Despite the spiritual virus of sin that entered the world, God didn’t give up on humankind. His attention in the upper story was focused on a plan of restoration. He desired a people, a nation, to reflect His goodness and plan to redeem the world. He chose one man, Abraham, a man of faith, to be the patriarch of that special nation.

The Bible is the story of God’s great love for us, and the extent He goes to have us draw near to Him.

From the beginning of creation the heart of God has been for a people who would desire to know Him in response to His great desire for them. God has reached out in love to us, and He longs for us to put aside the distractions of the world and draw near to Him.

“Fear not.” These were the first words the angels spoke when they announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. This message from heaven is as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago. It is possible to live without fear by putting our faith in Christ the Lord, our Savior.

Pastor Dave Koop shares a special Christmas Eve message on the Light of the world.

Pastor Dave Koop shares a message on having Hope.

God wrapped the greatest present in such a way that all could receive it.

In the Christmas story we find some of the main players were wrapped up in certain issues. They totally missed what God was doing. Today, we too can miss what God is doing when we get “wrapped up”.

So what do we get wrapped up in?

John concludes this epistle by reminding the church that as children of God they have victory in the tough time we experience in this world.

1 John 4:4 NKJV
You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

In 1 John chapter 3 John continues his “family talk” with the church and makes the point that children of good parents naturally want to emulate their parents. He makes it clear that our Christian faith should make itself obvious in very practical ways in how we live and treat others.