The baptism of Jesus is a beautiful illustration of the Trinity in action declaring the divinity of Christ. Because of this and the work He does in His life, death, and resurrection, our heavenly Father now says over all of us that we are His children, whom He loves, and with whom He is well pleased.

As we close the Christmas season, we get a rare look into the childhood of Christ. As He goes to the Temple, Jesus showcases that He is fully submissive to the will of His Heavenly Father.

So often we are told we need to live a ‘balanced’ life. In the story of Simeon blessing Jesus, we find out that Jesus is not into giving us “balance”, but Jesus gives us His power to live in the “extremes” of His way, truth and life. 

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve

With Christmas being so close, can you almost see it? Can you see the gifts around the tree, the kids laughing and playing with new toys, and family members gathered together? Our sermon this week walks with Joshua who was looking out on the Promised Land while God promises to be with him on this upcoming journey. As we march towards Christmas, we're invited to look ahead at the gift of Jesus who is our promise from God who changes our Now and Not Yet and invites us to look at our own Promised Land of Heaven.

The great Christmas carol proclaims this as the “most wonderful time of the year,” and for many, it certainly is. However, there are others who find this time of year challenging. It could be the loss of a loved one, memories of a time long past, or simply loneliness that feels different during this season. We have a God who is well-acquainted with suffering and sorrow. After all, He begins His conversation with Moses by saying, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries.” How comforting it is to know that we have a God who sees and a God who hears. May He bring you comfort and rescue this Advent season. 

When we think of Christ as God descending to us in our needs and ascending to lead us to the Father, we experience advents not only on Sunday but also during the week.

Ever feel like you’ve hit a brick wall in life or in a relationship? Abraham and Sarah faced the brick wall of being too old for children…although God had promised them children many times. But as God reminded Abraham and Sarah: “is anything too wonderful for the Lord to accomplish!”

What does it mean to be successful in life? We could come up with a variety of definitions, but Jesus describes success in a way that doesn’t come natural to us. He tells us that success isn’t about us, but about glorifying God.