Have you ever considered the impact you have? Each of us influences others every single day, whether we realize it or not. Your words, actions, attitudes, and choices create ripples that extend far beyond what you can see. Our influence can either help or hurt, shine a spotlight on Jesus or become a distraction, encourage others, or disappoint them. But when our faith is genuine, it naturally shines through everything we do.

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God designed us for real, relational connection with one another, and there is no technological substitute for that. While some isolation in life is obvious, like the loss of a spouse, health challenges, or family distance, there is another kind of isolation that is more subtle and dangerous. It happens quietly, as we spend more and more time in front of screens that feel engaging, realistic, and connected, yet slowly distance us from embodied, face-to-face relationships. Screen time and “synthetic reality” give us the feeling of connection but without the depth of real relationship. While technology can be helpful and even supportive, it cannot carry the weight of real life. That kind of support comes from being connected to each other. We are many parts of the same Body. God created us to live in life-giving community, not in isolation.

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The world talks about leadership. Jesus talks about leadership. Same word. Entirely different way.  If Jesus said “Not so with you” directly to your leadership style today, what would He be correcting?

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Have you ever said you were going to do something but never followed through? It’s okay. We’ve all been there. It’s the thought that counts. But when it comes to our faith and how we love one another, it’s NOT the thought that counts. Aren’t you glad that God didn’t just think about loving you? He actually showed His love by sending His one and only Son. God calls us to respond to the love He has given us by sharing that same love with those around us.

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While every family is unique, every person is profoundly shaped by our families. Whatever roles you have in a family—sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, child, spouse, or other—your influence may be more strongly felt among family members than any other part of your life. How are you influencing the people in your family and how could you refine that influence?

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Leadership is influence, and everyone has influence. To begin this year, we’re focusing on seven areas where we want to expand our influence. Your influence begins with most important and difficult person you will ever lead…yourself. This weekend, we can discover three statements to help you encourage yourself through every success and challenge you encounter.

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We live between the kingdom that Jesus began and fully stepping into Jesus’ kingdom that is hasn’t come yet. Simeon was waiting to see God’s chosen one because God had promised him that before his death, he would see the deliverer. After losing her husband when she was young, Anna devoted the rest of her long life to worship, prayer, and serving others in the Temple. Both elderly believers found great joy by meeting Jesus when he was an infant. Their example teaches us how to live between what God has already done and not yet completed as well as how to live faithfully in each in-between space of life.

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While shepherds guarded their flocks, the angels’ song broke the quiet announcing that God’s light was shattering the darkness: “Glory to God and peace on earth!” That song echoes to all people and to us, pushing back against notes of hate, fear, and hopelessness that threaten to invade our hearts. Like that small band of shepherds, we come together to find the baby born to Mary, born to bring joy to all people, born to bring salvation—and we adore him!

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God works in surprising ways. He only completes his perfect plan through imperfect realities and flawed people like you and me. The Christmas story reminds us of this principle. Mary, Jesus’ mother, recorded a praise hymn in response to God’s promise that still teaches us about how God keeps his promise and reverses our expectations as we trust in him.

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What a journey we’ve experienced through the story of Joseph: struggle and triumph, betrayal and blessing. Behind and beneath all of Joseph’s life, God was at work to faithfully keep his promises. Whatever twists and turns your life story includes, God will also always be faithful to you. As Joseph’s life concludes, we want to scratch beneath the surface to decode the meaning to the puzzle of our life story.

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