Andrew Baker | Hebrews 1:1-4; Revelation 21:3; John 13:35; Acts 4:32; Ephesians 1:4-5 — Throughout Jesus’ life we see that the central heart of God’s purpose is to be with man. Not just to send a saving message from afar, but to come and live in our midst as the very message of love itself. Not just to redeem us through the Cross, but to gather in simplicity with His beloved children around the table.

Andrew Baker | Hebrews 10:19-25; John 13:35 — Upon the foundation of all that Christ has accomplished, the writer to the Hebrews instructs his readers to ‘stir up one another’ to love and good works. In a world desperately lacking real connection, we have a unique opportunity to live differently as we follow Jesus’ example: loving and serving the world around us as His united, connected family.

Adam Ritchard | John 3:7,14,22-31a, 4:4; Psalm 139:23-24; Philippians 2:3-11 — Where is Jesus in the picture of our lives - front and centre, or on the periphery? As Jesus’ following increased, John The Baptist was not threatened by Him as a rival teacher. Rather, knowing Jesus to be the Messiah, John knew his own role was a supporting act which must necessarily ‘decrease’ for Jesus’ prominence to ‘increase’. In the coming year, may we make it our highest goal and greatest necessity that Jesus would increase in every area of our lives.

Kathryn Hartley | Deuteronomy 8:1-6; Exodus 13:11-22, 17 — On the eve of entering the Promised Land, Moses instructs the Israelites to look back; to see the evidence of God’s presence, plan, and desire for relationship through it all. As we reflect on the past year and the year to come, may we look to the example of Moses. May we look with right perspective, remembering that God has been (and will be) with us ‘the whole way’ through this journey of life.

Andrew Baker | Luke 2:1-11; Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:21; John 3:16-17 — The popular themes of hope, joy, and peace are all wonderful, but they are ultimately peripheral to the central theme of Christmas: Christ the Saviour is born. Instead of the condemnation that we rightly deserved, Jesus’ coming embodied a real plan, with a real purpose and promise - to save us from our sin and bring us into everlasting relationship with the Father.

Adam Ritchard | Matthew 1:18-23, 28:20; John 1:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:19; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 121; Jude 24 — After 400 years of silence, and in the midst of Roman oppression, the Jews must have asked: God, where are you? In response, the eternal God - the God of relationship, reconciliation and reliability - lowered Himself into humanity. Immanuel: God With Us.

Andrew Baker | Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 4:32 — As humans, our natural response is to show love to those we like, and hate to those we don’t. But Jesus’ striking instruction and the testament of His life and death is precisely the opposite: “Love your enemies”. We, who were His enemies but now stand reconciled through His sacrificial love, are called to do the same.

Kathryn Hartley | Luke 1:46-56 — Mary was an ordinary young woman who found herself in extraordinarily unexpected circumstances: virgin-mother of the promised Messiah. And yet, in spite of all the unknowns and implications, Mary responded with a deep, humble dependence on God. As we face the unexpected happenings of life, may we too humbly depend on Him; magnifying and anchoring into the enduring character of the One who is our faithful present and future hope.

Trevor Galpin | Ephesians 1:4-5; Genesis 3:1-10; Luke 1:26-45; Matthew 1:18-25 — Even before the creation of the universe, God was already ‘Father’. And it was out of the overflow of His Triune love that He created and redeemed us to be His own. We were, are, and always will be His precious sons and daughters, chosen before time and set apart for relationship with the One who has always been ‘Father’.

Andrew Baker | Matthew 5:1-9; Ephesians 6:10-18; Luke 2:14; Colossians 1:20; John 14:27; Mark 4:35-41 — At times it is easy to feel too small to make a difference in our world. But as we see conflict around us, we are reminded that Jesus’ peace was not defined by the absence of turmoil; it was the powerful assurance He declared into the very midst of the storm. As we anchor into and receive Jesus’ gift of peace, may we go forth as bringers and makers of it in the world around us.