Introduction: Good evening! Today, we will be
discussing the topic of The Epiphany, a significant event that marks the visit
of the Wise Men to the child Jesus.
Explanation of The Epiphany: The Epiphany is
traditionally considered the culmination of the 12 days of Christmas, leading
to the Wise Men finding the child Jesus. In Nativity scenes, shepherds and Wise
Men are often shown visiting the stable to see the newborn King. However, it was
actually about two years later that the Wise Men visited Jesus.
Arrival of the Wise Men: When the Wise Men arrived,
they saw the child with his mother, Mary. It is written, "They went into
the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary." Overjoyed, they
presented their gifts to Him. We celebrate The Epiphany as the visit of the
Wise Men to the newborn King, occurring 12 days after His birth. Jesus remained
in Bethlehem for two years after His birth.
Significance of the Gifts: The Wise Men gave Jesus
gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Let's explore what these treasures
represent in our lives today as believers:
- Gold
- Fit for a King:
- This
represents the wealth offered to Jesus. He encourages us to share our
wealth and provides for us. Wealth here means provision and support.
- Frankincense
- Fit for Worship:
- This
symbolizes the gift for worship. We must worship God by giving Him
ourselves and our love. Just as Jesus had a close relationship with God,
we too can go to Him in prayer and receive His love and instructions.
- Myrrh
- Honor of Sacrifice:
- This
gift honors Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one
than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." Sometimes, we
must give up something to share the love of Christ and help others in
their walk with Him.
Conclusion: No matter how Jesus used these gifts,
what is important is their symbolic meaning. Gold represents provision,
Frankincense represents worship, and Myrrh represents sacrifice. As we reflect
on The Epiphany, let us remember to embody these principles in our own lives
and in our relationship with God and others.
The Gifts of the Wise Men:
The Wise Men gave Jesus gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and
Myrrh. Each of these gifts holds deep symbolic meaning.
- Gold
- A Symbol of Giving:
- Gold
is a symbol of giving. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you
have done for the least of these, you have done unto me."
- When
we give to those in need with love, like the Wise Men, we give a gift of
Gold to Jesus.
- The
Wise Men entrusted their treasures to Christ, knowing He would use them
for good and to honor God.
- Frankincense
- A Symbol of Worship:
- Frankincense
represents worship.
- It's
easy to lose focus in worship, but when we sing praises to God, we must
do so with our whole hearts.
- Distractions
like thinking about self-success can cause our worship to lose its
essence. True worship, focused on God's will and glory, is like sweet
aroma to Him.
- Myrrh
- A Symbol of Sacrifice:
- Myrrh
symbolizes trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
- This
gift represents the belief that Jesus' sacrifice brings eternal life with
God.
- We
must learn that eternal life with God is the greatest gift. Loving Jesus
means putting aside our own desires, even leaving places of joy for the
love of Christ.
Conclusion: The Wise Men's gifts of Gold,
Frankincense, and Myrrh teach us about giving, worship, and sacrifice. As we
celebrate The Epiphany, let us reflect on these gifts and strive to embody
their principles in our lives.
Introduction: Good evening! Today, we will discuss
New Year's resolutions and their spiritual significance, particularly in the
context of The Epiphany.
New Year's Resolutions: A New Year's resolution is a
commitment to change something. While making resolutions is not wrong, we must
focus on who God is and remember that it is better not to make a promise than
to make one and break it.
Parable of the Two Sons: Recall the parable of the
two sons. The father asked the first son to work in the field. The first son
said, "No," but later changed his mind and did the work. The father
asked the second son the same, and he said, "Yes," but never went.
Jesus asked, "Which son was obedient?" The answer is the first son,
who initially said no but eventually did the work. This teaches us to focus on
God’s love and mercy rather than our own self-will.
Trusting God's Plan: Jesus closes doors for a reason.
It's up to us to trust Him without trying to force them open.
The Epiphany: During The Epiphany, we celebrate the
Wise Men visiting Jesus and giving Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
These gifts symbolize:
- Gold
- A Symbol of Giving:
- Gold
represents giving. As Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you
have done for the least of these, you have done unto me." By giving
to those in need, we give a gift of Gold to Jesus.
- Frankincense
- A Symbol of Worship:
- Frankincense
represents worship. True worship requires giving our whole hearts to God.
When distractions take us off focus, our worship loses its essence.
However, sincere worship is like sweet aroma to God.
- Myrrh
- A Symbol of Sacrifice:
- Myrrh
symbolizes trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This gift signifies
the belief that Jesus' sacrifice brings eternal life with God. We must
love Jesus and put aside our desires for His sake, just as the Wise Men
did by giving their gifts of Myrrh.
Introduction: Good evening! Today, we will be
discussing the topic of The Epiphany, a significant event that marks the visit
of the Wise Men to the child Jesus.
Explanation of The Epiphany: The Epiphany is
traditionally considered the culmination of the 12 days of Christmas, leading
to the Wise Men finding the child Jesus. In Nativity scenes, shepherds and Wise
Men are often shown visiting the stable to see the newborn King. However, it was
actually about two years later that the Wise Men visited Jesus.
Arrival of the Wise Men: When the Wise Men arrived,
they saw the child with his mother, Mary. It is written, "They went into
the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary." Overjoyed, they
presented their gifts to Him. We celebrate The Epiphany as the visit of the
Wise Men to the newborn King, occurring 12 days after His birth. Jesus remained
in Bethlehem for two years after His birth.
Significance of the Gifts: The Wise Men gave Jesus
gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Let's explore what these treasures
represent in our lives today as believers:
- Gold
- Fit for a King:
- This
represents the wealth offered to Jesus. He encourages us to share our
wealth and provides for us. Wealth here means provision and support.
