The Greatest Gift of All

With all of the "hustle and bustle" this time of year, it's so easy to forget what Christmas is really about.

It's not just about Christ becoming man and being born at Bethlehem, it's also about why he came.

• He came to provide a way of salvation for all people.

He didn't have to, but because He loves us, God sent his only Son to live and die and rise again so that we wouldn't have to suffer eternal separation from Him.  

Isn't it absolutely amazing?!



God has given us the greatest gift imaginable - the opportunity to spend all of eternity in heaven.

• This gift was paid for by Jesus Christ when He died on Calvary, was buried, and rose again three days later.

• This gift is offered to everyone; you only need to accept it!

Do you know for sure where you will spend eternity?

The Bible says that our lives are "even a vapor" - that fragile; that delicate... We don't know how long we will live; Our lives could be ended at any time. As a result of this, you need to be ready to stand before God.

When you do stand before your Maker, will He welcome you into Heaven, or will you be separated from God Almighty for all of eternity?

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and would like to accept the gift of heaven offered by God, you can do so today!

Ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, trust Him alone as the way of salvation, and you can have a place reserved for you in heaven today!

This Christmas, let Christ come into your heart!

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Photo Credits: http://freedigitalphotos.net - Naito8

How to Deal with Negative Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is something that all teenagers face at one point or another in life...

Peer pressure can be either good or bad; It can either be encouragement to do right, or encouragement to do wrong.

Recently, I was able to interview Pastor Jerry Clark from First Baptist Church in Oregon, Illinois in regard to the topic of peer pressure.

The following material is from that interview:

What is the proper Biblical response to negative peer pressure?

Positive peer pressure: Stay close to those who would help you do what is right.

When facing negative peer pressure, keep a good spirit and attitude.

• You may need to simply walk away.

• You may have opportunity to tell why you cannot go along with the group.
  

• You may even influence others to do what is right.

When I am pressured to do wrong, how should I react to those who try to pressure me?

You should be kind but firm in your beliefs.

If we take a stand against sin, Satan desires for us to take that stand in pride.

• Believers must do what is right and pleasing to the Lord with a humble spirit.

If your friends keep after you to do wrong, it is time to look for some better friends.


When being pressured to do wrong, what are some verses that can help me make the decision to do right?

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

Psalm 19:14

"Depart from evil, and do good."

Psalm 34:14

"Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."

Proverbs 14:7

"I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."

Psalm 119:15

While it may be extremely difficult at times to resist giving in to negative peer pressure, remember that through the strength that Christ gives us, we can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)

It's not wrong to be tempted, but it is wrong to give in to temptation.

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." - Proverbs 1:10

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Photo Credit:

freedigitalphotos.net - Ambro

freedigitalphotos.net - Vlado

Free from Sin; Free to Live for Christ

Have you ever felt trapped by things from your past?

Satan often brings past deeds to mind in an attempt to distract and discourage us...

In this video from the Skit Guys, we see that through the sacrifice made Jesus Christ on Calvary, we are free from the bondage of sin; we are free to live for Christ:



Are you living in the past - controlled by memories of sin?

If so, realize that if you've accepted Christ as your Savior, your sins have been removed from you and will never be held against you... Your sin has been paid for!

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36

The Greatness of the Gospel

What is the purpose of the Gospel in the life of a Christian?

Is it merely to help you to escape from the punishment that you deserve?

Or, does it serve a greater purpose?

Eric Ludy's video "The Gospel" explains the true purpose of the good news of Christ:




God has a great plan for your life.

Will you follow His plan?

He has done so much for you.

What will you do for Him?

Building Friendships that Matter

One of the greatest things that we have in life is friendship.

Friendships can broken down into three main groups:

∙ Acquaintances - These are people that you may know only slightly…

∙ Family - These are the people that love you, and you’re always a part of, no matter what…

∙ Close Friends - These are the people that you do everything with, and share everything with...

When you think of Jesus Christ, what kind of relationship do you have with Him?

Is He merely an acquaintance? Are you a part of His family? Or is He your closest friend?

First, if you don’t really know who Jesus Christ is, allow me to share who He is with you.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth with the sole purpose of providing a way for us to escape the punishment that results because of our sins.  The only way to escape the judgment was from a blood sacrifice.  On Calvary, Jesus Christ was crucified for you, and for me. Through this, He provided a way of atonement for our sins. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” By doing this, God showed that he loves you!

Second, if you’re not a part of God’s family, you can join it today! Through the blood of Christ’s sacrifice, we can be completely forgiven of our sins, and we then join the family of God. How can I join? All that is required is for you to realize that you have sinned against God, and that in and of yourself, there’s absolutely nothing that you can do to fix your relationship with God. Then, you must pray to God and repent of your sins, ask for forgiveness, and then believe that Jesus Christ is who He says He is – the Son of God – and that He will do what He said He would do. In Acts 16:31, we read, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” It’s truly that simple. There’s no cost; it’s completely free! Will you join God’s family today?

Third, if you’re already a part of God’s family, is Jesus a close friend? Is He your best friend? Whenever I am tired, or lonely, or hurting, I know that I can turn to Jesus Christ and talk to Him about anything. He’s always there for me… In the book of First Peter, chapter five, we read, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” When things in life weigh us down and discourage us, we can share them with Christ, and he’ll sustain us throughout those trials.

So, are you a member of God’s family? If not, will you join today?

In Christ,

Rob