“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union…” “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” These are famous lines from some of the most popular speeches in American history that greatly impact our lives still today. Foundational words for who we are and who we want to become. Yet there is an even greater proclamation - a greater declaration - a doctrine that changed everything about who you are. What is it? We’ll find out today!

The Bible has great before and after stories! Moses, David, Paul, Peter, James, Matthew and many more. All these people lived a pretty typical secular life until God transforms them. The pages of the Bible fill in their stories of “I was… but God… And now…”. I imagine many of you have a story. You can remember your past before you walked with the Lord. You remember the mistakes and selfish motives. But then there was a day or a season where you understood your need for a Savior and put your trust in Him. Now you walk far from a sinless life, but you are walking a road of faith in Jesus Christ.

Today we welcome Peter Swanson back from sunny (somewhat) Florida! Peter is the President and Development Director for Love Serves International in the United States. We have been partnering with Love Serves for a number of years supporting their vision to provide every church in the Dominican Republic with the opportunity to be coached and biblically trained to reach their communities. Through these revitalized churches over 12,000 people have trusted in Jesus as Savior in just the last 12 months! We are jumping ahead in our journey through Ephesians today. Peter will be preaching from Ephesians 4 on a key passage that is the core of why Love Serves International exists today and how it is our same calling as well.

Immeasurable... I love that word. It is a word that you see in the Bible only a handful of times and all in pivotal verses. Two of them are in Ephesians when the Apostle Paul talks about the immeasurable greatness of God’s power and the immeasurable riches of His grace. Our God is limitless in all things - love, power, grace, presence, goodness, forgiveness and mercy just to name a few. What does that mean for you? When you pray, you can have confidence that God can answer any prayer both big and small. Even prayers that you would experience His presence in a new and refreshing way this year as we’ll talk about in Ephesians today.

Happy New Year! It’s that time again… a time for new beginnings… new priorities… and new resolutions! I don’t generally make a new years resolution, but this year I am making… something! I don’t know if it is a resolution…maybe more of a birthday wish (mine is in 10 days… cards and gifts are optional) for 2016! (I’m just joking about cards and gifts… wait, am I?) My wish for this year is a big one. I want MORE! More of God… more of Jesus… more of the Holy Spirit… more transformation…. more answer to prayers… more glory to God. Is that a lot to ask? Not when you have a limitless God. Like Moses up on the mountain in Exodus 33, “Now show me your glory!” I want more of Him. What do you want for 2016?

2015 was unofficially dubbed the Year Everyone was Offended. Even Christians have fallen into the traps of victimization, entitlement, and defensiveness. How can we make sure, at least for ourselves, that 2016 doesn’t repeat that way of thinking? Peter and John went through a similar situation in the beginning of their ministry after Jesus’ death and resurrection. We’ll look at how they responded to people who were offended by their message and discover how to use that same method in our culture today. We can do our part to make next year a better year!

Anticipate Christmas, are you ready for it? We have been counting the weeks until Christmas is here and this is it. So what is Christmas all about? Why do we count the days or have advent calendars / wreaths? What happens next? Is there more? Jesus came the first time and we all celebrate that, but what about the second advent (his coming again)? Are we a little too much like those who were unaware the first time?

We are part way through the Christmas season! Are you surviving? The parking lots are packed, the lines are getting longer… the parties and gift giving have started. Today we want to take a moment of pause from Christmas to lean in to the reason we even celebrate it in the first place - God loves you. You’ve heard that a thousand times or more. But do you know that it is true? In the core of your heart do you believe that God would love you so much that He sent His very own Son to be born in a manger and eventually die for you on a cross? Behind the stories of the shepherds, the wisemen, the census in Bethlehem… God’s motivation for it all is rooted in His steadfast love for you.

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart (where?)… If you grew up in church you probably know that song. If you didn’t… you’re lucky because that song will get stuck in your head for days! The coming birth of Christ brought great joy to Zechariah and Elizabeth. The faithful had been waiting for generations for the Messiah to be born and now - here He is! They had GREAT joy! But what about us? Where do we find joy? Not surprising, our joy is found in the very same place; the GREATEST treasure in the world.

The turkey has left the table and the parking lots at the malls are at capacity -- it must be Christmas! Do you have peace this Christmas season? Peace is a word we throw around this time of the year without thinking too much about it. “Peace, Love, Joy” or “Peace on Earth”. Many New Testament letters start with the phrase, “grace and peace to you…”. What does this peace mean? Today we will find out.