I.    Introduction A.  A Thousand Year Reign 1.    Within Christianity, there is a debate about when Jesus will return. 2.    Even in the early days of the church, there was debate about Jesus’ return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Peter 3:1-13). 3.    There are several views of this return, but one …

I.    Introduction A.  Grinchy 1.    This time of year, I can get a little “grinchy.” 2.    I love the celebrations. I love the cool, crisp air. 3.    But I have also come to recognize that there’s something else that comes with this time of year…dissatisfaction. a.    It can appear in the form of e …

I.    Introduction A.  Holiday Stress 1.    In a 2023 American Psychological Association study, researchers found that 41% of American adults say their stress levels increase during the holiday season.[1] 2.    It can be a challenging time for some and a challenging time for those who do not struggl …

I.    Introduction A.  Christmas at the Movies B.  It’s a Wonderful Life II.    It’s a Wonderful Life…Even When It’s Not Because A.  Savior Who Stands for Us 1.    It’s a wonderful life because we have a savior who stands before God for us. a.    Because He stands before God, we can withstand any st …

I.    Introduction A.  Ill-Equipped 1.    Have you ever been asked to do a job, but weren’t given the necessary resources to accomplish the task? 2.    You might lack knowledge, skills, resources, or other factors that prevent you from being successful. 3.    It’s frustrating, isn’t it? B.  Ill-Equi …

I.    Introduction A.  What? 1.    The very title of this sermon may give you pause. 2.    To state that there are things that God does not know sounds contrary to God’s nature. 3.    The title may be a little deceiving; we’re using the phrase as an exaggeration to encourage us to think about five t …

I.    Introduction A.  Svalbard Global Seed Vault 1.    Svalbard (saul-bard) Global Seed Vault[1] Norway houses over 1 million seeds. The purpose of the seed bank is not so much prepping for apocalyptic war as is often depicted in dystopian movies. The seed bank serves as a backup deposit center for …

I.    Introduction A.  Skipping Thanksgiving B.  Giving Thanks 1.    In the Bible, there are many passages encouraging us to give thanks to God. a.    One reason for the abundance of passages reminding us to give thanks to God is that we tend to forget who truly provides our blessings. (Romans 1:21) …

I.    Introduction A.  Are Sheep Dumb? 1.    There has long been a belief that sheep are dumb animals. More recent research has revealed that sheep are more intelligent than we ever thought. a.    The have an impressive ability to recognize faces and remember around 50 individuals for years. b.    T …

I.    Introduction A.  Abundance or Scarcity 1.    Over the last few weeks, some in our country went from experiencing abundance to scarcity. Thankfully, for many, it was a short-lived experience. 2.    It may have been a reminder that true abundance does not consist of the things we have. B.  Abund …