Jesus Christ has been called many things by many people, including a great man, a great teacher, and a great prophet. There are few scholars today that deny that Jesus is a historic person who walked on this earth about 2,000 years ago, that he did remarkable wonders and acts, and that he died a horrible death on a Roman cross. The debate is whether Jesus was God incarnate who rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion having paid the penalty for our sin. Today we will look at four names or titles of Jesus:

1. Son of David: points to Jesus' humanity and his role as the Jewish king and Messiah

2. The Christ: is Jesus' title rather than name; it means "anointed one" refers to His role as the long awaited Messiah.

3. Jesus: means "Yahweh saves" and indicates his role as Savior (...for he will save his people from their sins. Matt. 1:21)

4. Immanuel: means "God with us" and refers to his deity.

God visited the earth in order to redeem his people from their sins. II Corinthians 5:21 says,"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

It all started with the birth through a virgin (Mary) which was foretold centuries earlier. Everything about Jesus' incarnation was supernatural! God's great love for us is expressed through his sending his Son to die for us. How will we respond to His Crazy Love? Will our lives be changed when we understand what God has done for us through Christ's birth, death and resurrection?

Jesus Christ has been called many things by many people, including a great man, a great teacher, and a great prophet. There are few scholars today that deny that Jesus is a historic person who walked on this earth about 2,000 years ago, that he did remarkable wonders and acts, and that he died a horrible death on a Roman cross. The debate is whether Jesus was God incarnate who rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion having paid the penalty for our sin. Today we will look at four names or titles of Jesus:

1. Son of David: points to Jesus' humanity and his role as the Jewish king and Messiah

2. The Christ: is Jesus' title rather than name; it means "anointed one" refers to His role as the long awaited Messiah.

3. Jesus: means "Yahweh saves" and indicates his role as Savior (...for he will save his people from their sins. Matt. 1:21)

4. Immanuel: means "God with us" and refers to his deity.

God visited the earth in order to redeem his people from their sins. II Corinthians 5:21 says,"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

It all started with the birth through a virgin (Mary) which was foretold centuries earlier. Everything about Jesus' incarnation was supernatural! God's great love for us is expressed through his sending his Son to die for us. How will we respond to His Crazy Love? Will our lives be changed when we understand what God has done for us through Christ's birth, death and resurrection?

Ezra 10, in a dramatic way, teaches us that when we find ourselves in the pit of compromise and sin, the only proper response is radical repentance.

Ezra 10, in a dramatic way, teaches us that when we find ourselves in the pit of compromise and sin, the only proper response is radical repentance.

When the love for and the fear of God diminishes from God's people, spiritual compromise begins to trickle into our lives.

When the love for and the fear of God diminishes from God's people, spiritual compromise begins to trickle into our lives.

As Ezra and the people of God journeyed to Jerusalem they were guided and protected by the goodness of God in seemingly ordinary ways. In the same way, we find strength for our journey in that God bestows his goodness to us in the mundane and miraculous.

As Ezra and the people of God journeyed to Jerusalem they were guided and protected by the goodness of God in seemingly ordinary ways. In the same way, we find strength for our journey in that God bestows his goodness to us in the mundane and miraculous.

Summary: Chapter 7 introduces us to the person and mission of Ezra. His mission was twofold:

1.) He was to take back to Jerusalem valuable supplies for the temple as well as lead a new group of exiles returning.

2.) Once there he was to implement the adoption of the Torah to regulate the life of the Jewish community.

Ezra was a gifted man whose lineage is traced back to Aaron. He was a scholar who was empowered to govern and teach. Ezra's commitment to the Word of God was a key to his leadership:

* He knew the Scriptures -- he studied the Word of God.

* He lived it -- he applied the Word of God.

* He reproduced it-- he taught the Word of God

Summary: Chapter 7 introduces us to the person and mission of Ezra. His mission was twofold:

1.) He was to take back to Jerusalem valuable supplies for the temple as well as lead a new group of exiles returning.

2.) Once there he was to implement the adoption of the Torah to regulate the life of the Jewish community.

Ezra was a gifted man whose lineage is traced back to Aaron. He was a scholar who was empowered to govern and teach. Ezra's commitment to the Word of God was a key to his leadership:

* He knew the Scriptures -- he studied the Word of God.

* He lived it -- he applied the Word of God.

* He reproduced it-- he taught the Word of God