75 results for tag: christmas
God Comes Near – by Greg Albrecht
Imagine, for a moment, that you are part of a team building a skyscraper. Your team building this "high rise" would need, of course, a great deal of expertise to ensure that a sound foundation would be laid. Considerable expense and work is involved in preparing the foundation of any edifice that eventually soars majestically, hundreds of feet into the air.
Skyscrapers are incredibly heavy, so they must be built on much more durable foundations than smaller buildings. In virtually every case, a skyscraper requires a deep foundation, with pilings, drilled shafts and columns put in place using a pile driver—all reinforced by concrete.
When God ...
Jesus is the Reason – Michael North
From CWR/PTM - Enjoy this Christmas song by Michael North.
Christmas at North House – Michael North
On behalf of CWR/PTM, enjoy this Christmas album by Michael North.
Do Not Be Afraid – by Greg Albrecht
The time and culture of Jesus' birth was not unlike the world in which we live today. For that matter, it was just like any generation or era in history. The specific people, land and culture to which Jesus came was a world permeated with fear at almost every level. The Jews were an occupied people. They suffered under grinding poverty and heavy taxation. There was a huge gap between the rich and the poor. Life expectancy, particularly among the poor, is estimated to have been in the mid-30s to early-40s. Fear is a part of what it means to be human. It's a common and normal emotional reaction.
• We have fears that we will live so long that our ...
CWR Video – The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – by Greg Albrecht
Albrecht - Most Wonderful Time of the Year from Plain Truth Ministries on Vimeo.
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The Season of Lights – by Ed Dunn
I remember Christmastime as a child. I remember riding together with my brothers and sisters in the backseat of our old family station-wagon. As the days were short on sunlight during the wintery months in our particular part of Western Pennsylvania, many of our rides together took place after dark. We thought of ourselves as “country bumpkins” who grew up “in the sticks,” and as such, we knew if we could catch a glimpse of the Christmas lights from “town” on one of our rides, it would make for a real seasonal treat.
As children, we were quite lucky. Our family station-wagon was the only one of its kind, ...
One Week in December – by Greg Albrecht
Friend and Partner Letter from December 2024:
On Monday, a couple signed divorce papers. The end of 32 years together – now a fractured family, with three children, in-laws and many friends. What will happen now? Does this divorce matter to God? So this is Christmas?
On Tuesday, a husband and father left work, got on a bus to go home to his family. Two young people appeared, demanding his money, cell phone and wedding ring. He resisted, was beaten and stabbed and left to die as the teens left the bus. Where was God?
On Wednesday, a 60-year-old woman visited her doctor to receive news of her recent tests. She was not shocked to hear her ...
December 2024
CLICK HERE to read now
(PDF Format)
Brad Jersak Sometimes, Waiting Is Hard – pg. 2
Laura Urista Great Gifts in Small Packages – pg. 4
Greg Albrecht Believe Him & Receive Him – pg. 5
November 2024
CLICK HERE to read now
(PDF Format)
Articles:
Politics and Religion as Usual – pg. 1
Hope, Comfort, Encouragement & Healing to be Found in Christ – pg. 2
The World's Story Told Well – pg. 4
Friday Mornings with the Rabbi – pg. 5
Rehearsals – pg. 7
Quotes & Connections – pg. 8
Do Not Be Afraid
One of the most frequent and comforting biblical themes was part of the message given to three of the principle characters in the first Christmas. Join Greg for this Christmas message as we see that Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds were all encouraged "not to be afraid." We are given that same encouragement!
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR201.mp3
Joy To the World
Join us for this fitting special Christmas service of celebration and praise as Michael North joins Greg. Michael sings while Greg discusses the gospel contained in this great hymn, whose lyrics were written by Englishman Issac Watts.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR202.mp3
When the Time Had Fully Come – by Greg Albrecht
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
But When the Time ...
It All Started With a Baby
God in the flesh decided to start out as a baby. Who would have written that script? Why in the world did he begin his earthly life as a baby? Celebrate the birth of our Lord with us!
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR253.mp3
God With Us and God For Us
Join us for a Christmas celebration as we ask and answer exactly what Christmas is and what it is not.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR358.mp3
John’s Christmas Story
The Christmas story in the Gospel of John is the one that is least heard and least told in Christmas sermons, yet it is the mind-expanding big picture of the birth of our Lord.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR357.mp3
Just Another Party? – Greg Albrecht
Many contemporary Christmas celebrations and traditions have strayed far from the reason for the season. Jesus is often left out in the cold as many observe one of two opposing celebrations that appropriate his name: 1) a secular Christmas, or 2) a religious Christmas. A secular Christmas is usually all about eating, drinking, spending and consuming to excess. It’s just another excuse for a party. A religious Christmas is all about doing the right things at the right times in the right places with the right people. Authentic Christianity offers a third option, one that is neither secular nor religious. The focus of a Christ-centered Christmas ...
That Baby Was God!
It’s so easy to sugarcoat Christmas, turning it into a fantasy land dream world of decorations and tinsel and holly and gifts and inspiring music. It’s so easy to miss the fundamental, majestic and mysterious truth of the incarnation of God.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR408.mp3
The Real Story of Christmas – by Greg Albrecht
Many customs and traditions that surround Christmas are flights of fancy promising unrealistic escape from the here-and-now into a never-Neverland of endless fun, frivolity and feasting. But the real story of Christmas is far from an idyllic fantasy filled with “stuff and fluff.” The real Christmas story is about the pits, foxholes and dark places of our lives – to which our Savior comes, to be with us and one of us. The real story of Christmas is that Jesus comes to us – he joins us where we are.
Jesus does not rapture us away to “somewhere over the rainbow.” Matthew 2:13-23 tells us the story of a murderous despot ...
It’s Not All About Mary
God came to our world in a completely unexpected and miraculous way through Mary, an ordinary teenager who was completely different from a woman who would have been considered worthy of such a calling. Jesus is still coming, to completely unexpected, ordinary people, like you and me!
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR407.mp3
Who Is, Who Was, Who Is to Come – by Greg Albrecht
"Who IS, and Who WAS, and Who IS TO COME." This phrase begins with the word "who"—a reference to Jesus Christ—and ends with the word "come"—which is also a reference to Jesus Christ, and his comings.
When people think of Jesus, they think of either one, or at the most, two of his comings. They often think first of what is popularly called his "first" coming—the coming of God, to this earth, in the person of Jesus. The first coming is the Who was in the title of this article and in the first chapter of Revelation.
Next, they think of what is popularly called his "second" coming—the future coming of Jesus to this earth. The second coming ...
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