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Romans

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Sermon Series, Bible Study. No Comments on Romans

Romans: The Gospel That Renews Everything

An Introduction to Our New Sermon Series at The Well

Romans 1:1–17 (CSB)

This past Sunday we began a new journey together as a church, walking through the book of Romans. Romans is not only one of the most theologically rich books in the New Testament—it is also one of the most hope-filled, practical, and church-shaping letters ever written.

Paul’s letter to the Romans lays out the gospel with clarity, depth, and power. It answers some of the most important questions every believer and every church must wrestle with:
What is the gospel?
Why do we need it?
What does it accomplish?
And how does it shape the way we live?

As we open this series, Romans 1:1–17 sets the foundation. Before Paul addresses sin, salvation, justification, sanctification, or the life of the church, he begins with the gospel itself.

The Gospel Has a Servant (Romans 1:1–7)

Paul opens the letter by identifying himself as “a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” Before Paul describes his authority, he describes his submission. He belongs to Jesus.

This matters because the gospel does not advance through impressive personalities, but through surrendered servants. Paul’s calling was not self-appointed; it was given by God. His message was not self-created; it was entrusted to him.

The gospel Paul proclaims is not new or invented. It is “promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.” From Genesis to the Prophets, God has been telling one unified story—a story fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Son of God.

At its heart, the gospel is about a Person. Jesus is both truly human and truly divine. He is rooted in history and confirmed by resurrection power. This is the gospel that creates obedience flowing from faith, not pressure, fear, or performance.

The Gospel Creates a Gospel-Shaped Desire (Romans 1:8–15)

Paul had never visited the church in Rome, yet he deeply loved them. He thanked God for their faith, prayed for them continually, and longed to see them face to face. His desire was not merely relational—it was spiritual.

Paul wanted to strengthen the church, to be mutually encouraged by shared faith, and to see lasting fruit among them. His ministry was never about personal recognition; it was about gospel impact.

Here we see that the gospel does not isolate believers—it connects them. It produces gratitude, prayer, longing for fellowship, and a burden to see others grow. A church shaped by the gospel becomes a church that loves people deeply and longs for spiritual fruit.

The Gospel Is Our Power and Our Hope (Romans 1:16–17)

These verses form the thesis of the entire letter:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”

Paul is not ashamed because the gospel works. It saves. It transforms. It brings dead sinners to life. And it does so not by human effort, but by divine power.

The gospel reveals the righteousness of God—not a righteousness we achieve, but a righteousness God provides. Salvation is received by faith from beginning to end. As Scripture says, “The righteous will live by faith.”

This is not only how we are saved; it is how we live. Faith is not the doorway we walk through and then leave behind—it is the path we walk every day.

Why Romans Matters for Us

Romans will challenge us, ground us, correct us, and encourage us. It will remind us that the gospel is not just the starting point of the Christian life—it is the foundation, the fuel, and the goal.

As we walk through this letter together, our prayer is that God will deepen our faith, strengthen our unity, and renew our confidence in the gospel that saves, sustains, and sends us.

Whether you’re new to the faith, returning to church, or have followed Christ for many years, Romans invites us all to stand firmly on the good news of Jesus Christ.

We’re glad you’re walking this journey with us.

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Strength for the Journey

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Sermon Series. No Comments on Strength for the Journey

Strength for the Journey: Why God’s Word Still Matters

Every journey has a moment when excitement fades and endurance is tested. The beginning of the year often brings motivation, goals, and fresh resolve—but lasting faith is not sustained by momentum alone. It is sustained by what we remain rooted in when life becomes demanding, confusing, or wearying.

Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul writes to Timothy not with a list of new ideas or innovative strategies, but with a simple, steady command: continue. In a world filled with pressure, distortion, and distraction, Paul reminds Timothy that strength for the journey is found not in novelty, but in faithfulness.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed.”
(2 Timothy 3:14, CSB)

Remaining Rooted When Everything Pulls You Away

Timothy was ministering in a difficult environment. False teaching was spreading, cultural values were shifting, and faithful obedience was costly. Paul does not tell him to reinvent the message. He tells him to remain in what he has already received.

This kind of endurance is deeply relational. Paul points Timothy back to the people who shaped his faith—his mother, his grandmother, and trusted spiritual leaders. Faith is not formed in isolation. It is handed down through faithful lives and sustained through shared trust in God’s truth.

Yet Paul does not stop with relationships. He grounds Timothy’s endurance in Scripture itself.

“From infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Timothy 3:15, CSB)

Scripture is not merely a source of moral guidance or spiritual inspiration. Its purpose is redemptive. It leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. From beginning to end, the Bible tells the story of God’s saving work—fulfilled in Christ and lived out in His people.

