Centenary Church
  • Home
  • Visit Us
    • I'm New
    • In-Person Worship Services
    • Live
    • Cambodian Worship Service
    • Easter
  • About Us
    • Our Staff >
      • Pastor's Corner
    • Leadership Teams
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Core Beliefs
    • Membership & Baptism
  • Family Ministry
    • Family Ministry Events
    • Teens
    • Kingdom Kids
  • Adult Ministry
    • Jesus and Coffee
    • Men's Ministry
    • Women's Ministry
    • Choir
  • Resources
    • Preschool
    • Devotionals >
      • Lent Devotional 2023: The Gospel of Matthew >
        • Day 27 - Promise Keeper
        • Day 26 - Who Am I
        • Day 25 - The Messiah
        • Day 24 - New Thing
        • Day 23 - Abundant Life
        • Day 22 - Have Faith
        • Day 21 - Miracle
        • Day 20 - Courage
        • Day 19 - Share the Love
        • Day 18 - Kingdom of God
        • Day 17 - Choose Him
        • Day 16 - Why Use Parables?
        • Day 15 - Growing
        • Day 14 - Unity
        • Day 13 - Criticism
        • Day 12 Life Change
        • Day 11 A Cup of Cold Water
        • Day 10 Jesus is God
        • Day 9 Good & Faithful
        • Day 8 Good & Faithful
        • Day 7 Lord's Prayer
        • Day 6 Lists
        • Day 5 Beatitudes
        • Day 4 Temptation
        • Day 3 Prepare the Way
        • Day 2 Follow the Star
        • Day 1 Geneology
        • Introduction to Matthew
      • Christmas Devotional - 2022 >
        • Day 1 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 2 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 3 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 4 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 5 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 6 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 7 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 8 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 9 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 10 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 11 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 12 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 13 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 14 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 15 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 16 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 17 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 18 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 19 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 20 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 21 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 22 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 23 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 24 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 25 Christmas Devotional - 2022
      • Lent Daily Devotional >
        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
        • Day 3: Follow Me
        • Day 4: Transform the Ordinary
        • Day 5: Who has Authority?
        • Day 6: God So Loved the World
        • Day 7: Worthy of Worship
        • Day 8: Everyone
        • Day 9: Signs & Wonders
        • Day 10: Rejected & Despised
        • Day 11: Do Nothing On Your Own
        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
        • Day 13: "I Am the Bread of Life"
        • Day 14: Adjusting my Expectations
        • Day 15: Learn by Doing
        • Day 16: God's Anointed Messiah
        • Day 17: We Are All Sinners
        • Day 18: I am the Light of the World
        • Day 19: Jesus is God
        • Day 20: The Work of God
        • Day 21: Hard Hearts
        • Day 22: Abundant Life
        • Day 23: Eternity With Him
        • Day 24: An Ultimate Purpose
        • Day 25: A Purpose Fulfilled
        • Day 26: A Choice to Make
        • Day 27: For This Very Reason
        • Day 28: He Proved His Love For Us
        • Day 29: Secure and One with the Father
        • Day 30: Love One Another
        • Day 31: The Way, the Truth, & the Life
        • Day 32: Order to Our Chaos
        • Day 33: Remaining
        • Day 34: You Are Never Alone
        • Day 35: Never Alone
        • Day 36: In His Will
        • Day 37: What did Jesus Pray For?
        • Day 38: Jesus Prays
        • Day 39: Complete Unity
        • Day 40: Peter's Worst Day
        • Day 41: My Kingdom is Not of this World
        • Day 42: For the Joy Set Before Him
        • Day 43: It is Finished
        • Day 44: You are Loved and Accepted
        • Day 45: Doubting Thomas
        • Day 46: Gone Fishing
        • Day 47: Follow Me
      • Advent Devotional 2021 >
        • Advent - Day 28
        • Advent - Day 27
        • Advent - Day 26
        • Advent - Day 25
        • Advent - Day 24
        • Advent - Day 23
        • Advent - Day 22
        • Advent - Day 21
        • Advent - Day 20
        • Advent - Day 19
        • Advent - Day 18
        • Advent - Day 17
        • Advent - Day 16
        • Advent - Day 15
        • Advent - Day 14
        • Advent - Day 13
        • Advent - Day 12
        • Advent - Day 11
        • Advent - Day 10
        • Advent - Day 9
        • Advent - Day 8
        • Advent - Day 7
        • Advent - Day 6
        • Advent - Day 5
        • Advent - Day 4
        • Advent - Day 3
        • Advent - Day 2
        • Advent - Day 1
      • Summer Daily Devotional Acts >
        • Intro Summer Daily Devotional
        • Acts - Day 53
        • Acts - Day 52
        • Acts - Day 51
        • Acts - Day 50
        • Acts - Day 49
        • Acts - Day 48
        • Acts - Day 47
        • Acts - Day 46
        • Acts - Day 45
        • Acts - Day 44
        • Acts - Day 43
        • Acts - Day 42
        • Acts - Day 41
        • Acts - Day 40
        • Acts - Day 39
        • Acts - Day 38
        • Acts - Day 37
        • Acts - Day 36
        • Acts - Day 35
        • Acts - Day 34
        • Acts - Day 33
        • Acts - Day 32
        • Acts - Day 31
        • Acts - Day 30
        • Acts - Day 29
        • Acts - Day 28
        • Acts - Day 27
        • Acts - Day 26
        • Acts - Day 25
        • Acts - Day 24
        • Acts - Day 23
        • Acts - Day 22
        • Acts - Day 21
        • Acts - Day 20
        • Acts - Day 20
        • Acts - Day 19
        • Acts - Day 18
        • Acts - Day 17
        • Acts - Day 16
        • Acts - Day 15
        • Acts - Day 14
        • Acts - Day 13
        • Acts - Day 12
        • Acts - Day 11
        • Acts - Day 10
        • Acts - Day 9
        • Acts - Day 8
        • Acts - Day 7
        • Acts - Day 6
        • Acts - Day 5
        • Acts - Day 4
        • Acts - Day 3
        • Acts - Day 2
        • Acts - Day 1
    • Altar Flowers
    • Celebration Sundays
    • Centenary Prays >
      • Pray Modesto >
        • Sphere 1: Government & Public Safety
        • Sphere 2: Family & Health
        • Sphere 3: Citywide Church & Ministries
        • Sphere 4: Education
        • Sphere 5: Business
        • Sphere 6: Arts/Entertainment/Sports
        • Sphere 7: Media
    • Church App
    • Church Calendar
    • Church Community Builder
    • Redwood Christian Park
    • Employment Opportunity >
      • Custodian - Employment Opportunity
    • A Look Back at Centenary
  • Help & Care
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Serving Opportunities @ Centenary
  • Outreach
    • MIssions: Guatemala
    • Food Bank Sunday
    • Love Modesto
    • Salvation Army
    • Operation Christmas Child
    • Gospel Mission
    • Little Free Library
    • Neighborhood School Partnership
    • Thrift Shop
    • World Relief
  • Giving

