Advent | Green Acres Baptist Church

The word 'Advent' in large, red decorative text above 'Christmas Devotional' on a cream background with a faint pattern of hanging ornaments and stars.

A family of six, including two parents and four children, pose for a smiling holiday portrait under a large, decorated Christmas garland arch.

Church Family,

Our dedicated staff has put together this special resource with YOU in mind. Our heartfelt desire is that amidst the holiday rush, we can take a moment to pause and deeply contemplate the incredible work the Lord has accomplished on our behalf. In the grand tapestry of the Bible, every story intricately weaves a thread that leads us to Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, you can trace the scarlet-colored thread of the gospel connecting them all. This Christmas season, we invite you to journey through these stories with us, reflecting on how they eagerly anticipated the arrival of our King.

We hope this Advent Companion Guide becomes a personal guide for you as we reflect on the coming of the King this Christmas. Hallelujah, for the King has indeed come!

Merry Christmas,
Michael and Katie Gossett

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WEEK 1

Dr. Colton Berryhill, Minister to Young Adults

Genesis 3:14-15 So the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

Christmas is one of the most familiar stories in the world, but the story of Jesus did not begin in a manger. It began long before Bethlehem, in a garden where humanity first chose sin over obedience to God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin brought brokenness and separation into God’s perfect creation. Yet even in that moment, God gave a promise. In Genesis 3:15, He declared that one day the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. Before humanity could even begin to understand the full weight of sin, God was already pointing toward the hope of a Savior. The rest of Scripture unfolds the story of God faithfully working to fulfill that promise.

As we begin this Advent journey, remember that Christmas is about more than a baby in a manger, family traditions, or a season of celebration. It is about a God who kept His promise to rescue us. Thousands of years after the promise in the garden, Jesus came into the world to defeat sin and make a way for us to be brought back to God. This is what makes Christmas so extraordinary: God did not leave us in our brokenness. He came for us. Over the next 25 days, as we walk through this journal, may we look beyond the familiar sights and sounds of Christmas and see the greater story unfolding through them. Christmas is more than a holiday. It is the story of God’s faithfulness, our redemption, and the Savior the world desperately needed.

ADULTS

How does knowing that God’s plan to rescue humanity began in Genesis change the way you view Christmas?
Where do you need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and His promises today?
What is one way you can intentionally focus on Jesus throughout this Advent season rather than getting caught up in the busyness of Christmas?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What happened when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and what promise did God make?
Why did God send Jesus into the world?
What is one way your family can make Jesus the center of Christmas this year?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, thank You for being faithful from the very beginning. Thank You for not leaving us in our sin but promising and sending a Savior to rescue us. As we begin this Advent journey, help us look beyond the traditions and distractions of Christmas and focus our hearts on Jesus. Remind us that Christmas is more than a holiday; it is the celebration of Your incredible love and the fulfillment of Your promise to redeem us. May these next 25 days draw us closer to You and help us share the hope of Jesus with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Leigh Evans, Preschool Minister

Genesis 12: 1-3 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

When God established this covenant with Abram, he was old and childless. He was directed to leave everything and to trust that God would be faithful, and he did! Some 2,000 years later, God sent His Son, Jesus to be the fulfillment of this covenant. In Jesus, we become a great nation of believers, we receive eternal salvation through His sacrificial death and resurrection, and we become part of His plan for everyone on earth to know Jesus, when we follow the Great Commission; “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20

As a Preschool Minister, I tend to read and understand the Bible in a very simple, childlike way. These verses in Genesis help me know that God spoke to Abram and made big promises to him. Abram trusted God and God was faithful. So, I know that I can also trust God to be faithful. John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” This verse tells me that God loves me, sent Jesus, and that I will be saved forever when I believe. Simple, life-changing, and amazing!

During this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also are celebrating God’s faithfulness to His people. God has a plan, and we are a part of His plan. His covenant is to a thousand generations. (Exodus 20:6)

ADULTS

Who can you share Jesus with today?
What difference has knowing Jesus made in your life?
Where would you be willing to go, to share Jesus?
When will you begin to share the good news of Jesus?

students & kids

Who is Jesus to you?
What difference could it make for someone, if you told them about Jesus?
Where do you think that God is leading you in your life?
When is the best time to share what you believe about Jesus?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord God Almighty, thank You for Your plan for all of mankind. Help us today as we begin the Christmas season to be aware of people around us that need to know the good news of Jesus. Please help us to be bold in sharing God’s story and the hope that only He can give. Amen.

Kyle Cox, Minister of Recreation

Isaiah 9:2-7 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian. For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

Isaiah wrote these words to people who were scared. The Assyrian army was on the move, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali up north had already been overrun, and King Ahaz had decided to trust a foreign king instead of the Lord. It must have felt like the lights had gone out over the whole country. Then God gave Isaiah this line: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." Did you notice Isaiah says it like it has already happened? That is how sure God's promise was. The light would come through a King, though nobody expected the kind of King God would send. He came as a baby. If you have ever come home late to a dark house and found one lamp left on for you, you know a little bit of what that light feels like.

Then Isaiah tells us His names. Wonderful Counselor: He always knows the way, even when we don't. Mighty God: nothing is too strong for Him, not sin and not even death. Eternal Father: He will never walk out on His children. Prince of Peace: He came to make peace between us and God. About seven hundred years later, in the little town of Bethlehem, Mary laid that promised child in a feeding trough. And when Jesus started His ministry in Galilee, Matthew pointed right back to this passage (Matthew 4:12-16). Advent puts us in the in-between. The King has already come, and we are still waiting for the day He comes back and His peace has no end. How can we be so sure? Verse 7 tells us: "The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this." It doesn't depend on us. God said He would do it, and He will.

ADULTS

What feels dark to you right now, whether in the news or a lot closer to home? What would it look like to invite the light of Christ into that?
Which of the four names in verse 6 do you need most this Christmas?
Verse 7 puts the whole promise on God's shoulders, not ours. Is there something you've been trying to carry that only God can do?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Turn off the lights and turn on a flashlight. What can you see now that you couldn't see a minute ago? How is Jesus like that light?
Which of Jesus' four names in verse 6 is your favorite? Why?
If you were a king, where would you want to be born? Why do you think God let Jesus be born where the animals slept?

