The dragon is the most ominous figure in John's apocalyptic account of the Christmas story. Who is this dragon and what role does it play in the Christmas story. John tells us that this dragon is the accuser, Satan, who has made it his mission to steal, kill, and destroy God's beautiful creation and image bearers.

Revelation 12 depicts a cosmic scene filled with symbolism and imagery that overlap in meaning. Who is the woman in this picture. She represents many, in each representation she receives from the Lord power, provision, and protection.

The Apostle John wrote a letter addressed to 7 churches located in modern day western Turkey; we know it today as the book of Revelation. In it are layers of metaphor and symbolism in an ancient style of writing called, "Jewish Apocalyptic Literature." This letter was written to encourage the persecuted church who'd seen violent and horrific acts perpetrated against it. As we uncover the layers of meaning in Revelation 12, one story seems to be clear, we have a part to play in the nativity story.

Sometimes we wonder why it is hard to worship. We see others who pour their heart out to God in song or in prayer and wonder why our soul feels dry. It just might be the case that in order to find a heart of worship we need to begin with a heart of gratitude. Gratitude transforms our hearts reminding us of who God is and who we are. King David demonstrates this throughout many of the Psalms, that his greatest moments of worship begin and end with gratitude.

Practicing gratitude is important for the health and wellness of our communities and our own mental health. Gratitude is the act of beholding an object for the purpose of appreciating it within the context of your experience. When we practice gratitude regularly it warms our affections toward the things we experience, and builds a vision of hope in us, all by God's design.

Jesus’ disciples devoted their lives to building up the church, modeling the values and patterns of healthy discipleship. In this week’s message, we conclude our discipleship series with a focus on the final phrase in our definition of a disciple: Strengthening God’s Church. This commitment is foundational to Price Chapel’s core values: Worshipping God, Biblical teaching and preaching, Fellowship as family, Investing in the next generation, and Sending disciples to share Jesus locally, regionally, and globally.

Disciples of Jesus continue following him by sharing the good news of the gospel message. As his followers we are witness of God's grace and power in our lives and so we share it with others. There are three steps to sharing the gospel. First, we need to understand the gospel message. Second, we must be clothed with the power of God. And third, we must be willing to embrace the risk.

In the Gospel of Luke, three different men come to Jesus with a desire to follow him, yet Jesus turns them away, each for a different reason. There is a cost to discipleship that we often don't consider. What will it cost? For some it's their sense of security, for others the priority of relationships, and still for others its time. Regardless the cost, following Jesus yields a life marked by increased joy, hope, and purpose.

Discipleship is a core aspect of being a Christian. A disciple is someone who loves God and others by following Jesus, sharing the gospel, and strengthening God's church. So much of the Bible and Jesus' own teaching is on the topic of relating to others. We often lack empathy for others because we are overwhelmed by the size of the problem. But as we follow Jesus, our capacity grows and his disciples are marked by empathy and compassion for others.

Disciples are marked by a radical love for God. But, our capacity to become disciples hinges more on our desire to obey than our desire to learn. In Luke's gospel we see glimpses of Jesus calling Levi to join the twelve. In Levi's story we see the markers of true discipleship based on radical love: leaving everything behind, celebrating Jesus, inviting friends to the table, and repentance.