Advertisers want you to think it is the Super Bowl.  They spent $3.5 million for 30-second advertising time slots.  One of them bought 9 slots.  That’s a lot of money – but estimated Bible sales will be $500 million in the USA this year.  Year after year, the Bible is the best selling book.  91% of American homes have at least one Bible.  The average American family has 4!  Why does the Bible continue to be the most read book in the world?  It continues to be read because it tells us of the great victory that Jesus won over sin, death, and the devil.

The foes were formidable.  They won their first “game” when they tricked Eve into eating the fruit.  They continued to plot against everyone – tearing down defenses, filling people with fear and despair.  God intervened.  He sent His champion, Jesus, onto the field.  Jesus saw through their strategies of deception and temptation.  He was able to live a perfect life.  To seal His victory, He used the greatest trick play in the history of the world.  He made His opponents believe that He was weak.  They overpowered Him.  They nailed Him to the cross.  They killed Him.  They gloated over His still body as it lay in the tomb.  They had won!  They had killed the Son of God.  But, they were wrong.

Jesus was not weak.  The grave was not strong enough.  It could not maintain its grasp of the righteous Son of God.  He rose from the dead.  In doing so, He conquered sin for us all.  Our sins are forgiven. THAT is why the Bile is the most read book of all time.

Most watched?  Super Bowl.  Most read?  Bible. What’s more important… A championship ring, or a heavenly crown?

Get your hands on a Bible.  Learn more about Jesus.  Celebrate His victory!

We will have a time of fellowship and connecting, then a “19 minute” Bible study on the book of Genesis, then time for snacks. If you don’t know much about the book of Genesis then this is a great opportunity to learn!

Contact Pastor Kerkow for more information: pastork@hopeaustin.com

Before we set our goals for the New Year it is good to remember that Jesus Christ came to us with a goal. It wasn’t to live healthy or make lots of money. No, Jesus came with the purpose of being your substitute and dying for you. At his crucifixion Jesus paid for all of your failures and sins. The resurrection of Jesus is proof that he met his goal! You are forgiven and heaven is open to you who believe in him.

The Prophet Isaiah said, ”[God] gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40: 29-31) Put your hope in Jesus this and every New Year! The Lord will renew your strength for this life, and open the doorway to the next.

Pastor Kerkow

No matter how beautiful, Christmas would be a hollow celebration without the true light of the world – the Christ child. You and I live in a dark world, and I don’t just mean the early winter evenings. Sin and death, sorrow and pain fill our world. Evil takes no Christmas vacation. Even in this holy season you and I can succumb to greed and jealousy.  The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death.” Left to our own devices our future would be very dark indeed. But that is why Christ was born. God became one of us to save us. He is the Light that shines in the darkness. Jesus grew up to live a pure life without sin, he died with your sins and on Easter Sunday morning he overcame the darkness of death in his resurrection. Now all who believe in him bask in the light of his forgiveness and will have eternal life. This holiday season remember the most important Christmas light – Christ the Lord!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Pastor Kerkow

Scripture tells us that one of the most important Christmas tasks is also one of the most difficult for us to do. “Repent” John the Baptist cried out. Repenting is something we often want to avoid. Are you paralyzed by your long list of sins before God? It should cause us great fear. God must punish all who sin. My advice is to stop trying to avoid God and repent. Tackle the worst sin first. You know the one… confess it to God.  He is merciful and forgiving. That is why he sent his one and only Son.

Think of the daunting to-do list with which the baby Jesus was born. It was recorded right in his name.  The name “Jesus” was given to him because “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Thankfully, Jesus was not paralyzed with fear but resolutely accomplished the task before him one good work and one miracle at a time. In obedience to his Father he even surrendered his life at the cross for our sins. On the basis of this completed to-do list of Christ, God forgives you every one of your sins… even that big one. Forgiven!

Have a Merry Christmas, knowing that the most important to-do list has been completed! The gift of heaven is yours!

Pastor Kerkow

No matter how beautiful, Christmas would be a hollow celebration without the true light of the world – the Christ child. You and I live in a dark world, and I don’t just mean the early winter evenings. Sin and death, sorrow and pain fill our world. Evil takes no Christmas vacation. Even in this holy season you and I can succumb to greed and jealousy.  The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death.” Left to our own devices our future would be very dark indeed. But that is why Christ was born. God became one of us to save us. He is the Light that shines in the darkness. Jesus grew up to live a pure life without sin, he died with your sins and on Easter Sunday morning he overcame the darkness of death in his resurrection. Now all who believe in him bask in the light of his forgiveness and will have eternal life. This holiday season remember the most important Christmas light – Christ the Lord!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Pastor Kerkow