DAILY PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our King. When things feel dark or scary, help us remember that He is our light. Help us love each other and share His light with everyone we meet. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Colby Ashe, Flint Campus Student Minister

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give youa sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

The leaves start to fall, a chill begins in the air… well sometimes, and next thing we know, December is here! As this time of the year approaches, we find ourselves thinking about traditions, family, people we miss, gifts, and all the excitement that comes with. We quickly find ourselves forgetting to think about the promise the Lord has given us over and over and over! The promise with Him being with us always. So where do we see and know this?

As we read this verse, we see a promise that God made and fulfilled through the birth of Jesus. Just as Isaiah prophesied, Mary gave birth to a son, and His name was Jesus. The God who created the heavens and the earth chose to enter His creation and come near to them. Jesus came into a broken world, lived among us, and ultimately gave His life so that we could be forgiven of our sins. This wasn't just another birth or another story. No, this was God fulfilling years of promises to send a Savior. The same God who was faithful to His people thousands of years ago is still faithful to each of us today. No matter what you are walking through, you can remember that through Jesus, God has come near to us. That is the true meaning of Immanuel. God with us!

ADULTS

When you hear the word Immanuel what does that mean you? How does that change how you approach each day?
God had made the promise of the Savior to come but it took years. How does this help you remember to be patient?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What does Immanuel mean?
Why would God send His only son to live here on earth?
What is one way your family can remember Jesus during Christmas?

DAILY PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who keeps His promises. Thank You for sending Jesus to this world to be Immanuel, God with us. Help me not to get so caught up in the excitement, traditions, and busyness of Christmas that I forget the greatest gift You have given me. Remind me daily that You are near, that You are faithful, and that I can trust You in every situation. Help our families keep Jesus at the center of everything we do. Thank You for loving me enough to come and rescue me. I love You and praise You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Tim Nipp, Worship Ministry Director

Micah 5:2-5a Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.

Long before the first Christmas, the people of Judah were living in fear and uncertainty as the threat of an Assyrian invasion loomed over them. In the middle of their troubled circumstances, God spoke through the prophet Micah, promising that a ruler would come who would shepherd His people and bring peace. What makes this prophecy remarkable is that God identified the very place where this promised ruler would be born in Bethlehem, a small and seemingly insignificant village. Hundreds of years later, the wise men stood before King Herod seeking the newborn King and pointed directly to Micah’s prophecy. Christmas was the unfolding of a plan God had established long before the world ever knew it needed a Savior. Micah tells us that the Messiah's origins were "from antiquity, from ancient times." Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, David, and the prophets. Generation after generation passed, circumstances changed, and God's people experienced seasons of uncertainty, but God's promises never failed. What God promised, He fulfilled.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful statements in this passage is found in Micah 5:5: "And He will be their peace." Our peace is not ultimately found in favorable circumstances, financial security, or our ability to control what happens around us. Our peace is found in Jesus Christ. When life feels uncertain and our resources seem inadequate, we can rest in the faithfulness of the One who has never broken a promise. God's faithfulness doesn't stop with the promise of a Savior. Through Jesus, we also receive the promise of forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The same God who faithfully fulfilled His promise to send a Savior continues to faithfully extend grace, forgiveness, and restoration to those who come to Him.

ADULTS

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, trusting Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins and the promise of eternal life?
In the busyness of the holiday season, how can you carve out quiet moments to marvel at how God keeps His ancient promises?
What are you facing this Christmas that requires you to trust God's faithfulness rather than your own ability to control the outcome?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What is the difference between knowing the Christmas story and knowing the Savior personally?
What does Micah's prophecy teach us about God's faithfulness and His ability to keep His promises?
What are some things you depend on to give you peace that can never really satisfy you?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, thank You for being a God who keeps His promises. Thank You for sending Jesus, our Savior and our peace. Help us to trust You when life is uncertain and to remember that Your faithfulness never changes. Thank You for the forgiveness and grace we have through Christ. May we find our peace, hope, and confidence in You this Christmas. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Debbie Stuart, Women’s Minister

Matthew 1:18-25

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

There will no doubt be times in our lives when God’s plan does not make sense to us. Joseph was faced with a difficult choice. He was confused and likely overwhelmed with uncertainty. When Mary received the message about being pregnant with The Messiah, Luke records that she was fearful, confused, disturbed, and frightened.

But Mary and Joseph wanted to be used by God and they responded in obedience. Then the difficult message was followed by one of the best promises of all time. That promise came in the form of a person, Immanuel - God is with us!

God. Is. With. Us. And He is present today in the life of every believer.

ADULTS

How do you respond to uncertainty or difficult situations?
Is the Lord asking you to trust him and perhaps do something that makes no sense to you?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Joseph was willing to listen and quick to obey. He followed the Lord’s instruction. Is there an area in your life that you have been hesitant or neglected to be obedient to God’s instruction?
How can you make room in your life (priorities, schedules etc.) to hear God speak to you?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Thank You for making a way for Your presence to be with Your people. This story reminds us that Your plans are greater than our understanding. When circumstances don’t make sense, help us to trust You and respond in obedience and not out of fear. May the plans and purposes for our life be accomplished according to Your Sovereign plan. Thank You for giving Your Son, Immanuel to be with us!

Kurt Fehlis, Student Pastor

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you. Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!

The Christmas season is supposed to be peaceful, but for many of us, it can feel like the opposite. Our calendars fill up, our to-do lists get longer, and the pressures and everyday worries we have do not magically disappear because Christmas has arrived (if anything, they usually get worse!). Yet Isaiah gives us this incredible promise in Isaiah 26 about a “perfect peace.” The original Hebrew literally repeats the word shalom (meaning peace): shalom, shalom—“peace upon peace,” or as our English translations beautifully express it, perfect peace. This is more than simply the absence of conflict or trouble. It is a deep, complete peace that comes from knowing and trusting God.

Notice that this peace is not found in having perfect circumstances but is found in fixing our minds on a perfect God. Perfect peace does not mean that everything in our lives suddenly becomes easy. It means that even in the middle of what we cannot control or understand, we can trust the One who never changes. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us choose to turn our attention away from the things that cause us fear and anxiety and fix our minds on Him. As Verse 4 reminds us, our circumstances may change, but our God is an everlasting Rock! In Him, we can experience “shalom, shalom,” perfect peace, not only this Christmas but in every day of our lives.

