God did not give up on His plan and purpose for humans to be His representatives on earth. He called Abram, gave him a new name, identity, and purpose, and blessed him. This blessing continues through for God's people who are in Jesus today.

We begin our Lent journey toward joy at the beginning.

The first humans were placed in a garden called ‘Delight’ and it lived up to its’ name. Yet, they were deceived into seeing and desiring something else. That desire set in and gave birth to sin (rebellion), which ultimately resulted in death. How can we fix our eyes on the delight we have in Jesus and ultimately find life?

The heartbeat of Paul's letter to Titus and the Christians in Crete is found here inn this final chapter. We have been saved by Jesus' work, not by works or righteousness of our own. Now, how do we live in the work of God and partner with Him?

What does it look like to live as followers of Jesus in a culture that is so counter to that? Titus 2 has a couple things that may be difficult to swallow in our culture, but when we understand the culture it was written to and the heart behind living as a display people of God, we may gain a better understanding of how we live counter-culturally today.

In the midst of a corrupt culture, how do we live faithfully as people of good news to the world around us?

As the Church, we are called to not only form tight-knit communities being formed in discipleship together, but to extend that as we make disciples of all nations. How are we moving beyond the boundaries typically drawn by society, culture, and even our own prejudices in order to bring the good news of Jesus to all the people it is meant for?

How can the Church reflect the image of Christ by being an embodied and locally-rooted presence, having an intentionality in the place God has us?

Our practices and rhythms shape and form who we are. What are the intentional habits you have put into practice to allow yourself to be transformed into the image of Jesus? How are you engaging in life-forming patterns and practices with your community in order to be formed together?

What does it look like to be a tight-knit community, united in Jesus, in the midst of the individualism and tribalism of our culture?

Our Christmas Eve service. Jesus is the light of the world and that light has entered into the darkness. May we see him and see life more clearly through him.