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Sermon Notes: 12/19 – Christmas Prep #4 – “Grateful Hope”

Posted on Dec 19, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Christmas Prep4: A Grateful Hope

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:33-38

INTRO: A Hopeful Invitation

https://jimdaly.focusonthefamily.com/a-story-of-presidential-kindness/

WELCOME: to Central: Week 4 of Christmas Prep

Week 1: Repentence – God prepared the Christmas story with John the Baptist first.

Week 2: Deep and Abiding Faith – God prepared for Christmas with Mary making at least 8 references to God Almighty – instead of references to a cute baby.

Week 3: Humility – Do you have a humble heart that makes room for Jesus?

Week 4: Grateful Hope!

Luke 2:25-26 “there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for (anticipating) the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Luke 2:38 “she began to give thanks to God and to speak of (Jesus) to all who were waiting for (anticipating) the redemption of Jerusalem.”

YES IMPORTANT! BUT THEY WERE! They were important to God! And do you know HOW I know they were important to God? God told us their names… and He told us what they said. Their lives mattered because God said they mattered.

God says that Simeon was “righteous and devout” (Luke 2:25).

https://www.shinesty.com/products/western-ugly-christmas-suit –

Devoted – https://www.thescore.com/news/1973115

Anna was an 84 year old widow who “did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” (Luke 2:37) Anna was always at the Temple, and she COMMITTED herself to fasting… and to praying night and day.

Newsboys – “Committed” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WubT3UCjdzo – 2016

This is my story, this is my song

I have a hope that’s stronger then the dust I’m standing on

This is my anchor, my cornerstone

This is the anthem I’ll be singing, till the Kingdom comes

I am committed, I’m not ashamed

I pledge my allegiance to Jesus, My King

I am committed, got nothing to hide

I’m not giving up, not selling out, I’m in this for life

I am committed, to Christ

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/salvation-army-bells-noise-complaint/story?id=17780903

ILLUS: CHRISTMAS WISH LIST! 10 year old girl.

https://www.boredpanda.com/10-year-old-christmas-gift-wish-list/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

“The people walking in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT (Jesus) on those living in the land of the shadow of death a LIGHT has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)

When Anna saw Jesus “she began to give thanks to God and to speak of (Jesus) to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

I think the Poem recorded by Angie Mosteller expresses the Jesus of Christmas well.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the earth,

Every creature was stirring, awaiting a birth.

The time for Messiah was certainly near,

The prophets foretold it; the Bible was clear.

From the book of beginnings, the very first sin,

God’s word made it clear how His grace entered in.

Born of a virgin, He’d come as a man.

The Creator among us, the time was at hand.

The stars were arranged to show marvelous things,

Setting Wise Men to journey and find the true King.

Shepherds in Bethlehem gazed on the sky,

Longing to see him, their Lord the Most High.

How could they know that the very next night

An angel of God would speak words of delight?

How the Savior was born, it was news of great joy.

In a cloth and a manger they’d find the dear boy.

And a heavenly host would soon join to sing

Of the glory of God and of wonderful things.

He entered creation, set position aside

To show us how deeply his love did abide.

Sin sent us away from our almighty Lord.

He became one of us that we might be restored.

He’s the Prince of our Peace; He’s the one who makes whole.

He is Wisdom Incarnate, a Shepherd of Souls.

He’s the Author of Life; He’s the Ruler of All.

He can offer salvation, on His name we call.

The shepherds and Wise Men would bow to adore

Holy God among men, our greatest reward.

All glory and honor is due to this King.

Let all join in worship; let every tongue sing.

Jesus is Lord, all creation proclaims.

He’s the first and last, He is always the same.

History turned on the first Christmas day,

When God became man in a humble display.

As we think of the manger in which He was laid,

Let our hearts welcome Him to the world He made!

https://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=4478

Singing Service Tomorrow Night!

Posted on Dec 18, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Central Reminder: Our 3rd Sunday singing is tomorrow night @ 5pm! We’re going to have fun singing holiday themed hymns & more. We’ll also follow service with hot chocolate & marshmallows served in the lobby for fellowship! If you have any song numbers to request, please text them to Topher by noon tomorrow. Praise Him!

Cookie Decorating & Devo

Posted on Dec 17, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Kids and their families are invited to the annual Cookie Decorating & Devo Party tomorrow, 12/18 at 10am in the fellowship hall! Contact Ashley Wiles if you have any questions.