ADULTS

What circumstances or worries are currently making it difficult for you to experience peace?
What would it look like for you to intentionally fix your mind on God and trust Him with those things this Christmas season? What reminders or steps could you take to have this kind of mindset each and every day?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What are some things that make you feel worried, afraid, or anxious?
How can remembering that God is always with us and that He never changes help us to experience peace?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord, thank You for being our everlasting Rock. In the middle of our busyness and the worries we carry, please help us to fix our minds on You and trust You more each day. As we celebrate Christmas, fill our hearts and homes with Your perfect peace and teach us to embrace that peace every day. Thank you for loving us and sending Jesus to us. Amen.

WEEK 2

Matthew Gorman, Middle School Minister

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Think about someone who is a part of a sports team or works for a company. They get benefits. Benefits like free clothing with team logos and provided meals and travel. For a company employee an insurance plan, retirement plans, and paid time off. A benefit is something that is typically known as something good and helpful. In Psalms 103:2, David writes “My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits”. What David wrote then is just as true for us today. Let us not forget all that Christ has done for us to have peace with him; the greatest benefit we could have access to.

The chapters leading up to Romans 5, Paul explains to the church in Rome of what truly justifies us before God. In other words, faith in Jesus is what makes us acceptable to God. This is the heart of the gospel So, for those who believe in Jesus, what can they be assured of? Paul lays out the benefits and truths of being a Christ follower. The first one we see, is that those who are justified have peace with God. Peace is a difficult thing to obtain. Peace can be defined as something that gives us safety, security, and makes us feel complete. We can look for peace in so many different areas of life. Through relationships, achievements, status, the list goes on. Peace with God is finding joy that Jesus took the full punishment for our sin, and we can be assured that our relationship with God is fully restored. Knowing that, it creates a peace in us that we don’t have to work, achieve, or look anywhere else to find. Peace with God through Christ, is what gives us the grace, endurance, and hope to move forward confidently despite what a fallen world might throw our way.

ADULTS

Look at Romans 5:2, Paul writes that we have access into this grace, in which we stand. What does it mean to “stand” in the grace that has been given to us? How can you continue to stand in the grace that Christ has given us?
Paul tells the believers in Rome that we are to “boast in our afflictions”. That can be much easier said than done. The believer does not live a troubled free life. What does it mean to “boast in the hope of the glory of God” during “afflictions” and create the endurance that is listed in verse 3?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Through faith in Christ, we have access to his grace. If we have “access” to all the grace God has given us, how does that shape your prayer and communication to God?
Verse 5 says that “God’s love has been poured out in our hearts”. God hasn’t given us a small part of his love. He’s given us his full love. Because God loves us that much, how should that change how you treat others, the choices you make, and what you find joy in?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord, thank You for laying down Your life so that we may have peace with You. Let us find true peace in You rather than anything else. Let this peace effect how we live and interact with others that do not know this peace. Your grace is more than enough for our sin, so let us seek that grace You have given us access to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stacie Tandy, Missions Associate

Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

We can only imagine how Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel appeared with news that sounded both scary and impossible. Mary, an unmarried virgin, would have a child. Not only that, but this would be no ordinary baby. This baby named Jesus would be the Son of God. We can only imagine the questions and concerns rolling through Mary’s mind. Yet her response was remarkable: “See, I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). Despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, Mary chose to trust God and surrender to His plan.

I don’t know about you, but that is rarely (if ever) my reaction when faced with a scary or difficult situation. Unlike Mary’s calm and faithful response, I tend to go the way of the Israelites at the Red Sea in Exodus 14. Not long after fleeing Egypt, the Israelites found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s approaching army. Forgetting the miraculous rescue they had JUST experienced, they immediately panicked. Through Moses, God told them, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today…” (Exodus 14:13). Like Mary, the Israelites couldn’t see how God would work things out. Neither can we always see what God is doing or understand His plans. But we don’t have to understand every detail to trust the One who does. The same God who fulfilled His promises through Mary and delivered His people at the Red Sea is faithful today. When fear and uncertainty threaten to overwhelm us, may our response be like Mary’s: “I am the Lord’s servant.” We can trust Him with what we cannot see and surrender to His plans, even when they don’t make sense to us.

ADULTS

When you face uncertainty or circumstances beyond your control, what is your typical response? What makes trusting God difficult in those moments?
Mary trusted God without knowing everything that lay ahead. Is there an area of your life where God is asking you to trust Him without knowing how things will work out? What would it look like to surrender that situation to Him?

STUDENTS & KIDS

How do you think Mary felt when the angel told her she would be the mother of Jesus? How did she show that she trusted God?
What is something that makes you feel afraid or worried? How can remembering that God is with you help when you feel that way?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord, thank You for being faithful even when we cannot understand Your plans. Forgive us for the times we allow fear to overshadow our trust in You. Help us, like Mary, to surrender to Your will and believe that You are at work even when we cannot see how things will unfold. Give us faith to trust You in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dustin Lee, Kids Pastor

John 14:25–27 I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

Last Christmas looked a little different for the Lee family. Our house was on the market as we were hoping to move closer to our church. If you know me, you know how much I love Christmas! But with five children, trying to keep a house clean, organized, and ready for showings during the Christmas season was anything but peaceful. Our decorations were minimal, and much of our home was already packed away. However, we still enjoyed some of our favorite family traditions. Alisha made her gumbo. We baked cookies with Lucas, Micah, Tucker, Elijah, and Carolina. We watched our favorite Christmas movies together. Our circumstances were different, but we were reminded that the joy of Christmas wasn’t found in our decorations or even in our traditions. It was found in Jesus. Looking back, I’m reminded that it’s easy to associate peace with everything going according to plan. But the peace Jesus offers us is so much greater than having everything in life just the way we want it.

In John 14, Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was ahead. He knew they would face uncertainty, fear, and difficult days. Yet in the middle of preparing them for His departure, Jesus gave them an incredible promise. In verse 27, He says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” Jesus wasn’t promising His disciples a life without difficulties. He was promising them something far greater: His peace. In verse 26, Jesus also promised the Holy Spirit, who would teach them and remind them of His words. What an encouragement to know that we don’t have to navigate life’s uncertainties on our own! The peace Jesus gives isn’t temporary or dependent upon our circumstances. It’s rooted in who He is and what He has done for us. Our home sold the week after Christmas, and we moved in March. This year, we’re thankful to be settled and, yes, we decorated for Christmas extra early! But Jesus was just as faithful before our house sold as He was after we moved. Our circumstances may change, our plans may change, and life may look different than we expected, but Jesus never changes. As we celebrate Christmas, may we remember that the baby born in Bethlehem came to bring us something this world could never offer. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to have peace with God. And through a relationship with Him, we can experience His peace even in life’s most uncertain moments.

