"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

Good news means your life is better.

The message of Jesus being born into our world and the message of Christmas is good news for all people.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

John 3:16

The Good News of Christmas is that believing is receiving.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Is this good news your good news?

Unmet expectations often lead to problematic solutions.

Things didn't happen the way John the Baptist expected them to happen.

"Should we expect someone else?"

Isaiah 35:5

In the face of unmet expectations, Jesus points to who He is and what He's done.

Our expectations can lead to a misplaced hope.

When we lose hope.

When we put our hope in ourselves.

God doesn't change, but sometimes our expectations need to.

Galatians 4:4-7

Unmet expectations are met with expectations that God will never fail to meet.

As we approach Christmas:

• Let us be like the angels - God's messengers of His Words and His Truth.

• Let's be like the shepherds - seeing Jesus as the Savior of the world, spreading the word about Him, glorifying and praising God for Him.

• Let's admit that we don't measure up to His amazing glory - moved to worship the One who took all our sins' punishment!

Gloria in Excesses Deo!

Romans 10:14-15

You are here because of the work of a missionary.

The most important opportunities for evangelism will not be created by our staff, it will be created by you.

You're a good missionary because you need Jesus.

John 14:27

Who will you share freedom with?

The greatest threat to Christ being taken out of Christmas is when we believe it's up to somebody else to keep Christ in Christmas.

"The whole root and origin of our salvation lies in God who sends."

Matthew 10:5-7,14

It's okay to shake dust.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, not because of what is happening around us, but because of what happened.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year because at Christmas, we are reminded who is for us.

"These are written that you may believe, Jesus is the Christ, and by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31

John begins his Gospel with the significance of the birth of Jesus.

"In Him, Jesus, was life, and that life was the light of man."

John 1:4-5

Jesus came for everyone.

John heard the resurrected Jesus tell the disciples, "The reason you are here, is because I want you to go."

"The light shines in the darkness, but darkness has not understood (overcome) it."

John 1:5

Live your lives rooted and built up in Jesus.

John 15:5-7

Matthew 16:18

Live your lives, strengthened in the faith you were taught.

Gratitude is directly connected to your identity.

Romans 8:38-39

Live your lives overflowing with thankfulness.

Gratitude is something that you can't keep to yourself.

Thankfulness defends us against believing we are the hero of our own stories.

Colossians 2:12-15

We trust in God by faith

What do we do with uncertainty and discouragement?

What or Who is certain in life? God, and God alone!

God has given us His written Word and His promises.

Promise 1: 1 Peter 3:10

Promise 2: 2 Peter 3:13 / Isaiah 65:17-18

Promise 3: Isaiah 66:22

Promise 4: Hebrews 6:13-19

In uncertain times, it is great to know that God is unchanging and 100% honest.

Sometimes we question, "why even pray? can we change God's mind with our prayers? could God be unchanging and be open to answering our prayers?"

The Bible suggests that God does, at times, change His mind in response to the passionate and persistent please of the people He loves.

Genesis 18, Exodus 32:7-10, Joel 2, Isaiah 38, 2 Kings 20:5-6, James 5:16-18

God is both constant and at the same time flexible.

In God We Trust!

Politics and religion are the two topics that divide.

An important foundation for our conversation: voting for (fill in the blank) is not a sin or an endorsement.

The problems in this country and this world don't need solutions of the right or the left, they need the Church to rise up.

The life of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39, 41, 45)

"The Lord was with Joseph..."

Joseph does what anyone would do if they remembered that God always does what He promises to do.

Joseph has faith regardless of circumstances and faithfulness regardless of consequences.

God's love for you doesn't change.

Faithfulness isn't about a political party, it's about faithfully honoring God and loving your neighbor.

In times of uncertainty, God has the ability to get our undivided attention.

What are we supposed to do while we wait?

God's concern and His love for you goes way beyond simply Heaven for you someday.

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice!"

When we sing we are rejoicing about what God has done in our lives.

v.6 "But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Uncertainty has a way of surfacing both our insecurities and also our values.

v.7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."