Advent Devotional 2021
The Gospel of Luke

Day 27
Friday, December 24th
Read Luke 24

Picture

“It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. Luke 24:47-48 (NLT)​

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year and Happy Easter!  May you have a joyful celebration of the Resurrection! (Wait, what?  I know “time flies,” but let’s not get crazy!)  What does Resurrection Day/Easter have to do with Christmas?  Biblically speaking, EVERYTHING!

While it’s right to celebrate the “Good News” proclaimed by angels that “A Savior has been born,” it’s the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God followed by the glorious resurrection that made salvation possible.  While Emmanuel came to be “God with us,” it’s the crucifixion and empty tomb that made God’s presence with us possible and permanent.  While we sing about the Christ in the cradle, Jesus also journeyed to the cross, where His love proved to be more powerful than sin and death.  We have joy at Christmas because of the significance and reality of the resurrection.

As we celebrate Christmas, remember the significance and the reality of the resurrection. The tomb was empty, the Lord Jesus defeated death, and rose from the grave. But many of His followers initially missed the significance and the reality of it, and sometimes we do the same.

We know from Luke 24, as well as the other gospels that the women who went to anoint the body saw that the tomb was empty and heard the proclamation from the angels that Jesus had risen from the dead. Peter and John witnessed that the tomb was empty. 

Peter and others encountered the risen Christ, including the two disciples traveling to Emmaus, who  rushed back to report. Yet later that same day, the disciples were gathered in fear and hiding behind locked doors.  The resurrection hadn’t yet become a significant reality for them.

