Quite a few people think that when they die and meet God face to face, they'll be able to outline how their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds and that will be sufficient for God to say to them, "Come on in!" This is one of the biggest lies out there. If you're not sure how all this works, join us as we examine the type of faith that actually saves.

Saving faith...
1) Comes by hearing
2) Confesses unworthiness
3) Trusts in Jesus' authority

Text: Luke 7:1-10

Nobody wants to die of a disease they didn't know they had. When it comes to our salvation, Jesus doesn't want anyone unsure of their condition. Jesus will help us examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

1) The nature of an authentic Christian
2) The evidence of an authentic Christian
3) The hope of an authentic Christian

Text: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus didn't come to earth to affirm everything about us. He came to live the perfect life we could never live and in doing so, to model for us the kind of life those who follow him are called to live. Join us as we think about the kind of church Jesus wants.

The kind of church Jesus wants is characterized by...
1) Magnanimous natures
2) Discerning followers
3) Changing people

Text: Luke 6:37-42

The world has a certain pull on our hearts. We crave attention, status, and popularity. However, we find that these are temporary and don't bring true satisfaction. So where is true satisfaction found? Join us as we explore what lasts forever.

1) Love of the world
2) Love of the Father

Text: 1 John 2:15-17

If Jesus was to knock on your front door this Christmas, how would you react? Shock? Excitement? Irritation? The familiar characters of the Christmas story are representative of modern responses to Jesus' knock at the door. They invite us to identify with them and ask: how would I respond?

1) Hostility
2) Indifference
3) Worship

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

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