If man made rules are your standard of behavior for measuring faith and religion, you are walking in legalism. If on the other hand, you obey God’s law from the heart and desire to keep his commands, you are obedient. Today, Pastor Tom will explain the importance of the law which regulates life and behavior, and you will learn how Jesus’ commands summarize the entirety of God’s law. The moral obligation to one another and to God is summed up in Jesus’ command to love God and love your neighbor.

It’s easy to say you love others. It’s easy not to hurt or harm others. As Pastor Tom teaches today, this is not how God desires you to show true agape love others. What do you do in the body to actually help others? Do you serve those who can give you nothing? Are you willing to actively seek ways to tangibly demonstrate the love of Christ to the needy? As a believer, you are called to a higher standard than to do no harm. God’s standard is a sacrificial and expansive expression of love. It’s easy to say you love others. It’s easy not to hurt or harm others. As Pastor Tom teaches today, this is not how God desires you to show true agape love others. What do you do in the body to actually help others? Do you serve those who can give you nothing? Are you willing to actively seek ways to tangibly demonstrate the love of Christ to the needy? As a believer, you are called to a higher standard than to do no harm. God’s standard is a sacrificial and expansive expression of love.

Imagine you could see the initial front of an army, and so you realize what you’re in for. But unexpectedly there’s another army behind that front line that you didn’t see before. Today, Pastor Tom invites you to explore the well known Christmas story in order to have a greater appreciation for the angels who announce what’s coming. If you could see all that’s happening supernaturally behind the scenes, you’d be in awe. So as you listen, think about the armies of angels in Heaven.

You might picture a sweet, sleepy, and chubby cherub when someone mentions the word angel, but what if you were to change what you visualize into something more fearsome, something to be more in awe of, but almost afraid of? In today’s teaching, Pastor Tom gives a much more realistic idea of what true angels look like. They are God’s chosen messengers, and they interact with people more than you might realize. Do you ever wonder if you’ve encountered angels yourself?

When the rich take advantage of others, malign the faith of believers, continually seek personal gain at any cost and blaspheme the name of Christ, why do believers continue to seek to be like them? Riches may make for temporary comfort and fun, but wealth will not last, and power will disappear. Today, Pastor Tom will challenge you to examine how much you admire and envy the rich and powerful. No matter what you hope they’ll give you, it will never compare to the eternal blessings God has for you.

The lives of the rich seem appealing, exciting, pleasurable, and indulgent. In fact, it is often so appealing that the poor will overlook the character and behavior of the rich, and the emptiness of that life just to seek after it. However, as Pastor Tom will remind you today, that life of glitter and thrills is truly insecure and hollow. God does not acknowledge or honor the rich. He in fact favors the poor, choosing them to be rich in faith, and receive all the benefits of an eternal inheritance.

Do you strive unceasingly for more and more treasure, prestige, and importance? Do you long to increase your financial security at the cost of your faith? This is folly in the eyes of God. By doing this you miss out on the incredible abundant inheritance of the kingdom of God promised through Jesus. Today, Pastor Tom will teach how much better it is to be rich in faith in Christ than rich in money. Instead of focusing on storing treasures here on earth, store your treasure: time, money, love, on the things of the kingdom of God.

If you were to choose a team to win, you’d choose the strong, smart, and powerful people. It’s an easy choice. According to the world’s values, those are the people who will bring success and victory. However, as Pastor Tom points out today, these are not the kind of people Jesus chose, and not who he continues to pick today. He values those who don’t fit with what the world desires, because he wants the honor and glory of their success. If he valued the rich and powerful, they’d boast in themselves for the victory.

Today’s message with Pastor Tom will make you think. Those who pass judgement here on earth will have to give an account to God himself one day. When you are in a situation to judge, are you looking to the Lord for guidance? Pastor Tom will encourage you today to allow all determination of right and wrong in your own life come from Christ. Don’t look to society for answers. You will only find confusion and inequity. Allow Jesus to work in you and through you in all situations.

Praise the Lord that He judges us fairly. He’s completely impartial. He upholds the law as it’s meant to be, and His punishment is equal to the crime. This is not something we see in society today, though it is how God has asked us to pass judgement when needed. Pastor Tom today will remind you of one incredible truth, though. We who are sinful can have our guilt placed on another - God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, has already taken the punishment you deserve. Are you willing to let him stand in for you?