Unfortunately, the story of Christmas can become stale and dull in our hearts. We often forget about the importance and the purpose of the birth of Jesus. Join us as we see how truly life-changing this is!

1) Jesus is the true Messiah
2) Jesus is true God and true man
3) Jesus is the true and only Savior
4) Jesus is the true temple

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

Genealogies can't be interesting, can they? They're just a list of names no one can spell or pronounce. Why bother with them? Join us and you'll discover why Jesus' genealogy could be the best gift you get this Christmas.

The genealogy of Jesus points to him as...
1) The ultimate hero
2) The giver of grace
3) The source of significance

Text: Matthew 1:1-17

Resources:

• Andrew Peterson - "Matthew's Begats" (Official Lyric Video)
• Matthew 1:1-17 ESV

World War 2... 9/11... Indonesian Tsunami... Hamas' attack on Israel... There's no shortage of bad things that happen in our world. Why do they happen? What purpose do they serve - if any? Suffering, adversity, and hardship are a part of life, so how do we handle those without collapsing under the weight of them?

1) What bad things test
2) How to counsel others through bad things
3) How to get through bad things

Text: Job 1-42

Parenting is overwhelming. How does one raise another human being to be well-adjusted, self-sufficient, and charitable? On top of that, how does a parent raise kids who love and follow Jesus? There are no easy answers, but we'll mine the Bible for wisdom.

Parenting...
1) Why it's hard
2) What it entails
3) Its limitations

Text: Proverbs 13:24; 20:7; 22:15; 23:26; 29:15; Romans 3:10-18; Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:7-11

Surveys indicate couples get married primarily for happiness. Is that what marriage is about? Since God instituted marriage, let's ask him what purposes he had in mind when he created marriage. It might change the way you view your own marriage.

1) The definition of marriage
2) The commitment of marriage
3) The mystery of marriage

Text: Ephesians 5:22-33

We're supposed to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But the world is filled with wonderful things like sunsets, oceans, strawberries, and bacon! Are we wrong to enjoy the things of earth? How can we enjoy life while still honoring the Lord?

Life's little pleasures...
1) Help us understand and enjoy God
2) Show us how to live wisely in God's world
3) Meet our God-defined needs
4) Give us experiences of God's glory and goodness

Text: Genesis 1-2; Psalm 1:1-3; Proverbs 24:13-14; Matthew 6:25-27

Money is a substantial part of life. You need it for food, shelter, clothing, education, rest and relaxation... and pretty much everything else. It's not surprising the Bible has a lot to say about it. God earnestly desires to cure us of money sickness and establish us in money wellness.

1) Beware of money sickness
2) Symptoms of money sickness
3) How to acquire money wellness

Text: Luke 12:13-34

We need friendship... more than many of us realize. But our approach to this is often browsing the field of potential friends in order to find the "right one" for us. Maybe that's backwards. The better way is: "How can I be the kind of friend I've always wanted?"

1) The importance of friendship
2) The nature of friendship
3) How to be the kind of friend you’ve always wanted

Text: 1 Samuel 18-20; John 15:13-15

Retirement is often viewed as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Why? Because work can be downright frustrating. But God designed us to work. He instituted work. Grasping his vision for work is important to finding meaning in your work.

Four ways God wants you to see your work:
1) We were made to work
2) We were made to do skilled work
3) Work is a way to love your neighbor
4) Work is a way to worship God

Text: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:2-3; 2:15; Matthew 22:34-39

The Church is a unique entity unlike any other. It is through the church that God’s wisdom is displayed to the heavenly beings. But what does this mean for the believer? Should he or she orient their life around it? Join us as we seek the Scriptures to see the importance of the bride of Christ.

1) The Church belongs to God
2) The Church stands on truth
3) The Church confesses Christ

Text: 1 Timothy 3:14-16