We serve a God who sent his Son to come and redeem us. In a similar manner, he charged the early church to pursue the lost by preaching, teaching, and proclaiming the life of a real Savior who has reconciled us back to God. In Paul's epistle to Timothy, Paul charges the young man to "do the work of an evangelist" but evangelism isn't just something we do, it's something we are. In Acts, the early church demonstrates this lifestyle and calling as they dedicate themselves the gospel produce fruit in their lives and saves souls. Evangelism is the lifestyle of the redeemed.

Dr. D. Jeffrey Bingham surveys Mark chapters 8, 9, and 10 highlighting the significance of some of Jesus' statements, which speak to our aim throughout life, "Turning Right Side Up," what the world had turned Upside Down.

The Glory of the Incarnate Christ

The Great Mercy of God and the Magi

As we consider the circumstances and events surrounding the birth of Jesus, we see God's providence. That is, we see God's hand actively at work orchestrating, maneuvering, arranging and controlling all the details so that His eternal purposes all come to pass. This is the providence of God. What great peace and joy are ours since our God is the blessed controller of all things.

Almighty God has created us for adventure. The spiritual giant Oswald Chambers commented in My Utmost for His Highest: "Human nature, if it is healthy, demands excitement. God never made bloodless stoics, He made passionate saints." indeed, there is something within us that longs for excitement and demands adventure -- a sense of movement. This is the essence of a life of faith for the follower of Christ. Mary provides a wonderful example of a believer willingly abandoning her comfort zone of "life as usual" in order to embrace God's grand calling upon her life. Likewise, He summons you and me to move beyond our comfort zone in service to His great kingdom. In what ways has the Lord been calling you to trust Him and move out of your comfort zone?

O come let us celebrate Christmas with a fresh new look at God's love for us. God's love for us is revealed through none other than Jesus Christ, the "Peace Child." While we were yet enemies of God, He sent His "Peace Child" to reconcile us back to Himself; so that we could have Christmas forever, and be reconciled back to Him forever.

The Hope That Does Not Disappoint

Do our actions demonstrate our devotion and commitment to GOD'S Pure Word? As families, do our actions reflect our belief in the One True GOD? The Scripture instructs us to commit to prayer, relational-accountability and obedience necessary to raising faithful generations. Believers are to raise generations as an inheritance unto the LORD. Families are the 'superstructure' of the church, which JESUS the Messiah is the Foundation of the Church as revealed in HIS Word.

Paul was an apostle, and his audience in Acts 20 were all elders; but the essence of his farewell address speaks to the heart of pastoral ministry and congregational care. So, while I'm clearly not an apostle, and you're not all elders, let's open our hearts to Gold's Word together... being careful how we listen. Come, let's reason together one last time.