Posts with the category “the-gift-exchange”

This Christmas sermon explores the profound meaning of "Emmanuel - God with us" by addressing how God meets us in our seasons of grief and loss. Pastor Mike challenges the cultural tendency to bury, ignore, or distract ourselves from difficult emotions during the holiday season, proposing instead that Christmas magnifies both the magic and the mess of life. The message emphasizes that grief is not the opposite of joy, nor is it a lack of faith, but rather part of the human condition that God wants us to invite Him into. By trusting God with our grief rather than suppressing it, we can discover that joy is often found in God's presence amidst the grief, not in its absence. The sermon calls believers to process their own grief authentically so they can compassionately walk with others through their pain, embodying the character of Christ who was known for His compassion.  Read More