06 December 2015
Two-Minute Features | 13 December 2015

Introduction to Significance Behind Christ's Birth (TMF:SE01)

Friday, December 11, 2015
Peace to Live By: Introduction to Significance Behind Christ's Birth (TMF:SE01) - Daniel Litton
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       Christmas without a doubt is the most celebrated time of the year, at least here in the United States. I would venture to say that because we go through the motions so often, year after year, that a lot of us have probably lost the true meaning behind Christmas. I think it's hard to get past that surface level of appreciation for this holiday. So, why do we celebrate Christmas? Sure, it's because of the birth of Jesus Christ, but the meaning goes far deeper than that. Well, today, I want to ponder deeper into the real meaning behind Christmas. There are several things I want us to look at today in discussing the significance behind Christmas. Number one, I want to consider why Christ came to the earth as an infant. Number two, we will discuss the virgin birth of Jesus from his mother Mary, and why this is significant. Number three, I want to discuss the current and future purposes of Christ coming into the world for the first time. And number four, once we have gathered all of this background information, I want to take us through the series of events from Scripture surrounding the birth of Christ, so we can appreciate the famous Christmas accounts, and have a better understanding of them.

Perhaps You Find Yourself Waiting for Something (TMF:309)

Thursday, December 10, 2015
Peace to Live By: Perhaps You Find Yourself Waiting for Something (TMF:309) - Daniel Litton
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       In closing today, perhaps you've been listening to what I've been talking about, about how the disciples were hoping for Jesus to establish his kingdom, only to find it was still far away into the future. Perhaps you can relate to the disciples. Perhaps you were hoping that something in your life would happen—or that God would do something in and through you—only to find yourself still waiting. If you'll remember, Jesus taught his disciples that they should keep praying always and never give up on prayer, and he told them the Parable of the Persistent Widow so they would remember (see Luke 18:1-8). God doesn't forget his people who are waiting. But perhaps maybe what I've said today has been new to you, or maybe you've heard it many times before, but you have never believed on Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. God wants everyone to come to know him—no matter who you are. He offers his free gift of salvation and eternal life to whoever will believe in him. He died on the cross as your perfect substitute and rose from the dead defeating the power of sin and Satan altogether. He died for you. Jesus can set you free from your sins today, and he can also give you freedom from their stronghold.

Jesus Does Return & Establish His Kingdom (TMF:308)

Wednesday, December 09, 2015
Peace to Live By: Jesus Does Return & Establish His Kingdom (TMF:308) - Daniel Litton
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       The angels assured the disciples that Jesus would be back to establish that kingdom. Fast forward at least a couple thousand years later. Jesus does return to the earth and establish his kingdom, after taking out his enemies—those who don't agree with him (see Revelation 19, 20). The disciples finally get the kingdom they've been waiting for. Jerusalem becomes the capital of the world, and the disciples reign with Christ for a thousand years. They finally receive what they had been waiting for for such a long time. But they get even more than that. John records for us in Revelation 21:14 about the New Jerusalem, after God creates the new heaven and new earth: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14, ESV). So, not only does Jesus not leave his disciples hanging with the Millennial Kingdom, but he gives them even more than they could have ever imagined. They have a place in human history—one that never can be taken away from them. They have monuments in the New Jerusalem. God never lets his people down.

Jesus' Final Address Before Returning to Heaven (TMF:307)

Tuesday, December 08, 2015
Peace to Live By: Jesus' Final Address Before Returning to Heaven (TMF:307) - Daniel Litton
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       Right before Jesus was to go back to heaven—for I don't think the disciples knew he was going to go back to heaven—they ask him about the kingdom. Luke records the following: “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:6-11, ESV). The disciples still thought Jesus was going to establish his kingdom on the earth after his resurrection. And they were right, in a way. He was going to establish it, just not right then and there. The angels assured the disciples that Jesus would be back to establish that kingdom.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples Several Times (TMF:306)

Monday, December 07, 2015
Peace to Live By: Jesus Appears to the Disciples Several Times (TMF:306) - Daniel Litton
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       I can just picture the stone being rolled away, and Jesus standing there. I think the women who believed in him, like Mary, had more faith than the men (see John 11:27). After all, they were the ones going to the tomb to care for Jesus’ body (see John Mark 16:1). The men were sitting at home reveling in their devastation. Mark notes that the disciples were mourning and weeping over what had happened (see Mark 16:10). But Mary told the disciples that Jesus had just appeared to her. But as John records, Jesus appeared to the disciples on several occasion thereafter (see John 20, 21). Thomas finally got to see him as well, and he believed (see John 20:28). As there was no kingdom being established, though, John records that some of them went back their old occupations before they followed Jesus (see John 21). That is, they went back to being fishermen. Apparently, since the kingdom hadn't been established yet, they didn't know what else to do. I don't think that it was that they thought the kingdom wouldn't be established, but that they just didn't know when it would be. But while they were working one day, Jesus appears to them on the shore, and he helped them to catch some fish. And he carries on a conversation with Peter.