Waynesburg Christian Church PodPoint

There are some beautiful things about winter, but the winter season brings less daylight and less warmth - we see all around us creation going dormant. It's fitting for us that the season of Advent coincides with the season of winter, God's creation gives us a powerful reminder each year as we go through winter that spring is coming - light is coming, warmth is coming, new life is coming! This what our hearts long for - for God to come, to show up - to show up in the hard things and joyous things, the planned for things and the extraordinary things. Advent reminds us that deep under the surface and out of our sight, God is working - He always has been, and He always will and one day He will come again!

When the Church was born, a building didn't miraculously come bursting out of the ground! From the beginning, the Church wasn't a building but a people whose lives have been captured by Jesus. These lives are often fragile always imperfect...but never abandoned! The Church has outlived empires and will be around long after political parties and factions fade away. Jesus said that He would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it...if you are ready to be part of a movement that will last forever, if you want to be known, loved, and encouraged, then you are invited to put your roots down in the soil of the local church! There is a part for you to play!

Listen as we hear examples from Nehemiah and Esther as they put God first and their trust in the Lord.

"You had to be there..." Sometimes words fail to fully describe something we have experienced and this is our only reply. The gathering of the local church can be one those things. The church gathered is a unique and special occurrence that Christians are instructed not to neglect. There is a special grace when the body of Christ comes together to sing, hear, read, declare, and remember Jesus and all he has done.

Why attend the corporate gathering of the local church? Because life is hard, and we need hope - and hope that is embodied by Jesus 2000+ years ago and hope that is embodied in His people - the Church now! The gathered church is where we are reminded of the promises of God and where the Good News of Jesus is sung, declared, and seen in baptism and the Lord's Supper.