10 December 2007
Christmas ‘Contact’
This weekend a lot of people learned what it means to make contact with God! We learned that the goal of ‘drawing near’ at this time of year may not be enough.
Close only counts, as they say, in horseshoes and hand grenades. But when it comes to embracing the reason for the season nothing short of touching Christ will do. If Christmas for you is a lonely, depressing time (as studies show it is for a quite a few people) then Christmas contact with Christ is the only way to end the seasonal slump. But just how is that contact made?
By trusting Christ as Lord and Savior. That means coming to the realization that Christmas is actually about a mission—mission earth. God sent His Son not for the miraculous birth, but for the even more transforming death.
Jesus Christ came to die.
That’s difficult for a lot of people to swallow. We like our Christmas nice and tidy, neat and beautifully wrapped. Even our mangers settings are more like a Holiday Inn than a smelly, dirty, cavebarn for barn animals with the baby Jesus in a feeding trough. And while this may seem like an innocent enough attempt to keep things ‘nice,’ it ends up being just another roadblock to contact with the real Jesus. And all roadblocks need to come down for contact to be made. For seekers we pointed out that embracing the love and grace of Christ starts with repentance (wow, there’s a popular word, huh?!). Start by telling God that you’re sorry for the mess-ups in your life and ask Him to forgive you.
Then invite Him to be a part of your life.
Then get out of the driver’s seat and let God take over.
For Christ followers we suggested they begin initiating contact in the following ways:
1. 30 days in the gospel of John
2. 30 days of nightly prayer — just you and God (no less than 5 minutes)
3. Find someone who is struggling during this season and help bring them home for Christmas.
I guarantee that third one will be the hardest for folks. But at Southbrook, we’re used to this. We’ve written names of loved ones on CD’s and rocks in the past and scene hundreds of those folks come to Christ. And this time we wrote the names on Christmas ornaments as we prepare to see God do something ginormous the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd! We’ll be in the fourth and final week of our “Presents (really, “Presence”)” series and the message will be, “Lost at Christmas.”
On that weekend, God’s going to finish what He laid on my heart before 07 began…more people saved this year than the previous 7 years combined!
We’re almost there!
Pray with me for God’s harvest that weekend.
Here’s some more pictures from this weekend.
Enjoy!
5 Comments currently posted.
Kitty Hinkle says:
kati says:
Ready to read
Ready to pray
and
Ready to invite
JT says:
Rob:
Just wanted to say that this weekends message was one of the best that I’ve heard in the short time that my family and I have been coming. This message was funny, to the point, passionate and full of other elements such as video and audience participation.
Most importantly, the insight that you gave in what God has been talking to you about was awesome to hear. 200 people in 2 weeks…IT CAN BE DONE!! God is on the move and it is great to hear what he has in store for us…thank-you for being sensitive to his call.
Tasha Via says:
Pastor Rob, thanks for the message this weekend and for being so real with us. You don’t have to publish this comment, but I wanted you to know that the Lord has laid you on my heart, even before I heard the message on Sat. I’ve been praying for you and the rest of the leadership at Southbrook. The humility among the staff is apparent and has allowed Southbrook to be a much-needed place for healing for Josh and me this past year. Thank you.
Michael says:
Wow, Kitty! I do not want to imagine life without my wife, but when you put in light of having direct contact with God and knowing that she is with the Lord, it makes it a bearable thought., though I cannot say I am there yet.
As the message, your question for us to ponder, I can say I did not list a material item and those were not the thoughts I even considered. What I thought of almost instantly is something I have been taking to God of late, yet I know that having what I really want does not guarantee contact with God. Nor would I say that having it would draw me closer to Him. Even still, I am pondering what you said very carefully because I know that they were not your words but God’s. Of course, God is never wrong and He does not steer us wrong. Just some learning takes carefull consideration, so I guess I just covet your prayers.
Thank you for the message on “Alone”, Rob. How perfect for my family this first holiday season without my husband. My kids and I have to keep a sense of humor at the Christmas jingles in the store that sing, “Christmas just ain’t Christmas, without the one you love…” The season is so marketed to the content.
I’ve always felt that there is a certain “joy” that comes from aloneness. I know “joy” seems like the wrong word, so it seemed too twisted to voice, so I thank you for delivering a message that explains something along those lines. Drawing closer to Him in our brokenness puts us in a position to be honored.
I’m grateful that I had experienced terrible brokenness earlier in life that strengthened my heart. My memory how the Lord allowed me to work through that brokenness helps me remember to draw close to the Lord during this season. Your blogs on brokenness in August are worth rereading.
Learning to be alone and okay in the broken state is such a worthy pursuit. Sometimes it means being still and just trusting, even when the brokeness and loneliness hurts- not rushing out and trying to “fix” the lonely feeling. Just connecting with Him and reading His Word, and allowing that the broken, lonely feelings can be there, and you will grow through them.