God did not save us with the intent of us just waiting out our time until we go to heaven. One of the best gifts given to us through Christmas is the direction and empowering to make a difference. In this message, we will talk about how that happens and how we can focus on it this Christmas.

The obvious “gift story” of the nativity is the Wise Men. But what if the Christmas present in their story is about a gift they receive than the ones they give? In this message, we will look at their journey and the gift God gave them.

When we examine a gift, we can learn a lot about the relationship we have with the giver. As we look closer at the present given to humanity in the Christmas account, we will learn who this gift is for and what it shows us about God’s love.

God has given so many gifts to us that often go unclaimed, unopened. And after all, a gift doesn’t do much good left unopened does it? So, throughout the course of this series, we hope to UNWRAP some of those gifts that God has just been waiting on us all to open!

In this message we wrap up all that we learned in the James message series as well as hear from people within the church as to how this has impacted them!

James started his letter by telling his readers that their trials will produce patience. He ends it by showing them how to endure when the weight feels too heavy and they are starting to crack. In this week’s message, we will find hope for when we are suffering and learn how God wants to raise us up.

If Christians need to accept that they won’t fit in with the world if they are choosing to be faithful to God, how are we supposed to endure the hardship that will naturally create? In this message, we will talk about what to focus on and how to wait patiently for the return of Christ.

Whose plans are we following? While we can be really good at developing our own plans, even ones that lead to apparent success, if they are based in human wisdom, they will be short-sighted. God offers us something better and in this message we will talk about why it’s so important to follow Him.

Though we want peace, we are often surrounded by conflict, particularly in our relationships. Where does this come from and what can we do about it? In this message, we will see what James identifies and understand how to experience the peace of God in our lives.

How can you tell if someone is walking out the wisdom of God or following the wisdom of the world? At the end of Chapter 3, James shows us what it looks like to embody the wisdom of God. He gives us a filter to use so we can discern between what comes from God and what does not.