Bloom Ladies Painting Party

Posted on Dec 14, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Bloom Ladies’ Paint Night is tonight at 6pm in the annex! All ladies are welcome to come eat and visit with us; if you are painting, be sure to bring $15.

Ellis O’Neal Obituary & Funeral Services

Posted on Dec 12, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Pasted from Thurman Funeral Home: https://www.thurmanfuneral.com/obituary/Ellis-ONeal

September 21, 1941 ~ December 10, 2021 (age 80)
Wiley Ellis O’Neal Jr, age 80, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 10, 2021, at his home in Sparta, TN surrounded by his loving family.

He was born to the late Wiley Ellis O’Neal Sr. and Vione Acord O’Neal on September 21st, 1941, in Edwight, WV.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Vione O’Neal and siblings, Colleen, Ivan, Ruth, and John.

He is survived by his Loving wife of 58 years, Jo O’Neal and four children,

daughter, Tammy Sells (husband Ricky) of Madison, AL.,

son, Mike O’Neal (wife Vanessa) of Sparta, TN,

son, Greg O’Neal (wife Michele) of Sparta, TN,

and son, Jonathan O’Neal (wife Jen) of Crossville, TN.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and brothers Larry and Paul O’Neal.

ARRANGEMENTS:

Funeral services will be Sunday, December 12th , 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home. Interment will be at Eastland Cemetery. Officiating will be done by the family and Brother Jack Chadwell.

Visitation will be Sunday, December 12th, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ellis O’Neal, please visit our floral store.

Sermon Notes: 12/12 – Christmas Prep #3 – Decorating the Cross

Posted on Dec 12, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Luke 2:1-7

“I don’t have room for you in the hotel, but I’d love to have you come in for milk and cookies.”

WELCOME To Central Church of Christ. Week 3. Put more time into decorating your souls for the coming of the Christ than decorating your house for the coming of Christmas.

Week 1: Repentence – God prepared the Christmas story with John the Baptist first.

Week 2: Deep and Abiding Faith – God prepared for Christmas with Mary making at least 8 references to God Almighty – instead of references to a cute baby.

Luke 2:1-5 tells us “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”

They were “betrothed.” (Luke 2:5)

Oprah Dealing with Family Disfunction– Rooted in Biblical Principals – https://www.oprah.com/omagazine/dealing-with-a-dysfunctional-family-during-the-holidays/all

Give Up Hope – Of Changing People
Set Secure Boundaries – BEFORE you meet
Lose Control – Stop trying to control others
Become a Participant Observer
Debrief afterwards

“I am so glad He was not born in some rich palace bed. I am so glad to know it was a lowly place, instead. A place where soft-eyed cows and sheep were sheltered and were fed. For to the country born of earth a stable will ever be a wholesome place, where night comes down with its tranquility, a place of heart’s ease and content for all who choose to see. And so I like to think of Him first opening His eyes in that good elemental place beneath the friendly skies. That the men of fields could find Him there, as well as the great and wise.” (Grace Noel Crowell)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Paul wrote “do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:9-11

Max Lucado once noted that the manger was a statement that “there is no place Jesus will not go. If he is willing to be born in a barnyard, then expect him to be at work anywhere— bars, bedrooms, boardrooms, and brothels. No place is too common. No person is too hardened. No distance is too far. There is no person he cannot reach. There is no limit to his love.” (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/12/01/max-lucado-should-just-skip-christmas-this-year.html)

John 1:11 tells us “He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.”

John 15:18 Jesus told His disciples “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” I Peter 4:12-14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DraQIZB3k94 – Straight No Chaser – 2018

“Sweet Little Jesus Boy, they made you be born in a manger. Sweet little Holy Child, didn’t know who You was. Didn’t know You’d come to save us, Lord – to take our sins away. Our eyes was blind, we couldn’t see. We didn’t know who you was.” (Our Daily Bread 12/24/01)

CLOSE: – Decorate Your Soul with Humility

Kneel at the cross,
Christ will meet you there,
Come while He waits for you;
List to His voice,
Leave with Him your care
And begin life anew.

Refrain:
Kneel at the cross,
Leave every care;
Kneel at the cross,
Jesus will meet you there.

Kneel at the cross,
There is room for all
Who would His glory share;
Bliss there awaits,
Harm can ne’er befall
Those who are anchored there

Ellis O’Neal

Posted on Dec 10, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Prayer Request: We know you’ve been praying for Ellis O’Neal, Mike’s dad, and many of you went to sing Christmas carols to him last week. Ellis is finally at peace as he went home to be with his heavenly father this morning. Please keep Mike, Vanessa, and the family in your prayers as this will be a tougher Christmas season for them. We will update with arrangements when they are known.

