There’s a lot of talk about love these days. The word can be variously applied, interpreted, and even twisted to fit our own selfish wishes. In Advent (the coming of Jesus), we find the the definition and extent of love from His cradle to His cross. God’s love is the greatest gift.

The holiday season is typified by merriment. But for many it can be a somber season. The Advent (coming) of Jesus delivers joy to hurting hearts. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit’s work, but we also have a responsibility to cultivate and nurture joy. In this message, Pastor Ross explains four ways we can cultivate joy, even in the midst of pain.

There is some pretty nasty stuff behind our discontented hearts. Contentment must be cultivated and nurtured. It is not a virtue that is natural to us. This Christmas season must be met with the contentment only found in the peace of Christ.

Christmas is not always the most wonderful time of the year. For many, it's a more difficult than anticipated season. But in sadness and trials the hope of Jesus' coming can be helpful in ways that no other help can. Riches can't deliver us. Food and vacations will never truly satisfy us. With Jesus, we have true hope for our very real hurt.

We live in a land of abundance. An abundance of wealth, schools, chicken restaurants, sports fields and nearly endless opportunities. God's word calls for us to be abundant in thankfulness. Not just because of our many gifts, but because of our great Giver and the gift of salvation through His son. Thanksgiving may be a special day on our calendars but for Christians it is a lifestyle.

In response to the 2016 election, some Americans are elated or relieved and some are disappointed or fearful. How should Christians respond? The apostle Peter offers words that afflict the comforted and comfort the afflicted. Believers in Christ have an extraordinary identity and an incredible calling. These truths help believers to be faithful in the world and guard against a naive optimism and/or a hopeless pessimism.

Next Generation ministries get a lot of our attention, and rightfully so. However, amongst all the attention and resources dedicated to these ministries we are still losing 40-50% of our students after high school. This message focuses on some sticky faith traits that the church can provide kids/students in order to help the faith “stick” after high school. We must view the spiritual formation of our students as a serious game of Pitch and Catch.

To thrive in Babylon we have to know and hold onto the truth. God's Word is the source of the world's hatred toward Christianity, but it is the source of the Christians' strength. Be a person of the Book. Read it. Study it. Love it. Live it. Pass it on.

When living in Babylon, followers of God face two pulls: to conform to the culture and reject God’s clear Word or to cocoon from the world and make additional rules in order to try to honor God and stay faithful. Both responses, rejecting God’s Word and adding to God’s word, are poor responses. Instead, believers need wisdom to apply God’s Word in their specific situation while not imposing their personal convictions on others in a legalistic way.

Daniel thrived in hard times, not because of deep confidence in himself (pride) but deep confidence in his God - which made him humble in difficult circumstances and humble in his service to a pagan King in a pagan place. We must approach our personal pain, our political convictions, and our personal relationships with the humility that comes from knowing a perfectly sovereign God.