What's the right thing to do?
As a dad of three kids, I try my best, like most parents, to teach them to do what's right. My goal is to help them become independent of me and dependent upon God. ...
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2019 Elder Candidate: Steve Sutton
God is at work in North Valley. We are excited about all that He did in 2018. We believe God is going to do even more in 2019!...
Giving to God
I can only imagine what joy the wise men felt when brought their gifts to Christ. Joy, joy inexpressible, likely filled their hearts. Matthew records that three gifts were given. This is where many have concluded the number of wise men. The Bible doesn’t tell us how many wise men were actually present, but it does give us a clear description of three gifts that these wise men offered....
The Star of Joy
What is there to be joyful about on Christmas if your heart is overwhelmed with business? What is there to be joyful about if there is no family to share it? What is there to be joyful about if finances or health is failing? Steady yourself, Christian. The joy the Christ offers is not all limited by one’s circumstances. The joy that Christ offers you is that which was experienced at the first Christmas....
Come to Worship Him
It might sound crazy to leave your home in search of a king, but the wise men studied the stars and scriptures and then made a decision. They would travel a great distance to come and worship a newborn King. Their honesty is strikingly bold....
Asking Questions
The wise men had very little fear. They ask questions because they are learners and not afraid of looking dumb. We have a saying at North Valley: the leaders are the learners. Learners ask questions. Matthew tells us that the wise men came to ask King Herod where the King of the Jews was. ...
Step of Faith
he wise men were counselors and advisors to political leaders within the Roman Empire. These men studied astrology, dreams, sacred prophetic scriptures, and the arts of magic. At the time of the writing, Jesus had been born in the town of Bethlehem, during the reign of Herod the King....
Confidence in God
We have looked at God’s Word over the last twenty days, and we've seen how prophecies made concerning the coming Messiah have been fulfilled. From the birth location to the virgin Mary to his very own name, we have seen promises made, and promises kept. God’s Word is true....
King Jesus Forever
Herod tried to kill Jesus as a toddler. The rumor of a king being born in his small jurisdiction was too much. Yesterday we learned about his fear and fury. Today we learn about King Jesus’ reign forevermore....
King Herod’s Fury
Who are you angry at? Is your anger solving the problem? Why are you angry?...
Caesar Augustus: the King of Peace?
Caesar Augustus was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Augustus was born on September 23rd in 63 BC. He ruled as the Emperor of Rome for the first 14 years of Christ's life. He rose to power in time of great peace for this massive empire....
The Decree from Caesar
Luke’s gospel records that Caesar issued a decree that every resident within the Roman Empire should return to their home town to register and pay a special tax. Caesar Augustus issued this decree, but in truth, this decree had already been issued by God....
Keep ReadingYes, Lord
Nine months before our Savior’s birth, an angel appeared to a young Jewish girl, Mary, whom Scripture describes as a virgin, engaged to a man named Joseph. Prior to that angelic visit, Mary must have felt great excitement as she anticipated her marriage. ...
Keep ReadingThe Last Words of Christ in Heaven
It is pure speculation to assert these were the last words of Christ before He became a baby in the womb of Mary. But they may have been! ...
Keep ReadingMessiah
By the time that Mary gave birth, hope in God’s promises for forgiveness and deliverance from the empire had reached a fever pitch. Some were looking for a beneficent dictator. Others expected a high-profile miracle worker. Others hoped that a famous prophet like Elijah had come with a spectacular message....
Keep ReadingLooking at the Big Picture and Finding Hope
That first Christmas; all eyes were on Augustus, the cynical Caesar who demanded a census so as to determine a measurement to increase taxes even further. At that time who was interested in a young couple making an eighty-mile trip south from Nazareth? ...
Keep ReadingThe Way
We don’t have the insight to find the right path, nor the inner power to walk it. That’s why Jesus’s disciple Thomas admitted that he didn’t know the way, even though he was close to the Master. ...
Keep ReadingFatherly
Unrecognized. Unseen. Undiscovered. Nobody knows. Nobody sees. Nobody cares. As long as there is plenty of food, lots of cheer, a plethora of tinsel, and a cornucopia of gifts, everyone’s happy. Jesus? Who’s that?...
Keep ReadingA Minor Prophet with a Major Message
Scripture: "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel." Matthew 2:6, NASB Consider: Embedded in the memory of many of us who regularly celebrate Christmas is Matthew's quotation of Micah 5:2. "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among ...
Keep ReadingGiven by God
To fully cherish Christ this Advent season, we must first understand God’s motive in giving his son to us! This answer can be found in the familiar and most famous verse in our Bible. John 3:16 says… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son...” ...
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