During the Christmas season, we often reflect on the nativity story. However, the birth of Jesus is just the first part of a truly incredible gift—Jesus was born to rescue us through His death. This week, we gather to celebrate Christmas and give thanks for this Gift of Life!

As we continue our study in Romans this week, we learn the foundational principles of faith—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s important because of what it unleashes. As our faith increases, we witness more of the presence and power of God in our lives along with greater peace, joy, and confidence.

As Christ-followers, it’s important to know how we fit into the story of the Gospel. This week, Michael reminds us that the better we understand the story of the Bible, the clearer God’s vision for our lives becomes.

What does it mean to live a life of “Listen and Follow”? This week, we welcome Dr. Thomas and Lita Lee as they share their journey from pursuing the American Dream to dedicating their lives to serving the people of Rwanda through their dental care ministry, His Hands On Africa.

Through His death and resurrection, we can follow Jesus into new life if we have faith. This week, Joel shares that living a life of faith isn’t always easy, especially when it doesn’t seem fair or when it doesn’t work out the way we want it to. Hope comes from holding onto the teachings of Jesus so that we can know the truth, and the truth can set us free.

Through Christ, God can be a good and righteous judge while keeping His promise to rescue the human race from the power of sin. Only through the sacrifice of Jesus can we be restored into relationship with a God who loves us.

Despite the many external factors philosophers have theorized as being responsible for the problems in our culture, as Christ-followers, we know the problem lies within the human heart. This week, Michael reveals Paul’s verdict based on the evidence against the human race: that we are all under the power of sin with no way to fix ourselves. When we fully comprehend the bad news, we are equipped to see the beauty and necessity of the Gospel.

This week, Michael explores the transformational power of the Scriptures in our lives, as they are the very words of God. We also discover that knowing and obeying God’s Word not only provides protection but also leads us to truth, guidance, and blessing.

How does your life, as a child of God, reveal the goodness, grace, and incredible love that God has for His people? This week, Joel explores the idea of privilege in the context of the Gospel, which is a gift that we have been given for a purpose greater than ourselves.

What are you pursuing? Who are you trying to please in and through your life? This week, we continue our series in Romans and learn how we can live our lives for Jesus’ coming Kingdom. The reality that we will come before Jesus to be evaluated based on how we have lived and what we have done serves as a catalyst to live a life worthy of glory, honor, and immortality.