ADULTS

What circumstances in your life are making it difficult to experience peace right now?
How does Jesus’ promise in John 14:27 encourage you to trust Him, even when life feels uncertain?
What are some ways you can intentionally turn your attention toward Jesus during this Christmas season?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What is one of your favorite Christmas traditions with your family?
Have you ever felt worried or afraid when something in your life changed?
How can remembering that Jesus is always with us help us when things don’t go as planned?

DAILY PRAYER

Jesus, thank You for being our source of true peace. Forgive us for the times we look to our circumstances instead of looking to You. Help us remember that even when life changes, You remain the same. This Christmas season, help us slow down, trust Your promises, and keep our hearts focused on You. Thank You for loving us and giving us a peace that this world cannot offer. Help us keep the main thing the main thing: pointing people to the Truth Jesus that transforms lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jaime Cornelius, Director of Counseling

Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousnessbe known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the coming of Jesus. Yet the busyness, uncertainty, and expectations of the season can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Following Jesus does not mean life will always be easy, but Scripture gives us a roadmap for navigating difficult seasons with faith.

Philippians 4:4–9, Paul encourages us to rejoice in the Lord, bring our worries to God in prayer, and focus our minds on what is true, honorable, pure, and lovely. These instructions offer a practical way to manage our thoughts. What we think influences how we feel and how we respond. For example, when we think, “I have too much to do, and I cannot handle it,” we may feel anxious and overwhelmed. But when we pause and ask, “Is this thought completely true? What do I know to be true about God and my situation?” we create an opportunity to respond differently. We can replace overwhelming thoughts with truth: “I do not have to do everything today. I can take one step at a time and trust God to help me.”

Paul reminds us to bring our worries to God rather than allowing them to consume our minds. We can practice this by identifying what is troubling us, praying specifically about it, and intentionally shifting our attention toward what is true. This does not mean ignoring our problems or forcing ourselves to feel happy. It means learning to recognize unhelpful thought patterns and choosing responses grounded in God's truth.

This Advent, when our minds become crowded with worries, expectations, or endless to-do lists, may we pause and remember the hope we have in Jesus. We may not control every circumstance or every thought, but we can choose where we direct our attention and how we respond.

ADULTS

What thought is stealing your peace this Advent?
Think of a time you assumed the worst about a situation. How could you have looked at it differently?
What is one truth from God's Word you can use to challenge that thought today?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What are things that can make you feel worried or upset?
When you have a worried thought, who can you talk to about it?
What is one practical way you can focus on Jesus and His peace this Advent season?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord, help me recognize when my thoughts are leading me toward fear and worry. Teach me to pause, seek Your truth, and bring my concerns to You. As I prepare my heart for Jesus this Advent, help me focus on what matters most and rest in Your peace. Amen.

Will Renfroe, Interim Worship Minister

Colossians 1:15–22 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—

I absolutely love Christmas. I love the early sunsets, driving around to see the Christmas lights, the smell of cinnamon & pine, the seasonal food & drinks, and the cooler weather—immediately buckled against the warmth of friends & family. There is something else I love that we can sometimes be overly critical of: the traditions. I love Christmas Eve services, singing “Silent Night” along with the carols I have known since childhood, and hearing Luke 2 read aloud as if for the first time. We are quick to wave tradition off as empty repetition… “the way we have always done it.” But James K. A. Smith, in You Are What You Love, notes that children love tradition because they want to be part of “something bigger and older than they are, something that has a kind of ancient stability and endurance about it that testifies to God’s faithfulness.” I don’t think that craving leaves us when we grow up. What we do again and again shapes what we love, and in a season when our minds are tired and our calendars are full, these familiar rhythms keep teaching our hearts what is true.

For me, those same traditions remind me of the sameness of God. Every year, I’m carried back to what the Lord reveals to us in Colossians 1. I am reminded of what I was: “alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.” And every year, I’m walked to the manger and reminded of what it cost Him to bring me home. The One who is “the image of the invisible God,” in whom God “was pleased to have all his fullness dwell,” took on “his physical body,” and that body, from the humblest of beginnings, obediently voyaged to the cruelest of deaths, “making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” The manger was the first installment of a great cost, and He paid it, so that we didn’t have to. Yet there is also a deep comfort here. Paul says Christ “is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” Trends always fade, seasons unapologetically change, and our own hearts drift, but the gospel does not move, because the One at the center of it holds everything together, along with the stars, your life, your family, and time itself. Our traditions cannot create the stability we are so desperate for, they are pointing to the greatest and truest reality, like well-worn paths leading us home. As Smith puts it, “we don’t need to invent; we need to remember.” This Advent, may the Lord, through the old, familiar story steady us again, for you and I have been reconciled and presented “holy, faultless, and blameless before him.”

ADULTS

Which Christmas traditions do you love most? What truth about the gospel does each one quietly teach your heart year after year?
Paul says we were once “alienated and hostile” toward God. How does remembering what you were rescued from help you see the manger as costly rather than merely sentimental?
Colossians 1:17 says that in Christ “all things hold together.” In a season that can feel rushed and unsettled, what would it look like to rest in the stability of the gospel instead of the pressure of the season?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What is your favorite Christmas tradition in our family? Why do you love doing it every year?
When we look at baby Jesus in the manger, we remember that Jesus left heaven to come and rescue us because He loves us. How does it make you feel to know He came all that way for you?
Colossians says Jesus “is before all things” and that “by him all things hold together.” Many things in our world change, but Jesus never does. What is something about Jesus that always stays the same?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, we thank You for the gift of Your unchanging gospel. We remember that we were once alienated and hostile toward You, and we marvel that You did not leave us there. Thank You that Jesus, the image of the invisible God, left the glory of heaven to be laid in a manger, and that at great cost to Himself He made peace through His blood shed on the cross. As we gather this Christmas, sing our carols, and sit around our tables, let every tradition point us back to Him. Hold our hearts steady in the One who holds all things together, and make us a people who remember Your faithfulness with joy. Amen.

Kevin Burdette, Minister of Senior Adults & Pastoral Care

John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

If you pour water over your head, you will get wet because the nature of water is wet. If you stand too close to a fire, you will get burned because the nature of fire is to burn. If you plant an apple seed, it will grow an apple tree because the nature of that seed is to grow apples. These things occur because of their intrinsic nature. These intrinsic qualities occur because they are built in. Our opinions, feelings or thoughts can’t change the essential nature of these qualities.

