In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus is without honor because he is only a prophet in the minds of so many locals. Far be it from us to trivialize who Jesus is and what he has done. It's the same story it has been our whole lives, but it's still amazing and life-changing.

Where are you "supposed to be" in life? Where are you supposed to be at the beginning of 2026? As we gather for the first time in the new year, let's be sure to search for answers to such questions in Scripture. Ephesians 3:2-12 details the mystery of God's revelation to all people.

All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission.

It is easy this time of year to get so wrapped up in the chaos that we forget about the baby in the manger. We also forget that through him we are his children. Paul reminds us that God sent his Son to redeem us; therefore, we are children of God! That is true and lasting joy!

The day that God himself was veiled in flesh in order to save sinners is worth every bit of celebration. From the beginning, the solution to sin was the flesh and blood of the God of the universe. God bless your celebration of Jesus' birth. May the God who made his dwelling among us remind you of his love.

Lord, remind us how reliable our God is when we doubt. Read 1 Peter 2:4-6 and be reminded of God's great promise to you. Then join brothers and sisters in Christ who are experiencing all sorts of doubts, anxieties, and fears. Together we'll be reminded of what our God has done for us.

Bad stuff happens in life. We all know it. We all experience it. This side of heaven, Jesus never tells us otherwise and actually makes it clear, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). Despite this humbling reality, we rejoice this Christmas season and always that we have a God who loves us, who carries us, and who leads us forward in his holy name . . . even when bad things happen. What a blessing. What a truth!

Sometimes these little words are the most important and the most important to be reminded of. We can all put happy fronts on social media and Christmas cards. We can also do a pretty good job in person, but we all have moments of loneliness, and they can easily be exacerbated during this Advent season. When that happens, may the Holy Spirit guide us to pray, "Lord, remind me that you are with us."

Advent can get frenzied and full of anxiety. As we await Jesus' final return and anticipate the celebration of his first arrival in our world, we need him to remind us of his lordship in our lives. Exodus 34 gives us insights into what the name of the Lord communicates.

All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission.

Throughout November, we have been thankful for the significant moments in our lives, for the people God puts in our lives, and for the fruits of faith seen around us. Now we thank our Creator for his grace. The God who provides daily bread and necessary weather patterns is the God who provides the salvation we need because of our sins.

It goes without saying that our God gives us so much to be thankful for. At the top of that list is the essence and power of the gospel message we hold so dear. Witnessing how this gospel equips us and others to serve his holy name is not, though, an opportunity to pat ourselves on the back and say, "well done." Instead, it's another opportunity to marvel at the timeless truth that "God is at hand" in our lives and in the lives of so many others.