Why Scripture Can Be Trusted

Paul then addresses why Scripture carries such weight in the life of the believer.

“All Scripture is inspired by God.”
(2 Timothy 3:16, CSB)

Scripture does not originate in human creativity or religious speculation. It is God-breathed. That means the authority of Scripture rests not in human wisdom, but in the God who speaks. Because it comes from God, it carries God’s truthfulness, faithfulness, and reliability.

This matters deeply in a world where truth is often treated as flexible or personal. Scripture stands as a steady voice—not because it aligns with cultural preferences, but because it flows from the unchanging character of God Himself.

Strength That Actually Shapes a Life

Paul does not describe Scripture as merely authoritative; he describes it as useful.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.”
(2 Timothy 3:16, CSB)

God’s Word teaches us what is true, confronts what is false, restores what has gone astray, and trains us to live rightly. It addresses both belief and behavior. Scripture does not simply inform us—it forms us.

And it does so with a clear purpose:

“So that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:17, CSB)

God does not leave His people partially prepared or spiritually under-resourced. Through His Word, He equips believers for faithful living in every season—whether that season is joyful or difficult, clear or confusing.

Living This Out Today

Paul’s charge to Timothy is also God’s word to us. Strength for the journey does not come from chasing what is new, but from remaining anchored in what God has already given. Scripture is not something we outgrow; it is something we grow deeper into.

As you move through this year, consider a few gentle questions:

  • What voices most shape your thinking and direction?

  • Where do you turn when faith feels costly or confusing?

  • How intentionally are you allowing God’s Word to shape your beliefs, decisions, and hopes?

God’s Word is not merely something to be studied—it is something to be lived in.

An Invitation

If you are longing for strength that lasts, Scripture offers more than information. It offers formation. It leads us to Christ, roots us in truth, and equips us for faithful obedience.

If you are part of our church family, we invite you to continue this journey with us as we remain Rooted & Renewed together. And if you are exploring faith or searching for something steady to hold onto, you are welcome to join us.

God has not left His people without guidance. He has given us His Word—and it is enough for the journey.

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Not Giving Up

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Renewed: When God Is at Work Beneath the Surface

Not Giving Up

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (CSB)

There are seasons of life when renewal feels like the last word we would use to describe what we’re experiencing. Bodies ache. Energy fades. Faith feels stretched thin by grief, uncertainty, or disappointment. We are often tempted to measure renewal by outward improvement—stronger circumstances, easier days, visible success. But the apostle Paul invites us to see renewal through a far deeper lens.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, Paul offers a perspective that runs counter to our instincts and our culture. Writing as a man marked by suffering—physically worn, publicly criticized, and often misunderstood—Paul makes a remarkable confession: “Therefore we do not give up.” His confidence does not come from a change in circumstances, but from a quiet, daily work of God happening beneath the surface.

Paul names a paradox that many of us feel but struggle to articulate: “Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day” (v. 16). He does not deny the reality of decay, loss, or weakness. In fact, he names it plainly. The Christian life does not escape mortality or suffering. Yet Paul insists that another, deeper process is unfolding at the same time—a renewal that is real, ongoing, and sustained by God Himself.

This renewal is not self-generated. It is not optimism, grit, or positive thinking. It is the work of the Spirit, quietly shaping believers from the inside out. While the outer life bears the marks of a broken world, the inner life is being steadily formed in the likeness of Christ. What looks like deterioration to the world may, in God’s economy, be the very soil where transformation takes root.

Paul then reframes suffering itself: “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory” (v. 17). This is not a minimizing of pain. Paul knew affliction deeply—imprisonment, beatings, rejection, and constant danger. Yet he dares to describe these trials as “momentary” and “light” when set beside the eternal glory God is preparing. Suffering, in Paul’s theology, is not meaningless. It is not wasted. It is being used by God to form hearts for a future that far outweighs the present.

This leads to the posture that sustains renewal: “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen” (v. 18). Paul is not calling believers to ignore reality, but to interpret it rightly. What is seen—pain, loss, weakness—is temporary. What is unseen—God’s work, God’s promises, God’s coming restoration—is eternal. Renewal depends not only on what God is doing, but on where we fix our attention.

In a world obsessed with visibility, speed, and results, Paul invites believers to live by faith rather than appearances. Renewal often happens quietly. It cannot always be measured, displayed, or proven. But it is real. And it is anchored in the sure promise that God is not finished with His people.