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to prepare the people’s heart to meet and learn about Jesus. It was important for him to testify about Jesus’ purpose. God wanted people to know his love for them. God wants to have a relationship with us. This is why John the Baptist shared the truth of Christ’s intrinsic nature - he with God before time began, he is the Word of God. All things were created through him. Christ is life and light. He is full of grace and truth. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb to “became flesh and dwelt among us. All these things reveal his intrinsic nature. When we believe and accept Christ, we then have the right to be children of God.

ADULTS

What is your intrinsic nature like? Are you, like Christ, full of grace and truth? Or do things like anger, bitterness and jealously describe your nature?
In what areas of life do you need more “light and life” so your family, friends and co-workers can see the nature of Christ in you?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What does it mean to be called the “children of God?” What do you have to do be called a child of God?
How can you show others the light of Jesus in how you treat them?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us enough to come to dwell among us so we can see Your full glory. Show us areas of our lives that need to become more like Christ. Teach us how to make changes in our lives to be more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Phil Caturan, Local Missions Pastor

Luke 2:8-14 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

Can you imagine this? It’s just an ordinary day at work or school. You’re going about your normal routine when, suddenly, an angel appears right in front of you! A glorious heavenly messenger unlike anything you’ve ever seen! I don’t know about you, but I would probably be frozen and speechless! My first thought might be, “Is this some kind of prank?!” Then you hear three reassuring words, “Don’t be afraid!” Well, that might calm me down a little, or maybe I’ll run! Haha!

That’s what I imagine when the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. No wonder the passage says they were terrified! Yet, in the middle of their fear, they received the greatest news the world had ever heard: A Savior had been born! He is the Messiah, the Lord! I’ve often wondered why God chose to reveal this world-changing news to shepherds rather than kings, religious leaders, or influential people. Maybe I’ll ask God when I get to Heaven. But honestly, I doubt I’ll remember! I’ll probably be too busy worshiping Him and standing in awe of His glory! But here’s something interesting. God promised that the Messiah would come from David’s line. And remember, before David became king, he was a shepherd. Shepherds were hardworking and courageous. They spent their days caring for their sheep and their nights protecting them from predators and thieves. And that reminds me of what Jesus says in John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”What a beautiful picture of Jesus!

Our Good Shepherd left the glory of Heaven and came into this world, fully God and fully man. He came not only to care for us and protect us but to do something far greater. He came to reconcile sinners like you and me to God!That still blows my mind! Think about it. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to become the perfect and final sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God. That is how much God loves you! No wonder the heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!” Because when we understand what God has done through Jesus Christ, there is only one appropriate response, and that is to give Him the glory and praise He deserves!

ADULTS

When was the last time you felt truly terrified, and how did you overcome your fear?
What is the difference between a shepherd and a cowboy?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What is the best news you’ve ever received? (It doesn’t have to be spiritual.) What made that news so special to you?
When you think of an angel, what do you imagine it looks like?

DAILY PRAYER

God, thank You for giving us the greatest Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Lord, help us never to lose sight of this incredible gift. As we celebrate Christmas, may we never become so familiar with the story that we forget the true reason for the celebration. Instead, help us examine our hearts and consider how we can more fully surrender our lives to You, the One who gave everything for us. Lord, may our hearts always be filled with gratitude, and may our lives bring glory and honor to Your name. We are forever grateful for Your love and grace. Amen.

WEEK 3

Kori Roquemore, Kids Minister – Flint Campus

Ephesians 2:1-10 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, So that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

December is one of my favorite months of the year! It always brings extra time with family and friends, sweet memories, game day Sundays, and the Christmas season! While I am very grateful for all these things and so much more, there is another gift I am more thankful for than anything this life has to offer. The greatest gift that has ever been given is God’s grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:1-10 reminds us that we were dead in our sins and trespasses and separated from God. There are no works we could do or words we could speak to make ourselves right with God. BUT GOD, because of His grace and great love for us, made a way for our relationship with Him to be restored. We were lost, BUT GOD found us. We were dead in our sins, BUT GOD made us alive. We couldn’t save ourselves, BUT GOD provided a Savior!

As we celebrate this Christmas season, may we not lose sight and forget the reason Jesus came in the first place. Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem was God’s gift to the world. We didn’t need more things or accomplishments. We needed a Savior. This Christmas, let’s focus on slowing down long enough to remember that the greatest gift isn’t found under a tree or wrapped in pretty paper with a bow. The greatest gift is found in God’s grace, His Son – Jesus!

ADULTS

When we understand our condition apart from Christ, dead in our trespasses and sin, how does this impact the way we view God’s grace?
Verse four begins with two very powerful words: “But God”. What do these words tell us about God’s character and His great love for us?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What do you think “dead in your trespasses and sins” means?
Why did Jesus come to earth as a baby?
If someone looked at your life, would they see evidence of the gift of God’s grace? How can we show God’s love to someone this week?

DAILY PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the love and joy the Christmas season brings. Thank You for the greatest gift we could ever receive, your Son, Jesus. Thank You for loving us and making a way for us to have relationship with You. Help us to keep our eyes set on you and remember all you have done for us. As we celebrate this Advent season, remind us of Your grace and the true reason for the season. May our lives speak of the gift we have in Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fisher Francis, Director of Indoor Sports

Romans 6:20-23 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification — and the outcome is eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

One my favorite sayings that I heard all throughout my childhood goes like this, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” The same idea is true in our spiritual lives. We are born into a broken world, full of sin and shame, and before Jesus enters our lives we are enslaved to that sin. The Apostle Paul makes it very clear for us in this passage that what we have earned for our sins is death. It would be just and righteous if God poured out his wrath on us, but God has instead given us a chance to repent and be saved.

The gift of salvation is this: even though you don’t deserve it and couldn’t earn it, Jesus came down and gave His life for you so that you can spend eternity in Heaven with Him. What we have earned is death, and because God is just, he can’t let sin go unpunished, but because God is merciful, he came down and bore our punishment himself. There is no greater love than God, and there is no greater gift than the cross. This holiday season be reminded of the greatest gift you have ever received, which is the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf.

ADULTS

Have you ever made a decision to accept the gift of salvation in Jesus’ name? If so, how does it make you feel to reminisce on that time?
What does it say about God’s character that he would withhold the punishment that we have rightfully earned?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What does it mean that Jesus gave us a gift we could never earn, and why is that important?
What are some things that can happen when we choose to live our lives our own way instead of following God?

