It's the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. Where are you in your walk with Jesus? If you are like most of us 2017 ends with a fair share of unmet goals and an ongoing struggle with sin in our lives. Take heart! There is great encouragement to be had from God's promises to us.

Jesus didn't come because we invited Him. He came because we needed Him. The Creator of the universe came to save His creation.

When a politician wants your vote they will visit your community and visit a few local businesses to try to convince you that they are just like you -- just common people, then they leave. When Jesus came to Earth he came among the common people as well. And he lived his whole life among common people. His birth was announced to the most common, the most lowly of people -- the shepherds.

The cast of characters surrounding the birth of Jesus are few. But among those few people, Joseph stands above most of them. When we realize there is no record of anything Joseph ever said, one could ask why we remember his role in the Nativity story. It all comes down to his actions -- to his unflinching obedience to God.

Luke 1 records the conversation between the angel and Mary as he tells her God has chosen her to give birth to Jesus. That was a serious interruption of the plans Mary had for her life. Has God ever interrupted your life with an unexpected event or circumstance? This short passage has a lot to teach us about how to respond when God interrupts our life.

The very heart of our faith is forgiveness. Each of us were forgiven and we are supposed to forgive others in the same way. In today's sermon, Pastor Tim challenges us to not only forgive but to bless those who have hurt and offended us.

People are never excited about going somewhere or doing something when they are largely unaware of what to expect. Worse yet is when the little information they may have is wrong. That is the way it is with many of us in regards to Heaven. New Testament writers continually point us to look to the next life, to Heaven, for comfort, hope and endurance. Because of that, as followers of Christ, we need to be sure of what we know about Heaven and be excited about it!

"The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." This command from Paul to his beloved disciple Timothy extends to you and i as well. God's plan for making disciples is so simple and straightforward -- men and women walking through life together in faith.

As part of our service on November 12th, Mark Smith shared the story of how he came to Christ as a teenager, then years later walked away from his family, his relationship with God. Now after more than 25 years in a destructive lifestyle, God is rebuilding his life!

This week we paused our current series to consider how we are doing as a church. But to do that we have to determine what is the measuring device or standard we should use to know that. We believe a transformed life is that standard. Are people's lives being changed? A part of today's service includes stories from several of our people whose lives are being changed by Christ.