We celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve as we complete the final candles of Advent.

As we draw nearer to our celebration of Christ’s birth, we’ll contemplate the stunning implications of John’s declaration that “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14)

As he does with many other elements of the gospel story, John gives us a slightly different perspective on John the Baptist when he describes him as the man who was not. Clarity around who John (and we) are not, can help simplify our purpose during the busiest and most hectic time of year.

As we prepare to celebrate Christ coming into creation as a baby, let’s zoom out and contemplate how creation comes into being through Christ. 

Sometimes giving thanks comes easy. Sometimes it’s a struggle to praise God while drowning in deep disappointment. This Sunday we'll listen in on a dialogue between God and a disappointed man who resolves to praise God anyway.

Since Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday eating season, let us develop a robust theology of food so we are thoroughly equipped to eat and drink to the glory of God.

We wrap up our study of Philippians by digging into the final section of the letter, in which Paul expresses his gratitude to the Philippians for the financial gift they sent him while he's in prison. What could have been a simple "thank you" turns out to be much more complex, and for good reason.

Managing our anxiety when faced with trouble is an essential skill for a follower of Jesus. Chronic anxiety keeps us from making wise decisions and destroys relationships. In Philippians 4:1-9, Paul names several practices that can help us become a less-anxious presence in the midst of difficult circumstances.

At the end of Philippians 3, Paul drops a thought bomb on our understanding how to live the Christian life, when he describes Christ-followers as "citizens of heaven." The implications from understanding our primary citizenship in this way are staggering.

In Philippians 3, Paul uses shocking language to describe his past religious achievements. Perhaps because he knows how destructive and divisive building an identity on human achievement can be. He then reminds his friends in Philippi of the true and lasting source of his (and their) new identity.