Synopsis: Finally, Jesus came to remove all excuses we may have about God. God came to us. He did not ignore us or put distance between us and him. Rather he came to show us how God really is and what it means to be a follower of God. This is done by us realizing what God has done for us and us doing for others what God had done for us.

Synopsis: Have you ever had a view or a perspective on something and with time and experience had that opinion or perspective changed? The Israelites had a view or understanding of God which over time became very different from the view of God in earlier centuries. Jesus came to bless the world but he also came to clarify an understanding of God which people had distorted. He became God with skin on. The visible being of the invisible God.

Synopsis: We see the bumper sticker, “He is the reason for the season” but is Jesus really the reason for the season? Or did we, have we lived such messed up lives that Jesus isn’t the reason for the season, we are the reason for the season. Very different from our world’s view of Christmas with lights, music, presents, parties, etc., on that first Christmas Gold blessed the world with a different kind of king who came to establish a different kind of kingdom.

Synopsis: Advent is not a countdown of how many shopping days we have left until Christmas or how long it will be before Santa arrives. Advent is a journey toward the manger. A journey toward the Christ Child. A spiritual journey of seeking, finding, coming into the presence of the Holy One of God and making room in our lives and hearts for the child for whom there was no room the night he was born and there is too little room today. It is a journey of hope, peace, joy and love. And we begin that journey today with the Wise Men of Scripture as our guide and our shared Communion table as our staring point.

Synopsis: The Standard By Which You Judge Others, Will Be the Standard By Which You Judge. Regarding judgment, we should always lean towards giving extra
grace. But what about the times when we see someone we love headed down a
path that leads to destruction? There’s a way to help someone with a judgment
call while still loving them well.

Synopsis: When Jesus comes back, he’ll be a Conquering King. But as we wait for him, as his followers, we are expected to care for those who are less fortunate than us. Are you willing to take practical steps towards loving others?