What do you do with a less-than Christmas? When you are less popular, less known, less loved, and feeling less than, where do you turn? John knows the perfect answer to that question, an answer that brings joy back to empty hearts.

Are you hoping for the perfect family Christmas? Do you have plans for how Christmas should go? Are you fearful that you won't have enough time to get it all done and even if you do, it might not be a guaranteed perfect Christmas? Listen in to the message as our God and Father sends to us the perfect forerunner, John the Baptist - the Hype Man of Christmas, to lead us to the perfect family Christmas in Christ inspired by Luke 1:17.

Is God pleased with you? If you could see the Father’s face, would a smile spread across his lips? If you are unsure of your answer, look to John standing with Jesus and listen to the voice that booms from heaven. At Jesus’ baptism and through your baptism, God answers life’s most important questions.

How impressive is your Jesus? The answer to that question might determine the quality of your Christmas. That’s why John wants to remind you who Jesus really is and how impressive his work really was.

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Paul knew that being devoted to God and his good will would be a lesson that many Christians would need to learn. This message, in light of the gospel, spurs us on to love God’s Word and to love the people God put into our lives.

Some Christians talk all about grace and not much about works. Others focus on obedience after breezing past Jesus on the cross. Paul picks a middle ground. He focuses on the love of God in Christ, and explains how that shapes our lives as Christians.

How do we inspire people to change? How does change happen in our own lives? Paul knows there is something more powerful than guilt or demands to change our hearts and lives. That something is grace. Christians need high standards of behavior…and cannot forget the greatest motivation of all—the grace of God.

Our choices affect us…and God—Paul clearly lays out various instructions for the Christian Church, which shape the way we treat one another in the

family of God…and reflect on the name of God and the attractiveness of his Word to the outside world.

Paul cared as much about doctrine as dieticians care about ingredients. What is contained in a person’s belief system will either help or harm. Therefore, Paul pushes us to read the ingredients on someone’s teaching…and rebuke those who deviate from God’s truth.

Those who lead the church have a high and holy calling. They can bring many people to Jesus or damage those that God loves dearly. Therefore, Paul gives Titus (and us) high standards for their message…and their personal lifestyle.