The birthplace of Jesus was predicted in the book of Micah 700 years before it came to pass! In today's message, Pastor John studies Micah 5, which describes our remarkable King Jesus.

How much does your sin cost? In Isaiah 53, the prophet spoke of the Messiah who would suffer and die for the sake of the sins of the world. When we celebrate Christmas and remember God's gift in the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, we are remembering the salvation offered by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. In today's message, Pastor Phil reminds us of that cost, and the reason we celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He came to this world as a child, dependent on Mary and Joseph. One day when Jesus returns, He will return as King, and every knee will bow before Him. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, NIV) We can have peace with God if we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ now. Have you surrendered your life to Christ?

The final book of the Bible gives a final invitation to those who hear it: "Come!" The final invitation to come to Jesus and be made new is still open today, but the time is limited! In today's message, Pastor John examines how this message is given in Revelation 22 as a promise, as an invitation, and as a prayer--and how we should respond as we hear it.

Matthew 25:31-46 records Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats. The sheep are those who, through their faith in Christ, have shown compassion towards Christ's brothers and sisters--those of the church. Their reward is an inheritance from the Lord. The goats are those who, through their unbelief in Christ, have not shown compassion to Christ's brothers and sisters. Their punishment is hell. In today's message, Pastor Phil reminds us that love warns of danger. We need to love others by sharing with them the truth of the wages of sin, and the good news that salvation is found in Jesus Christ.

Many places in the Bible demonstrate the way God has built rhythms of rest into our lives--from the way God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th, to His institution of the Sabbath for the nation of Israel, and the many feasts and celebrations built into their calendar. Today, as believers, our rest is found in the person of Jesus Christ, and scripture makes it clear that we are not to be judged "with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day." (Colossians 2:16, NIV) Still, Pastor Phil encourages us in today's sermon to consider a weekly time of rest.

In Mark 10, Jesus makes the striking claim that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And then Jesus clarifies that salvation, for any man, is impossible, but "all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27, NIV) Put another way, no one can gain eternal life by trying to do good works and follow the law of God. But salvation is given through the mercy of Christ. And when we follow Christ, God asks for everything. The rich young ruler asked what he needed to do to be saved, and Jesus saw that the man needed to let go of his love of and dependence on his riches. What about us? What are our blind spots? What are the things we trust in and love before God? God's call for all of us is to lay down our idols and follow after Him.

When the disciples tried to keep children from visiting Jesus, He responded with indignation, and said that "anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15 NIV) In the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke, this account is contrasted immediately by the story of the rich young ruler, who had followed God's law very closely, but wasn't prepared to let go of his riches. In today's message, Andy Doane explains that to "accept the kingdom of God like a little child" is to come to God humbly, not trusting in our own work to give us a relationship with God.

After Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000, the crowds followed closely after Him. But Jesus saw their hearts and knew that they were seeking provision from Him, rather than the salvation offered by Him. So Jesus confronted them with the truth of Who He is, saying "I am the bread of life." And in doing so, He also confronted them with the truth of their unbelief. Reading this account in John 6, we should ask, what do we want from God? And do we believe that Jesus is Who He said He is?

In John chapter 7, it is recorded that Jesus stood up on the greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles and proclaimed, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (vs.37b-38, NIV) In today's message, Pastor Phil looks at the things in life we try to turn to in order to satisfy our souls, and reminds us of Jesus' open invitation to come to Him and drink.