2 Corinthians 1:1-11 A common viewpoint on life is that we are all just riding the waves of life, going wherever they take us, along the peaceful waves, through the storms, crashing on the rocks. But God is in control, using the messes to teach us lessons that will help us on our mission - to bring ourselves and others closer to Jesus.

Do we want to be a Pizza Hut church (able to pivot to a new vision as needed) or a Blockbuster church (refuses to change, eventually dies)?

Acts 8:26-40 Jesus' command to us in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples is similar to his command to Peter to become a "fisher of men." The fish are all around us, but we are missing our opportunities. In Acts 8 Phillip showed how to flourish in the opportunity he was given.

John 13:1-17 We are supposed to represent Jesus with our lives, but the pictures we put forth are not the reality, and if we are honest, possibly quite jarring and offensive. Instead we should use his example in John 13 as the way we should carry ourselves, constantly looking for was to serve others.

James 1:26 - 2:13 James warns us that as Christians we should check our tongues, our efforts for the needy, and our participation in worldly activities, and then warns of showing favoritism. This warning holds as true for us in 2025 and it did 2000 years ago.

63% of Americans claim to be Christians while society seems to be spiraling out of control. The only real explanation is that too many of us are part-time Christians. In Revelations 3 Jesus tells us what he thinks of Christians who are too worried about being part of the world.

Psalm 73 We try to tell ourselves that Christmas gifts or New Years resolutions will make us more happy, but our true happiness comes from God's blessings and our knowledge of eternal happiness in His presence.

During the Christmas season, people are often being secretive and even deceptive in their actions. The best way for us to show Jesus to the world during the holidays and all year round is by showing love to all of those around us.

We place so much emphasis on giving and receiving "the perfect gift" for our loved ones, but how long is that gift perfect before we move on? The sacrifice of money, time, etc. is exactly where Satan wants us... focused on the temporary materialism, not on eternal blessings.