DAILY PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank You for showing mercy and extending grace in my life. Thank You for the gift of salvation, and for saving me when I could not save myself. Let my life reflect that love to those around me, and give me boldness as I live for You and tell others about Your great love. Amen.

Meghan Goad, Girls Minister

Luke 15:1-7 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

How beautiful of a picture we’re given in this parable. To know that Heaven rejoices when even one person repents and chooses Jesus. This shepherd left his flock of 99 because that 1 lost sheep mattered to him. Such a reminder that no one is forgotten or too far from the forgiveness offered to us through Jesus Christ. Even though the Pharisees questioned why Jesus would welcome such sinners, He met their distain with compassion and grace combined with a heart that welcomes those that are far from Him. Jesus was sent into the world to seek and save those who are lost. And I’m so grateful He came after me. Aren’t you?

Jesus coming to us is just the beginning of our story. God gave us His son because His love for us was so great. And now we have the chance to share that same kind of love with those around us. If you’re like me, you find it easy to gravitate towards people who you’re already close to and comfortable with. But what if this Advent season, we focused on the hearts of those who might feel overlooked, unseen, or even lost? We show our love for the Shepherd in the way we take care of and love those around us.

ADULTS

Is there someone you know in your family, a co-worker, or a neighbor who might be encouraged by a gesture of kindness from you, and maybe an invite to church?
It’s easy to find an excuse to not reach out to someone. What distractions could keep you from noticing those around you who might need to experience the love of Jesus?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Imagine you might be lost at the grocery store. And suddenly …. you’re found! I’m sure that lost sheep was so full of joy when he was found too. How does it make you feel to know Jesus cares about you that much?
What’s one thing you could do to help someone in your family, at school, or at church feel more included and loved?

DAILY PRAYER

Thank you, Jesus for loving and caring for us so much that You looked for us when we were lost and went astray. Help me today, to have the same kind of love and compassion for those around me who might feel lost or forgotten. I want my life to reflect the One and Only Shepherd. Amen.

Ignacio Orellana – Espanol Worship Leader

James 1:16–18 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

During the Christmas season, our eyes are easily drawn to the packages under the tree, worried for the amount of money spent, yet James reminds us to look higher for true generosity. Every genuinely good and perfect gift in our lives originates from the God who created the stars and the universe. Unlike human promises, our God is unwavering. His goodness toward us isn't dependent on circumstances or temporary feelings; His promises are true, and it is an unchanging aspect of His character. God sent Jesus, the ultimate Gift; the Father brought light into our dark world to restore what was broken. To restore our hearts.

The greatest evidence of His unchanging love is found in our salvation. God did not wait for us to earn His favor; He intentionally chose to bring us to life through the word of truth. The gospel of Jesus Christ. By sending His Son as a baby born in a manger, He set in motion a transformation that makes us the "firstfruits" of His new creation.

As we exchange gifts with friends and family this Christmas, let us remember that every earthly blessing should point us back to the generous heart of God that gave us eternal life. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of salvation.

ADULTS

In what areas of your life are you tempted to view God’s character as unpredictable or changing, and how does James 1:17 offer comfort there?
How can reflecting on God as the source of "every good and perfect gift" shift your focus away from holiday stress, current situation and material expectations?
What practical step can you take this week to celebrate being part of God's "firstfruits"?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Think about your favorite Christmas gift ever. How does knowing that God gives us even better spiritual gifts change how you think about presents?
James says God doesn't change like shifting shadows. Why is it good news that God’s love for us stays the same every single day?
What is one way your family can show God's kindness and generosity to someone else this week?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, Father of lights, thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In a world full of changes and shifting shadows, we praise You for Your constant love and unchanging mercy. Open our eyes this Christmas season to see that every good thing in our lives comes straight from Your gracious hand. Fill our hearts with gratitude and make us eager to share Your truth and love with others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Caleb Witmer, Elementary Minister

John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

Have you ever wondered what goes into choosing the perfect gift? During the holiday season, our choices may be shaped by a White Elephant budget, the relationship we share with someone, or even a thoughtful gift they gave us the year before. Whatever the reason, there is usually thought and intention behind the gifts we give. But God's gift of eternal life was different. His decision to give us this gift wasn't based on what we had done, what we could offer Him, or whether we deserved it. It was rooted entirely in His love for us. No price was too much to pay, and no person would be excluded. John 3:16 reminds us of God's incredible choice to sacrifice His one and only Son for you and me. The greatest gift was given not only to wash away our sins but also to make a relationship with Him possible.

But have we ever stopped to consider what that gift of eternal life really means? When we hear the term eternal life, we often think solely of living forever in Heaven. While that is certainly part of the promise, John 17:3 gives us a deeper understanding: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Eternal life doesn't begin when we enter Heaven; it begins the moment we accept Jesus. Our relationship with the Father should be the desire of our hearts now, not simply a means of escaping judgment. How amazing is it that we don't have to wait until Heaven to experience the joy of knowing God? We have the opportunity to experience that relationship right here, right now.

So, what does this mean for us? It means changing the way we approach our relationship with Him. Although we could never earn His gift, we can respond to His love by intentionally pursuing Him. A relationship requires time, sacrifice, humility, and obedience. It is an active, daily commitment to know Him more deeply. So, choose His ways over yours, His thoughts over yours, and relationship over complacency. Don't settle for simply knowing about God when He has freely given you the opportunity to truly know Him.

This gift is one that will never compare to what this world has to offer.

ADULTS

What does this passage tell us about God’s character?
What are some ways complacency has made its way into your walk with the Lord?
How does this understanding of eternal life change the way you live today?

STUDENTS & KIDS

How does the gift of eternal life grow your gratitude and thankfulness for the Lord?
What is one way your family can practice intentionally pursuing God this week?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, grow us in our understanding of who You are, and Your great sacrifice made on our behalf. Help us to live with an eternal perspective and let it change the way we live our daily lives.

Hixon Frank, Associate Pastor

Galatians 4:4–7 But when the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

There's something special about giving someone a gift you know they're going to love. Maybe it's something they've wanted for a long time, or something they never even knew they needed. Either way, the best gifts usually say something about the heart of the person giving them. That's one of the things I love about Christmas. It reminds us of just how much God loves us. When He sent Jesus, He wasn't just giving us a wonderful example to follow or a beautiful story to celebrate. He was giving us exactly what we needed most—a Savior! And as Paul reminds us in Galatians 4, Jesus came at just the right time to do what we could never do for ourselves. He came to redeem us, to rescue us from sin, and to bring us into a relationship with God.

