For so many in our world today, the Bible is not valid for proving anything. People are quick to dismiss the Scripture even though It has NEVER been disproven scientifically, historically, archaeologically, or spiritually. Disagreeing with it, doesn’t prove it wrong. There were times in history when people said, 'We have no record of that king or that city the Bible refers to', so the Bible is wrong, not accurate history, but archaeology in the 1900s boomed and began to validate everything the Bible said. Last week we looked at the necessity, the biblical mandate for our study in theology. Everything I am going to be teaching in this series has as its source the Bible. So, let’s ask first, 'What is the Bible?' If the Bible is not trustworthy we can’t be sure of anything in theology. I am going to say that the Bible is completely trustworthy and fully sufficient for faith and life because it is incomparable, inspired and inerrant.

When you hear the word theology, what comes to your mind? Is it something done in the halls of academics, the discussions of people not living in the real world? Last week we learned that the word theology is made up of two words in the Greek: theos and logos. Theos means God and logos means words, content, ideas. So theology is words, contents and ideas about God; and everyone has thoughts on and about God. And those thoughts, right, wrong, vague will shape our view and understanding of God, ourselves, life, relationships, everything.

Today we begin a long series on theology, on doctrine. I am calling it What is as I will be looking at what the Bible teaches us about what is the Bible, what is God, what is Jesus, what is the Holy Spirit, what is Satan, what are angels, what is the Church, what is salvation, what is eternal security, what is the great commandment and the great commission, what is man, what is sin, what is Israel, what is going to happen when Jesus returns, what is heaven, and more.

We are starting off our 21 Days of Prayer today. Dr. Hahn shares about our vision and prayer needs, and leads us in the Lord's Supper. The full service is available in our app and online.

I believe that the tradition of New Year’s resolutions has, at its foundation, a good cause. A new year means a fresh start. And boy, do we need fresh starts sometimes. What does the Lord really want from you? Is it Worship? Sacrifice? Offerings?

Turn with me in your Bibles, to the Old Testament book of Micah. (about 30-40 pages from the end of the OT). We will begin reading in chapter 6: 6-8.

Who is that baby in the manger? Who is that that baby born of a virgin? Who is that baby for whom 10,000 times 10,000 angels would fill the sky to sing and worship? Who is this baby for whom the blue-collar workers would come running? Who is this baby for whom the intellects and the elite would come and bow down. Who is this baby for whom the government would tremble? Who is this baby that would be called the Son of God? Oh, He's Jesus. He's God's gift for you. God's perfect gift for you. All that He is, all that is in Him is God's gift for you.

Here we are, the 4th Sunday of Advent. Christmas just 4 days away. It’s been a good month of preparing to celebrate the first advent of our Lord and in that being more prepared for the second Advent of our Lord because Jesus is coming back. We have a certain hope in that and we feed that hope, prepare to celebrate it by daily being in God’s word. We are recipients of peace, and we prepare for Christmas by being people of peace, sharing it, living it. And we have talked about preparing a joy that is in obeying God rather than ourselves, to find joy in what our Savior found joy. And today we come to the fourth word of Advent, love. What does love mean, what does it do?

The biggest impact of celebrating the first coming of Jesus should be our readiness for His Second Coming. Have you ever thought of Christmas that way? We’ve looked at hope and said we need to encourage that sure hope with reading our Bible daily. We have looked at peace and said we need to be a people always working at peace as that is a purpose of Christmas. And today we look at joy. Hope, peace, joy are words that adorn our Christmas cards, Christmas songs, and Christmas messages. Important words we can give little thought to. God has for us in Christmas a deeper joy, an eternal joy, but it is maybe a joy that requires the biggest course correction in our lives. Christmas is Jesus coming to this world and showing us life. In Him we learn what joy is.

Last week we learned that Advent has been around for over 1500 years and most of that time the focus of Advent, of preparing for Christmas was repentance and fasting. We’re thinking about preparing for Christmas in a way that God says, 'You’re prepared', and that is a place of great richness, strength, and joy. Last week we looked at hope in the sermon and then the devotional took you to 5 more places to think on hope and then a day 6 and 7 to repenting and fasting. Today we look at peace in our sermon, and the devotional will take us to 5 more days of thoughts on peace, and then repentance and fasting. So, there is a rhythm.

Are you ready for Christmas? We ask each other about our readiness for lots of things: vacation, a new job, start of school; but that all pales in comparison to how we inquire of each other’s readiness for Christmas. We ask strangers if they are ready for Christmas! What are we asking about? Cooking and shopping, maybe travel plans, or parties to prepare. Church! Don’t forget that Christmas Eve service. With the time, money and energy we give to preparing, seems appropriate to ask, 'Does God think we are prepared?'