Debt promises freedom but delivers stress. In this message, we’ll get honest about the weight financial pressure puts on our lives and learn some simple principles to break free. God’s wisdom about money isn’t old-fashioned; it’s a roadmap to peace.

We live in a world that says happiness is just one purchase away. But what if joy actually grows when we let go of more? This week we’ll learn the ancient wisdom of contentment, and why a simpler, slower, smaller life might actually be the richer life.

Everyone wants to make more money. But what if the real secret is learning how to think differently about it? In our new series, Uncommon Cents, we’re talking about how to learn how

God intends for you to enjoy the money he’s blessed you with. You don’t need a raise to feel rich.

You just need a new mindset. Join us this January as we learn about the uncommon sense that will transform your emotions about money.

Why does God feel distant? Like an all-powerful being somewhere in the clouds, watching but not really close. What if the story of Christmas actually flips that idea upside down? Not as a holiday tradition, but as a claim that God chose proximity over distance. That He didn’t stay removed, but moved in. And if that’s true, it changes how and where we look for Him toda

Jesus has just finished washing His disciples’ feet, predicting Judas’s betrayal, and telling Peter that he will deny him. Emotions are tense. The disciples are confused, anxious, and afraid, unsure of what’s next. So Jesus offers them comfort. and He says, “I am the way…” In other words, “You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to trust me.” This is the culminating moment in the gospel of John. The claim is that what began in the manger will lead you all the way home. So will you trust him?

Christmas is the celebration of God coming to live with us. So what if God doesn’t feel close when we celebrate Christmas? The truth is, Christmas can make people feel excluded by religion or disqualified by their past mistakes. But Jesus isn’t a bouncer at the door to life. He is the door, and He came to let people in, not keep them out. In a world full of spiritual gatekeepers, Jesus shocks us by saying, “I am the door.” He doesn’t block the way; he opens it. This is the God who invites shepherds, outcasts, and seekers in. The manger signals that access to God isn’t earned, it’s offered. In Him we find safety, belonging, and abundance. We don’t have to climb in. He lets us in. Christmas is an open door to grace

Life always has a center, but not everything we choose can hold us. Jesus is the Light that brings life to the darkness, order to the chaos, and purpose to the empty places of our hearts. Just as light began creation, His presence begins a new creation in us. While our focus drifts to lesser things, the true Light never fails. He restores, realigns, and invites us to shine His life into a world that still needs hope.

ohn doesn’t open his gospel with a baby in a barn. It begins “In the beginning…” to take us back to Genesis 1, where God spoke the world into existence. That same Word, John says, became flesh in Jesus. Christmas is not just God showing up. Instead, it is God beginning the work of recreating the world and making all things new. In Jesus, the Creator doesn’t stay outside of our mess. He entered our mess, bore our sins, and created newness of life. That’s what we celebrate at Christmas.

Every day, people cry out for help, praying for shelter, food, recovery, and hope. And while many people point fingers and blame, Isaiah reminds us that God’s answer is often us. When we give, serve, and spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry and oppressed, our light breaks through the darkness. This Give Hope Sunday, we’re not just making donations. We’re becoming part of God’s response to real human need. You may not be able to fix everything, but today, you can be the answer to someone’s prayer.If you want to partner with our organizations, click here:https://www.hopewisco.com/give-hope

Life doesn’t always feel peaceful, but inner peace is always possible. In his final chapter, Paul gives us a picture of unshakable joy: not rooted in comfort, but in prayer, gratitude, and trust. Contentment isn’t about pretending everything’s okay but about knowing who holds you even when everything is not okay. The more you focus on that ultimate reality, the greater your joy will grow.