thank you very much, Alexander.
[7:24] Now I need a number four to come up and you guys try to guess who number four is and read nice and loud. I won't be afraid. Okay. That's okay. I won't be afraid to take Mary as my wife because God has told me that the baby who will be born is from his Holy Spirit. Okay. Yes, it is. It's Joseph. Very good.
[7:55] Now, Joseph is interested because he shows us, this is the, this is the prediction that God is greater than anything that we might be afraid of in 2011. He's greater than anything we might be afraid of.
[8:09] And our resolution question is, will you trust God's word and let him take away your fear this year? Will you trust God and let him take away your fear? Now, uh, we need somebody who has been a Christian for a very long time, who's prayed a long time and, um, knows God. Maybe I'll have, uh, Jean, why don't you come up to the front here and, uh, you have to guess who, uh, who anti-Jean is. Guess who anti-Jean is.
[8:42] This baby is the Messiah. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God. Listen, everybody. He will take away all your sin. Thank you, God. Thank you.
[8:56] Okay. Now, who is it? No, it's not Simeon. Yes.
[9:08] No, it's not the angels. This is a little bit harder one because she's not as well known. Yes. It's not Mary. Yes. Uh, if you guys don't know, I'm going to ask the somebody in the congregation, anybody have any idea who that person was?
[9:20] Yeah. No, uh, who said that? Raise your hand if you just said that. Okay. What is it? It's Anna. Anna was there right around the same time as Simeon. So you, you were very close and Anna is very excited because she knows that Jesus has come to release people from their sins.
[9:42] And so for Anna, she teaches us a prediction. And in 2011, the most important need of the world is to be released from their sins, to be released from sin.
[9:56] And so our resolution is like Anna, will you repent when you sin and help other people know about Jesus who frees us, who forgives us of our sins?
[10:07] Okay. Now I want number five to come up. No, number five has to be grumpy and angry. Okay. Grumpy and angry. And there you go.
[10:18] I'm scared and angry because of this news of the baby in Bethlehem who was called the King of the Jews. I am the only King around here and I kill that baby. Those wise men came to worship.
[10:39] Ooh. Okay. Yes. Who do you think it is? Close. Yes. You, you, you got that. Yeah. Well, that's close. She said Satan, but that's, uh, yes, it's King Herod. That's right. King Herod. Now what King Herod teaches us is that Jesus is the King of Kings.
[11:02] But in 2011, there will be times when you want to be King rather than Jesus being our King. And so our resolution question is, will you repent when this happens?
[11:14] And let Jesus take his rightful place as your King, the King of your life. The last one is number six. And, uh, uh, there's a big hint here already. Um, let's, uh, so if you can read that and, uh, and, um, yeah, read it out loud. Nice and loud.
[11:34] Um, this good news about Jesus that the shepherds told me is something to treasure in my heart. I will always think about how much this means. Hmm. Okay. Can anyone guess who that is? Yes. It is Mary. And that is Mary. You're right. Um, and what she teaches us is that Jesus is the good news and he is the greatest treasure in our lives.
[12:03] And our resolution question is, will you think about how great the good news of Jesus is for you every day? Will you think about how great that good news is every day?
[12:14] So let's bow our heads. We're going to pray that God will help us in 2011 to know his promises and to be able to live for him. Let's pray.
[12:25] Heavenly Father, we ask that you will help us to respond really well to Jesus this year. Uh, we know that we meet Jesus in the Bible. We meet him in communion that we're going to take today.
[12:41] And we pray that you will help us to trust you and receive Jesus as our Lord. Help us to speak about Jesus. Help us to give ourselves to Jesus with everything that we have.
[12:52] And help us to know that Jesus is the greatest treasure that we can ever know. In his name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you very much. And you guys can go and sit with your parents.
[13:04] Amen. Amen. Please join us as we continue in prayer.
[13:33] Amen. Father God, we thank you so much for all your amazing blessings in our lives, especially for the gift of Jesus, our Savior, whose birth we have so recently and joyfully celebrated.
[13:49] We thank you too, Lord, for this new year and all the possibilities that lie ahead. We thank you for the beautiful weather we've been enjoying this past week and marvel at the beauty of your creation all around us.
[14:01] As we enjoy the extra sunshine during these short winter days. We thank you, Lord, for the privilege of living in such a beautiful place. Especially as we know that many in our world are struggling with the impact of natural disasters.
[14:16] We think of the thousands in Australia affected by the extreme and wide-scale flooding. Of those suffering the effects of violent storms across the United States. And for those who continue to suffer the long-term effects of tragedies from this past year.
[14:31] For the millions in Haiti and Pakistan still without basic human needs. For the millions of dollars still needed in aid. For the aid workers struggling to provide in these most desperate situations.
[14:43] Lord, protect your people. Bring many to salvation. And in your mercy, provide for the needs of the hurting. And bring restoration, we pray. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
[14:55] Amen. We pray for the persecutions of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Especially in light of the recent attacks on Christians and churches in Egypt and Iraq.
[15:08] We ask for their protection, Father. And that you would increase their faith and joy. Even in the midst of persecution. And as you've promised, Lord. May theirs truly be the kingdom of heaven.
[15:20] Amen. We also pray for our missionaries serving throughout the world. Strengthen, encourage them, and fill them with your Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy.
[15:31] Hear our prayer. Amen. We pray for our nation, Canada. And thank you for the wonderful and many freedoms we enjoy. We thank you for the freedom to worship you in spirit and in truth.
[15:44] We thank you for our families and friends and the food and fellowship we enjoy. We pray for those in our country and city who do not know these blessings. For the broken and the homeless.
[15:55] Protect them on these cold winter days and nights. And use the seal, Lord, to help provide and care for them. And to help bring many to a saving knowledge of you. We pray also for our missionaries serving here in Canada.
[16:07] For Paul, Ratsoy, and Lighthouse Harbor Ministries. And Dan, and Fran, and Gao, and Seeds of Hope. Meet all their needs according to your glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
[16:18] Lord, in your mercy. Amen. We pray for our church and thank you for your faithfulness to us, Lord God. We pray for our leadership and ask for your continued strength, protection, and wisdom as they serve and lead us.
[16:31] We continue to lift up to you our legal situation and the appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Guide us, Lord, and the community of churches involved. And strengthen our faith and trust in you as we walk this road together.
[16:44] Lord, in your mercy. Amen. We lift up those who are sick or grieving amongst us. We thank you, Jesus, that you comfort those who mourn. We also thank you for your healing power in our lives.
[16:56] And we ask you to bring healing to many in our midst. We lift up specifically today Mel, Rowena, and Marguerite. And for others on our hearts who need your healing this day.
[17:11] Lord, in your mercy. We pray. We pray. Lord, in these and all things we pray as you taught us.
[17:26] For your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[17:36] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[18:15] Amen. Amen.
[18:45] Amen. Amen.
[19:15] Amen. Amen. Thank you.
[20:14] Thank you.
[20:44] Thank you.
[21:14] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[21:25] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[21:37] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[21:49] Thank you. Thank you. to us for outreach to the world's sorrows and also for the coming of your kingdom.
[22:03] And we just ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. As we proceed to our time of communion, we will, while communion is being conducted, we will have prayer teams in the North Chapel, right over on the side by the pulpit, and the South Chapel over here by the side of the lectern and at the back of the church for prayers of thanksgiving or praise or intercession, whatever is on your heart.
[22:37] And we come now to our confession of sin. Let us confess our sins to Almighty God. Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things and judge of all things, and you