The book of Hosea opens with a marriage that God ordains as a living sermon. Hosea does not merely preach the Word of the Lord; he is commanded to live it, embody it, and suffer it. The book was written during one of the most deceptively prosperous yet spiritually bankrupt seasons in Israel’s history. Hosea did not minister in a time of visible collapse, but in a season that felt successful, stable, and blessed (historically, during a pause before the storm). Hosea sounds so emotional because he is confronting confident citizens and pleading with people who feel no urgency to repent from sin and turn their affections back towards Yahweh.

As 2025 ends and we begin 2026, we see what it means to truly inspect and build our homes on the Rock.

There are seasons when God’s call feels bigger than our strength. Moments when obedience feels costly, courage feels thin, and the future feels uncertain. We know what God is asking but we’re not sure we have what it takes. The promise of Immanuel reminds us that God never asks us to move forward alone. When fear rises and strength fades, God doesn’t remove the assignment, He reinforces His presence. From anxious kings to hesitant disciples, God’s message is the same: You are not enough but I am with you. And because God is with us, we have the strength to stand, endure, and obey no matter how impossible the task may seem.

Christmas reminds us that God does not wait for perfect conditions. He steps into real life, into conflict, chaos, and confusion. The birth of Jesus is God invading our broken world with His redeeming presence. And when Christ is present, peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ.

Loneliness isn’t just about being alone, it’s about being disconnected from the One who is always present. Matthew’s Gospel opens up with a declaration that changed human history: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” The miracle of Christmas is not only that God came down, but that He came to ensure we are always with Him.

As we conclude our study in the book of Acts, we study Paul's trip to Rome, and how the Kingdom of God is expanding. No matter what happens in our lives, the gospel will go where God wants it to go. Jesus is alive, and the gospel is going. Will you?

In Acts 27, we learn about Paul's ill-fated journey to Rome. We'll see what happens when Godly advice is ignored, how to persevere in light of a promise, and we'll learn a very important lesson: just because God has put a desire or calling on your life, doesn't mean you'll be the one planning the journey.

As we start to wrap up our study in the book of Acts, we focus on chapters 22-26, where Paul shares his testimony multiple times as he's brought before various people. In the final analysis, we'll see Paul's eternal perspective, how he experienced the nearness of Jesus in his life, and how he hoped in the Lord's resurrection.

This week, we have the privilege to hear from our keynote speaker and supported missionary Josh Duncan. We encourage you to pray for our missionaries and their families as they serve the Lord in their respective mission fields.