This passage gently reshapes how we understand endurance. Renewal is not about becoming immune to hardship; it is about becoming rooted in eternal hope. The Christian does not deny weakness—but refuses to let weakness have the final word. Because Christ is risen, decay is not the end. Because the Spirit is present, renewal is already underway.

As you reflect on this text, consider a few questions:

  • Where have you been measuring your spiritual health only by what is visible?

  • In what areas of life might God be renewing you inwardly, even as things feel harder outwardly?

  • What would it look like to intentionally fix your attention on eternal realities this season?

At The Well, we believe God is forming His people not just through moments of strength, but through faithful endurance. Renewal does not always feel dramatic—but it is deeply transformative. And it is promised to all who are in Christ.

If you are longing for renewal—quiet, real, and lasting—you are not alone. We invite you to join us this Sunday as we continue walking through God’s Word together, learning to see our lives through the hope-filled lens of eternity.

“What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, CSB)

If you’re looking for a place to grow, to listen, and to be formed alongside others, we invite you to join us this Sunday at The Well. Together, we are learning what it means to be Rooted & Renewed—anchored in God’s Word and shaped for faithful living.
Join us Sundays in person or online at https://www.facebook.com/TheWellAlamogordo

Rooted & Renewed: Anchored

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Bible Study, Sermon Series. No Comments on Rooted & Renewed: Anchored

Rooted & Renewed: AnchoredRooted & Renewed: Anchored
Where Your Life Is Planted Matters

Rooted & Renewed — Week 2

The beginning of a new year often brings a desire for stability. We want routines that last, habits that help, and a sense of direction that doesn’t fade by February. Yet many of us quietly feel unsteady—pulled by competing voices, distracted by endless input, and unsure what is truly shaping us.

Psalm 1 opens the book of Psalms by addressing that exact tension. Before prayers are sung, before laments are voiced, before praise erupts, Scripture asks a foundational question: What kind of life is truly anchored?

“How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway of sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.”
(Psalm 1:1–2, CSB)

This psalm is not primarily about behavior modification. It is about formation—how a life is shaped over time by what it listens to, lingers with, and loves.

Formation Is Always Happening

Psalm 1 begins by describing three ordinary actions: walking, standing, and sitting. These are not dramatic rebellions or overt sins. They describe everyday life—movement, pauses, and rest. Yet the psalmist warns that these ordinary moments are never neutral.

We are always being formed by counsel we trust, paths we normalize, and voices we allow close. Formation rarely happens through a single decision; it happens through repeated exposure. Over time, influence becomes identity.

This is why the psalm begins with restraint. The “happy” or flourishing person is not described first by what they do, but by what they refuse. They resist letting the values of a broken world quietly define their thinking. They understand that anchoring begins with discernment.

Delight Is Stronger Than Discipline

Yet Psalm 1 does not stop with resistance. A life cannot be anchored by avoidance alone. The psalm moves quickly to the heart of true stability:

“His delight is in the LORD’s instruction.”

The word translated “instruction” is torah—not merely rules, but God’s revealed wisdom and guidance. Scripture is presented not as a burden to endure but as a joy to be embraced. The anchored life is not sustained by obligation but by affection.

This delight leads to meditation—slow, intentional attention to God’s Word. Meditation is not speed reading or religious box-checking. It is allowing Scripture to dwell deeply enough to shape how we see God, ourselves, and the world.

Over time, what delights us directs us. What we return to repeatedly forms our instincts. When God’s Word becomes familiar and treasured, it quietly reorders our loves.

Anchors Are Invisible—but Essential

Psalm 1 then offers one of Scripture’s most enduring images:

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season
and whose leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3, CSB)

Trees do not survive storms because of their height but because of their roots. Anchors work the same way. They are hidden, but they hold.

This image reminds us that biblical flourishing is not instant success or constant ease. Fruit appears “in its season.” Stability is proven over time. Prosperity here is not measured by comfort, but by endurance, faithfulness, and spiritual vitality.

A life anchored in God’s Word is not immune to hardship—but it is sustained through it.

A Question Worth Sitting With

Psalm 1 quietly presses a reflective question into our lives as we begin this year:

Where is your life planted?

  • What voices most shape your thinking?

  • What fills your quiet moments?

  • What do you return to when life feels heavy?

Anchors are revealed not in calm waters, but when pressure comes.

An Invitation for the Year Ahead

The Christian life is not about drifting away from the world, but about being rooted deeply enough to live faithfully within it. Scripture does not call us to isolation, but to formation—to lives anchored in truth, nourished by grace, and shaped over time by God’s Word.

As this new year unfolds, Psalm 1 invites us to resist shallow formation and pursue deep rootedness. Stability does not come from better circumstances, but from deeper anchoring.

