If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re reading the Bible, you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get away from it: light is everywhere.<\/p>\n
The Bible opens with creation when God turns on the lights with the words, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153let there be light\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Gen. 1:3). The Bible ends in a world without a sun, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb (Rev. 21:23). In between is a story about light and darkness. When God promised a Messiah, he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isa. 9:2). Israel walked in darkness instead of the light, but this Messiah would be a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153light to the nations\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Isa. 49:6). Speaking of the salvation of his people, Isaiah wrote these climactic words: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Isa. 60:1). And, today, what God did in creation he is doing in our hearts: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153God, who said, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcLet light shine out of darkness,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (2 Cor. 4:6). Jesus, the light of the world, shines on us and through us to the world (Jn. 8:12; Mt. 5:14).<\/p>\n
From December 18 through the month of January we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to work through a series of sermons on the biblical theme of light. Ryan and Trent will tag-team on this series. Here’s where we’re going:<\/p>\n
That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the plan, though we may fiddle with it a bit.<\/p>\n
Invite your friends to a service this Christmas season. Remember that we have two services on Christmas Eve\u00e2\u20ac\u201d4PM and 6PM. Join us at 6PM if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re able to free up space at the more heavily attended 4PM service. Then, on Christmas Day, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re looking forward to one full single service at 10AM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"