To understand Christmas, we need to understand who Jesus is and what He gave for us. It gives us a direction for what He intends for our lives.

Are we going to be unified with the world or unified with the Lord? That’s the challenge that Paul hands down to us here.

God calls us to “civic” expressions of His love when elections go the way we hope and also when they do not.

As we come an election and contemplate how much those around us drive us crazy, God calls us to a different path as the church than what the world says we ought to do. We turn to 1 Timothy 2 for insights into the Lord’s plan for us in a partisan world.

As we try to not just do something but something pleasing to God, how do we do that? How do we add the flavor of His love into a world that needs it?

James encourages us to listen but not to stop at listening. Combining listening and acting is necessary for arriving where God wants us.

How often do we “listen” to other people without really listening? How often do we jump immediately to actions and words that don’t reflect the heart of God? James challenges us to do something different.

How do we deal with darkness and uncertainty in life? Can we count on God’s blessing? James helps us to think about this.

We chase after riches, but what happens when those riches — and our lives — come to an end?

James calls us to look for the real wisdom of God rather than the “wisdom” we normally chase after.