Today we will look at the practice of Dwelling in the Word. While this certainly begins with reading the Bible, it challenges us beyond merely checking the boxes of a reading plan.

It is easy for our faith to focus more on knowledge of information and ideas than on actual life choices and actions. We forget that following Jesus is more than studying the Bible for information. Its about becoming increasingly like Jesus in our values, character and activity.

This morning we have a guest preacher, Pastor Bob Carroll, who is no stranger to many here as he previously served as Youth Pastor in the 1980s. Today, Pastor Bob shares a message of faith that that accompanies true friendship with God. He encourages us to listen to the voice that says I will be with you.

It can be quite daunting to look at the year ahead. Its challenges and opportunities can seem quite overwhelming, leaving us feeling somewhat paralyzed as we consider how we might move forward in the midst of it all. Gratefully, we are not alone. We have just come through a season reminding us that God is with us. He will guide us as we intentionally listen for His voice leading us to where He might have us focus our thoughts and energy in the year ahead. This morning, well hear from a number of our pastoral staff as they share a word they sense God putting on their heart as we move into 2023.

Welcome to McKernan Baptist Church! We are so glad you have joined us either in person or on-line this Christmas Day. For the each of the past four weeks, we have lit a different Advent candle, but as we gather today, we see all four candles glowing with the light symbolized by the center candle, the light of Christ. Christ has come, indeed the greatest gift ever given to humanity.

So often we equate peace with those situations that are without any apparent chaos. We do like to think we are in control of our present and even our future and often define our sense of peace based on this sense of control.

In the Bible, joy is so much more than some feeling we try to create. In the words of the Bible Project, it is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus own life and love that shapes our attitude, even in the midst of difficult times.

(Phil. 3:1)

In Revelation 2 and 3, we find letters Jesus wrote to seven first-century churches, He opens each letter with a revelation of some aspect of His character that speaks true hope for godly forward movement in each specific context.

Today well look at the ancient city of Laodicea and see how it had grown quite proud in its affluent self-sufficiency. Jesus letter to the Laodicean church reveals how its people had taken on the spirit of their culture and forgotten to ask the bigger questions of lifes ultimate meaning and purpose as they seemed quite content in the self-centered comfort they saw around them.

Its easy to feel quite small and alone, especially when were going through tough times.

This certainly could have been the case for the followers of Jesus in the ancient city of Philadelphia, who not only faced the citys common struggles with earthquakes and tough economic times, but had the added pressure of intense persecution from Jewish and Roman sources.

As we look today at the letter Christ wrote to this church, we see that He didnt send some ge- neric encouragement card. Rather, He addressed them in a way that truly showed His aware- ness of their situation and His personal care in the midst of it.