In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories that reveal the heart of God and expose two different ways of

being lost. Today, we’ll explore what these parables teach us about a God who seeks, a Father who

loves prodigally, and the invitation to move from lostness—whether through rebellion or religion—

into the joy of being found.

Jesus commands us to love God and love others. He then uses a parable to expose how

impossible that standard is and how deeply we need a Savior to rescue us and help us love

others well.

Jesus begins His parables with a call to listen. In the Parable of the Sower, He shows that God’s

Word is powerful and life-giving, but its impact depends on the condition of our heart. Today, we’re

invited to examine whether our hearts are truly receptive to Jesus and the transforming power of

God’s Word.

Like many of us, David experienced seasons of great fear in his life. However, in Psalm 34, David has safely passed through his most recent storm and shares his perspective of a faithful God—one who is always worthy of blessing and praise. Through his psalm, David invites us to find our refuge in that same God.

Today, we look at the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph, a man called to do

the right thing, even when it was confusing, costly, and uncomfortable. And like Joseph,

God invites us to move from fear to faithfulness through ordinary acts of obedience.

As the story continues, God interrupts Mary’s ordinary life with an unexpected and

overwhelming assignment. Into her fear and uncertainty, God speaks His presence, His favor,

and the identity of Jesus—the Son of the Most High. Mary’s faithful response encourages us to

look at the character and presence of God.

This season, we’re exploring the simple, yet life-changing words spoken four times in the

Christmas story: Fear Not. We begin with Zechariah and Elizabeth—an older couple who lived

faithfully through years of disappointment and unanswered prayer. Their story reminds us that

God sees what we carry, hears the cries of our hearts, and continues to work… even when He

seems silent.

Life can feel disorienting in the “in-between” seasons of our journey. Through Mary’s song in Luke

1, we discover that God is trustworthy because He is personally present, mighty in compassion and

justice, and faithful to keep His promises.