This week in our Advent series, we are reflecting on the love of God revealed in the gift of His Son. John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love is personal, sacrificial, and transformative. He gave what was most precious to Him so that one day we could be where He is. Therefore, the gift of Jesus is the most profound and useful gift we will ever receive.

This Sunday, we continue our Advent series focusing on joy, and it’s fitting, since “joy" is one of the first words used to announce Jesus’ birth: “I bring you good news of great joy.” A multitude of angels praised God, reminding us that true joy doesn’t depend on circumstances but on God’s presence, promises, and character. Even when life feels uncertain or difficult, joy is rooted in who God is and what He has done for us through Christ.

This Sunday, we continue our Advent series, and we’re looking at the beautiful promise of peace. To do that, we’ll travel back about 3,500 years to hear the prophet Isaiah’s words: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6–7). When Isaiah first spoke those words, peace was not the reality of his world. God’s people were anxious and under threat. Yet Isaiah pointed to a future peace that would not come through armies or politics, but through a child, the One who would be called the Prince of Peace.

As we open Luke chapter 2, we’ll see that Jesus entered a world every bit as chaotic as our own. Rome ruled with power, fear was constant, and even the king sought to kill Jesus upon his birth. Yet into that darkness, God sent light. The angels’ announcement, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased,” reminds us that Jesus came not to end political wars, but to restore peace where it was most needed: between God and humanity. The peace of Christmas is not a sentimental wish; it’s a spiritual reality that begins when we are reconciled to God through faith in Christ.

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season, a time of anticipation, reflection, and preparation as we remember Christ’s first coming and look forward to His return. Our sermon will focus on the theme of hope - not wishful thinking, but the confident expectation of God’s promises fulfilled. We’ll explore the story of Simeon, the righteous man in Luke 2 who waited patiently for the Messiah and finally saw God’s salvation with his own eyes. His example reminds us that hope is active, shaping how we live and respond to the world around us.

This Sunday, we continue our two-part series on What It Means to Be a Christian. Last week, we looked at the first three core beliefs that define a biblical worldview: the existence of absolute moral truth, the accuracy of the Bible in all its teachings, and the reality of Satan. It was an eye-opening study, highlighting just how many people who identify as Christians do not hold these foundational truths. As we reflected together, I was reminded that our faith is not merely about words or traditions, it’s about grounding our lives in the truths of God’s Word.

This week, we will examine the remaining three beliefs: that we cannot earn our way to heaven by being good, that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, and that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who still rules the universe today. These truths are not optional for those who follow Christ because they form the foundation of our salvation, our hope, and our daily walk with God. Through Scripture, example, and practical application, we’ll see why these beliefs matter and how they should shape the way we live, worship, and interact with the world around us.

I want to invite you to come with an open heart, ready to hear God speak. Whether you are new to Illuminate or you’ve been part of our church family for years, these truths have the power to transform your life. Come ready to reflect, respond, and recommit to trusting in God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Word that guides us. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue to build our faith on the rock-solid foundation of God’s truth!

Last week, we saw some eye-opening statistics showing that while many people call themselves Christian, very few actually hold to the core biblical beliefs that define a true Christian worldview. This Sunday, we’re going to dig into what’s at the heart of those beliefs—the very foundation of the Christian worldview: the Bible.

If someone were to ask you, “Why do you base your whole life on the Bible?” or “Why do you trust it?” you might answer, “Because it’s God’s Word.” But what if they pressed further and asked, “How do you know that? What makes the Bible different from the Qur’an, the Hindu Vedas, or any other religious or philosophical writings in the world?” A Hindu would say the Vedas offer the correct picture of truth and reality, while a Muslim would disagree and point to the Qur’an as the accurate one.

I think most believers would probably share their personal story or testimony as proof. But people of other faiths do the same with their own experiences. So just relying on your personal experience is not enough to prove your view of Scripture—especially in a culture that’s skeptical about what the Bible says.

Do you really have solid reasons to believe God has spoken through the Bible and that what it says is actually true? Why should you trust the Bible above everything else? You should be able to answer that. You should be able to say, “Here’s why my life depends on this Book, and here’s why yours should, too.” We’ll help you with a number of specific reasons.

We’ll talk about how we can keep building our lives on God’s truth instead of just going along with opinions or what’s popular in our culture and we’ll get practical about what it looks like to live out a true biblical worldview, “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

I’ve been thinking a lot about a question we don’t ask nearly enough: What does it really mean to be a Christian? George Barna’s recent research reminded me that while many people call themselves Christian, very few actually hold to the core biblical beliefs that define a Christian worldview. This Sunday, we’ll start looking at three of those beliefs: that absolute moral truth exists, the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches, and Satan is a real being. 

Where to begin? In a world where people often say, “That’s your truth, not mine,” we need to remember that God alone defines what is right and wrong, and His truth never changes based on our feelings or culture.

We’ll also dig into why we can’t trust human reason or personal happiness alone to guide us. History and Scripture make this clear: even our best intentions can be flawed because of sin. We’ll touch on examples from philosophy and history, and more importantly, we’ll see what God’s Word says about how our hearts and minds need His guidance. The Bible provides a firm foundation, a moral compass we can trust, and a standard for life that remains constant, unaffected by the latest trends.

We’ll also be examining our own lives. Are we building on God’s truth, or are we relying on our own opinions and cultural influences? We’ll talk about practical ways to live out a biblical worldview, recognizing that sin, Satan, and spiritual battle are real, and that God equips us to stand firm.

This Sunday, we conclude our study of 1 Peter, where he ends with the most fitting exhortation once again: be humble and entrust yourself to God’s care. Humility is the key to a healthy church because without it, unity suffers, and without unity, the world sees us as just another divided, ineffective group.  Pride separates, but humility recognizes our need for one another. As we discussed last Sunday, Jesus Himself set the ultimate example, humbling Himself even to death, and the more we imitate Him, the stronger our unity becomes. True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. It is prioritizing others, submitting, forgiving, and living selflessly.

Peter moves from humility to trust, urging us to place our anxieties upon God because He is sovereign. This is a reminder that God is in control of all things, and we can pause in our stress, disappointment, or conflict and hand over our burdens. The call is to make your anxiety God’s problem. But trusting God also means recognizing the reality of opposition: the devil prowls like a roaring lion, claiming territory and seeking to devour. We are called to resist him, firm in our faith, using the armor God provides.

Finally, Peter reminds us that suffering is temporary in light of eternity. After we endure trials, the God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. We see this fulfilled in the life of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who, even while being stoned, prayed for his enemies and witnessed Christ ready to receive him. The message is clear: faithful endurance glorifies God, strengthens His church, and secures eternal reward. Let us humbly depend on Him, stand firm in faith, and encourage one another until He calls us home.

This Sunday, we are nearing the end of our series in 1 Peter, a letter that has guided us through the challenges of living faithfully in a world that often opposes God. We’ll reflect on the first half of chapter 5, where Peter encourages church leaders to shepherd with humility and integrity, and calls all believers to follow God’s appointed leadership with trust and joy. As we explore these truths, we’ll see how the roles of leader and follower work together to strengthen the church, and how God uses each of us in His plan.

This week, we are approaching the final section of Peter’s letter, where he addresses how Christians are to live in a hostile world. Peter’s focus is on enduring suffering for righteousness’ sake while keeping our hope fixed on the eternal glory God has prepared for us. He reminds us that everything we do - our words, actions, and service - should glorify God, pointing others to His greatness and character. Living for God naturally draws opposition, and Peter warns that trials and ridicule are part of the Christian journey, designed not to harm us but to refine and strengthen our faith, much like gold being purified in fire.