70 results for tag: christmas

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 ...

Christmas at North House – Michael North

On behalf of CWR/PTM, enjoy this Christmas album by Michael North.

From the Pasture to the Palace

Our career and avocation, as Christians, involves being humble, even as our Chief Shepherd exemplified humility in all aspects of his birth, life, death and resurrection. This week's sermon leads us to consider the humble beginnings of the earthly life of our Lord and the relevance it has for our lives. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR044.mp3

Peace Arrives!

Our Savior, who rescues us from danger, disaster and destruction has arrived! The peace of God is a new kind of peace, not a relative calm between storms, but an abiding, eternal, internal peace give to those who can never deserve it nor ever do anything to merit it. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR043.mp3

The Love of God Revealed in and Through Jesus – Greg Albrecht

The significance and meaning of Christmas is critically important – it is far too easy to miss the forest of the gospel while tunnel vision focuses on trivialities such as a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree serves as an example of the less than monumental and momentous aspects of the birth of Jesus, fitting the idiom of “don’t miss the forest for the tree.” There are many trivial pursuits and distractions aren’t there? The meals, the gifts, the music … an endless list of diversions that detour us away from the Christ-centered forest of faith.  The Apostle John provides Christ-centered focus:  “In the beginning was the ...

The Long Wait

The sermon speaks to our long wait, waiting for “the blessed hope.” Greg encourages us to "live and experience December" - to fix our eyes and our spiritual compass on Jesus, and recommit to receiving God's grace. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR042.mp3

The Comfort of Christ

As we begin a season of anticipating the coming of Jesus, Greg's sermon is based on Isaiah's prophecy of Christ as comforter. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR041.mp3

God in the Manger

Many of us are more willing to accept Jesus Christ as the helpless, dependent baby in the manger than as Lord of our lives. We don’t want to hear how he challenges our beliefs and our way of life, but the central truth of Christmas is that the baby in the manger is God!

Coming to Jesus

Travel is very much a part of Christmas. We join bumper to bumper traffic as we shop, we fly many hundreds of miles and travel our freeways to be with family and friends. Travel was a part of Christmas from the beginning, but at the first Christmas travel was for a different reason.