As Americans prepare to set a record for Christmas spending, the Christmas story reminds us that Jesus was born into a situation of suffering and humility. Jesus invites us to join his work of alleviating suffering around the world and even here at home.
When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed good news of great joy for all people. This week, Pastor Mark shares how we can experience this great joy in our lives today.
Most of us try to act like we have it all together. We become experts at denying and disguising our brokenness to others and even ourselves. The Christmas story shows us that Jesus comes to us in our brokenness in order to transform and heal us.
In a world where darkness is so often overwhelming, the season of Advent reminds us that Jesus comes as a light to drown out the darkness.
The three enemies of the “immeasurably more” life Jesus has for us are control, comparison, and competition. If we can let go of these, trust God, and choose generosity, we can receive the life God offers us.
We know deep down that the good life isn’t about money, but still we find ourselves trying to pursue fulfillment, security, and happiness through accumulation. Jesus shows us that it’s only through letting go of greed and embracing generosity that we receive a life that is immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.
God is generous and gives us immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, and we have a part to play in accessing this abundance for the good of our neighbors as well as ourselves. Pastor Mark shares the key to unlocking God’s abundance in your life.
When it comes to faith and politics, the specifics can get complicated, but the bottom line is not. As followers of Jesus, our political agenda is to love our neighbors and our enemies.
We cannot separate the kind of politics we have from the kind of people we are. Our politics desperately needs people who have put away anger, rage, malice, and slander. If we want better politics, we have to allow God to form us into the kind of people who live differently.
As long as there are people in community, there will always be politics. While politics can often go wrong, we can also choose to engage in a way that represents the love of Jesus to the world and works for the good of all God's children.
