Since the beginning of time, man has attempted to create a savior and tried answer the question, “Why I am here?” The virgin birth shows us that salvation requires no effort from man—God so loved us that He overruns every guilt and every shame in our lives. This week during our special Carols by Candlelight services, Pastor Josh Kelsey shared an encouraging message on Jesus' birth. His perfect love came to live inside of us, through the Holy Spirit. Who can resist perfect love?

When the Good News of Jesus’ birth was announced to the shepherds, the angel’s first words were, "Fear not." This was the Kingdom announcement of the end of fear because Christ came to break the distance between us and God. This past Sunday, Pastor Josh Kelsey preached a message on Jesus restoring our lives and bringing an end to fear. We can live in freedom knowing that Jesus is with us and for us.

We often carry burdens we aren't meant to in our own strength - circumstances, worry, fear, or guilt. Jesus came to release all of that from us, for us to receive rest rather than trying to achieve it. This Sunday, Filmore Bouldes preached on coming to Jesus to truly find our rest. We need to stop running to ourselves and recognize our need for help, for Jesus.

Jesus elevated a symbol of weakness, a child, as the greatest in the Kingdom. Our society tells us to hide our vulnerabilities, but Jesus, who entered this world clothed in the weakness of a newborn baby, calls us to that same childlike humility, vulnerability and dependency on our Father. This Sunday, Emmanuel Hastings shared a powerful message kicking off our Advent series, challenging us to push past the pride and self-reliance we often develop in our adulthood in order to recover our much-needed posture of humility and wonder. To live by God’s strength and grace, we enter the Kingdom like a child.