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Having our church’s Christmas party on this day after hearing a message like this was perfect timing. The ugly sweater contest, the games for the kids, the whole fellowship gave us joy. The strength comes from knowing that we all love each other, God loves us, and no great calamity lasts forever. We know there are more calamities waiting for us at home, at work, or sometime in the future. But we can reflect on those joyous times and remember that you and I have been brought through it, and we will be brought through it again. And our faith in God’s Word of how it all ends means no event or age on this earth is bigger than Him, nor bigger than we who abide in Him. Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10; Amos 8:11; Isaiah 53; Acts 2:42–47

Have you ever realized that you had forgotten how awesome God is? We move about our days sure of where we will be when we leave this earth, not worried about our next meal because we believe God will provide. But we forget how underserving we, the unrighteous, are to receive anything from the One who is righteousness. Yet He blesses us anyway. Yes, we should not dwell on our sin because we are forgiven, but forgiven does not equal righteous. As Christmas nears, we should be overwhelmed with awe and gratitude that God has every right to keep Himself from us. Yet He wrapped himself in our sinful flesh and took it to the grave, while hiding us under His righteousness so that God can be near us. There is far more than I can put into a synopsis about preparing our hearts for the Savior’s birth, but I consider this a major part of it. Matthew 3:1–11; Luke 1:80; Matthew 6:25–34; 2 Corinthains 5:17, 7:10; Romans 3:23; Daniel 9:4–5; 1 John 1:7–10; John 15:1–8; Isaiah 11:1–9; 2 Timothy 1:6–10

In this message, Deacon Locklear breaks down the hope that brings one to Christianity. What it is, where it comes from, and how we live as people who are sure of that hope. Kind of like the Matrix, this hope cannot be simply explained, and no one can be talked into it. A relationship with Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit is required to make sense of it all. If you are not already a believer, at least you can grasp some idea of why your Christian friends behave the way they do. Romans 5:2–5; 1 Peter 1:3; Jeremiah 29:8–14

Near the end of November, we will spend some time giving thanks. Leading up to this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s compile a list of all the things we are thankful for. So far, we've remembered His faithfulness, His blessings, and His sacrifice. Today, we remember His promise. Particularly, in this message, His promise of justice when we tell him of our misfortune. Thank You, Lord, for being the highest Judge. Willing and able to bring justice to those who put their faith in You. Luke 18:1–8; Luke 17:1–2; Hebrews 4:16; Psalms 24:1: Psalms 66:9

Near the end of November, we will spend some time giving thanks. Leading up to this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s compile a list of all the things we are thankful for. So far, we've remembered His faithfulness and His blessings. Today, we remember His sacrifice. The sacrifice of watching His only child die for sins He did not do. The sacrifice of dying in one of the most horrible ways of the time, to make sure that others could have a close relationship with Him. Thank You, Lord, for paying off a debt we could never do enough to repay on our own. 1 Corinthians 11:27–34; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 139; Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16

Near the end of November, we will spend some giving thanks. Leading up to this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s compile a list of all the things we are thankful for. Last week, we remembered His faithfulness. Today, we remember His blessings; the gifts He bestowed on the world and the special gifts He gives to His children. We are all blessed by God. Let us all be grateful. Psalm 103:1–5; Matthew 4:4; Colossians 3:12–14; Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 53:5; Psalms 42:1; Isaiah 40:27–31

Near the end of November, we will spend some giving thanks. Leading up to this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s compile a list of all the things we are thankful for. Today we start with the faithfulness of God. He has never changed. He is always with us. And He continues to guide us to good things despite all the times we’ve ignored His direction. Thank You, Lord, for never giving up on us. Deuteronomy 8:1–10; Exodus 13:17–18; Matthew 4:3

You are not alone. You are encouraged to go out and reach others with the gospel. You appear to be by yourself, but you are not alone. You feel like the only one walking against a current of people going in the opposite direction, but you are not alone. You are singled out for your contrasting take on life, fashion, and speech; but you are not alone. You get to tackle this life with your own two hands. When good plans fail, when mistakes are made, when your grip slips; a rescuing hand is just a word, a brief prayer, or a short reach away. Because we are not alone. Matthew 14:22–33; Matthew 8:23–26

A loved one gets sick or injured, and you spend all night in the emergency room with them, making sure they are well taken care of; and go to work the next day with no sleep. That’s a big trouble. Your vehicle gets a flat tire, you get a splinter, or the stylist cuts your hair too short. Depending on what you had planned next, that’s likely a small, short-term problem. A good place to practice your reliance on God and the attitude that comes with knowing what He has waiting for us are those light and momentary troubles. With enough practice, we can rightly represent Christ when big trouble comes our way. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; 2 Corinthians 11:24–30; Romans 8:28–39

There are many places we can visit today that were built hundreds of years ago, if not longer, and are still standing. There are also places we only know used to be there by the remnants and pieces left behind. The main difference between the two are the foundations they were built on. That could be a physical foundation such as the ground on which a wall is placed. It could be a societal foundation as in agreements in function that were either held to or replaced over generations. It could be a moral, theological, or defensive foundation. What we learn is that a foundation lasts as long as whatever is built upon it doesn’t corrode or over burden the foundation itself. Belief in Christ is an awesome foundation. If you ignore the base you’re standing on, however, you can find yourself sinking into the dirt underneath even the best foundations. 1 Corinthians 3:9–11; John 1:3–4; Matthew 16:13–20