But Jesus then appeared in their midst. In His glorified body, locked doors and walls were not barriers. Jesus brought His followers the gift of His peace and His presence, a mission, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were startled and frightened at the miraculous, unexpected, and sudden appearance of Jesus. He gave them His peace, and showed them His healed wounds to prove that He wasn’t a ghost.  Jesus needed to convince them that He was present with them, and that joy should replace fear.

Similarly, Jesus wants to convince us that He is present with us, and that joy should replace fear. The joy of Christmas can be transformed into a daily joy as we live in the reality of the resurrection.  Jesus brought all of His followers the gift of His peace and His presence, a mission, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we begin another new year, uncertain of what may come, we have the peace and the presence of Jesus with us, in even more ways than His first followers. We have unbelievable access to His Word, many resources to help us understand His Word, and the Holy Spirit to help us live it out. We have been forgiven, and we need to live in that freedom. We have been given a mission, to be the Church, and to love God and love others as we love ourselves. We are to seek to know Jesus and then help others to know Him as well. Regardless of what’s going on in the world around us, or even in our own hearts and minds, the significant reality of the resurrection hasn’t changed. We can live in security characterized by joy.

Brian Ralston 

Prayer Focus: Christmas Eve Services 
Community Prayer Focus: Outreach to the homeless in our community

Hymn: Silent Night 

Silent night holy night
All is calm all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace


Silent night holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born


Silent night holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth


Silent night holy night
Wondrous star lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born


