Dec 23rd, 2012 Christmas Shouts That God Is Good!

This message is our Christmas Eve service titled: Christmas Shouts That God Is Good!

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

Christmas Shouts that God is GOOD.

December 23^rd , 2012  by Kasey Crawford

Today’s Passages: Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 7:7-11, John 10:10-11, James 1:13-17

One of the core questions we all have as humans is: “is God _________?”

Christmas ___________ that God is good.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people…. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace.           Luke 2:10,14

God _________ to bring his children ___________!

God _________ to bring his children ___________!

He is not on the side of _______________ evil, he is on the side of _____________ and transformation and redeeming the world from its present state of brokenness and suffering.

A broad stroke of Jesus’ life paints a canvas that God is good…

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!     Matthew 7:7–11

Jesus is using simple language of earthly fathers with their children to say that God is a perfect father, so he will only give you ________ things.

Every time we pray or think of God or think of life’s challenges we  need to know that God will not give us a ______________!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   John 10:10–11

Jesus came (revealing the father’s heart) to bring life and life to its fullest (abundant life), so it has the sense of ______________ with goodness.

In Jesus’ worldview there is clearly a cause for pain and suffering and its ________ God.   God wants to _________ life, the enemy wants to ___________ life.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.    James 1:13–17

Desiring genuine not _____________ relationship with us, God made us free to choose him and his goodness and the resulting good fruit or choose our own way with the resulting painful fruit.  The vast majority of the pain and suffering in the world are the result of the ____ choices of humans that step outside of and oppose God’s heart and God’s will.

Everything in life that is good is from Him and everything that is from Him is good.

“Surely goodness and mercy pursue me all the days of my life.”                                                                                                              Psalm 23:6

And none more clearly than Christmas!   Immanuel= God ________ ___

God __________ us with goodness to that point that he was willing to step down ________ ____ into the pain and brokenness and suffering and evil of this world, so that he could experience it like we did, and pay the price for our rebellion so that he could forgive, transform and heal this world with his goodness!

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