We begin our series on the Holy Spirit by studying base information and setting the focus for the year. When we talk about the Spirit, we are talking about God, and the Spirit's primary function is to point to Jesus. Our theme for this year is...

God is a mighty warrior, but is still delighted in us and rejoices over us with singing. Let this promise sink in to begin the new year.

Just like mirrors show us what we look like, we should use a theological mirror to see both how we look and where we've come from. With that in mind, we can set appropriate goals for the new year and life.

Seeing God changes our direction in life. We often have our idea of how our life should go, but God always has the right way. Is God, who holds the entire universe, someone you ask to be your assistant?

Let Christmas be a Sabbath.

Matthew 25:31-40. Jesus doesn't want us to help others. He wants us to help Him, to help others in His name, and to sacrifice as He did.

In the same way Hosea was told to show love to his wife even through her unfaithfulness, God still shows His love to us, despite our unfaithfulness. The incarnation is the most scandalous way to say, "I love you."

Luke 1:30-38 illustrates how disrupted and imperfect the Christmas story seemed. God still moves in spite of our imperfection and partially because of it. Dr. Barnette encourages us to give to a need this Christmas season and to show grace to others...

Isaiah 7:14. Rather than focusing on the material, Christmas is a time to focus on the miracle of Christ’s presence.

Acts 20:35. Dr. Barnette, Dr. Dempsey, and Rev. McLeod perform a skit that challenges us to receive as well as give. Jesus gave the ultimate gift on the cross, and we need to be able to take time to receive the cross in all its depth and meaning and...