The coming of Jesus was the longing of God's people for generations. Yet history is still marching toward the coming of Jesus - the second time. And He is the only One who can perfectly fulfill the desire of every longing heart. At Christmas, and until He returns, we long for the arrival of Jesus.

The story of God comes full circle in the book of Revelation. God had a goal in mind from the very beginning, and He will bring it to pass in the end.

One of the primary themes of the Advent season is love. The greatest expression of love the world has ever known was God sending His Son into the world to die for us. Today we consider the words of the Apostle John as he instructs us on gospel-motivated love. This is the kind of love that counts.

It's easy to start something, but not always so easy to finish strong. As the Apostle Paul approached the end of his life, he spoke about the things that were important to him. Looking to his example, we want to focus on finishing well as we pursue gospel endurance.

The story of Jesus' earthly live, from the cradle to the cross to the crown, was one of unimaginable humility. Paul points to Christ's example in Philippians 2, and He is the source of our unity, humility, and worship.

Ephesians, which is all about the gospel, is one of the most important books in our Bible. In chapter 2, Paul reminds us of what the Lord has done in our life through Christ. God, who loves to redeem and restore, has made us alive in Christ. This is truth to be thankful for!

As the gospel spreads throughout the book of Acts, we see a pattern of God moving and Satan countering. Many people come to salvation in Christ, then opposition surfaces. Paul's efforts to spread the gospel are always met with persecution. How did Paul deal with persecution? How might we respond if faced with persecution?

As the New Testament Church continues to expand and multiply, the proclamation of the gospel is at the heart of it all. But sharing the gospel didn't end with the early church; evangelism is something to which every follower of Jesus is called. So what does this look like for us, in our day?

In Romans 6, Paul reminds the Christians in Rome of their identity in Christ, and how to live in light of this truth. In our everyday lives, it's important that we know the truth so we can live it out.

Paul writes another letter to the Corinthians to help them grown in spiritual maturity. One of the issues he addresses is their lack of generosity. So to combat this lack of desire, Paul gave them a deeper motivation than law or command: he gave them the gospel.