Once Jesus was invited to a nice diner with some Pharisees. He proceeded to heal a man, reprimand the guests, and critique the host, only to tell a story lampooning their view of God's Kingdom. Through His story, we, along with the Pharisees, are challenged to ask if our vision of the Kingdom has enough room for everyone God invited to the party.

When we started this journey 17 years ago, we just wanted to help people follow Jesus without all the distractions of denominationalism, judgement, guilt, shame, and fear. We wanted people to be able to have a conversation and take the journey with Jesus.

|Through the love poetry of Song of Songs, seen through the lens of Jesus’ love for His Bride the Church, the heart of God for us becomes revealed. Jesus is desperate to spend time with the one He loves so dearly. He is calling us to come away with Him and spend some face to face time. One helpful response to this call is contemplative prayer, helpfully explained by John Mark Comer as “looking at God, looking at you, in love.”

There is a supernatural nuclear weapon that will change natural realities. There is a way, a tool, and a strength that reveals the enemy coming at you, paralyses the forces trying to destroy us, and conquers every difficulty. When your faith grows from private and personal, to shared and community, your prayers will terrify the darkness.

Prayer was critical to the advance of the church in the book of Acts. Through the history of Christianity, prayer has been the foundation of every move of God. Prayer was not necessarily a pleading with God to move, but rather an increasing dependence upon and enjoyment of God. Take a moment to consider what the early Christians did in and with prayer.

Jesus' prayer life challenges us, but it is meant to inspire us. We often feel alone or isolated. Jesus never allowed that “aloneness” to persist. He preferred prayer and enjoyment of His Father. (Your Father)

Jesus' most “violent” outburst is often used to justify all kinds of things He never did. While seldom producing the one thing It was meant to do. He clearly defined and confirmed the commision upon the House of the Father as a house of prayer.

God is excited about this year. He has good things planned for you. Can you believe that? Well, Jesus said it. Jesus began His earthly ministry with a mission statement. He says that this year He is going to proclaim the good news to the poor, proclaim freedom to the oppressed, proclaim sight for the blind, and finally to proclaim this year as the year of God’s favor. This short passage is a comfort and a commission for us as Christ followers in this and every year.

Jesus carried the Father’s heart. In doing so, he established a family of people around Him. A distinct group of people who SHINED long after He was gone. God’s family was always meant to shine in a dark world! 

Let’s choose to focus beyond the busy-ness, stress, anxiety, and sadness that often shadows the season. Tonight, we choose together to reflect upon the goodness and love of God as the primary focus and brilliant light of the Christmas Story.