Joy of Christmas
It’s easy to get caught up in the modern day trappings of Christmas, but still miss the joy that comes from the little things. Many Christmas TV specials have been relegated to online viewing, but you may remember the Charlie Brown scene where Charlie Brown asks if anyone knows what Christmas is about, and Linus recites the story of Christ’s birth from Luke 2. In a culture where commercialism ramps up the final quarter of the year, it’s easy to forget that Christmas isn’t really about us- our family, friends, church, presents- but it’s about Jesus. And that’s where the true joy comes from.
Be Rich ’22
Be Rich is a campaign to change our local world by positively impacting individuals and organizations that are making a difference in people’s lives. Be Rich is a focus that takes our attention off of ourselves and puts it onto God and others. Be Rich shows us how God wants us to respond to His blessings and teaches us how to love beyond self, serve beyond self and give beyond self. Be Rich isn’t about learning how to get rich, because plenty of people are trying to tell you how to get rich. Instead, Be Rich teaches us how to be rich in a way that honors God.
Rise Above
There’s something that’s been unsettling for quite a long time and it has to do with how we, as Christians, treat others. Political behavior is the symptom, but how we treat one another is the issue.
When Jesus gathered with His disciples for His final Passover celebration with them, when He sat down to His last supper with them before being arrested and tried and crucified, He said to His disciples, “Guys, I’m giving you new command. This command is going to supersede all the other commands. And this was His new command:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34, NIV)
It was quite simple. “You are to love one another, but this isn’t one-way, this is two-way. You are to love one another as I have loved you.” And then, He tells us why:
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
(John 13:35, NIV)
That means that we, as 21st Century followers of Jesus must do better. Rise Above explores how we can rise above the noise and follow Jesus better.
Rise Above (10/23/2022)
Amazing Grace
If you think about it, there really aren’t all that many things in this world that are amazing. We can discuss what is and what isn’t amazing, but one thing that most definitely qualifies as amazing is God’s grace. His grace causes great surprise and sudden wonder when we begin to understand that it is available to all who will ask without charge. It’s available to the least deserving of us and it is most excellent and wonderful. Amazing Grace for sure! The message series, Amazing Grace, explores God’s grace in a way that helps us understand just how amazing it is.