Good News of Great Joy!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The good news of great joy that we read about in Luke 2 is the same for us today as it was for those shepherds some 2,000 years ago.  Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, has come to earth for us.  Emmanuel…God with us.  Everyone that night, and everyone since, that met Jesus has been forever changed by Him.

I spent some time today reminding myself just what it is that we (Cedar Creek Church) are doing in this multi-site endeavor.  As clearly and concisely as I could, I boiled it down.

We are multiplying the CHURCH just as we have always multiplied H.O.M.E. groups.

We are helping more people find their way back to God.

We park cars … we greet with a smile … we offer a cup of coffee … we help someone find a seat … get their child signed into an age appropriate worship experience … we lead in worship … we pray with those who need us to …

Everything and everybody plays a role and has a part.  We are creating an environment where people can come, unchurched people, and feel comfortable as they hear a life-applicable message that will, we pray, help them meet Jesus.  When they do, their lives will be changed … transformed really … and they will never be the same.  It is our hope that they will encounter the God who made them and loves them like they never have before.

I heard this story just the other day … a traveler saw two men cutting stone from a mountainside and placing the blocks on carts.  He asked them, “What are you doing there?”  One said, “We are cutting stone and placing it on these carts.”  The other gave the traveler an understanding look and said, “We’re building a church.”

Whether parking cars, saying hello, teaching kids, leading worship, pouring coffee or seating people…we are helping people find their way back to God.