In 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 we see three practical ways the Gospel shapes us. Building on the opportunity for the Corinthian church to follow the example of Macedonian generosity, Paul speaks in this text about the practicalities of collecting a donation for the church in Jerusalem. In so doing, he shows us how the Gospel naturally expands our hearts, compels us to be people of integrity, and inspires us to finish what we have started.

After praising the Corinthians for their repentance and humility in response to his letter of rebuke, this week (2 Corinthians 8:1-15) Paul gives two prime examples (the Macedonian churches and Christ) of generous giving as he is raising funds for the suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Paul encourages us to give according to our abilities, voluntarily and generously. God gives to us so that we can share with others. The gospel shows us the incomparable generosity of Christ, so that God would be glorified in the way we respond to his generosity.

In the preceding verses to Sunday’s text, Paul admonishes believers to be distinctive. There, he argues that the promises and commitment of God to his people serves as a compelling motive to pursue purity and holiness. What happens, though, if and when we fall short or this target, and our relationship with God (and others) is disrupted? It’s a problem for everyone, of course, and we all create pathways to address the deficit – but according to Paul only one pathway really works. Only one approach brings life. As we look together at 2 Corinthians 7:1-16, we’ll examine the shockingly refreshing doctrine of biblical repentance.

God in Christ has set His love on us, calls us His people, and dwells among us. This transforms the way we live and interact with the people and the world around us.

We step back into our series on 2 Corinthians (“More Grace for the Journey) in 6:1-13, where Paul urges the church “not to receive God’s grace in vain.” This is a remarkably fitting follow up to Pastor Alex Wright’s message last week, where he challenged us to build on the foundation of grace. Paul is saying something similar here, not just in defense of his ministry, but out of a concern that the young congregation experience the full benefits of walking in faith. It should be a great start to the new year!

As we look ahead to this new year, with our hopes and fears, we are reminded that the only solid foundation to build our lives upon is the grace and mercy of Christ. And because of that foundation, we have every hope that God will accomplish his work in us and through us.

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment… that was like none other. For through the segment of time a spectacular thing occurred! This third Advent of Sunday brings us to a moment when Jesus, leaving his heavenly home, put on human flesh to bring us Good News (John 1:14-18). Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. God had come near. God became a man. God with us, Immanuel.

The second Advent of Sunday is upon us and appropriately it features the candle of "Light." Last week, in John 1:1-5, we saw that Hope Shines Eternal - and this reality is underscored again in verses 6-13, where a forerunner named John (different from the author) heralds the coming of Christ, the true light. Light is a good thing of course, but not everyone receives it as such, and accordingly many reject Christ. But not everyone. Some receive him, and those who do so become children of God, with all the rights and privileges afforded to a son! May that staggering reality spark new, or deepened faith in us.

It is now the Advent season when the focus is on Jesus’ arrival at his birth. As such, we will take the next few Sundays, leading up to Christmas morning, to reflect on our Savior’s first coming in John 1 in a brief series entitled, “Christmas Light: Hope Shines Eternal!” This Sunday we will consider the captivating claims of the first five verses, rich in Christology and profound in implication.

“Christ’s Love – It Changes Everything.” That’s the title for the message on Sunday from 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, where Paul declares the controlling motivation for his ministry is the love displayed primarily in Christ’s sacrifice. For Paul, that fact shapes his perspective on all of life, which makes sense since it healed the greatest rift that exists: man’s separation from God. The apostle assures us that in Christ, we are in fact a new creation. And that message is not ours to keep – it is one that must be “lived out and shared with”.