But here's what makes this gift even more amazing. God didn't stop at forgiving our sins. He welcomed us into His family! Through faith in Jesus, we're not just forgiven; we're adopted as His sons and daughters. We get to call Him Father, knowing we are loved, accepted, and that we belong to Him. I love that picture! Think about it. God didn't just send us a gift. He made a way for us to become part of His family. That's what makes Christmas so much more than presents under a tree or traditions we enjoy. The baby in the manger came to make us children of God. And that's a gift that changes everything—not just at Christmas, but for eternity.

ADULTS

How does knowing that God sees you as His son or daughter change the way you think about your relationship with Him?
Why do you think it's sometimes easier to celebrate the gifts of Christmas than the One who gave us the greatest gift?
What's one way you can show someone else the love and generosity God has shown you?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What's a Christmas gift you've received that made you feel really loved? What made it special?
Why do you think God wanted us to be part of His family instead of simply forgiving our sins?
What's something your family can do this Christmas to help others know how much God loves them?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, thank You for loving us enough to send Jesus. Thank You that through Him we can be forgiven, loved, and welcomed into Your family. Help us not get so caught up in all the excitement of Christmas that we forget what makes it so special. Remind us every day that we belong to You, and help us share that same love with the people around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Josh Hall, Associate Campus Pastor – Flint Campus

1 John 4:7-12 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice[b] for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is made complete in us.

What if I told you that to fulfill your life’s ultimate purpose, you had to climb the 29,032 steps it takes to reach the peak of Mount Everest? But here’s the catch: you don’t have to simply make it up the mountain, but you also must make it back down. Oddly enough, the descent is normally tougher than the ascent. This is when most people who dare to climb the heights of the mountain meet their maker. In other words, it would be impossible. Now, think about this with me: what if I told you that to get to Heaven, you must climb the heights of perfection, with no flaws within you. In other words, it would be impossible. This is the beauty of Christmas.

1 John 4:9-10 tells us that instead of expecting us to climb the mountain to reach Him, God came down and met us through his son Jesus. But it doesn’t end there. The best way for us to prove that we truly understand this descending sacrifice is to show it to others. 1 John 4:11 tells us that it is only fair to not only receive this love, but to also give this love. When we understand the weight that was lifted off our shoulders when we met Jesus, we owe that feeling to someone else. You see, this is the wonder of Christmas: Jesus would’ve come if there was only one of us, but the invitation is addressed to all of us. There is still room to meet Jesus at the bottom of the mountain. Who are you inviting?

ADULTS

Take yourself back to when you first met Jesus at the bottom of the mountain. How did you feel? What do you remember?
Knowing how Jesus has impacted you, who are you currently praying for to experience this love?
What are a few ways you would share the Gospel with someone in your life?

STUDENTS & KIDS

What are some ways our family shows love to one another?
What is the difference between saying we love someone and actually showing love?
Why is it sometimes harder to show love to our family than to people outside our home?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, thank You for sending Jesus on a rescue mission for us! If it were left to me to climb the mountain and find You, it would’ve been impossible. Thank You for loving me first and for meeting me at the bottom of the mountain. Amen.

WEEK 4

Ken Brumley, Congregational Care Minister

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

During Advent, we spend a lot of time counting down the days and waiting for Christmas to arrive. But the true power of the season isn’t just that Jesus came to earth; it’s how His arrival completely transforms us. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, we learn that Christ’s love is so overwhelming that it "compels us”—it drives everything we do. This isn't a weak or passive love; it’s a force that looks at your mistakes, your insecurities, and your past, and completely wipes the slate clean. Paul says that anyone in Christ is a new creation; the old is gone, and the new has come. Advent is a reminder that when God sent Jesus, He didn't just want to change your eternity—He wanted to change your identity right now, making you brand new from the inside out.

Because this love changes who we are, it also changes how we treat the people around us. Paul writes that we are now Christ’s ambassadors, which means you are a real-life representative of Jesus in your school, your family, and your group chats. Instead of getting caught up in the comparison, drama, or pressure to fit in, you are called to bring God’s peace and reconciliation to a broken world. This Advent, as you wait for the celebration of His birth, let Jesus’ love change your perspective. When you realize how deeply you are loved, it frees you to live boldly, forgive quickly, and share that same life-changing love with everyone around you.

ADULTS

What parts of your "old identity" or past baggage do you still struggle to surrender, even knowing that Christ has made you a new creation?
In what practical ways does Christ's love "compel" your daily choices, career decisions, or parenting, rather than just being a Sunday morning concept?
As an ambassador for Christ, where is God calling you to bring reconciliation or healing right now—whether in your immediate family, your workplace, or your community?

STUDENTS & KIDS

How “could” the promise of being "new creations" change the dynamic, the inner actions or attitude of our family toward?
Paul says we are Christ’s ambassadors—His real-life representatives. What is one specific way our family can team up to bring God's love and kindness to our neighborhood or community this week?

DAILY PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your overwhelming love that changes everything. Wash away our mistakes from yesterday and remind us that You have made us brand new today. Let Your love be the engine that drives our family's schedule, choices, and attitudes, rather than seasonal stress or pressure. As we go out into the world, help our home be a launchpad for Your peace, and give us the courage to act as Your ambassadors to everyone we meet. Amen.

Lanny Bridges – Interim Pastor, Flint Campus

Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Every year during the Christmas season there are light displays all around, on homes, businesses, and downtown, not to mention the popular drive-through attractions. We have so many memories of driving our children around simply to ‘see the lights’. And this season every twinkling light can be a reminder that Jesus came to enlighten our lives and our world. Light was the 1st thing God commanded to exist. Throughout God’s Word light provides a powerful picture of who God is. 1 John 1:5 declares that “God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.” So, it isn’t surprising that when God came to dwell among us, light was on display. Consider the Gospel reports of Jesus’ birth. The shepherds looked up as ‘the glory of the Lord shone’ (Luke 2:9)’. The wise men ‘saw his star at its rising’ (Matt. 2:2). And John reports “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.’ (John 1:4). The prophet Isaiah used light as he foretold Jesus’ birth: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness…For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us.” (Isaiah 9:2,6). Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Jesus is the only source of true light in a world of darkness.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says that we are to be the light of the world and our light is to shine. But how are we to shine His light? There’s a great lesson in the 4th day of creation that provides the blueprint of how His light is to shine through us. Genesis 1:16 reveals “God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night.” Of course, that great light is the sun. The lesser light is the moon which shines in the darkness of the night. The moon has no light in itself. It’s just a big rock suspended in space. The moon merely reflects the light of the sun. And the better its position is, relative to the sun, the more light it reflects. Hence, we have the phases of the moon based on its proximity to the sun. Likewise, you and I have no light in ourselves. We are called to reflect His light. And the closer we are in fellowship with Jesus, the more His light and likeness shine through us into the darkness of our world. It is a miraculous working of His Spirit. So, stay close to Jesus and let His light shine through you this Christmas season and throughout the year to come.

