We are looking at the Cast of Christmas - the prophets, angels, shepherds, and the magi - who for centuries in Israel announced their message of hope and expectation, sometimes during very difficult and discouraging circumstances. Their message of the hope of a coming Savior is perfectly captured in the ancient carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

Spiritual practices are disciplines, or exercises, which help us become more like Christ. But to what end, for what purpose?

Why do we do what we do during corporate worship? Today we will look at Communal Practices which are disciplines we participate in together with others in a community of faith.

The goal of the Christian life is transformation, to be conformed to the image of Christ. This is God's work in our lives, but there are some things we can do to cooperate with the process. Spiritual disciplines, or practices, are like training devices to help us grow into the image of Jesus Christ.1

Timothy 4:7-8

Part of God's character as revealed in Jesus is that He transforms, makes all things new. When we come into a relationship with God through Jesus, we will be changed.

2 Corinthians 3:18

The story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness suggests a puzzle that many people still struggle with: Jesus doesn't act like what we thought the Son of God should. The question is, "Why?"

Luke 4:1-13

We are looking at attributes of God as revealed by Jesus. What is God like. We know by looking at Jesus. Today we focus on the holiness of God.

If we come to know God as Jesus knows God, we will fall madly, completely in love with him. And that relationship will change us completely, from the inside out. Today, we look at the generosity of God.

John 14:1-10

The Bible is the story God is telling - a story big enough to live in. But God is not just the author; He is also the lead character. And it's essentially a love story between God's heart and ours.

Book of Hosea

What is God like? This is a very important question because our perception of God will shape everything about us. In this series, the basic premise is that God is better than we believe.

Romans 8:31-39