In Genesis 2, we see that God’s love is expressed TO us, it is experienced BY us, and, since experience breeds expectancy, God’s love is expected.

Only by experiencing the love of God can we come to truly trust and expect the present reality of the love of God when we are no longer on the mountaintop.

You personally are intended to glorify God by reflecting His love and goodness, so what does the creation narrative show us about Him?

1. God alone brings order out of chaos.

2. God alone is sovereign over all things.

3. God alone defines our intended purpose.

We are all called to live a life on mission, so how does a missionary live?

1. A missionary lives at peace.

2. A missionary lives sent.

3. A missionary lives empowered.

We learn how leadership is formed and forged by the grace of God as we look at some of the responsibilities and blessings that go along with a calling to Biblical leadership - both for those who are leading and for those who are being led.

We examine three things that are true about our community because of the grace of God:

1. We are a compassionate community

2. We are a counter-cultural community

3. We are a compelling community

Jesus lived examples of all these qualities. We need to believe what He has declared about our community and follow His example.

How does the love of God define us as worshippers?

It produces our worship, directs our worship, and empowers our worship. All of this is intended to lead us to a transformed life.

We look at how the Great Commission is carefully planned - not a last-minute, thrown-together effort.

It is a declaration of a conquering king, a proclamation of royal law, and subjection through relationship.

We live the Great Commission by loving Jesus, living His law, and telling others to do likewise until his return - remembering that we are not alone.

We look at three expectations that impact us on a daily basis and that Jesus exceeds - both in the time when he was born and today:

Our political expectations

Our social expectations

Our religious expectations

Zechariah’s prophecy gives us the answers to three questions:

Who is this Savior going to be?

What is the Savior going to do?

Why is this important to us?

It is one thing to know about God but it is another thing entirely to truly experience Him.

Jesus offers us an opportunity to experience God in a way never before possible.