Jesus came to give abundant life, but what exactly is this life? Some would say it is a life of service, or heaven, or a life of physical health and financial wealth. In this message, Pastor Derek defines abundant life as being fully human and fully alive. God works to make us fully whole and integrated physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, sexually, and socially.
The central mystery of Christmas is the incarnation, that came to be with us by becoming one of us. How can Jesus be the all powerful God and a little bitty baby at the same time? It is a mystery. Join Pastor Derek in an exploration of Jesus, fully God and fully human.
Catholic Christians honor her. Protestant Christians become nervous at the mention of her name. Mary, the mother of Jesus, cannot be ignored. David Lyle Jeffery writes, Through Mary, the majesty and unapproachable holiness of God joined the frail impermanence of fallen humanity. She was the chosen vessel of the Incarnation, at the pivot point of God’s saving plan. How could Mary not loom in the imagination of the church?
Mary’s mysterious visitation by Gabriel the angel, the mysterious message of virgin birth, and her mysterious response of faith is inextricably tied to the mystery of Christmas. Join Pastor Derek in the exploration of Mary and follow Mary’s example of pondering all these things in your heart.
With coffee and Bible in hand, Pastor Derek leads a study of ten prophecies in the Old Testament spoken over a period of 1000 years that were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. How can different people living at different times receive strange sounding inspired messages about a future ruler/king and all of them converge in the birth of one baby boy? It is a mystery.
It is not hard to understand how Christmas has been hijacked by a consumer-driven culture with an expected $481.6 billion in expected sales this Christmas season. The way to put Christ back into Christmas is to replace your mistletoe with mystery. Join Pastor Derek in this invitation to explore the mystery of Christmas.
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