Surely there is no better way to prepare out hearts for Christmas than to see our desperate need for this Messiah, long-promised in Scripture.

What you continue to think about Jesus says a lot about what you think of His Kingdom, and how highly you value it.

Jesus spoke in parables to sift out peoples' hearts, and so the encouragement also comes with a warning. And the consequences of not heeding this warning are eternally catastrophic.

They're a lot more than clever, familiar stories. What matters most - what matters eternally - is how we listen and respond to them!

Genuine disciples are the ones who humbly repent and do the will of their heavenly Father. It's the difference between outsiders and insiders!

There is definitely a healthy warning for us here, to never cheapen or despise God's grace. But if we're trusting in Christ then we need not fear this might be us. A better response is to have wonder and praise for God's free and precious grace - grace that redeems even the worst of sinners. Even us!

This is a lesson the Pharisees struggled to learn, and one we must understand too if we are to see how the law of God and the grace of God go hand in hand.

Jesus doesn't offer us an easy life, or freedom from struggle. But when we surrender mastery of our lives to Him, we find rest beyond what we could have imagined - rest for our souls!

But we need not doubt. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus prove that He is the promised Saviour. If we keep our faith in Him, we will not be disappointed.

The Holy Spirit works Gospel truth into our lives and helps us to live out of the new identity we have IN Christ. This Sunday, Pastor Sly will share some of the Scriptures that Gos has used to be working this out in His life as he has followed Jesus.