Kevin Perry • John the Baptizer knew that he was simply a voice preparing the way for the Messiah. His role was to point to the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sin of the world. This is the one we look to for our salvation. Come behold His beauty.

Joel McCarty • Until this point, no human had been able to see the full shining weight of God's glory and greatness and still live. But John shows us that through the person and work of Jesus, God has graciously revealed his goodness to us in a way that we could receive it. Truly this is grace upon grace.

Joel McCarty • The author of this gospel account takes a brief moment to introduce us to the theme of witness by telling us about the prophet, John. This prophet, commonly called John the Baptizer, was sent to bear witness and testify about the true light coming into the world. When faced with this witness about Jesus the Messiah, there are only two responses we can have - reject Him or receive Him.

Joel McCarty • John begins his gospel narrative before time even existed - in the beginning. The person of Jesus has always existed in perfect unity and relationship with the Father, but now, the Word has come to a dark world in time and space. And as the Word takes on flesh, He brings the new creation, light, and life to all who believe.

Joel McCarty • Love is a word we hear used a lot in our culture. But who defines what love really is? To know true love, we must look to the cradle, the cross, and the resurrection of Jesus.

Kevin Perry • For the follower of Jesus, joy can be a confusing emotion. At some level, we know we are supposed to be experiencing joy. But where does true joy come from? And what should Christians do when they aren't experiencing joy?

Joel McCarty • We hear a lot of talk about peace around the Christmas season. But what is the true understanding of peace as taught from the Scriptures? And is having peace really possible in the midst of a chaotic world?

Kevin Perry • As the people of God wait for the coming of Jesus, we wait with hope. And the hope we have is a hope that is based on the promises of Jesus. As Jesus came before, so He will come again to save those who are His.

Joel McCarty • "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Jim Menne • In this letter, we are called to contend for the faith. And to this point, Jude has made clear who the false teachers are. Now he pivots to address the "beloved", the true church, and to tell them how they are to go about contending for the most holy faith that was delivered once for all to the saints.

*sermon by guest preacher