Christmas Angel Tree SignUps

Posted on Dec 7, 2021 in Uncategorized |

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A48A9A62FABFE3-2021
Thank you for your interest in providing a great Christmas experience for underprivileged students in our White County Public Schools program. Every year our church family adopts underprivileged children identified in the school system. This year Central Church of Christ has adopted multiple students from different families. Below you will find some ages ans sizes for the children we are providing for. Pray daily for them, write a note to them, and bless them with gifts as if they were your own children! You can sign up to purchase one gift or purchase many gifts All gifts must be returned unwrapped to the church office by Wednesday Services at 6:30pm on Dec 15th. We will also deliver Christmas meals to the families with the gifts. For questions, please contact Ashley Aaron or Topher Wiles. Click the link to sign up!
“We love because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A48A9A62FABFE3-2021
Show God’s Love. Tell God’s Story. Be God’s Family

Sermon Notes: 12/5 – Christmas Prep 2 – Room for God

Posted on Dec 5, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Funny: Jon Crist (3.5mins)– Modern Mary & Joseph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAcxlZdR27U

WELCOME: to Central Church of Christ, not a place, a building, or a religion, but a people called out by God to Show His Love, Tell His Story, and Be His Family. Today’s sermon series is the second message inspired by our Christmas preparations, where we ask the questions, “Do we prepare for the coming of the Christ more than the coming of Christmas? How did God prepare the world for the coming of Christmas!”

“In the beginning was the Word (that’s Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

1 Peter 1:20 says “(Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world

Galatians 4:4 tells us that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son”

Isaiah 7:14 that declared: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Micah 5:2 – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Psalm 72:8-11 – May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
⁹May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
¹⁰May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
¹¹May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary…. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy — the Son of God.’” Luke 1:26-27 & 31-35

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

https://www.everystudent.com/features/religions-of-the-world.html

Isaiah 7:14 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

“The best way to send an idea is to wrap it up in a person.”

(J. Robert Oppenheimer, theoretical physicist, and father of the atomic bomb for WWII)

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“there was… no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Isaiah 59:16-17

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Luke 1:17

Look at all the references to God in this passage Luke 1:26-37 : ²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin? ³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

THIS PASSAGE SHOW’S A FOCUS ON THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD!

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

1 Peter 2:9 says “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.”

“For 2000 years parents and grandparents have passed on the story of Jesus. It has changed millions of lives and the whole world.” Gene Dulin, a preacher and Christian missionary who lived just north of our family in Plainfield, Indiana.

Wiles out of town Backpacking

Posted on Dec 1, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Hello church family, we wanted to let you know that the Wiles will be out of town on their annual family backpacking trip until Saturday, December 4th. The boys will be hiking 27 miles on the Appalachian Trail from the Low Gap Trailhead (Hwy 321) south to the Watuga Dam trailhead (Hwy 421). We hope to see you soon!

To look at more info, you can see our .pdf itinerary here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x2E-InH93rHReLtjDBghpQ0pGNdSnzBH/view?usp=sharing

Low Gap Trailhead (Hwy421) to Laurel Branch Trailhead (Hwy321) = 27.1 miles
LOCATION	AT Mileage from Start	Mileage Between	Day	Day Mileage	High Temp	Low Tepm	Elevation (ft)	Change	Water
US-421 – Low Gap, TN	0	0.0	Wed AM		60	44	3438
Double Springs Shelter	3.5	3.5	Wed PM	3.5	48	40	4060	622	0.9 mile after DS Shelter
TN91	6.5	3.0					3526	-534	0.8 after hwy 91
Iron Mountain Shelter	11.2	4.7	Thur PM	7.7	50	41	4137	611	1.4 before shelter & 0.2 after
Vandeventer Shelter	18	6.8	Fri PM	6.8	61	42	3491	-646	1.7 miles south
US-321 – Hampton, TN	27.1	9.1	Sat Exit	9.1	61	34	2069	-1422
		27.1
Watersource info here:	http://www.wikitrail.org/features/view/at/25213/double-springs-shelter
From Home to Boots Off Hostel & Campground			233 miles	3 hrs 37 mins
From Boots Off Hostel to Low Gap Trailhead			30.5 miles	44 mins

Other Info:
TN-91 to Lowgap Trailhead	https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/appalachian-trail-tn-91-to-low-gap