Ephesians 1 outlines what Paul prays for the Ephesian church ... and offers some great thoughts about what we should be committed to as followers of Jesus.

"Peace on earth" was the promise from the angels. But where is it?

How do you sum up the real spirit of Christmas? What stands at the heart of Christmas? The Bible says 2 things: 1. Forgiveness and 2. Kingship.

Luke's gospel opens not by tell us about the birth of Jesus ... but by telling us about the birth of another child: John. He is the new "Elijah" ... the one who will prepare the way for God's promised rescuer to come.

One third of the book of Exodus is devoted to talking about the Tabernacle (what would later become the Temple). This was the symbol of God's presence with his poeple ... a symbol that would no longer be needed when Jesus came as God with his people.

In somewhat dramatic circumstances God makes a covenant with his people ... he formalizes their relationship.

God demonstrates incredible patience with a grubling group of people and provides for them in the desert.

This section of Exodus is possibly one of the most dramatic passages in the whole Old Testament. It is a passage that show the lengths that God is willing to go to in order to save his people. And it is a passage that points clearly to what God will do through Jesus.

We tend to think of Moses as a great and confidant leader ... but Exodus shows his a reluctant to saythe least. But God is the one who will save him people and Moses needs to trust God.

Exodus 1 opens with more than 350 years having passed since the end of Genesis. God has been faithful to his promises. They have grown from 70 people who went down to Egypt to now be a sizeable people.