The Gospel of Mark is our landing place today as we explore the foundations of the Christmas story in each of the Gospels. But while the manger is not exactly lush, we’re heading even further afield to find inspiration… in the wilderness.

Mark 1:1-8

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Ever thought about where you would fit into the Christmas story? Maybe a shepherd, perhaps the inn keeper? What if we expanded the typical Christmas narrative to include a much wider range of characters? We’ll do that as we explore a “Down to Earth Christmas.”

Matthew 1:1-17

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If we get used to the story of Christmas, we can miss how extraordinary the whole story really is. Our hope for this message is that we can get a new sense of how amazing Christmas really is and bring some life into our celebration.

Luke 1:26-38

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What does it mean to “wait on the Lord”? And how does the need for comfort, a serious need for comfort, coexist with an admonition to “wait on the Lord? The greater the need for comfort, the greater the urgency, right? Isaiah addresses this for us.

Isaiah 40:12-31

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If a friend describes to you something that you’ve never seen, there is a risk that the mental image created won’t match the actual object. Isaiah helps us pursue comfort by challenging us to check the image of the almighty God that we hold. Is it even heading in the right direction? Or is it tragically too small?

Isaiah 40:12-31

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It’s so easy to draw a line between power on one side, and tenderness on the other. So how do we reconcile both of those qualities in perfect presentation, combined into one? Isaiah presents the comfort found in digging deep into the sovereignty of God.

Isaiah 40:9-11

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There is great value in community, being with people who understand and care. But is that the primary source of comfort? Does God work primarily through others? How does that work for the lonely or isolated? We continue our pursuit of Comfort from the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:6-8

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Comfort is coming, but is there a call for us to prepare for that provision? Is comfort a something we wait for, or pursue? Are we to ignore our circumstances, or is there a different mindset to adopt during hard times? We’ll look at this question today.

Isaiah 40:3-5

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Perhaps you're feeling that God has lost sight of you. Perhaps you're frustrated that others who you know aren't following Christ seem to have an easier time than you. God has a word of comfort for you. We need to live in the light of the future hope of the Messiah's return.

Zechariah 1:7-17

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When a word appears twice consecutively in the Bible, it’s meant to emphasize that word. In the Old Testament, God’s people have just been told they’re going into exile. And yet, the prophet Isaiah says “It’s going to be okay.” The Word of God raises us above our circumstances, both then and now. Comfort, comfort.

Isaiah 40:1-2

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