The gospel is divine wisdom because it saw and addressed the true need of humanity. It is a message of victory and identity in the new age that Jesus has brought about through his death and resurrection for those who are powerless. This is the message that the Spirit proclaims and the character of the life of all who are spiritual.

Human wisdom always serves human identity. We do whatever we can to make ourselves better, happier or more successful. Or at least to appear that way. But this wisdom is foolish because it avoids the real issue of hopelessness. Divine power rescues us from hopelessness and reasserts our true identity as sons and daughters of our Creator. This is why divine power is far greater than any human wisdom!

Paul opens his letter to the church at Corinth by reminding them that the church is both established and enriched by God. On the basis of this, his beginning plea to this church in turmoil is that they would embrace unity without the need for uniformity. Unity on the central reality of the gospel without the need for uniformity on secondary issues.

We live in a world that loves to be intoxicated on ourselves. We pursue self-worth, self-improvement, self-indulgence and self-sufficiency at every turn of life. But the gospel call is to be sober - to avoid these intoxication and instead find our value in our Creator and not what we can offer ourselves. Take it from Peter who learned the hard way what it meant to be sober and alert!

In so many ways, the magi had no business being in the nativity scene. And yet God in his perfect sovereignty pave a way for their inclusion. The magi were the result of a legacy of faith, but they also demonstrated their faith in the their pursuit and worship of Jesus.

Unless you wanted someone to watch out for sheep, shepherds were the last choice for any job. And yet, God chose shepherds to be the first witnesses to the arrival of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus came for people like them...people just like us!

Mary is a poor, young teenager living in a no-name town. If anything, her future seems nothing more than ordinary. And then Gabriel shows up to let her in on God's plan for her life. Mary's journey goes from God's selection to her struggle with God's call and finally her surrender to God's plan for her life even at the cost of her own.

All things are from God and through God and for God. Therefore, we join the apostle Paul in saying, "To him be the glory forever!" And our only proper response to the glory of God is a life sacrificed to him and lived worthy of his gospel. Our lives are to be lived for the glory of God alone.

Scripture alone is our final authority for life and practice. It governs us over and above the church in tradition and council because it is the purest presentation of the gospel, unaffected by the sinfulness and finitude of men. The Bible is not a hammer to attack those outside the church, rather it is the means by which those within the church stay centered on Jesus and the gospel.