ADULTS

How do we best maintain a closeness to Jesus that we may reflect His light?
What obstacles must we overcome that might prevent others from seeing His light in us?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Consider some practical ways that you and your family can shine His light into your world.
What things do we often do to ‘hide our light under a basket’?

DAILY PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be the true light of our world. Daily draw me closer to You so that Your light and character shine through me for Your glory and in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Eddy Espinosa, Business & Operations Administrator

Matthew 2:1-12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “Because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel. Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him. After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

Have you ever noticed how people respond differently to Jesus? In Matthew 2, we meet 2 groups of people who respond to the news of Jesus' birth in very different ways.

Herod was troubled because he felt threatened.
The wise men traveled a long distance because they wanted to worship Him.

I find that interesting. The wise men didn't have all the answers, but they knew Jesus was worth looking for. And I think that's a good reminder for us today. Sometimes we get so caught up in life, work, family, problems, and responsibilities that we forget to stop and simply worship Jesus.

The wise men asked, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" They had seen His star and traveled a long way to find Him. Think about it. They didn't know exactly what they would find, but they were willing to make the journey. That's what seeking Jesus looks like. It's making time for Him, spending time in His Word, praying, and wanting to know Him more.

When Herod heard about Jesus, he was troubled. Because Herod already had a king in his life: himself. He didn't want anyone to take his position or authority. And honestly, we can be a little like Herod sometimes. We want Jesus in our lives, but we don't always want Him in control. But worship is more than singing songs. It's recognizing that Jesus is King and giving Him first place in our lives. God doesn't just want an hour of our time on Sunday. He wants our hearts.

ADULTS

Are we really seeking Jesus, or are we just looking for Him when we need something?
Is Jesus really in control of my life, or am I still trying to run everything myself?

STUDENTS & KIDS

Am I giving Jesus my best, or am I giving Him whatever is left over?
How can I make Jesus first in my life?

DAILY PRAYER

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior and King. Forgive us for the times we've allowed other things to take first place in our lives. Help us to seek You daily, trust You completely, and worship You with all our hearts. May our worship go beyond Sunday mornings. Let it be reflected in the way we live, the decisions we make, and the way we treat others. Because Jesus deserves our very best. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Todd Haymans – Executive Pastor of Ministries

Luke 2:1–20 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him[c] and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

The story of Jesus’ birth reminds us that God often does His greatest work in the most unexpected places and through the most ordinary people. Jesus did not arrive in a palace surrounded by power and privilege, but in a humble manger in Bethlehem. The first announcement of His birth was not given to kings, religious leaders, or the wealthy, but to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. What a beautiful reminder that the good news of Jesus is for everyone! Young and old, rich and poor, those just beginning their journey of faith and those who have walked with God for decades—all are invited to come and see the Savior. The angel declared, “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Notice those two words: “for you.” The gift of Jesus is personal, and His love reaches across every generation.

As we reflect on this Christmas passage, we are reminded of their responses to the good news. The shepherds went to see Jesus, then shared what they had experienced, and returned glorifying and praising God. Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. Each response offers something for us to practice, regardless of our age or season of life. We are one family of faith, called to seek Christ, treasure His presence, and share His good news with the world. This Christmas and throughout the year, let’s join the shepherds in declaring that the Savior has come, and may our lives reflect the joy, hope, and peace found in Him. Merry Christmas!

ADULTS

The angel announced that Jesus was born “for you.” What does it mean to you personally that God sent His Son for you, and how does that truth shape the way you live each day?
Like the shepherds, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with others. Who in your life needs to hear a message of hope, and what is one way you can share Christ’s love with them this Christmas season?

STUDENTS & KIDS

The shepherds were so excited about seeing Jesus that they went and told others what they had experienced. If your family could tell someone one thing about why Jesus is special, what would you share?
Mary treasured everything that happened and pondered it in her heart. What is one thing about Jesus that your family is thankful for, and what is one way you can show His love to someone this week?

DAILY PRAYER

Our good and gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Your son to us so that we can have everlasting life. As we take time today, remind us of Your goodness, remind us of Your great love and our role in loving others. Lord, give us the heart of Christ to see people the way You see them and to share the good news of the Gospel. Amen.

Church Family,

Merry Christmas,Michael and Katie Gossett

WEEK 1

ADULTS

STUDENTS & KIDS

DAILY PRAYER

Leigh Evans, Preschool Minister

ADULTS

students & kids

DAILY PRAYER

Kyle Cox, Minister of Recreation

ADULTS

STUDENTS & KIDS

DAILY PRAYER

Colby Ashe, Flint Campus Student Minister

Tim Nipp, Worship Ministry Director

ADULTS

STUDENTS & KIDS

DAILY PRAYER

Debbie Stuart, Women’s Minister

Kurt Fehlis, Student Pastor

WEEK 2

Matthew Gorman, Middle School Minister

Stacie Tandy, Missions Associate

Dustin Lee, Kids Pastor

Jaime Cornelius, Director of Counseling

Will Renfroe, Interim Worship Minister

Kevin Burdette, Minister of Senior Adults & Pastoral Care

Phil Caturan, Local Missions Pastor

WEEK 3

Kori Roquemore, Kids Minister – Flint Campus

Fisher Francis, Director of Indoor Sports

Meghan Goad, Girls Minister

Ignacio Orellana – Espanol Worship Leader

Caleb Witmer, Elementary Minister

Hixon Frank, Associate Pastor

Josh Hall, Associate Campus Pastor – Flint Campus

WEEK 4

Ken Brumley, Congregational Care Minister

Lanny Bridges – Interim Pastor, Flint Campus

Eddy Espinosa, Business & Operations Administrator

Todd Haymans – Executive Pastor of Ministries

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Merry Christmas,
Michael and Katie Gossett