¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

²²All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.”

–Matthew 1:18, 22-23 (NIV)

The book of Matthew launches a new era in Biblical writings: The New Testament. The book initiates a new beginning of the Bible that builds on the foundation of the Old Testament and starts the ball rolling with a series of writings that together comprise a single narrative. What is remarkable about Matthew is that even though it begins with the Christmas story, the birth of Christ, there is something that takes place in the first few verses that is even more interesting: The genealogy of Jesus. Although I find reading genealogies a tad dry, the fact that God chose to begin with one illustrates a facet of His character that I find most intriguing.

As far back in Biblical history as one may choose to read, whether it be Psalms or Chronicles or even Genesis, God has consistently demonstrated a desire to knit His plans into our lives. God certainly does not need us, but He repeatedly includes us in His life. It is difficult to make any conclusion other than this: God wants to be a part of our lives.

Whether it was a man by the name of Joseph, whose sole act of forgiveness and love saved his family and thereby the nation of Israel. Or a young shepherd boy by the name of David whose love for God so moved the Creator that David was known as, “A man after God’s own heart.” Or even a prostitute by the name of Rahab who made a decision to take a stand for what she knew was right. Her lifestyle, scorned then just as much as it is now–even more, not being a barrier to what God had planned. All of these lived without ever meeting Jesus, yet share a similar place in history. They were ancestors of Jesus and, more importantly, their actions had a measurable effect on the course of history leading right up to the birth of Jesus Himself.

Jesus’ birth set a series of events in motion that ultimately fulfilled a pivotal element of God’s plan. Jesus created a way for us as individuals to have a relationship with God. No religious motions. No repetitive prayers. A direct connection that allows us to discover how great God is and how we have been knit into the fabric of His life (His plan).

²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

–Acts 17:26-27 (NIV)

This passage might not seem to meld with the theme of Christmas, but what it tells us is that God set in place where we would live and He did this so we would have the greatest opportunity of encountering Him. It would be like some great force dropping you on a highway in such a way that you would be as close as possible to the exit you need to take. The only choice you have to make is to take that exit. In much the same way Jesus made a choice to walk out God’s plan, we must also make that same decision.

So why are we unable to escape the fascination that is Christmas? Is it the tradition of a newborn Child? The start of a great new book series authored by God? Or is it the beginning of a realization that God has knit all of us into a tremendous sequence of events?

There is an ineffable quality within people that draws us to the spiritual unknown. It is the same quality that forces us to ask the question, “Why am I here?” The answer is surprisingly simple. You are here for a time such as this. In much the same way Jesus was born to fulfil His God-assigned purpose, you are here to fulfil yours. The only real question that needs to be answered is, “Are you ready?”

Click the link to watch another one.

For more information visit Advent Conspiracy‘s web site.

Nay-sayers would contest that church web sites do little to reach unchurched individuals or those not following Christ.  Those individuals are, after all, not looking for a church; so why would they look for a church’s web site or even care about what’s on it?

Good point.

Except that those individuals are not looking for a church, so why would they care to hear about our faith in person, either?  Because it is not a question of people asking, nor is it about forcing the information on people, it’s about making it known.

The key is understanding the time in which we live.  Today is a day of information.  More and more people are turning to the Internet when they have questions.  While I will certainly not disagree in the least that the Internet does little to foster deep relationships, it does have several advantages.

1.  Increased communication.

The Internet sacrifices “connectivity” for communication.  That may seem like a contradiction since we have to be connected to be online, but I mean it sacrifices the essence of people connecting with one another on a personal level for the sake of improving the ability to relay raw information from one person or source to another.

Businesses nowadays are virtually incapable of functioning or increasing productivity without e-mail or internal web sites.  The same is true for people in the church and outside of it.  There is a certain disarming quality about the Internet.  Because we are less connected we are more apt to receive information and provide it without fear of reprisal.

2.  Everything is optional.

Well, almost.  Our faith and core doctrines are certainly not open for negotiation, but the advantage here is that people are not being force-fed information they don’t want.  There is a saying in Christian circles, “Be a witness for Christ.  If necessary use words.”  It sounds nice, but in reality, not very Biblical.  Christ called us to preach the Gospel as well as live it.  There is a balance and believe me, it is a very fine line at times; yet something we must learn to walk.

All of us have probably lost count of how many people have been turned off of God because of over-zealous Christians who cared more about their personal tally of “saved” individuals than they did about changed lives.  The Internet makes this balancing act significantly easier because the information is always there on an as-needed basis.  A person genuinely seeking to learn more about a relationship with Christ can find a place where he or she can learn in doses that are manageable for him or her personally.

3.  It’s practical.

Really.  A church web site provides some really simple information that was once only available in the Yellow Pages.

4.  A hammer is a hammer.

The Internet is a tool, just like a hammer.  It can be used for purposes that benefit the Kingdom of God or for purposes that stand against it.  History has shown that God moves in ways that are relevant to both the culture and generation of the day.  Today that includes the Internet.

Whether a church decides to update the information on their web site daily or just once in a while, having a presence on the Internet takes advantage of another tool that can help further the plans and purposes of God.

I say this because it is important for church leaders to recognize that being current with the times makes them relevant to the generation of the times, and that is a pivotal first step to actually reaching people’s hearts and drawing them into a relationship with God through Christ.

If a young teenager is struggling he or she is likely to post their struggle on MySpace or Facebook.  Because teens embrace increased communication (see Point #1 above) they have a tendency to be more open and forthright on blogs, social network sites and through instant messaging.  Believe it or not, this is a very untapped resource for church leaders!  In as much as open and forthrightness can be a negative element (teenage rivalry is a good example) it can also be a very positive element:  Teens will open up to youth pastors and others who are willing to listen.  This is a key point we must never forget.  Youth will open up to others who are willing to listen; almost without regard to the listener’s beliefs, or intentions.  In other words, if you don’t listen and speak into their lives, someone will–and that could be life-changing.

5.  It’s relevant.

Teenagers, 20- and 30-somethings are more likely to rely on the Internet if they ever want to find a church.  For that matter, they are more likely to rely on the Internet if they are even remotely curious about God, Jesus or a local church.  Therefore, if God is moving in the heart of an individual in your city or community, you owe it to that person to make yourself as available as possible.

The reality is that people will visit your web site before they visit your church.

6.  And more…

I could go on but I want to quickly establish a few points from a slightly different perspective.  That being, church web sites are beneficial for people in your church.  With a web site you can:

• Provide members and visitors a central place for communication.
• Post a calendar of events.
• Save money by e-mailing your church bulletin every week instead of printing it (and who doesn’t want to save money?).
• Have a form for people to submit prayer requests.
• Put your weekly sermons/messages online for people that either missed a service or are curious about your church’s style.
• Share your church’s vision and passion.
• Share your staffs’ functions, interests and hobbies.

The list goes on and my goal is not to be exhaustive but to stir up an interest in the possibilities and value behind having a church web site.

To wrap-up I want to add that it does not have to cost a lot of money nor take a lot of time to have a web site.  Post in the comments if you have questions about getting started or want to share your thoughts.

If you’ve never been to an Apple Store, you should visit one.  It’s a very unique shopping experience and the author of this blog post creates some really good parallels between one’s experience visiting a store and a church.

Why Church Should Be Like An Apple Store

I can’t begin to imagine just how difficult it must be for him. Our church was able pull together and buy Christmas gifts for the entire family (including two grandparents–who now help the single father).

Let’s not forget others this season and remember that God equates helping others with serving Him.

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

–Matthew 25:40 (NLT)