Instead of beginning his Gospel with the genealogy or birth narrative of Jesus, John goes all the way back to Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning." But where we expect him to say "God," he instead inserts "the Word" – Jesus. Jesus is the eternal Creator, John says. Jesus is light and life. And Jesus is the full self-revelation of God because Jesus came and lived among us.

There are several common reactions of Christians toward the societies in which they live, ranging from traditional to progressive. Some Christians choose to court the favor of their host culture, while others choose a much more combative or “prophetic” approach. But what if there’s a range of right reactions, rather than a default and permanent posture? And what if those interactions with culture are rooted in our new identity in Christ?

The practices of apprenticeship will not bring you closer to Jesus or make you more like Jesus unless you actually do them, and do them because of the grace of the Gospel. Ritualistic or reputation-enhancing performance will not renew and transform your life. And disinterest with practicing the way of Jesus betrays a functional discipleship to someone or something else. But practicing the way of Jesus with a grateful heart that’s eager to repent and believe more deeply leads to growth and change.

Christians often obsess over finding the unique, personalized will of God for them individually: where should I go to school, what should I major in, what job should I take, who should I marry, where should I live? Many follow a traditional or charismatic method of discerning this detailed will of God. But perhaps there's a better approach: simply knowing the Word of God and walking in apprenticeship to Jesus.

For centuries, no new word came from the Lord to his covenant people. They were scattered and chastised, walking in relative darkness. Then the Light of the world came. Discover what the darkness was and how the birth of Jesus overcame it.

The love of God was never meant to be an abstraction, a mere mental construction. We were made to know and experience the love of God. When sin broke that relationship, God initiated and God pursued an undeserving people so that we might experience the love of his forgiveness and redemption. Advent is the literal manifestation of God's love in the flesh.

God wants us experience happiness and joy even in the midst of the pain and brokenness and darkness of this life – and God will ultimately deliver from anything and everything that could steal our joy.

n his first coming, Jesus party fulfilled the prophecy about the Messiah bringing peace. He brought us peace with God, enabled peace between believers, and brought the possibility for us to experience a "peace that passes understanding." We long for Jesus to return to complete the fulfillment of the prophecy, ending conflict between nations and ushering in an eternity of perfect shalom in a restored creation.

We live in a world where many people are anxious, stressed, exhausted, and hopeless. And it’s easy to see why, given the amount of conflict and brokenness we experience in everyday life. But the Advent season reminds us that hope is a person – a Savior who came and will one day come again.

Every follower/apprentice of Jesus is called to continue his mission. We are disciple-making disciples. The one thing we're sent into the world to do is to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed so that others follow Jesus with us. Whatever else we do must serve this end.