Each new year brings new beginnings, an opportunity to leave the past behind and start afresh. It doesn’t matter what has happened in the past. God is gracious and always offers us new beginnings and a future full of hope if we put Him first.  

Each new year brings new beginnings, an opportunity to leave the past behind and start afresh. It doesn’t matter what has happened in the past. God is gracious and always offers us new beginnings and a future full of hope if we put Him first.

The birth of Jesus brought hope (a confident expectation of the future) to the world. The Israelites waited for His promised arrival amid terrible persecution and oppression for hundreds of years. Many wondered if God had forgotten about them and if He still cared for them. Jesus’ birth revealed that God had not forgotten about them, that He does indeed care, and that He hasn’t forgotten about us as well.

The birth of Jesus brought hope (a confident expectation of the future) to the world. The Israelites waited for His promised arrival amid terrible persecution and oppression for hundreds of years. Many wondered if God had forgotten about them and if He still cared for them. Jesus’ birth revealed that God had not forgotten about them, that He does indeed care, and that He hasn’t forgotten about us as well.

Jesus came to serve, not to be served. As he prepared to go to the cross to die for our sins, He modeled to the disciples what true greatness is by wrapping a towel around his waist and washing their feet. This task is meant to be an example of what we do for one another, serving each other in love. When we interact with people, we need to resist the urge to use a sword and choose to throw on the towel.

Jesus enables us to live a new life on earth. This is an amazing gift from God. However, His greatest gift to us is not temporary but eternal. Even more important than a new life on earth is eternal life in heaven. When Jesus rose from the dead, He left behind His grave wraps, ascended to heaven, and was clothed in glory. Through Christ, we'll also leave behind our burial wraps and live forever with Him in Heaven.

Through Jesus, we not only receive the gift of eternal life, but also have the opportunity to experience a new life on earth. One of Jesus’ amazing miracles was raising to life a man who was dead for four days. This demonstrates that Jesus has power over sin, death, and life itself. If we place our trust in Him, we can experience that same power to be “unbound” from sin. This occurs through obedience to His word and by allowing others to help “unbind” us in discipleship relationships.

Through Jesus, we not only receive the gift of eternal life, but also have the opportunity to experience a new life on earth. One of Jesus’ amazing miracles was raising to life a man who was dead for four days. This demonstrates that Jesus has power over sin, death, and life itself. If we place our trust in Him, we can experience that same power to be “unbound” from sin. This occurs through obedience to His word and by allowing others to help “unbind” us in discipleship relationships

We celebrate Christmas because we celebrate Jesus’ birth. God born in human flesh in Jesus has great significance and meaning to our everyday lives. It reveals God’s great love for us and demonstrates that God is near and that He cares for us. Jesus’ life and the truth of Scripture show that God understands what we go through and cares deeply about our struggles. Our response should be to draw near to God by placing our faith in Him, which brings salvation, transformation, and help in our time of need.

Jesus calls us to live beyond ourselves, our generation, and even our geographical borders. After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the Gospel in their nation and the nations beyond. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV) Pearlside is committed to training and sending missionaries and church planters locally (Jerusalem), nationally (Judea and Samaria), and globally (the ends of the earth). As disciples, we’re all responsible for sharing the Gospel so others can receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.