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Gateway Church gathers
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Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd.
(Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia.

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A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO


Unfamiliar
(Third in a series)

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

December 24, 2006
Fourth Sunday in Advent
  • Main Scripture text: Luke 2:1-7
  • Over the centuries, people have greatly romanticized the first Christmas -- making the story quaint, sweet, and nice. We need a reality check.

  • The Nativity wasn't quaint, sweet, and nice. It was difficult, dangerous, painful.

  • Childbirth in those days was very risky -- and it hurt. There was no such thing as anesthesiology.

  • Remember, too, that Mary was in totally unfamiliar territory -- away from home, without mother, or friends, or a midwife to help.

  • Was this what Mary had in mind when she said to the angel: "I am the Lord's servant, let it be to me as you have said"?

  • Author and speaker Margaret Feinberg helps us make the application to our lives:

We often picture how God will use us -- and often it looks a lot like a Christmas card.

But it hardly ever works out that way.

God calls people to be missionaries, pastors, evangelists. They all set out with high hopes of success -- many people won to the Lord, large churches.

But, more often than not, serving God turns out to be hard duty.

  • Why does serving God turn out to be so hard so much of the time?

    1)

    We live in a fallen world.

    The powers of darkness oppose the work of God in any and every way they can.


    2)


    The message of the Cross.

    God doesn't save us from life but through life.

    He intends to show the world His power through us.

    Jesus is our example. He experienced life as it is -- including the blood, sweat, tears, and tragedy.

  • Don't be surprised when God leads you into unfamiliar territory where you have to face difficulty and hardship.

  • In such times, keep your focus on Him -- and on the reality of His power working in and through you.

  • Like Mary, trust that in the end God will bring you through -- and accomplish His will in and through your life.


Supporting text: John 16:33


A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (26 min.).
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)

An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).


Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 061224a: Unfamiliar.

© 2006 Gerald R. Varnado

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