- Frankincense
- Fit for Worship:
- This
symbolizes the gift for worship. We must worship God by giving Him
ourselves and our love. Just as Jesus had a close relationship with God,
we too can go to Him in prayer and receive His love and instructions.
- Myrrh
- Honor of Sacrifice:
- This
gift honors Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one
than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." Sometimes, we
must give up something to share the love of Christ and help others in
their walk with Him.
Conclusion: No matter how Jesus used these gifts,
what is important is their symbolic meaning. Gold represents provision,
Frankincense represents worship, and Myrrh represents sacrifice. As we reflect
on The Epiphany, let us remember to embody these principles in our own lives
and in our relationship with God and others.
The Gifts of the Wise Men:
The Wise Men gave Jesus gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and
Myrrh. Each of these gifts holds deep symbolic meaning.
- Gold
- A Symbol of Giving:
- Gold
is a symbol of giving. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you
have done for the least of these, you have done unto me."
- When
we give to those in need with love, like the Wise Men, we give a gift of
Gold to Jesus.
- The
Wise Men entrusted their treasures to Christ, knowing He would use them
for good and to honor God.
- Frankincense
- A Symbol of Worship:
- Frankincense
represents worship.
- It's
easy to lose focus in worship, but when we sing praises to God, we must
do so with our whole hearts.
- Distractions
like thinking about self-success can cause our worship to lose its
essence. True worship, focused on God's will and glory, is like sweet
aroma to Him.
- Myrrh
- A Symbol of Sacrifice:
- Myrrh
symbolizes trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
- This
gift represents the belief that Jesus' sacrifice brings eternal life with
God.
- We
must learn that eternal life with God is the greatest gift. Loving Jesus
means putting aside our own desires, even leaving places of joy for the
love of Christ.
Conclusion: The Wise Men's gifts of Gold,
Frankincense, and Myrrh teach us about giving, worship, and sacrifice. As we
celebrate The Epiphany, let us reflect on these gifts and strive to embody
their principles in our lives.
Introduction: Good evening! Today, we will discuss
New Year's resolutions and their spiritual significance, particularly in the
context of The Epiphany.
New Year's Resolutions: A New Year's resolution is a
commitment to change something. While making resolutions is not wrong, we must
focus on who God is and remember that it is better not to make a promise than
to make one and break it.
Parable of the Two Sons: Recall the parable of the
two sons. The father asked the first son to work in the field. The first son
said, "No," but later changed his mind and did the work. The father
asked the second son the same, and he said, "Yes," but never went.
Jesus asked, "Which son was obedient?" The answer is the first son,
who initially said no but eventually did the work. This teaches us to focus on
God’s love and mercy rather than our own self-will.
Trusting God's Plan: Jesus closes doors for a reason.
It's up to us to trust Him without trying to force them open.
The Epiphany: During The Epiphany, we celebrate the
Wise Men visiting Jesus and giving Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
These gifts symbolize:
- Gold
- A Symbol of Giving:
- Gold
represents giving. As Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you
have done for the least of these, you have done unto me." By giving
to those in need, we give a gift of Gold to Jesus.
- Frankincense
- A Symbol of Worship:
- Frankincense
represents worship. True worship requires giving our whole hearts to God.
When distractions take us off focus, our worship loses its essence.
However, sincere worship is like sweet aroma to God.
- Myrrh
- A Symbol of Sacrifice:
- Myrrh symbolizes trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This gift signifies the belief that Jesus' sacrifice brings eternal life with God. We must love Jesus and put aside our desires for His sake, just as the Wise Men did by giving their gifts of Myrrh.
Awesome God New Life Ministries:
Organizational Plan
Overview: Awesome God New
Life Ministries is a youth-focused ministry that aims to engage children in
God’s work. Our journey began on July 1, 2022, with our inaugural Sunday
Service held on July 3, 2022. Since then, we have been dedicated to teaching
God’s Word and leading people to Christ, Jesus.
Evolution: In the fall of
2022, we adopted Clipchamp to enhance our ministry. By 2023, we recognized the
need to evolve into a Children’s Ministry, inviting families and children to
participate in God’s work.
Community Outreach: In
the spring and summer of 2023, we launched “Awesome God Community Missions”.
This initiative includes a Greeting Card Drive and a Food Distribution program
for those in need, reflecting the teachings of Matthew 25:35-40. We also
initiated a Community Trash Clean-up to encourage hands-on scripture practice.
Education: We introduced
the D.R.T. (Do The Right Thing) program, an educational platform focusing on
Biblical studies, curriculum, and safety procedures. This program emphasizes
the importance of doing what is right and not ignoring our responsibilities.
Future Plans: Upon
securing a building for in-person services, we plan to establish a retro
television network tailored for families and children to learn God’s Word at
their own pace. This will serve as a tool to impart the basic knowledge of
God’s Word and to echo the teachings of Mark 10:14-15.
Innovation: We aim to
innovate our church services by incorporating traditional and contemporary
shows. We plan to use movies and television shows during service to help
children understand The Word of God. We also intend to engage directly with
families and children, learning about their interests and ideas for our
ministry.
Church Theme: We are
considering adopting “The Pilgrim’s Progress” as our church theme to guide our
congregation on their spiritual journey. We also plan to introduce streaming
accounts like GoMinno, Yippee TV, Lifeway Kids, and eventually RightNow Media
to help families and children delve deeper into God’s Word.
Volunteers: We are
actively seeking volunteers to join our mission. We need organizers, event
planners, assistant leaders, and other volunteers to help us get started.
God bless you, and thank you very much!
