Beyond the Weekend

December 3 | Focus For This Season

December 3, 2018

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1:46-48

Read: Luke 1:46-55

Listen: Luke 1

TODAY’S MESSAGE

And so it begins. There are parties to schedule, gifts to buy, meals to plan, and many programs/concerts to attend. It’s so easy to lose focus during the Christmas season. It’s not that we don’t focus. It’s that often we focus on the wrong thing.

As we begin the Focus For This Season sermon series, we’ll work on drawing our hearts closer to the One who draws near to us in Jesus. We start by looking at three songs tied to the birth of Jesus—the songs of Mary, Zachariah and Simeon. Then we are going to work through a daily challenge in our journal. Each day, we are going to evaluate the condition of our heart by intentionally looking at these three words—gratitude, filling and identity. This daily discipline can be the tool God uses to lift us up this holiday season as we rejoice in the coming of the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6b).

From now until Christmas, we will ask you to daily journal the condition of your heart in all three areas: gratitude, filling and identity. Put aside some time each day to write in your journal to do this. Then let these reflections sink deep into your heart as you move through this busy season.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

You will need to download this Focus For This Season card to complete Chair Time each day. Grab a journal for your responses. Take a few minutes to complete the two sentences on the front of the card and list three items for which you are grateful today. Then “save as” today’s lock screen to develop our “focus for this season” on our defining identity as a dearly loved child of the Father.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

You Might Also Like