Happiness is the ultimate goal of most people. The Bible often tells us to rejoice. But is joy and happiness the same? And how can we actively pursue it, is it not connected to external circumstances? And what does Jesus' birth have to do with all of that? Let us find out together what the Bible tells us about all of that.

Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people..."

As we journey through Advent, we come to the theme of love. We are all aware that the word “love” is one which means very different things based on context. When someone says they “love” a movie or “love” a food, it is different from someone, even the same person, saying they love their family.

But even with that said, the love of God is hard to fully understand. I think the closest we can come to it is a parental love, which is a different thing from romantic love or close comradeship which is formed in common experience.

John 3:16-17 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

As 2024 comes to an end, once again, it can hardly be said it was a peaceful year. One of Jesus’ titles is “Prince of Peace”. He also talks a lot about having peace in the Gospels. What is the peace we have in Christ, if not yet peace of earth and goodwill toward men?

Luke 2:14 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Today is the first week of Advent, the theme of which is “Hope”. So, we will take a break from the book of Hebrews and move into the Advent season by looking at the Hope given to us by God through the incarnation.

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. The theme we are looking at today is “Love”. What does it mean that God loves us? How does the incarnation show us God’s love?

Hebrews 4:15 - 5:1

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. The theme is “Rejoice”. The verse used in the more liturgical churches is Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! What’s interesting is that this is said in the context of conflict. The hope within the rejoicing and conflict is that there is the promise that the Lord is near.

Philippians 4:4-5