Whenever we talk about fasting, we usually ask the question of what we're choosing to go without. Whether it's food or something else, we fixate on the thing we are setting aside. But the whole purpose of setting one thing aside is to take another thing on. We fast from, in order to fast for something greater! Fasting is a tool for us to tend the mess in our hearts and reorder and reorient to the person and way of Jesus. We create space in our hearts, bodies, calendars, and minds to train our attention on the true source and Bread of Life.

What do you live by? Everyone has something they trust in. A source of truth that guides their mental maps of the world they're navigating. For Jesus, that foundation was the Hebrew Scriptures. For His followers, the same holds true, along with writings from His followers in the immediate aftermath of His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. We learn to live a life in proximity to God and guided by His Spirit as we engage Him through the Bible and in community. There are a lot of things we can live by, but only one source of life and truth.

God does not pursue you for your treasure, He pursues you for your heart. His love draws back those who don't know Him, those who have wandered away from His love, and those who have become stagnant and complacent. As we start to conclude this Advent season, Pastor Ryan speaks to us from Matthew 2 about how God's love pursues and humbles our hearts, and how He's given us His all-sufficient love in the form of Jesus, born to us as a baby on Christmas. What can you give more than your heart?

Would you characterize yourself as joyful? What about when things go wrong? Biblical joy is enduring and goes beyond circumstances to become who we are deep down. It can overcome fear to help us think clearly in difficult situations. Biblical, divine joy comes from proximity to God in prayer and worship and it's a fruit of our being recreated into the character of Jesus, full of joy.

As we continue the Advent season this year we look to the Prince of Peace, as the One who provides for us a Peace that is both permanent and unwavering. Peace is not the absence of conflict and chaos, but is rather the presence of the fullness of God. Sometimes it's rewarding to chase after the peace that God gives; to sit back and ask ourselves "Which of these things truly gives me God's perfect peace?" God provides for us a peace that is neither circumstantial or situational. Which peace are you seeking this Christmas season?

As we begin the Advent season this year we look a the story of Simeon, recorded by Luke in his gospel. Simeon's is a story of Hope, at length deferred, but finally fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Simeon heard from the Lord and had hope in Him. He had a trust in things yet unseen. What does it look like for us to step into Simeon's sandals? What can we learn when we come & see the Hope of Humanity, God With Us in the person of Jesus and begin to trust in Him?

Do you have a vision of Heaven? Pastor Ryan concludes our series through the Epic Story of Scripture with just that. We look at the end of Revelation as John paints for us a picture of what eternity in the presence of God will be like! We will have God with us forever, no more pain or sorrow, and a life where all things are new... always. Hallelujah!

What will it be like after Jesus comes back? Is it a time to be fearful of or a time to look forward to with hopeful anticipation? The answer to that depends on you. Do you want to be ruled by King Jesus? That is the reality and the question set before us as Pastor Ryan draws our year-long journey through the Bible near its conclusion with a look at Revelation 20 and the reign of King Jesus in this penultimate teaching from the Epic Story.

There is one attribute of God's that gets repeated three times when it's used. That is that God is holy, holy, holy. He is utterly other and worthy of true awe and reverence. Pastor Mike returns to set before us what it means to live in the fear of the Lord and pursue the Kingdom of Heaven first.

Do you know the end of the Epic Story? It's pretty simple: Jesus wins! The power of Satan holds sway in many venues in the world, giving rise to the influence of the Biblical concept of Babylon all around us. Followers of Jesus can, however, have hope. In the end the Lamb of God, the Savior of the World, Jesus the Anointed One, The very God of Creation Incarnate will return in glorious splendor to vanquish Satan and establish His Kingdom of Truth and Justice forever!