North Platte Berean Church
Anticipated Encounter
Have you heard the Christmas story so many times it almost feels…ho-hum? One more bit of white noise amid the rush-rush holiday season? But we’re talking about God coming *in the flesh*! Let’s step aside from the hubbub and look at some of the first people to encounter the Christ child – how did they react? And what about us? What’s our reaction as we encounter Him this Christmas? Casual or indifferent, maybe even hostile? Or joyful, amazed, delighted?
Locations & Times
North Platte Berean Church
202 W 8th St, North Platte, NE 69101, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 9:15 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Sunday 6:00 PM
ConnectCard
We’d love to connect and be a spiritual resource for you – please fill out a ConnectCard (in seat pocket or npberean.org/cc). If you’re new, bring your ConnectCard to the information center for a welcome gift.
https://npberean.org/ccMore Details
NEW HERE?
• Digital bulletin: Prefer a PDF version of the bulletin? Visit npberean.org/sundayprint.
• Sunday large gatherings: 8, 9:15, & 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; livestream at facebook.com/npberean at 9:15 a.m. or npberean.org/live anytime.
• Need a Bible? Available free at information center.
• Sound levels: Assisted listening devices and earplugs available at sound booth in back of auditorium.
• Office hours: Mon.-Thu. 9-4 (closed Tue. 1:30-2:30 for staff meeting).
• Find out more: Visit npberean.org, email npberean@npberean.org, or call 308-532-7448.
FOR FAMILIES
• Mother's Room: A private place to care for your baby and still connect to the gathering via livestream – follow signs north of auditorium.
• Kids Connect (infant-grade 5): Available at 9:15 and 11 a.m. – check-in east of Commons or upstairs from foyer. (No 252 today, but First Look will meet.) Kids also welcome in large gatherings. At-home resources: npberean.org/kids-connect-at-home.
• Sola (grades 6-12): Main gatherings Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 p.m. – meet in 252 Room/The Commons. Middle school typically also meets Sundays at 11 a.m. in the Upper Rooms, but 2nd Sunday each month (today) we will not have Sola middle school as a way to help encourage students to engage in the large gathering with their families.
• Digital bulletin: Prefer a PDF version of the bulletin? Visit npberean.org/sundayprint.
• Sunday large gatherings: 8, 9:15, & 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; livestream at facebook.com/npberean at 9:15 a.m. or npberean.org/live anytime.
• Need a Bible? Available free at information center.
• Sound levels: Assisted listening devices and earplugs available at sound booth in back of auditorium.
• Office hours: Mon.-Thu. 9-4 (closed Tue. 1:30-2:30 for staff meeting).
• Find out more: Visit npberean.org, email npberean@npberean.org, or call 308-532-7448.
FOR FAMILIES
• Mother's Room: A private place to care for your baby and still connect to the gathering via livestream – follow signs north of auditorium.
• Kids Connect (infant-grade 5): Available at 9:15 and 11 a.m. – check-in east of Commons or upstairs from foyer. (No 252 today, but First Look will meet.) Kids also welcome in large gatherings. At-home resources: npberean.org/kids-connect-at-home.
• Sola (grades 6-12): Main gatherings Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 p.m. – meet in 252 Room/The Commons. Middle school typically also meets Sundays at 11 a.m. in the Upper Rooms, but 2nd Sunday each month (today) we will not have Sola middle school as a way to help encourage students to engage in the large gathering with their families.
Giving
• On Sunday: use wooden boxes at back of auditorium
• Online: npberean.org/give
• Text: text any amount to 84321
• Mail: 202 W. 8th St., North Platte, NE 69101
• Online: npberean.org/give
• Text: text any amount to 84321
• Mail: 202 W. 8th St., North Platte, NE 69101
This Week's Sermon: Anticipated Encounter
What is Advent?
What is Advent? Here is a link to a summary explanation of Advent that may be useful:
https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.htmlThis was an anticipated encounter
This encounter brought peace
This encounter foreshadowed pain
Baptisms
Baptism is a public witness of an internal reality – that the person has passed from death to life by trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. Today we’re baptizing:
• Ani Aten – by Amanda Aten (mom) and Sue Lukas (Sola small group leader)
Baptism is a public witness of an internal reality – that the person has passed from death to life by trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. Today we’re baptizing:
• Ani Aten – by Amanda Aten (mom) and Sue Lukas (Sola small group leader)
Talk It Over
Visit npberean.org/grow-groups for more resources or to connect.
• Treasuring God: Do we wait with anticipation like Simeon’s for Christ in our lives? Do we have the same space for Christ to intersect with our lives?
• Being Transformed: When Simeon meets Jesus, he experiences great joy and great peace. Do you feel that peace when you encounter Jesus? What do you feel when you encounter Jesus?
• Loving Others: After the shepherds encounter Jesus, they feel compelled to go share their hope with others. Do you feel that way today? How do we reignite that excitement?
• Loving Others/Pursuing Unity: Anna and Simeon had been waiting for similar moments of encountering Jesus. How do you think that would have connected them? How do our own interactions with Christ create relationships between us and others at Berean? How could we invite others into this relationship?
Visit npberean.org/grow-groups for more resources or to connect.
• Treasuring God: Do we wait with anticipation like Simeon’s for Christ in our lives? Do we have the same space for Christ to intersect with our lives?
• Being Transformed: When Simeon meets Jesus, he experiences great joy and great peace. Do you feel that peace when you encounter Jesus? What do you feel when you encounter Jesus?
• Loving Others: After the shepherds encounter Jesus, they feel compelled to go share their hope with others. Do you feel that way today? How do we reignite that excitement?
• Loving Others/Pursuing Unity: Anna and Simeon had been waiting for similar moments of encountering Jesus. How do you think that would have connected them? How do our own interactions with Christ create relationships between us and others at Berean? How could we invite others into this relationship?
Next Week's Sermon
Next week's encounter with the Child involves a conflict of kings. How will Herod the king react to his encounter with the Christ child – the one born king of the Jews? And, a little closer to home… are there ways in which our own reactions resemble Herod's?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2&version=ESV