Pastor’s Page | December 11th, 2025
Sermon Prep (Read James 1:16-18)
I want you to think about something for a moment: What was the best gift you have ever received and the worst gift you have ever received at Christmas? For me, I can think of a lot of gifts that have meant a lot to me over the years, but as a kid, there was a year when my dad was out of work and money was tight, but he knew I loved wrestling. So my dad went to yard sales after yard sale and to discount stores and got me a bunch of wrestling figures. What made that Christmas so special wasn’t just the gifts, but that my dad was there with me. Normally, he would have been out to sea during Christmas. My dad took the time to go find all those figures and then he also played with me on Christmas morning. Was it the most expensive Christmas? No. But it was the best Christmas.
My worst gift? At a white elephant gift exchange, my brother gave me a gift card to Chick-Fil-A. Sounds like a good gift, right? Well, he had already used it. That was the joke. He told me it had $25 on it, but when I went to pay, the cashier told me that the card had a balance of 38 cents. Fortunately, I had some cash on me, but that dirty dog (don’t trust brothers!).
Have you ever thought of God as a gift giver? Matthew 7:11 says that “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!” I love to give gifts because I love to see the expression on that person’s face when they open their gift. My favorite Christmas memories as a dad are watching my girls open their gifts and being overjoyed. God is the same. He loves to give good gifts to His children.
As you read through our James passage today, notice how God only gives good gifts. The question is, how do we distinguish between a good gift and a bad gift? Oftentimes, gifts we think are bad end up being the most useful and needed gifts. Also, there are times when we blame God for doing something that He did not give us. But God gives us good and perfect gifts. As you read this passage, think of all that God has given you. How has He blessed you? When have we griped and complained about the gifts not given rather than rejoicing in the gifts He has given us? How does all of this connect with our worship of Him this Christmas season?
Here are some verses to help you as you prepare for this Sunday: Matt 7:9-11, Rom 8:28-32, Ps 121:1-2, Lam 3:22-25, 1 Jn 4:9-10, Rom 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Ecclesiastes 5:19-20, Ephesians 1:3-4, and Romans 5:5-8.
Sermon Series
“A Crazy Christmas Vacation”
12/14 - Happy With The Jelly Of The Month Club (James 1:16-18)
12/21 - The Lights Aren’t Twinkling, Clark (Isa 9:1-7)
12/24 - What Christmas Means To Me (John 3:16-17)
12/28 - SOUND OF PRAISE: MUSIC FOR HEAVEN & TESTIMONIES FOR THE SOUL
Updates, Thoughts and More
First, I want to give a big shout out to all of our kids and the volunteers who did such a wonderful job this past Sunday. I love it when the kids remind us of the simplicity and beauty of the Christmas story. There is something so special seeing a little kid dressed as a shepherd glorifying God. It was a wonderful service.
Jeff and Michelle Mastick are going to be having a Christmas dinner here at the church in much the same way we had a Thanksgiving meal. We hate the idea of people being alone on Christmas, so we would love to invite you to come and enjoy a Christmas ham dinner with us. You can call the church office to let them know you are coming.
Just a reminder that the Angel Tree gifts are due back this Sunday. You can place them around the. tree in the Narthex. I am so grateful for this church and your generosity. We had more names this year than last year and every name was taken. You are such a blessing to our community!
We have finished up our study on World Religions for our Table Talk series and we are taking a hiatus until the beginning of January. Our next series will be about addressing the difficult questions of our faith. Here is a favor I want to ask of you: Please send me any and all questions you would like for us to address. The questions can range from “How does a loving God allow such terrible things to happen to those He loves?” to “Where in the world did Cain’s wife come from?”. You can email those questions to me at barry@actonmethodist.com and we will try to address every topic and question that is submitted.
I love this season of bowl games, but there is always that one week where it is quiet…except for the Navy-Army game. This one is simple: GO NAVY!!! BEAT ARMY!!!
For the NFL games, two games stand out to me. First, the Chiefs and the Chargers. This is a must win game for the Chiefs. If they lose this one, then it would take a miracle for them to make the playoffs. The Chargers are playing well. I think the Chargers win a close game. The other game that will be really good is the Bills and Patriots. Who would have thought that the Patriots would be the #1 seed in the AFC? I think the Bills will win, but it will be a real slobber knocker of a game.
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (12/14)
Worship Services - 9am & 10:30am
Acton Music Academy Student Recital - 4pm
Monday (12/15)
Stitching Angels - 1:30pm
Tuesday (12/16)
Men’s Prayer Breakfast - 7:30am
Wednesday (12/17)
Prayer Warriors - 9am
Sip And Share - 10am
Youth and Kids - 5pm
Bell Choir - 6pm
Choir - 7pm
Thursday (12/18)
Acton Music Academy Fundraiser Recital - 6pm
Joke of the Week
When four of Santa’s elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were gone, heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered. Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had finished all the cider. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the empty bottle, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated Santa stomped to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, ‘Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn’t this a lovely day? It is the bestest day ever. I just feel like dancing and singing and smiling! It is the best day ever, Santa! I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it? And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.
Memory Verse of the Week
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give food gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"”
~Matthew 7:11 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“This Gospel anticipates a world far different from C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, where it is “always winter, and never Christmas.” The promise of the Gospel is that it is “always Christmas.” To be “in Christ” is to enjoy each morning as a Christmas morning with the family of God, celebrating the gift of God around the tree of life.”
~Kevin Vanhoozer
