This week we see God not only as Savior and Helper, but as King of Kings, the One with the highest authority and the final word. In Revelation 19, Jesus is pictured as a victorious King who rules with power, truth, and justice. When life feels confusing, unfair, or out of control, it’s easy to question God’s leadership. But the message is clear: Submitting to the King of Kings doesn’t trap us, it frees us! Salvation is the door, surrender is the posture, and freedom is the fruit.

This week we see God not only as Savior and Helper, but as King of Kings, the One with the highest authority and the final word. In Revelation 19, Jesus is pictured as a victorious King who rules with power, truth, and justice. When life feels confusing, unfair, or out of control, it’s easy to question God’s leadership. But the message is clear: Submitting to the King of Kings doesn’t trap us, it frees us! Salvation is the door, surrender is the posture, and freedom is the fruit.

When we think about God, the first word many people choose is “love.” And God is love. But the Bible’s most repeated description of God is holy; so holy that heaven declares, “Holy, holy, holy” (Revelation 4:8). Holy means set apart, totally different, like no one else. God is not just a better version of us, He is in a category all His own. That changes how we worship, how we live, and how we see ourselves. If God is holy, then following Him will sometimes make us feel “different” in this world (1 Peter 2:11). But that “set apart” life isn’t meant to be strange for the sake of strange. It’s meant to be free, good, and full of Jesus.

This week we reflect on the church’s major achievements throughout 2025, including significant charitable contributions and the expansion of international ministry partnerships. Pastor Geoffrey Turner emphasizes that these successes were made possible by intentional stewardship, prompting a broader discussion on the value of time management. Using the Book of Ephesians as a guide, Geoffrey warns against modern distractions like technology and media that lead to a life on autopilot. He argues that because time is a sacred and limited gift from God, believers must actively choose wisdom over folly. The message ultimately challenges the congregation to evaluate their daily routines as a reflection of their spiritual priorities heading into the new year.

We often ask, “What am I made of?” focusing on our strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. But a deeper and more freeing question is, “What am I made for?” Scripture shows us that we were not created to be the main character of our story, but to reflect the glory of God. Like a mirror, our power isn’t found in shining on our own, but in being positioned to reflect Him clearly. God regularly works through ordinary, unnamed, obedient people to accomplish extraordinary things. You were made for more than just yourself. You were made to reflect Jesus to others!

Pastor Geoffrey addresses the struggle of unmet expectations, illustrating how our disappointments can be an open door to something better through God's perfect provision. He shares personal anecdotes about a plumbing crisis in his 1926 home and an unexpected financial gift from an elder to demonstrate that God provides even when it looks different than we planned. By examining the 80-mile journey of Mary and Joseph and the announcement of the Savior to ordinary shepherds, the message emphasizes that Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) is present from the "manger of Bethlehem" to the "shadow of the cross," offering the greatest gift of salvation to all people. Like a master weaver creating a beautiful tapestry from seemingly tangled threads, God’s ways are higher than ours, ensuring that even when we feel we’ve "opened the wrong box," His provision remains good and perfectly timed.

Christmas is not only about what Jesus did for us by coming to earth - it's also about what He wants to do through us. God often chooses ordinary, unknown people to carry His extraordinary message. Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, and even the shepherds were not famous or powerful, yet God used them to prepare the way for Jesus and to share His light with others (Luke 1:76–79). In the same way, every follower of Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit and called to help others see Jesus. We don’t have to be Bible experts or have big platforms. We simply love, pray, invite, and share what Jesus has done in us. Christmas reminds us: it’s not just “Jesus for me,” it’s also “Jesus through me.”

God’s timing often feels confusing to us, especially when we are waiting on something important like healing, a job, a relationship, or a breakthrough. We live in an instant world, but the Christmas story reminds us that God is never rushed and never late. Jesus came “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), at the exact right moment in history, in the exact place God had planned, fulfilling promises that were hundreds of years old. From Caesar’s census to a “no vacancy” sign in Bethlehem, every detail showed that God’s timing is purposeful and powerful. The same God who perfectly arranged the coming of Jesus is still writing our stories today. Our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:14–15), and we can trust that His timing is always good, even when it isn’t easy or fast.

Thanksgiving reminds us that followers of Jesus are called to live with joy, peace, and hope, but many of us struggle to do that. One big reason is that we treat complaining like it's no big deal. Scripture says otherwise. Paul tells us to "do everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14), because grumbling slowly steals our hope, feeds a victim mindset, and dims our witness to the world. When we replace complaint with rejoicing and thanksgiving, we remember who our Father is, what He has done, and that our future is secure in His hands (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11). The Spirit of Thanksgiving is not pretending life is easy; it is choosing to see God’s faithfulness even in hard things, and letting gratitude reshape our thoughts, words, and attitudes.

Jesus ends the Lord’s Prayer with a humble request: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). These words admit a simple truth…we are not strong enough on our own. Temptation comes from our flesh and from a real enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10). God does not tempt us (James 1:13), but He will lead us through trials and rescue us when we call. “Lead us” is a prayer for guidance away from the paths that trap us. “Deliver us” is a cry for God to pull us out when danger is near. Our hope is not our willpower; our hope is the Father’s presence, the Spirit’s power, and the truth of God’s Word. When we pray this way daily, we grow alert, dependent, and free.