Franz Xaver Gruber | John Freeman Young | Joseph Mohr
  • © Words: Public Domain
  • Music: Public Domain
Picture
Centenary Church
1911 Toyon Ave.
Corner of McHenry/Tokay
​Modesto, CA 95350
Church Office: (209) 527-5441
Fax: (209) 527-3230
Email: ​centenary@centenarychurch.net
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Visit Us
    • I'm New
    • In-Person Worship Services
    • Live
    • Cambodian Worship Service
    • Easter
  • About Us
    • Our Staff >
      • Pastor's Corner
    • Leadership Teams
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Core Beliefs
    • Membership & Baptism
  • Family Ministry
    • Family Ministry Events
    • Teens
    • Kingdom Kids
  • Adult Ministry
    • Jesus and Coffee
    • Men's Ministry
    • Women's Ministry
    • Choir
  • Resources
    • Preschool
    • Devotionals >
      • Lent Devotional 2023: The Gospel of Matthew >
        • Day 27 - Promise Keeper
        • Day 26 - Who Am I
        • Day 25 - The Messiah
        • Day 24 - New Thing
        • Day 23 - Abundant Life
        • Day 22 - Have Faith
        • Day 21 - Miracle
        • Day 20 - Courage
        • Day 19 - Share the Love
        • Day 18 - Kingdom of God
        • Day 17 - Choose Him
        • Day 16 - Why Use Parables?
        • Day 15 - Growing
        • Day 14 - Unity
        • Day 13 - Criticism
        • Day 12 Life Change
        • Day 11 A Cup of Cold Water
        • Day 10 Jesus is God
        • Day 9 Good & Faithful
        • Day 8 Good & Faithful
        • Day 7 Lord's Prayer
        • Day 6 Lists
        • Day 5 Beatitudes
        • Day 4 Temptation
        • Day 3 Prepare the Way
        • Day 2 Follow the Star
        • Day 1 Geneology
        • Introduction to Matthew
      • Christmas Devotional - 2022 >
        • Day 1 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 2 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 3 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 4 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 5 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 6 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 7 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 8 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 9 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 10 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 11 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 12 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 13 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 14 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 15 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 16 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 17 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 18 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 19 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 20 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 21 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 22 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 23 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 24 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 25 Christmas Devotional - 2022
      • Lent Daily Devotional >
        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
        • Day 3: Follow Me
        • Day 4: Transform the Ordinary
        • Day 5: Who has Authority?
        • Day 6: God So Loved the World
        • Day 7: Worthy of Worship
        • Day 8: Everyone
        • Day 9: Signs & Wonders
        • Day 10: Rejected & Despised
        • Day 11: Do Nothing On Your Own
        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
        • Day 13: "I Am the Bread of Life"
        • Day 14: Adjusting my Expectations
        • Day 15: Learn by Doing
        • Day 16: God's Anointed Messiah
        • Day 17: We Are All Sinners
        • Day 18: I am the Light of the World
        • Day 19: Jesus is God
        • Day 20: The Work of God
        • Day 21: Hard Hearts
        • Day 22: Abundant Life
        • Day 23: Eternity With Him
        • Day 24: An Ultimate Purpose
        • Day 25: A Purpose Fulfilled
        • Day 26: A Choice to Make
        • Day 27: For This Very Reason
        • Day 28: He Proved His Love For Us
        • Day 29: Secure and One with the Father
        • Day 30: Love One Another
        • Day 31: The Way, the Truth, & the Life
        • Day 32: Order to Our Chaos
        • Day 33: Remaining
        • Day 34: You Are Never Alone
        • Day 35: Never Alone
        • Day 36: In His Will
        • Day 37: What did Jesus Pray For?
        • Day 38: Jesus Prays
        • Day 39: Complete Unity
        • Day 40: Peter's Worst Day
        • Day 41: My Kingdom is Not of this World
        • Day 42: For the Joy Set Before Him
        • Day 43: It is Finished
        • Day 44: You are Loved and Accepted
        • Day 45: Doubting Thomas
        • Day 46: Gone Fishing
        • Day 47: Follow Me
      • Advent Devotional 2021 >
        • Advent - Day 28
        • Advent - Day 27
        • Advent - Day 26
        • Advent - Day 25
        • Advent - Day 24
        • Advent - Day 23
        • Advent - Day 22
        • Advent - Day 21
        • Advent - Day 20
        • Advent - Day 19
        • Advent - Day 18
        • Advent - Day 17
        • Advent - Day 16
        • Advent - Day 15
        • Advent - Day 14
        • Advent - Day 13
        • Advent - Day 12
        • Advent - Day 11
        • Advent - Day 10
        • Advent - Day 9
        • Advent - Day 8
        • Advent - Day 7
        • Advent - Day 6
        • Advent - Day 5
        • Advent - Day 4
        • Advent - Day 3
        • Advent - Day 2
        • Advent - Day 1
      • Summer Daily Devotional Acts >
        • Intro Summer Daily Devotional
        • Acts - Day 53
        • Acts - Day 52
        • Acts - Day 51
        • Acts - Day 50
        • Acts - Day 49
        • Acts - Day 48
        • Acts - Day 47
        • Acts - Day 46
        • Acts - Day 45
        • Acts - Day 44
        • Acts - Day 43
        • Acts - Day 42
        • Acts - Day 41
        • Acts - Day 40
        • Acts - Day 39
        • Acts - Day 38
        • Acts - Day 37
        • Acts - Day 36
        • Acts - Day 35
        • Acts - Day 34
        • Acts - Day 33
        • Acts - Day 32
        • Acts - Day 31
        • Acts - Day 30
        • Acts - Day 29
        • Acts - Day 28
        • Acts - Day 27
        • Acts - Day 26
        • Acts - Day 25
        • Acts - Day 24
        • Acts - Day 23
        • Acts - Day 22
        • Acts - Day 21
        • Acts - Day 20
        • Acts - Day 20
        • Acts - Day 19
        • Acts - Day 18
        • Acts - Day 17
        • Acts - Day 16
        • Acts - Day 15
        • Acts - Day 14
        • Acts - Day 13
        • Acts - Day 12
        • Acts - Day 11
        • Acts - Day 10
        • Acts - Day 9
        • Acts - Day 8
        • Acts - Day 7
        • Acts - Day 6
        • Acts - Day 5
        • Acts - Day 4
        • Acts - Day 3
        • Acts - Day 2
        • Acts - Day 1
    • Altar Flowers
    • Celebration Sundays
    • Centenary Prays >
      • Pray Modesto >
        • Sphere 1: Government & Public Safety
        • Sphere 2: Family & Health
        • Sphere 3: Citywide Church & Ministries
        • Sphere 4: Education
        • Sphere 5: Business
        • Sphere 6: Arts/Entertainment/Sports
        • Sphere 7: Media
    • Church App
    • Church Calendar
    • Church Community Builder
    • Redwood Christian Park
    • Employment Opportunity >
      • Custodian - Employment Opportunity
    • A Look Back at Centenary
  • Help & Care
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Serving Opportunities @ Centenary
  • Outreach
    • MIssions: Guatemala
    • Food Bank Sunday
    • Love Modesto
    • Salvation Army
    • Operation Christmas Child
    • Gospel Mission
    • Little Free Library
    • Neighborhood School Partnership
    • Thrift Shop
    • World Relief
  • Giving