On this third Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of joy. While this is a very appropriate day to sing "Joy to the World," the song was actually written more in reference to Christ's Second coming than His first. We'll link today at how the joy anticipated in Christ's return is made possible by His first comping that we celebrate at Christmas.

On this second Sunday of Advent , we focus on the hope of Christmas. As we work our way through Philippians, we come to a passage where Paul celebrates the hope-filled truth that he has been "taken hold of" by Christ, not based on anything he has done, but in surrender to what God has done through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

On this first Sunday of Advent, we focus on the love of Christmas. Our journey through the book of Philippians brings us to a passage where Paul shares the huge difference in his life that has resulted from his experience of God's gift of love. This passage begins as a call to joy for the truth that we do not need to live on a treadmill of religious performance and shows instead how Christ's love has restored us to live renewed lives in relationship with Him.

As we journey through the book of Philippians we come to a passage in which Paul shared his future plans to send Timothy and Epaphroditus back to Philippi. While he could have done this in a few short sentences, he instead took the opportunity to describe how these two men reflected the characteristics of selfless service that were needed in the Philippian church, just as they continue to be needed among Christ's followers today.

We are currently journeying through Paul's letter to the Philippians church. After urging the church at Philippi to recognize their need for God and respond to God's ongoing work in their lives, Paul addresses an attitude that is threatening the church. If the church listens to Paul's advice, he gives potential outcomes of what a Christ-like attitude provides.

As we watched today's baptisms, it would be unthinkable to leave the person being baptized under the water. By coming out of the water, we symbolically recognize that Chris "raises us with Him" to new life.

We are currently journeying through Paul's letter to the Phillipian church. After extending a strong challenge to the people of the church to live in unity, Paul points them to Jesus as the ultimate role model. In so doing, he paints a picture much different than current role models of his (and our) time do.

We are currently journeying through Paul's letter to the Philippian church. We come today to a section of the letter where Paul addresses what appears to be a growing division within their ranks. Rather than simply challenging the church to get along, he calls them to see their relationships through the renewed reality of Christ's Vision.

Today we return to our series 20/20 Vision as we continue through Philippians.

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we will walk through a Psalm in which David is careful to thank God for answered prayers. The Psalm us a fitting Reminder of how easy it is for us to focus our prayer on what we need and forget to thank God for all He has given.