In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:1-5 (NLT)
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:6-9 (NLT)
So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
John 3:26-30 (NLT)
As a witness, Jesus must __________ and I must _____________.
Christmas is the season for God to do new and often unexpected things in our lives and world. This Advent season, we will consider six invitations from God. Tis the season!
Wes Olds is a 1993 graduate of The University of Kentucky and received his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2002. Prior to coming to Grace Church in 2006, Wes began a multi-cultural, urban church called The Rock-La Roca United Methodist Church in Lexington, KY (2002-2006). While there, he co-founded Lexington’s “Room in the Inn”, a ministry of hospitality and shelter for homeless men. From 1997-2002, Wes was a Pastor with Youth and Evangelism at Centenary United Methodist Church in Lexington. From 1994-1997, Wes was Pastor with Youth at Christ United Methodist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and from 1991-1994 was the Director of Youth Ministries at Versailles United Methodist Church in central Kentucky.
Wes has served as an adjunct instructor at Asbury University, a ministry mentor with Asbury Theological Seminary and has been a contributing writer for several projects with Group Publishing and United Methodist Communications. He has been a guest speaker and worship leader for retreats at local churches and conferences for youth and adults.
Wes is a leadership coach for Spiritual Leaders, Incorporated (SLI) training pastors on creating generative leadership environments. Through SLI, Wes has facilitated yearlong incubators for over 75 pastors in Florida, Kentucky, and Kansas.
Wes is married to Becky and they have one teenage son named Caleb. Wes loves music and plays guitar, enjoys fishing, sports, history and hanging out with his friends and family.
"
["amens"]=>
string(5) "0"
["amenurl"]=>
string(319) "Amen"
["customsquareimageoption"]=>
string(0) ""
}
-->
'Tis the Season - Part 4 - CC | Sermons | Grace Church
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:1-5 (NLT)
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:6-9 (NLT)
So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
John 3:26-30 (NLT)
As a witness, Jesus must __________ and I must _____________.
"
["imageurl"]=>
string(277) "https://cdn.monkplatform.com/image/czoxNTM6Imh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGczMuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbSUyRm1vbmtkZXYubW5rLjI2NzIyJTJGdXBsb2FkZWQlMkZ0JTJGMGU5NTY0NzExXzE1NzQ4NjI1NzlfdGlzLXRoZS1zZWFzb24tc2VybW9uLmpwZyUzRnMlM0RlYjI5OGIyOWZlYmU4NWRmNzljZmYwNmEwNDc3YWVjMiI7/tis-the-season-sermon.jpg"
["imagetmb"]=>
string(386) "
"
["image2"]=>
string(330) "
"
["preacherImg"]=>
string(296) "
"
["preacherimage"]=>
string(261) "https://cdn.monkplatform.com/image/czoxNDY6Imh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGczMuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbSUyRm1vbmtkZXYubW5rLjI2NzIyJTJGdXBsb2FkZWQlMkZ3JTJGMGUxMzI2NDA3Nl8xNjM2MTQ3MjEwX3dlcy1vbGRzLTIwMjIuanBnJTNGcyUzRGVhOWRiNmNmNzA4MzY3OTY0ZGFjNDE2ODJiMDk0ZDVkIjs=/wes-olds-2022.jpg"
["preachermemberid"]=>
string(6) "196988"
["preacherNum"]=>
string(3) "286"
["category"]=>
string(17) "Cape Coral Campus"
["categoryslug"]=>
string(17) "cape-coral-campus"
["categorylinks"]=>
string(67) "Cape Coral Campus"
["categorytitlelinks"]=>
string(67) "Cape Coral Campus"
["category1"]=>
string(17) "Cape Coral Campus"
["category1slug"]=>
string(17) "cape-coral-campus"
["parentcategory1"]=>
string(17) "Cape Coral Campus"
["parentcategory1slug"]=>
string(17) "cape-coral-campus"
["parentcategory1child1"]=>
string(8) "Saturday"
["parentcategory1child1slug"]=>
string(8) "saturday"
["commentNumber"]=>
string(11) "Comments(0)"
["commentNumberonly"]=>
string(1) "0"
["commentList"]=>
string(1525) "
