Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone
Today I’m honored to share on the Proverbs 31 Ministries podcast about knowing your role when a friend is suffering. I think often we hesitate to offer support to a friend who’s hurting because we aren’t sure about the best way to serve and support her. We dig into this tough topic today, and I hope it will be helpful to you!
You can listen here or find the Proverbs 31 Ministries podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Today I have the privilege of sharing over at First 5 as we continue our Advent study. I hope you’ll head to the First 5 website to read the entire teaching, or download the app to study along with us! Here’s a preview . . .
Today’s Reading: Luke 2:15-20
Luke 2:20 (ESV) “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
If I told you about a delicious dessert I enjoyed at a new restaurant or a captivating piece of artwork at a nearby museum, would you be satisfied with simply hearing me describe it? Probably not! If you care anything about food or art, you’ll want to head to the restaurant or museum and experience it for yourself.
The shepherds were the same way. A chorus of angels lit up the night sky and brought the news that a Savior had been born in Bethlehem. (Luke 2:9-14) But the shepherds didn’t just take the angels’ word for it. They wanted to see it for themselves. After they responded in faith to the angels’ message, they shared the good news and worshipped God.
The shepherds responded in faith. (Luke 2:15-16)
I wonder how long the shepherds sat there in shock after the angels vanished back into heaven. This night of looking after sheep wasn’t turning out at all like they had planned. But in response to the angelic visit, the shepherds “went with haste” to Bethlehem (Luke 2:16). The sight of Mary, Joseph and the baby confirmed the good news: a Savior had been born in Bethlehem. (Luke 2:11)
The good news about Jesus demands a response. Have you responded in faith to the gospel message? When we run in faith to Jesus, we find that He is all that He promises to be.
You can read the rest of this teaching at the First 5 website or by downloading the app. I hope it will encourage you as we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior!
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We’re starting our Advent study in the First 5 app and would love for you to join us! I have the privilege of kicking off the study with a teaching on John 1:1-14. Here’s a preview . . .
Today’s Reading: John 1:1-14
John 1:1 (ESV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
My children love to hear stories about life before they were born. They can’t imagine a world before email and cell phones and streaming video. My kids refer to it as “life in the 1900s” – a time when they didn’t exist. Their lives had a start date in the first decade of the 21st century, and they missed everything that came before.
As we begin our study of the advent of Jesus Christ, we see in John 1 that the Word, the Son of God, didn’t start in the Gospels. He didn’t miss the Old Testament and show up just in time for the New. “He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:2). Jesus Christ is the eternal Word who became the incarnate Word. The everlasting Son of God took on human flesh so that we may become children of God.
Head over to First 5 to read the rest of the teaching, or download the app to join our Advent study!
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I’m sharing an audio teaching this weekend at First 5 about how Jesus met our greatest need. I’d love for you to join us as we dig into the events at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, from the triumphal entry through the ascension. Head over to First 5 to listen or read an audio transcript, or download the app to join us in our study of 40 days through the Bible!
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