Intro…Our desire for you is that you desire to make 2026 a great year because it’s rooted in God’s purpose and presence. Growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens through intentional faith, daily practice, and fixing our eyes on Jesus.

Together, these will equip us to live boldly, purposefully, and victoriously in the year ahead.

Defense YEAR - hard year - it was fine but wasn’t fulfilling.

1. Intentional Faith: Choosing Life with Purpose Over Passivity

The intentional life is living a wise life. Those who are wise take advantage of every opportunity including trials to grow in their faith. But someone who lacks wisdom is like being a ship adrift at sea, tossed by every wave and wind without any direction at all.

That’s life without intentionalility—a mere reaction to circumstances rather than a deliberate pursuit of God’s will. It’s simply reacting to life. Playing defense. Hebrews defines Faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, and James implores us to ask for wisdom to live our life to ask that God will give you wisdom to endure trials, but goes on to instruct us…

James 1: 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

The Ultimate Love

Today is Week 4 of Advent, and this week we focus on love.

As a quick reminder, Advent culminates this Wednesday with our Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Stone House. Advent is about preparing our hearts—not just to celebrate Christmas but to remember his sacrifice of love to come rescue us, but to receive the gift of Christ and be excited for his return.

And when we talk about love, there is no better place to begin than the most well-known verse in all of Scripture. John 3:16

Let’s say it together—in whatever version you learned it in.

John 3:16–17 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This is the best example of love the world has ever known.

God Has Come to Earth

Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 2: 1-18

Pop quiz: What does Advent (adventus) mean “coming” or “arrival”

For extra credit what week are we on? JOY

First, that Jesus came as the Messiah, the Christ, to die for our sins,

And He is coming again to get us... in all His fullness, power and glory.

Light candles

Hope - A wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God will make the future better than the past or present. BETHLEHAM candle b/c hope started

What future is that pointing to- heaven.

Peace - a state of wholeness, completeness, well-being, and renewal between us, God, and others. Shalom PROPHET Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," foretelling Jesus Christ as a divine, powerful ruler bringing everlasting peace and wisdom

This wholeness is felt deep in our soul. Our soul longs for wholeness that can only be consoled by the presence of God in our lives.

That’s HOPE and PEACE.

This week we demonstrate a shift by lighting the pink candle—the Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherds candle, because the proclamation by the angels was delivered to the shepherds that brought them and the world great joy.

The color of this 3rd week is to match the shift in the tone from one of waiting to heartfelt rejoicing at the arrival of God having come to earth by the announcement of His birth. We no longer wait in anticipation for joy. Joy has come! And our faith increased for the Joy we’ll have for eternity when he returns.

ADVENT WEEK 2 - Luke 2:8-15

Advent means what? Coming or arrival.

• It is the season of the “already and not yet.”

THE MEANING OF ADVENT (ADVENTUS)

• Adventus in the Roman world referred to the arrival of a king or emperor.
  Early Christians used the word intentionally:
  Advent is royal. The King has arrived.
  
  
  
• The wreath is a circle: God’s eternal nature; His unending love.
  
  
  
• The four candles represent: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.
  The Christ Candle is in the center. We light Christmas Eve
  
  
  
• Advent connects Christmas with the entire story of redemption.
  (Philippians 2:6–8 – Christ humbled Himself.)
  (John 3:16–17 – His love for us.)
  (Colossians 1:19–20 – He made peace through His blood.)

LIGHT CANDLE Last week we talked about HOPE,

• Hope- what we talked about last week: is the evidence-based expectation that God will make the future better than the past.

We were in Matthew 1:18-25 last week explained Jesus' name.

• Jesus — “Yahweh saves.” God saves.
• Immanuel — “God with us.”

Christ - Anointed one - the messiah (not his last name)

Today is the first day of Advent and this morning you got a text to invite you into a reading plan here is the link https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63750

We are going to talk today about:

I. What Advent MEANS 2. Why advent MATTERS 3. Jump into week 1 - HOPE

But first…

Imagine standing in a pitch-black room. You can’t see the walls, the floor, or even your own hands. Then someone lights a single candle. The darkness doesn’t disappear, but everything changes. You can see. You can breathe. You can move.

One flame changes the whole room.

That’s Advent. The coming of Jesus!!!

Christ stepped into the darkness of the world, and one day He will return to remove darkness forever. Advent is the season where the church pauses, breathes, and remembers:

Jesus has come.Jesus is here.And Jesus is coming again.

This is HOPE. Take a moment. Be still. Take a couple breaths. Thank Him. Worship Him!

Matthew 18:21–35 -“HOW TO Forgive From the Heart

Thumb in Colossians 2:13–15

Today we are going to offer you a tool on how to forgive and be free from the tormenting sin of unforgiveness. This is part 2 of an essential characteristic of a Christian - forgiveness. We have been forgiven and we are to forgive. Forgiveness is a choice that sets you free from bitterness, dread, and resentment towards the other person. It doesn’t erase the wrong but restores your peace and allows God’s grace to work in your heart. The opposite of this is unforgiveness, which is very difficult to see in ourselves. We will do a quick review, but the Key Point today is

…According to Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer (mt 6) and Matthew 18, if we refuse to forgive others, we don’t understand our own forgiveness, so we remain trapped in bitterness, and place ourselves outside the freedom, mercy, and grace God desires us to walk in instead we walk in torment aka depression, anxiety, self pity and bitterness.

Have you ever… been mad at God?”

“I’m not talking about a little frustration… I mean really mad. The kind of anger that sits deep in your chest. The kind that you don’t even know how to pray through anymore. The kind that makes you say, ‘God… if You’re so good, then why would You let this happen?’”

“Some of you in this room have never said it out loud. But you’ve felt it. You’ve felt that ache, that confusion. You’ve cried behind closed doors. You’ve clenched your fists in the dark. You’ve screamed in your mind the words your mouth was too afraid to speak.”

Matthew 18:21-35 - The Sin of Unforgiveness

(21) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

(22) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

(23) “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. (24) As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. (25) Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

(26) “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ (27) The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

(28) “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

(29) “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

(30) “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. (31) When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

(32) “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. (33) Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ (34) In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

(35) “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

DAY JOB

Throughout the Bible the word of God is focused on forgiveness and designed to bring people to faith and repentance. AND, however…

This message is for those of us who have a relationship with Jesus and know they have been forgiven of all our sin and yet we hold on to hurt and pain caused by others.