The Father Effect

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)

- Matthew 1:21-23

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,

24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

- Matthew 14:22-27

18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

- Isaiah 43:18-19

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

- Psalms 139:7-12

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

- Matthew 14:28-29

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

- Hebrews 11:6

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Mixer

What Christmas movie “world” would you put yourself in?

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

1. In Pastor Ken’s 11/29/21 entry, The Hope of Advent, he sets the stage for this season of advent - the coming of Jesus with his eyes on the cross in the future. The first candle of Advent is Hope - secure assurance, trust in a trustworthy God. What does that mean to you? Spend some time this week with your family answering these questions:
   1. What is something you hope for?
   2. Why is waiting so hard?
   3. What does the Christmas season teach us about hope?
   4. What does it mean for you to put your hope in Jesus?
2. In Student Ministries Director, Cristina’s, 12/2/21 entry, Where Is Your Hope?, she reminds us that Mary could have put her hope in the ease and enjoyment of life, but instead, she put her hope in Jesus. She talked about confidence in fulfillment. Reflect on Romans 5:5. If this is true, how might what you place your hope in look different in light of Christmas?

Sermon Questions

Scriptures: Matthew 1:21-23; 14:22-27, 28-29, 30-31; Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 139:7-12, 91:14-15

1. What impacted or challenged you in today’s message?
2. Josh said that God is the kind of “Daddy” that desires to be at each and every stage of our lives. Do you pick and choose where/when He can enter, or do you maybe have blind spots?
3. Read Matthew 1:21-23. Emmanuel - God with us. Do you have a “Daddy” relationship with God? How do your relationships with your parent(s) help or hinder your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
4. Restlessness: Like the disciples in the boat, do you sometimes not recognize Jesus when he is right in front of you?
5. Risk: God’s heart is expanding for you and to fully gratify Him, we have to jump into the water and trust Him...and the result is His reward. What is that thing God is calling you to, and what might be the resulting rewards in your life if you said yes?
   (Remember the 3 test questions: Is the Holy Spirit putting this on you? Can another person who loves Jesus validate it? Can you find it in God’s Word?)
6. Rescue: We all relate to stepping out of the boat and beginning to sink. Do you resist His rescue - are you stubborn, scared, embarrassed, confused - or do you cry out? What does God want us to know about Him in that moment?
7. If you call on God’s name, what will He do for you? Read Psalms 91:14-15. How will this understanding of Him change how you live out your life, love your spouse, your kids, your neighbor, your church?

Go Deeper - with Goodbook

**Goodbook is on break through the end of the year.** Catch the archived sessions on demand at thechurchrb.org/goodbook

Serve

Hey Seniors - come share some Christmas fun with our younger generation on Saturday, Dec 11, 1-3pm. We are inviting our Kindergarten-5th Grade students to come for some fun crafts and cookie decorating with our Senior Sitters (that’s you!). Sign up at thechurchrb.org or contact Pastor heidi@thechurchrb.org or Pastor pam@thechurchrb.org to find out how you can be a part of this special event!

Pray

Pray this week for God to prepare your heart for the Christmas season and the upcoming Impact Offering. Thank Him for His blessings He has bestowed upon you, thereby creating an opportunity for you to be a blessing to others. Ask Him to help you see the needs around you through His eyes, that your heart would be more open than ever to positively impact the life of another, bringing a little of “up there, down here.” Amen.

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