Advent
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2022 • Mike Waldrop
Advent - Joy
December 11, 2022 • Mike Waldrop • Luke 13:17, Psalm 137:3, Psalm 96, Hebrews 12:1–2
Many of our Christmas songs and carols express the idea of joy. Yet this season is a time when many people are lonely, stressed, and dreading the holiday without loved ones or for a million other reasons. So, what does it even mean to have joy? And what does a life of joy look like? And if I’m struggling and lost in the darkness of my situation, does that mean there is no joy? You’re invited to join us as we explore “Joy” and what it means in real life this Sunday.
Advent - Peace
December 4, 2022 • Mike Waldrop • Romans 5:1, Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:6–8, Colossians 1:19–20
During the Christmas season we inevitably read from Luke the song of the angels, “Peace on earth, good will to men.” And despite reading that and celebrating Jesus as the living Prince of Peace, we seem to live in conflict and tensions without personally feeling “at peace.” Join us for the second Sunday of Advent as we light the candle of peace. Consider with us what it means to both live at peace with our God, and in the experience of His peace today.
Advent - Hope
November 27, 2022 • Mike Waldrop • Lamentations 3:24
Hope. Sometimes it seems we life in a world or in a season of life in which there is not much hope. And if our hope is in our circumstances or our status improving there might not be reason for a valid hope. But Christmas is the celebration of God fulfilling hope in the gift of Israel’s Messiah. And the arrival of a newborn Jesus, followed by his life, death and resurrection give us hope. Join us Sunday as we look forward to hope that is in Christmas.
As We Have Been Told
December 26, 2021 • Mike Waldrop • Luke 2:1–20
Many of us were raised hearing the Christmas story from the Bible every year. You know, shepherds, camels, wise men, Mary and Joseph and no room at the inn. In fact, we’ve heard it so many times we become numb and overlook some of the cooler things about the story. For many of us, the shepherds have become props that simply facilitate angels singing and men recognizing the baby Jesus. Yet, the shepherds played a key role in the story and are great examples of God’s love for people of all classes. What kind of shepherd would you be in the same situation? Join us and find out.
JOY found in the PAUSE
December 19, 2021 • Brett Posey • Isaiah 25
As we enter the final days before Christmas, we will begin to celebrate the birth of Christ, the moment that Jesus entered the world. In the first Advent, there was a promise and a fulfillment that gives us assurance the second Advent will occur too. However, all too often we allow circumstances around us to clutter our point of view and steal our JOY, only replacing it with idols to fix what we think is broken. But when we pause, and choose to anticipate what the truth of Scripture is, we will not become discouraged from disappointment of our expectations, and our Joy will reflect an inner peace of God’s presence among us.
End of Exile, Path of Peace
Isaiah 64:1—65:1
Israel waited decades for the end of exile and the return from Babylon. But even after they returned from Babylon, the Israelites came to believe that they remained in exile even though they were in their own land. The Gospel of Luke records the Song of Zechariah in which he promises the fulfillment of the return from exile, as well as a path to peace.
The Comfort of Christmas
November 28, 2021 • Mike Waldrop • Isaiah 40:1–11
Between the current events of our world, and the demands of the Christmas season it sometimes seems that everyone wants our attention and support. Friends, family and co-workers all want you on their side of whatever cause or issue is in the news. Charities and good causes want your financial support and your volunteer hours. And it can become easy for us to be consumed by all these causes and concerns. But the Old Testament tells us that the prophets promised comfort to God’s people and called God’s people to one consuming cause. Join us as we look at the comfort of Christmas and the cause that is greater than all others.