Caleb Drahosh \\ After the flight to Egypt and upon Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph for the third time telling Joseph that he should take Mary and Jesus and return home. But learning of a new threat, Joseph moved his family to the region of Galilee and a town called Nazareth. Nazareth is not a well thought of place. But that's exactly how God works. He works His salvation for His people in unexpected ways.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Joseph lived according to God's Word and therefore did not fear. Herod resisted God's Word and feared greatly. The fulfillment of God's promises in the coming Christ would threaten Herod's kingdom and his power. He sought to destroy the prospective usurper. But Herod plotted in vain. The Word of God would be fulfilled through Joseph and Mary's flight to Egypt and their return.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Joseph was a man from the line of David. He was a just, or righteous, man. When his betrothed was found to be with child, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But the conception was a result of the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as the angel would explain to him. This is a key indicator that the One Mary carried was the Christ. And Joseph, being just, acted according to the Word of the Lord.

John Baumgartner \\ Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah spoken of by the prophets. He is the rightful heir to the kingship of David and the promised child of Abraham who will bless His people and all the earth. His claim to all these is as sure as His lineage shown by Matthew as the opening to His Gospel.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Our pursuit of sound doctrinal understanding is meant to lead to doxology. Knowing God is the grounds of our boasting as Christians. As we grow in our understanding of the Scriptures we worship God individually and congregationally by going further up and further in.

Caleb Drahosh \\ When the truth of the gospel is proclaimed, God works in the heart of the individual, bringing that one from death to life which results in faith and repentance. By faith these ones are declared righteous and their sin is removed. They are joined to Christ, receiving the adoption as sons and progressively growing in practical Christlikeness.

Caleb Drahosh \\ From eternity past God planned to redeem a people for His possession. That plan is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the righteousness of God who God put forward as an atoning sacrifice for sins, justifying the ungodly while maintaining His perfect justice. In this way, Jesus accomplishes redemption for all the Father gives to Him.

Caleb Drahosh \\ The crowning act of God's creative work is the creation of man. God created male and female and placed His image upon them. He charged them to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over all the created order. Nothing else in creation bears God's image. But sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and the image of God was marred in humanity. It is only through the God-man Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that we can be remade into God's image as new creations in Him.

Caleb Drahosh \\ All theology is meant to lead to doxology. Knowing God is the grounds of our boasting as Christians. God is the Creator of everyone and everything and He freely makes Himself known in and to His creation. Humanity bears the image of God and is invited into relationship with God who reveals Himself through His Word.

Blaze Culliton \\ The Psalmist provides a template for worship of a Holy God by telling them to praise the Lord and give thanks for His steadfast love and to remember His mercy. Recounted through the history of Israel, we see the mercy of the Lord for a people who forgot His works and did not wait for His counsel. Despite their forgetfulness, God remembers His covenant and saves His people through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice in the steadfast love and mercy of our forever and ever. Praise the Lord!