This past Sunday was a very special Sunday for 3 reasons. The first of which is the fact that we celebrated with Live Oak Church, a new church plant who will be launching soon in John’s Island who we have the honor of supporting. Secondly, we received communion together for the first time as a church. Lastly, we took up the offerings for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.

It’s easy to think that international missions is irrelevant to our lives, but nothing could be more untrue. We may not all be called to live among unreached and unengaged people groups but we are all called to bring the gospel to unreached and unengaged. In Matthew 28, Jesus commands us to “make disciples of all nations.” That call was for every Christian, and His Great Commission has not been completed.
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We are the means by which God wants to bring the Good News to the world. So, if the international missionaries are willing to completely give up their comfort and proximity to family, we can make the financial sacrifice to keep these missionaries on the field so that the goodness of Christ can be made known to every man woman and child.

This year's Membership Dinner was a very exciting and foundational night for the future of our church. Our very first members signed the membership covenant tonight! What an honor it is to serve our city and our King with the incredible people in our church family!

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Below are the audio recording's from the guest speakers. 

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​“He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:16–17)

What John the Baptist did for Israel, Advent can do for us. Don’t let Christmas find you unprepared. I mean spiritually unprepared. Its joy and impact will be so much greater if you are ready!

So, that you might be prepared . . .

First, meditate on the fact that we need a Savior. Christmas is an indictment before it becomes a delight. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). If you don’t need a Savior, you don’t need Christmas. Christmas will not have its intended effect until we feel desperately the need for a Savior. 

Second, engage in sober self-examination. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24). Let every heart prepare him room . . . 

Third, build God-centered anticipation and expectancy and excitement into your home — especially for the children. If you are excited about Christ, they will be too. If you can only make Christmas exciting with material things, how will the children get a thirst for God? Bend the efforts of your imagination to make the wonder of the King’s arrival visible for the children.
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Fourth, be much in the Scriptures, and memorize the great passages! “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:29)! Gather ’round that fire this Advent season. It is warm. It is sparkling with colors of grace. It is healing for a thousand hurts. It is light for dark nights.


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Devotional excerpted from “Prepare the Way of the Lord!” on DesiringGod.org