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Time and again, Jesus went out of His way for one. It might seem impractical or even reckless, but He was willing to go all in for one. Who is the one we need to focus our attention on finding? How impractical and reckless might we become for one?

We were made for God such that He has total claim over every facet of our lives, including what we do with our bodies. We are to run from temptation and continually offer our whole persons—our bodies and our hearts—to God for the glory of His name.

An online only service with a special message from Kyle Idleman.

Within this Christmas story filled with uncertainty, we see God’s providence in how He sent each angel to convey His message of good news. We trust He also will bring just what and who we need to reassure our hearts and accomplish His purposes.

From the time Joseph heard the news of Mary’s pregnancy, through living on the run for three years in Egypt, he was constantly giving. Joseph sacrificed his pride, his livelihood, his plans for the future, and his financial security.

Joseph must have been overwhelmed when told Mary was pregnant through the Holy Spirit. An angel reassured him God was keeping His promises—Joseph just needed to trust the message. Echoed throughout Scripture, this promise is just as true today.

The wise men specifically brought three gifts to Jesus. Whatever their intent, the gifts were likely used in His family’s escape to and provision in Egypt. When we give, we have the privilege of entering into and being a part of God’s great story.

Mary was told that she would bring God in the flesh into this world through the work of the Holy Spirit. With this came uncertainty. Yet, Mary chose to look back and celebrate the broader plan of God that placed her circumstances in perspective.

King Herod pretended to want to honor Jesus, but in his heart resented Jesus’ birth. Had Herod joined the wise men in worship and generosity, his story would have changed forever. Instead, his legacy is that of a king desperate for power at any cost.

The wise men left families, comfort, and security to celebrate Jesus’ birth. As we think about the incarnation and see the journey Jesus took to give us life, we also should take a journey to celebrate the gift and to honor Him with gifts of our own.

An invisible war is all around us, but so is an invisible army through prayer that will surround us on all occasions. We pray knowing that we don’t fight for victory—we fight from victory in Christ, who has already won through His work on the cross.

The majority of the spiritual attacks we face are unseen, with the battleground in our minds. God wants to equip and prepare us to stand against the enemy’s schemes. This means becoming aware of those schemes and putting on the full armor of God.

Beneath our tangible landscape lurks an invisible spiritual realm where unseen battles rage. It’s a serious enemy we are up against, and Ephesians 6 offers us a serious solution—to unlock the strength we can find in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Part of the mission God has given us in this life is to submit to those in authority in a way that follows the example of Jesus. Believers see submission as a sacred duty and even more so as a lifelong way of continually growing in submission to God.

Biblical submission comes from the example of Jesus on the cross—a willing action inspired by love instead of forced obligation. Freely given submission is an opportunity to reflect the way of Jesus through a lifetime of sacrifice toward one another.

While the days are certainly evil, we don’t live with hopelessness, knowing Jesus is over everything in every way. Yet, instead of living with apathy, we engage. We live by the power of the Spirit and join God in the work of making all things new.

When Jesus invited us to a new way of living, He was calling us to embrace being children of God who live in the light. This means that our standards for life switch from being merely about what we shouldn’t do to discovering what pleases the Lord.

As the Spirit renews our thoughts and attitudes, our language begins to adjust. Lies are no longer on our lips and anger doesn’t fill our body. Instead, we practice putting on our new nature given through the Holy Spirit.

Discovering who we are changes how we live and begins with switching our thinking to become more like Christ. As the Spirit renews our thoughts and attitudes, we learn what it means to live in a way toward ourselves and others that pleases the Lord.

As believers, our identity isn’t in tribalism rooted in political affiliations or personal preferences. Our true tribe is found in the body of Christ, and this higher identity is the gateway to a deeper community than this world could ever offer.