On Christmas Eve, Pastor Nolan led us through Titus 2:11-14 where we see how the arrival of Jesus is the arrival of Salvation, where we’re sanctified by grace, sustained by hope, and redeemed for the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joy is not simply momentary gladness. It’s not some fleeting feeling or emotional response. It is happiness that is deeply rooted in the promises of God. As Pastor Nolan preaches through Luke chapter 2, we’ll see how Jesus is the arrival of unspeakable joy, which encourages believers and followers of Jesus to embrace and share this joy with the world around them. In a deeply broken world - people suffering from depression, anxiety, and a number of other disorders - we need unspeakable joy, supernatural joy, Christian joy, which we find only in Christ Jesus.

In week 3 of our series, "The Arrival," Pastor Nolan preaches through 1 John 4:7-10, and we're looking at how the arrival of Jesus ushers in the arrival of love. Jesus is the arrival of a steadfast love that gives hope as an anchor through the storms (Hebrews 6:19), it’s love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), and unconditional love amidst all kinds of brokenness (John 15:13, 1 Corinthians 13:7). You could say, "the arrival of Jesus is the exclamation point of God’s love for humanity."

This week we welcome Pastor Austin Segar, church planter and pastor of Greater Glory Church, being planted in Macomb County in the greater Detroit area. In week 2 of our series, The Arrival, Pastor Austin leads us through Isaiah 9:6-7 where we see that in a world marred by chaos, the arrival of Jesus marks the arrival of the only true and eternal peace.

The arrival of hope is found in the arrival of Jesus, who is the promised Messiah. The theme of Hope centers on the anticipation of Christ’s coming, both His birth and His promised return, offering salvation and restoration for all who call on the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Everybody’s looking for a little hope; find hope in God. To learn more about Crossroads, please visit www.crossroadsa2.org.

When we’re redeemed, we begin to view our work and rest as an act of faithful worship that brings honor and glory to God. Pastor Nolan will lead us through Genesis 1 and Matthew 25, and we'll see how we honor God when we work hard and faithfully as a means of serving others over ourselves. We'll also see when we rest, we demonstrate our trust of God knowing He is our provider.

The more deeply connected our identity is in Christ, the more we live and relate to other people in God-honoring ways. In this message, we look at Colossians 3, where the apostle Paul anchors us in the reality of our identity in Christ when we’re redeemed by Christ.

Through Jesus, we are called to a higher standard of living that positions our relationships as reflective of His love and grace toward us. This is why having our identity in Christ deeply rooted within us is so important because it is Christ who gives us the peace and humility to live in such a way that points others to Christ, it is Christ who reconciles us to God, and it is the Spirit of Christ who empowers us to reconcile with others.

Pastor Doug continues in our series, Worship Redeemed, and he helps us to understand when we’re redeemed, it is our joy to worship God together. Worship is a whole-life response to the Gospel, which includes singing and prayer.

As we look at Matthew 6, we’ll see that Jesus is teaching about the difference between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures, and he wants his disciples to see that true wealth is found in our relationship with God rather than material possessions. In other words, Jesus is our treasure, and if we have him we truly have it all. In this message we'll see redeemed generosity links us to the heart of the Father and the Vision for His Kingdom.

We are all worshippers at heart; yet, when we are redeemed by our faith and trust in Jesus, our worship is also redeemed. Who, what, and how we worship shifts from self-centered idolatry to Christ-centered exaltation. As Christians, we’re compelled by the grace and glory of God to live all of life as an offering of worship of the one true God (Romans 12:1-2). Ultimately, Christ is the perfect living sacrifice, whose life and death transform us from the inside out. When we surrender our life to Him, we receive the grace and power to live sacrificially and to use our gifts for the glory of Jesus and good of His world. This is different living.