The Road to Christmas

For the Time Being

January 1, 2023 • Matt Holmes • Titus 2:11–14

Well, Christmas is over. The gifts have been opened, the food has been eaten, and soon the decorations will go back in the box and the kids will go back to school. But has anything changed? Did it all mean anything? The rest of the world will return to normal, forgetting all that business of "peace on Earth and goodwill to men." But what about those of us who encountered Jesus this Christmas? What are we supposed to do? How should we be different? How can we live for Jesus for the time being, while we wait for Jesus to return?

The Shepherds

December 24, 2022 • Matt Holmes • Luke 2:8–17

The Baby

December 25, 2022 • Matt Holmes • John 1:1–19

This Christmas Day we're looking at the story of the baby. How did God the Son, creator and sustainer of the entire universe, end up as a baby in a poor corner of the Roman Empire? What can we learn from thinking about who Jesus was before he became a human being? Join us to find out!

The Magi

December 18, 2022 • Matt Holmes • Matthew 2:1–18

The Magi are a strange group of people--powerful magicians from a foreign nation, followers of a foreign god, who journey all the way to Bethlehem to worship a baby. Why did they come?Why did they worship the baby? How can we follow in the footsteps of their tremendous journey?

Joseph

December 11, 2022 • Matt Holmes • Matthew 1:18–25

Joseph was an heir to the king of Israel, raised to believe that his family would conquer the enemies of Israel and rule the world. Then one day an angel told Joseph to marry a woman who was already pregnant and raise the child as his heir. What could God be doing? And how can Joseph accept this radical new plan?

Mary

December 4, 2022 • Matt Holmes • Luke 1:26–38

One day in a dusty town called Nazareth, an angel appeared to a teen-aged girl and told her that she was "highly favored" by God. What does it mean to be favored by God? And why did God choose this particular teenager for his favor?

Zechariah

November 27, 2022 • Matt Holmes • Luke 1:57–80, Luke 1:1–25

After centuries of waiting, Israel begins to see signs that God is ready to restore them. But how can they be sure that God is really going to act? What does it look like to trust in God's biggest promises?