What is the best Christmas you ever received? Was it a car? A favorite toy when you were a child? Was it the gift of your family being together? As we continue our study in Ephesians, we find why Jesus is the all-time best Christmas gift.

The trees, lights, shopping and festivities of the holiday season make it hard to remember the reason we celebrate, the baby in the manger. As we prepare to remember the birth of our savior, we are looking at selected passages in the book of Ephesians to reminded us how blessed we are through God the Father's gift of His Son.

One of the popular bumper stickers today says, "Coexist." The purpose of the bumper sticker is to encourage all religions to just work together because they are just different ways of worshiping the same God. Is that true? According to Jesus, the good news Jesus proclaimed can not coexist but it insists on being the exclusive way to be forgiven of our sin and know God.

When was the last time you shook your head in disgust as the newscaster read the profile of a criminal on the evening news? When we hear those stories, we look forward to people getting what they deserve. What we forget is that Jesus loves sinners, even the most heinous ones. As we continue our way through the Gospel of Mark, we find Jesus choosing a heinous tax collector that repented of his sins to be part of his inner circle.

What is the most important thing the Christian faith offers the world? Some think it is morality because Christians desire to live ethical lives. Some think the most important thing Christianity brought to the world is love because Christians love one another and even love their enemies. Some think the most important thing Christians offer the world is social care. It is true that Christians are behind the formation of hospital, orphanages, and care for the poor. One thing Christianity offers that is more important than any of these is forgiveness for our sin against God. Jesus offers it completely, fully and freely by the authority of his word. Join us as we learn how Jesus offers forgiveness to you.

Leprosy was one of the most feared diseases in the ancient world. The bodily disfiguration and social loss was devastating. As Jesus continues his miraculous healings, we find Jesus not only heals a leper but he takes one the isolation and shame he experienced. This is an amazing reminder what Jesus does in love for us. He forgives our sin and he takes on the isolation and shame that is ours because of sin.

Does God still heal? Some television preachers claim the ability to heal supernaturally with just a touch. Should we believe them? Do they have the ability to heal like Jesus? As we continue our study in the book of Mark we look at Jesus' healing ability and how it differs from gifts of healing today.

When Jesus began his ministry he taught in the synagogue at Capernaum. Unexpectedly a demon possessed man burst out screaming in fear. Join us as we learn what this passage teaches us about under cover demon possession and influence as well as Jesus' authority.

When it comes to following Jesus, since it is by faith, it is the easiest thing to do. As we see Jesus calling his disciples, we also find that following Jesus is the hardest thing to do in your life because it means placing Jesus first.

When was the last time your life fell apart? As we continue our study in Mark's gospel, we learn why God occasionally directs his people into tough times and the good he plans to do in us through them.