In the time of the Bible, a person's name was understood to be a declaration of their character and identity. Today we look at Isaiah 9 and the declaration of the names by which we would know God's Messiah.

If God has a plan for history, do you believe God has a plan for you?

What is the vision of the future you are yearning for, praying for, working for, striving for? What is your hope? This advent, we will look at promises of hope— prophecies of Jesus’ coming, prophecies of his birth, and prophecies of his eternal reign. Advent is a time when we remember that the King is Coming.

Have you ever had to deal with someone who is mad? How can we help someone else with their anger? How can we help the world with all the anger around us?

A central tenet of Christian faith is forgiveness. Jesus came to earth for our forgiveness. On the cross, Jesus prayed to forgive those who tortured him. He taught us to forgive. His disciples had a hard time accepting it. So, how do we forgive?

Anger is normative and healthy when appropriate but when it begins to spike unnaturally, it shows us that an adjustment needs to be made.

Anger can also be deeply destructive—to ourselves, to others, to relationships; to the Church, the country, and the kingdom of God. How do we identify unhealthy anger? Specifically, how do we identify unhealthy anger in ourselves?

The Bible never says “don’t get mad.” Be angry, but do not sin. Be angry, but do not hold onto the anger. Be angry, but do not let the enemy have an opportunity. That sounds great…but how do we do it?

Is anger sinful? Is it evil? Are there healthy ways to express or manage anger? The Bible has a lot to say about anger and it's relevant to all our lives, especially in a culture where outrage is liked and shared.

Is it possible to extend the kind of love Jesus is talking about beyond our personal realm? Now, more than ever, our world needs people who are learning to love.