God’s Word has always been the one thing that changes everything, and we see that all through the Christmas story. When the angel speaks to Mary in Luke 1, her entire future is reshaped by a single message from God. In Luke 2, that same good news reaches shepherds and shows us that the arrival of the Messiah is meant for ordinary, overlooked people. Hebrews 1 pulls it all together by showing that God’s ultimate Word is not just a message but a person, Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory. The miracle of the Messiah is that God still speaks, He still comes near, and His good news is still for everyone who is willing to receive it.

This week we’re looking at The Miracle of the Moment from Galatians 4. Jesus didn’t arrive early or late; He came at the perfect moment in history, when the world was united by a common language, connected by Roman roads, the empire was calm (Pax Romana), and a hunger for spiritual truth was at a feverish pitch. God’s timing wasn’t accidental but intentional and redemptive. In the same way, God still works with perfect timing in our lives, even when we can’t see it. Through Christ, we’ve been redeemed from slavery and adopted into God’s family as beloved sons and daughters. The miracle of Christmas is not only that Jesus came, but that He came at just the right time - and He still does!

When we think of Christmas, our minds go to a manger in Bethlehem, but the Christmas story actually begins much earlier, in the ashes of paradise lost. In Genesis 3, sin enters the world, and everything God made good is fractured. Humanity’s rebellion brings deep pain, both in creation and in our relationship with God. Yet even in the middle of the pain, God’s grace breaks through in the form of a promise. One day, a child would be born who would crush the serpent and restore what sin destroyed. The miracle of Christmas is that hope was born long before Bethlehem, in the garden, when God promised a Savior who would crush evil and restore what was lost!

What do the Apollo 13 space mission, Goldilocks and the three bears, and astronomy tell us about the existence of God? Does science disprove core elements of Christianity? Former physics teacher and current full-time Christian apologist Tim Barnett will be our special guest to walk us through one of the greatest discoveries of modern physics and astronomy – the fine-tuning of the universe. 

Jesus doesn’t just send us on mission​ – He goes with us on mission. In Matthew 28, Jesus promises His followers that He will be with them always, to the very end of the age. That means we never go alone, whether we’re facing hardship, uncertainty, or cultural opposition. His Spirit is our ever-present helper​ – guiding, empowering, and sustaining us as we make disciples and live out our faith​ in our neighborhoods to the nations. Just as God was with Joseph in Egypt and Moses before Pharaoh, Jesus is with us today through His Spirit. His presence gives us courage to go wherever He sends us and confidence to trust that He will finish the mission through us.​ 

In the Great Commission, Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He ascended, He makes clear the nature of the task. Far from being a new thought, Jesus’ call to make disciples of all nations was firmly rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures, and is just as relevant to us in 2025. There is an extraordinary amount of work to be done to finish the mission, but we can see God working in extraordinary ways!  

In the Great Commission, Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Before sending His followers to make disciples, He establishes His absolute kingship—He is not only Savior, but King over all creation. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus demonstrates this authority through His teaching, His command over nature and the spiritual realm, and His victory over sin and death. His resurrection confirms that every power and realm is now subject to Him. When Jesus commands us to make disciples, He does so as the One who holds ultimate authority to rule, redeem, and commission. As we go, we do not rely on our own strength but on the delegated authority of King Jesus, who reigns over all!

This week we focus on what it means to become like Jesus. Paul reminds us in Romans 12 that transformation comes as we offer our lives fully to God and allow our minds to be renewed by His Spirit. Becoming like Jesus is not just about gaining head knowledge, expecting instant change, or striving alone - it’s a lifelong process of surrender and formation within the community of God’s people. We grow as we adopt Jesus’ rhythms of prayer and dependence on the Father, share His passion for people far from God, and live on mission with Him in the world. True discipleship is slow, deep, and Spirit-led, shaping us into people who reflect Christ in both character and action. 

This week we look at what it means to belong to the family of God. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that the church is like a body - many different parts, each with a unique role, but all connected and dependent on one another. Belonging to Christ means we are never alone; we are placed into a community where our presence and participation matter. Together, we grow more like Jesus as we worship, serve, and encourage one another in community. This is an invitation to lean deeper into the life of the body, discovering both the joy of being known and the calling of contributing to the family of God.