Big Idea - One of the most significant differences between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of heaven is the nature of leadership. Worldly leadership is about power and control, dominating others in order to get your own way. But, the way of leading in the kingdom of heaven is by way of serving. Jesus is the supreme example of leading by serving. What does Jesus' example teach us about how to serve others even as we lead them?

Jesus was the Messiah, the promised King who is the supreme leader of His Kingdom. He leads according to the plan and purpose of God, not by the will of the people. But, His leadership is not characterized by force or power, demanding His own way. He did not come to be served, that is to demand people cater to His every need and whim. Rather, He came to serve by laying down His life to meet the great spiritual need of others. Leading is drawing people to fulfill God's purpose and plan on the road of obedience. But, as we lead others, whether in our own home, in the workplace, in the Church, or in society our leadership must be characterized by serving. Laying down our own life, our wants and needs, to sacrificially care for the needs of others so that they are equipped and able to fulfill God's purpose for their life.

Big Idea - One of the most significant differences between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of heaven is the nature of leadership. Worldly leadership is about power and control, dominating others in order to get your own way. But, the way of leading in the kingdom of heaven is by way of serving. Jesus is the supreme example of leading by serving. What does Jesus' example teach us about how to serve others even as we lead them?

Jesus was the Messiah, the promised King who is the supreme leader of His Kingdom. He leads according to the plan and purpose of God, not by the will of the people. But, His leadership is not characterized by force or power, demanding His own way. He did not come to be served, that is to demand people cater to His every need and whim. Rather, He came to serve by laying down His life to meet the great spiritual need of others. Leading is drawing people to fulfill God's purpose and plan on the road of obedience. But, as we lead others, whether in our own home, in the workplace, in the Church, or in society our leadership must be characterized by serving. Laying down our own life, our wants and needs, to sacrificially care for the needs of others so that they are equipped and able to fulfill God's purpose for their life.

Big Idea - This phrase "The first shall be last and the last first" is one we probably all know and are familiar with. But what exactly did Jesus mean by it? How do I know If I am first, or last? Should I try to be first, or should I try to be last, so that I can be first? What does this expression really mean and more importantly, what does it have to do with the way I think and live right now? Does being first mean first in line? The one who arrived at the goal or destination first? Or does it mean first in rank - the one who is the leader, or on top of the pecking order? Or does it mean something else altogether?

Big Idea - This phrase "The first shall be last and the last first" is one we probably all know and are familiar with. But what exactly did Jesus mean by it? How do I know If I am first, or last? Should I try to be first, or should I try to be last, so that I can be first? What does this expression really mean and more importantly, what does it have to do with the way I think and live right now? Does being first mean first in line? The one who arrived at the goal or destination first? Or does it mean first in rank - the one who is the leader, or on top of the pecking order? Or does it mean something else altogether?

Big Idea - Is divorce an option for a Christian? Was it "legal" to end your marriage so you could marry someone better? That was the question the Pharisees had for Jesus, not because they weren't certain of the answer, but because they wanted to test Jesus. Divorce had become very widely accepted in Jesus' day even among the Pharisees who were the most serious about keeping all the commands with extreme diligence. They had come to have an expectation that their wife had to live up to their expectations in every way, and if they didn't you could get rid of them and find a better model. In our age, the attitude about divorce is much the same, in the world anyway. The fairy tales have taught us that when you meet the right person and fall in love you will live happily ever after. So if you are not happy, you must have married the wrong person. The solution, then, is to bail out of that relationship and find that right person who will make you happy. After all, doesn't God want us to be happy?

On the other hand, there are some Christians who say that you can never divorce no matter what. It is always wrong, and if you divorce you can never remarry, and if you do you are living in adultery. So, what is right? What is allowed? Does God want us to live happily ever after? Or are we condemned to a life sentence of misery if we married the wrong person?

The good news is that God does care a great deal about our happiness, but Jesus teaches that the key to our happiness is not finding "Mr. or Mrs. Right", rather the problem is our own hard heart that is seeking happiness apart from God and His design and plan for our life. It is the great deception of Satan from the very beginning of creation, that the key to happiness depends on something beyond us, beyond our current situation or circumstances. Adam and Eve had access to all the trees of the garden but one - and Satan convinced them that they could never be happy until they ate from that one - that was the one that would really make them happy! So it has been ever since. I am single, but I can't be happy unless I get married.

Big Idea - Is divorce an option for a Christian? Was it "legal" to end your marriage so you could marry someone better? That was the question the Pharisees had for Jesus, not because they weren't certain of the answer, but because they wanted to test Jesus. Divorce had become very widely accepted in Jesus' day even among the Pharisees who were the most serious about keeping all the commands with extreme diligence. They had come to have an expectation that their wife had to live up to their expectations in every way, and if they didn't you could get rid of them and find a better model. In our age, the attitude about divorce is much the same, in the world anyway. The fairy tales have taught us that when you meet the right person and fall in love you will live happily ever after. So if you are not happy, you must have married the wrong person. The solution, then, is to bail out of that relationship and find that right person who will make you happy. After all, doesn't God want us to be happy?

