Christmas leads many believers and non-believers to question the challenges with which the birth of Christ presents the world.  It leaves people to wonder why God chose such an unusual way to reclaim and redeem His creation. What if things had gone a little differently?  If the innkeeper recognized the power of the moment in history and abandoned his home so Mary and Joseph could use his own place to give birth to the Savior of the World? What if his heart was hardened and he turned them away completely?  How would Christmas be different if the story was different?

Why Mary and Joseph? That is the question we are going to be asking and answering today. Why Mary? Why did God choose to use this girl? Why did God choose this carpenter Joseph? If we can discover why God chose them, maybe God can use us in some ways we never thought possible.

As we finish our series on spiritual partnerships, we look to the benefits of sharing. It's a concept that we were taught early in our childhoods. Some of us learned the lesson better than others. For some, sharing comes naturally. For others, it is more difficult. This week, we look at the transformational power of sharing.

One of the ministry partners we have is one we often overlook - our children. Jesus desires us to bring our children to him. This is not only for the sake of our children, it is for our sake as well. Jesus desires for us to learn about growing our faith from our children. 

God has big expectations for those who call themselves His followers. He always has. One of those expectations is generosity. The Good News is that not only did God model that expectation through the life of Christ, we stand on the shoulders of many others who have modeled extravagant generosity. Will we meet and/or exceed God's expectations?

Sometimes, it seems like we will never get to where we are headed. We know the goal, understand the plan, and still feel like the finish line is too far away. However, we are partners with a God who is faithful to seeing His plans through to completion.

Jesus did not do ministry alone. He commissioned others he taught and loved to do the same kind of work that he had been doing. Then, he empowered them with His Spirit. We are among those who are also empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the work that He is doing in our community. 

What happens when there is nothing we can do to find the joy in our heart? When our broken soul is sapping our spirit? How do we keep from getting in that place and what can we do if we find ourselves in that position? 

One of the decisions that you do not have is the choosing of your own name. At least not until you are old enough to change your name legally. Though we all have different first and last names, we all have one name in common. This Sunday, we learn what that name is and how it impacts our life. - Proverbs 22:1-5

Aesop is known for saying, "You can judge a man by the company he keeps." Of the many decisions we make on a daily basis, the choice of our friends is among the most important. When you choose your friends, what factors do you consider?