One thing we discover when looking at the church in the scriptures is it just seemed to be at odds with the culture. Therefore, who we are as the church and who God is making the church to be will always be at odds with the world and even bring persecution.  Yet the Bible also reminds us that there was once a church worth dying for. Pastor Ben preaches part one of the series Ekklésia from Acts 8.

In the middle of a 70 year captivity, Daniel did something profound.  He prayed.  And he didn’t pray for himself.  He made intercession for the people of God and the Sanctuary of God.  He had a deep concern for God’s people, God’s Church, and God’s name.  Do we share that concern?  Pastor Ben shares what this means for the next season at Unveil Church.

50 years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, John still considers himself to be Best Friends with Jesus.  He message is simple…BE LOVED. Not BEHAVE or even BE GOOD, but BE LOVED.  According to John, it is only when we really know we are loved can we really love one another. And when we love one another the world see Jesus.

The Scriptures are very specific on how we should be ready for Jesus return. First, how we pray and secondly and even above all, how we live in relationship with each other. So it would be right for us to take a relationship inventory as we start the new year. It would be good to ask the Lord and to pray and seek the scriptures on the people who are in are lives.

What would happen in 2016 if you truly heard the voice of God?  One thing is for sure, if you cannot hear the voice of God, it is not because He has stopped talking.  Will we get as close to Jesus as we can this year so that we can clearly hear the voice of God?

Before we ask for anything in 2016, we are reminded to give thanks to God for everything he has already done.

That first Christmas was a complete mess.  Nothing about it was any where near being a Happy Holiday.  Why would God choose to reveal himself this way? Why is it that Happiness and Merriness are not the picture we see when God enters the world. Why is that God chooses to be MESSY? Because God is sending us a message. He is sending us the message that Jesus doesn’t enter our happiness. Jesus doesn’t enter our Merriness. Christmas is about Jesus entering our Messiness.

When we give it says something about who we believe Jesus to be. Giving is not about the Gift we give, it is about what we are saying about the one we are Giving to. GIVING IS NOT ABOUT THE RESOURCE, IT IS ABOUT THE RECIPIENT.

God is a speaking God, and He’s involved in your life, and He wants to direct you, and shape you, and lead you, and guide you. What is He asking you to do? There is no need for us to fear the plans of God. His plans are good, and He is just, and He is loving.

Buried in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter one is a gospel treasure waiting to be unwrapped. That treasure is five women. Their inclusion is notable because they were among the most notorious women in biblical history. Each of these women are beautiful illustrations of what God wants to do.