On the other hand, there are some Christians who say that you can never divorce no matter what. It is always wrong, and if you divorce you can never remarry, and if you do you are living in adultery. So, what is right? What is allowed? Does God want us to live happily ever after? Or are we condemned to a life sentence of misery if we married the wrong person?

The good news is that God does care a great deal about our happiness, but Jesus teaches that the key to our happiness is not finding "Mr. or Mrs. Right", rather the problem is our own hard heart that is seeking happiness apart from God and His design and plan for our life. It is the great deception of Satan from the very beginning of creation, that the key to happiness depends on something beyond us, beyond our current situation or circumstances. Adam and Eve had access to all the trees of the garden but one - and Satan convinced them that they could never be happy until they ate from that one - that was the one that would really make them happy! So it has been ever since. I am single, but I can't be happy unless I get married.

Big Idea - Is it ever ok to get a divorce? Do I have to remain in a marriage where I am miserable, or being abused? Why am I so unhappy in my marriage? What should I do if my spouse won't change? What should I do if my spouse is always wanting to change me? Why is marriage so hard? Maybe it is better to just stay single, or just live together with someone. What is marriage anyway? If I am divorced is it ok to remarry? If I am divorced and remarried am I living in adultery? These are only some of the questions that this passage raises. But, maybe we can summarize all these questions by asking, what do I need to do if I want to achieve God's purpose for marriage my life? What is the secret to fulfilling God's plan for marriage in my life?

Jesus answers the questions with one simple answer - the problem is not marriage, divorce, or being single, the problem is our hard and rebellious heart. If we are to fulfill God's purpose for our life in regards to marriage, we must have a new heart, which is made possible by the saving work of Jesus who gives us a new kind of heart. But, we must be diligent to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh, for that is the root of the problem. Those who learn to walk by the Spirit will fulfill God's purpose for their life, whether it be in marriage or in singleness.

Big Idea - These days people do not seem to be very excited about their leaders, and for good reasons. Whether it is world leaders governing nations, those leading companies, or ministry organizations, or even leaders in the Church, it seems that no one is very happy with the way they are being led! And our grumbling against leaders is not without cause. They often make poor decisions, are power-hungry, do not seem to care for those they lead, and in the end create division and even chaos. It is no wonder, therefore, that people are constantly crying out for new and better leaders. But, are there better leaders out there? Will we ever find a leader who can really do the job well? The good news is that such a leader has already come! And Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the only One who can truly lead the world well. In Isaiah 9:1-7 we learn that Jesus was born to rule the world, for all eternity. How is Jesus the perfect ruler? Is His rule only over the Church or did He really come to rule the whole world?

Jesus is the perfect and ideal ruler because He rules with supernatural wisdom, divine power and authority, fatherly benevolence, bringing everyone together in peace. The result of His rule is joy and the defeat of every enemy. The birth of Jesus is like the rising of the sun after a long dark night, but that is just the beginning, the dawning of His kingdom. But, we also look forward to the day when He will return to fully inaugurate His rule over all the earth. The question we must answer here and now, is this, “is Jesus really ruling over my life?” What does it look like for Jesus to be King over me?

Big Idea - These days people do not seem to be very excited about their leaders, and for good reasons. Whether it is world leaders governing nations, those leading companies, or ministry organizations, or even leaders in the Church, it seems that no one is very happy with the way they are being led! And our grumbling against leaders is not without cause. They often make poor decisions, are power-hungry, do not seem to care for those they lead, and in the end create division and even chaos. It is no wonder, therefore, that people are constantly crying out for new and better leaders. But, are there better leaders out there? Will we ever find a leader who can really do the job well? The good news is that such a leader has already come! And Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the only One who can truly lead the world well. In Isaiah 9:1-7 we learn that Jesus was born to rule the world, for all eternity. How is Jesus the perfect ruler? Is His rule only over the Church or did He really come to rule the whole world?

Jesus is the perfect and ideal ruler because He rules with supernatural wisdom, divine power and authority, fatherly benevolence, bringing everyone together in peace. The result of His rule is joy and the defeat of every enemy. The birth of Jesus is like the rising of the sun after a long dark night, but that is just the beginning, the dawning of His kingdom. But, we also look forward to the day when He will return to fully inaugurate His rule over all the earth. The question we must answer here and now, is this, “is Jesus really ruling over my life?” What does it look like for Jesus to be King over me?

Big Idea - The story of Christmas is easily the most familiar in all the Bible. And Luke 2:1-7 even more so. But, we can confuse familiarity for understanding. What is the message of Luke 2:1-7? Do we really know what the point of the story is? It records Jesus’ birth, but is Jesus even the main character in this story? Who is the story really about? More importantly, what does this story tell us? What is the real point Luke is making here?

The story is about Jesus, but only indirectly. The main characters in the story are Joseph and Mary - it is really about them! Jesus isn’t even named. He is referred to only as the baby and Mary’s firstborn child. But, the story is about 1) God who is Sovereign even over the most powerful world leader, who in the end do God’s bidding, 2) Jesus meets the qualifications for Messiah - of the line of David, but the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth demonstrate that Jesus came as a slave, waving the rights and pomp of His position, and 3) even though the fulness of the incarnation meant Jesus was of the lowest status, He is still Lord and Master over all who would follow Him. He will dictate and govern those who follow Him, and that often means a path that is difficult and challenging.