On the last day of the year, we tend to get a little "reflection"-oriented. What happened to/in us last year? What will the new year hold? Guest preacher Andrew Cook shares some deep insights into the song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) as to how God's nature and goodness can transform our past, present, and future.

After getting out of the fish’s belly, Jonah finally gets to Nineveh with the gospel. Jonah’s message, though, also reminds God’s own people He’s extended the same message to them: & they forgot it! Jonah 3 shows how God offers the lost a life of being transformed into His image through compassionate discipleship.

If God is after meeting wickedness with reconciliation, what’s our responsibility? Simple: repent…although, what does repentance look like? What do we mean when we say, “repent?” Jonah 1:17-2:10 reveals a repentant heart calls out to God, recognizes its brokenness, & desires His presence so it can love God AND others.

// Closing Prayer: Valley of Vision, "Contentment"

Building off of Jonah 1, Elder John Marshal dives into practical application of God's heart for the lost. If God really does meet our wickedness with reconciliation, what does this look like? How do we take His heart and apply it in context of our world today? Luke 15 offers a powerful & profound challenge from the life of Christ to guide how we ought to live out God's heart toward the lost.

We start a familiar story challenging our traditional perspective on this tale: who is this story about? Jonah? Israel? Nineveh? Jonah 1 reveals God telling His people about how He views the lost: He meets our wickedness with reconciliation; we cling to our righteousness because we want Him to punish other’s wickedness.

// Closing Prayer: Valley of Vision, "Requests"

Looking back over all the sacrifices, let’s ask the question one more time: why does God want His priests to do all this stuff? What’s His goal for them? As we look back at the context of the priesthood instructions, we’ll see that God’s goal for His priests is to bring others into His presence. Simple: don’t forget this! NRF Value #6: The Power of Prayer

As God starts to work through fitting us back into His design, that means all our sin is going to be revealed. Inevitably, that means guilt & shame will start popping up. How does God prepare to deal with this? By making sure His priests remind everyone God makes valuable things & restores His value to what sin has stolen. NRF Value #5: The Image of God in Ourselves & Others

“Reconciliation” is a fancy church word, but what does it look like to be made right with someone? We like to point out where others are wrong, but is this what God’s priests were to do? Leviticus 4:1-5:13 reveals God’s priests lead everyone in fitting back into God’s design by leading all to let God fix our brokenness. NRF Value #4: Reconciliation to God & Others

// Closing Prayer: Valley of Vision, "Mercy"

As we’re learning to lead in gratitude & life, something begins to happen to us. God’s atoning work & our grateful praise changes who we are: but what does this look like? Leviticus 3, the peace offering, shows us that God’s priests lead others to be at peace with God & pursue His peace between ourselves & others. NRF Value #3: Transformational Unity in Christ

// Closing Prayer: Valley of Vision, "Love Shed Abroad"

As the burnt offering taught us to present others as holy & pleasing to God by Christ’s sacrifice, what else do we do as God’s priests? Leviticus 2, the grain offering, shows us that God’s priests remind themselves & others that following Him is worth the cost of sacrificing our lives. NRF Value #2: Sharing & Experiencing God

// Closing Prayer: Valley of Vision, "God Enjoyed"