Kristen Lunceford-

God pursued us in love, reconciling us to Himself through Christ. Now, as His ambassadors, we're called to pursue others with the same intentionality and grace, even and especially in the midst of conflict. Through this classic movie about a family finding their way back to each other, we’ll see how the gift of reconciliation has the power to transform our relationships with God and one another.

If the Christmas season is challenging for you this year because of tension in your relationships, you aren’t going to want to miss this message.

Pastor DJ Uithoven-

In the midst of our darkness and hopelessness, God needs to enter the world He created to bring back His light, hope and rescue. He could have chosen any form, any experience in human existence. We know now that He chose to be vulnerable, to arrive as the least for very good reason. This theme, though, will not be left behind at Jesus' birth. So much Christianity will reflect strength in check just like another hero from cinema history - John McClane. How does the bloody and battered savior of Nakatomi Plaza emulate Jesus? Yippee-ki-yay and Merry Christmas!

Philippians 4:12,

Christmas in the 21st Century promises contentment but rarely delivers. The

temptation to seek contentment in all of the “trimmings” of Christmas is so strong that we often leave the month of December broke and anxious. The Kranks realized this same issue and decided to skip Christmas altogether. But, they too, realize even that will never truly lead them to contentment. Like Luther and Nora discover, true contentment at Christmas requires a refocus on how to view the Christmas season and it’s purpose in our lives.

Romans 4:9-17

Themes: Salvation | Promises of God | Faith

What is needed for a person to be saved? Is there a recipe to ensure it happens? Paul breaks down assumptions made about being saved and pins it down to one thing: faith. No ritual or religious ceremony has the power to save us, only the Holy Spirit’s work in our heart, leading us to faith in Jesus Christ. As a result, we don’t just believe IN God, we BELIEVE God.

Romans 4:1-8

Themes: Faith Alone | Imputed Righteousness | Forgiveness

Is being a good person the end goal of faith? Is it even attainable? As Paul launches into chapter 4, he addresses how a person is actually considered “good” before God. It is surprisingly not how most might imagine it. Goodness is not achieved, it’s received. On our own, we could never become good enough to match God’s standard of perfection. But, through Christ, we graciously receive the goodness He has to offer.

Pastor DJ Uithoven

Romans 3:21-31

Themes: Forgiveness | Sacrifice | Cross | Faith

Since religious practices and upholding the Law are unable to remedy our sin-problem and make us right with our Creator, God does what we can’t do for ourselves. Only through Jesus are we made right before God. Through His perfect obedience of God’s Law and His sacrifice on the cross are we able to experience freedom and forgiveness from our sin. Through faith in Him, and Him alone, we find salvation.

Romans 3:1-20

Themes: Humility | Grace | Forgiveness

In light of our sinful state, God uses the Law to show us how sinful we have become. When we measure our lives against what God has asked of us, it becomes clear that none of us is righteous. Which means we will need something outside of ourselves to reunite us with God. We will need something (or someone) to save us.

Romans 2:17-29

Themes: God, the Father | Relationship | Life Change

Some will try to achieve salvation through religion (the following of the Law). But, as Paul has personally discovered, chasing salvation through religion is an empty pursuit. Not only are we unable to follow the Law perfectly, but God doesn’t expect us to. Instead, His desire is for us to experience a changed life through an intimate, dynamic relationship with Him.

Romans 2:5-16

Themes: Salvation | God’s Holiness | Heaven/Hell

While God remains patient and kind to us, there is a day of judgment coming. When that day comes all people will be judged according to what they have done with their lives—including what’s occurred in secret. Those who have surrendered their life to Jesus will be given eternal life. Those who haven’t will experience eternal separation.

As Paul concludes Romans 1, he addresses the various ways our sinful desires have disordered our lives and the world we live in, including our own self-righteousness. In the end, we are all in the same boat and are called to the only response that can lead to freedom and new life.