When we get together, 

I want to encourage you in your faith, 

but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

Romans 1:12  

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. 

His mother, 

Mary, 

was engaged to be married to Joseph. 

But before the marriage took place, 

while she was still a virgin, 

she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message 

through his prophet:

“Look! 

The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means ‘God is with us.’”

Mattthew 1:18, 22-23

So the Word became human 

and made his home among us. 

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

And we have seen his glory, 

the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14

In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-5

Because of God’s tender mercy,

the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness 

and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79

…why stare at us 

as though we had made this man walk 

by our own power or godliness?

For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—

the God of all our ancestors—

who has brought glory to his servant Jesus 

by doing this…

Through faith in the name of Jesus, 

this man was healed—

and you know how crippled he was before. 

Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him 

before your very eyes. 

Acts 3:12-13, 16 

Blessings of knowing the One who heals

…know for certain that God has made this Jesus, 

whom you crucified, 

to be both Lord and Messiah! 

…you must repent of your sins and turn to God, 

and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 

for the forgiveness of your sins. 

Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

This promise is to you, 

to your children, 

and to those far away—

all who have been called by the Lord our God.

Acts 2:35, 38-39

God raised Jesus from the dead, 

and we are all witnesses of this.

Now he is exalted 

to the place of highest honor in heaven, 

at God’s right hand. 

And the Father, 

as he had promised, 

gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us…

Acts 2:32-33

You have shown me the way of life,

and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.

Acts 2:28

I see that the Lord is always with me.

 I will not be shaken, 

for he is right beside me.

Acts 2:15