Reflection Questions

  • What patterns or influences have been shaping me lately?

  • How would my life look different if God’s Word became my daily delight?

  • Where do I need to replant myself this year?

If you’re looking for a place to grow, to listen, and to be formed alongside others, we invite you to join us this Sunday at The Well. Together, we are learning what it means to be Rooted & Renewed—anchored in God’s Word and shaped for faithful living.
Join us Sundays in person or online at https://www.facebook.com/TheWellAlamogordo

Formed: Spiritual Formation Rooted in God’s Mercy

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Formed: Spiritual Formation Rooted in God’s Mercy
Beginning the Year by Offering Ourselves to God

Romans 12:1–2

The beginning of a new year invites reflection. We take stock of habits, hopes, disappointments, and desires. Many of us feel the quiet pressure to improve—to do better, be healthier, stay more focused, finally change what hasn’t worked before. But Scripture invites us to begin somewhere far deeper than self-improvement.

In Romans 12:1–2, the apostle Paul calls believers to a different starting point—not a resolution, but a response. After eleven chapters unfolding the mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ, Paul writes, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship” (Rom 12:1, CSB).

That word therefore matters. Paul is not telling us how to earn God’s favor or reshape our lives through sheer willpower. He is calling us to live differently because of what God has already done. Christian formation begins not with effort, but with mercy.

A Life Offered, Not Improved

Paul uses the language of sacrifice—imagery deeply rooted in Israel’s worship. But instead of offering something external, believers are called to offer themselves. A “living sacrifice” is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing posture of surrender. Our lives—our bodies, decisions, relationships, time, and desires—are placed before God as an act of worship.

This reframes how we think about spiritual growth. Formation is not about adding religious behaviors to an already busy life. It is about yielding our whole selves to God, trusting that His mercy reshapes us from the inside out. As Jesus taught, true transformation flows from the heart (Matt 15:18), not merely from outward compliance.

Resisting the Quiet Power of Conformity

Paul continues with a clear warning: “Do not be conformed to this age” (Rom 12:2). Formation is unavoidable—we are always being shaped by something. The question is not if we are being formed, but by whom and toward what.

The “age” Paul speaks of refers to the values, assumptions, and patterns of a world bent away from God. Its influence is subtle but powerful, shaping how we define success, identity, happiness, and worth. Left unchecked, these patterns slowly press believers into molds that contradict the gospel.

Paul’s instruction is not withdrawal from the world, but discernment within it. Followers of Jesus are called to live differently—not out of pride or fear, but out of allegiance to a different King.

Renewed Minds, Discerned Lives

The alternative to conformity is transformation: “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). This transformation is not cosmetic; it is a deep reorientation of how we think, perceive reality, and interpret life.

Renewal of the mind happens as God reshapes our thinking through His Word, His Spirit, and life within the community of faith. As Paul writes elsewhere, believers are being “renewed day by day” (2 Cor 4:16). This is not instant change, but faithful, Spirit-empowered formation over time.

The result of this renewal is discernment—“so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” A renewed mind learns to recognize what aligns with God’s character and purposes. Formation leads not only to changed beliefs, but to wise, faithful living.

Formed Together, Not Alone

While Romans 12:1–2 speaks personally, it also prepares the ground for life together. The verses that follow move immediately into humility, mutual service, and the shared life of the church. Formation is never merely individual; it is communal.

God forms a people, not just isolated believers. As we offer ourselves to God, we also learn how to love one another, serve faithfully, and bear witness to Christ together. The church becomes a visible sign of a different way of life—rooted in mercy, shaped by truth, and marked by love.

Beginning the Year Well

As this new year begins, Romans 12 invites us to pause and ask deeper questions than we often do:

  • What is shaping my thinking and desires right now?

  • Where might I be conforming without realizing it?

  • What would it look like to offer myself—fully and honestly—to God this year?

  • How might God want to renew my mind, not just my habits?

The invitation of Scripture is not to try harder, but to surrender more deeply. Formation flows from mercy. Renewal grows through trust. And transformation unfolds as we live in view of all God has done for us in Christ.

If you are seeking a meaningful way to begin the year—grounded, hopeful, and shaped by God’s Word—we invite you to walk this journey with us.

Join us Sundays at The Well as we begin the series Rooted & Renewed, exploring what it means to be formed by God, anchored in His truth, renewed by His grace, and strengthened for the journey ahead.

May this year begin not with striving, but with surrender—and may God, in His mercy, form us into the people He calls us to be.

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Rooted & Renewed

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Sermon Series. No Comments on Rooted & Renewed

 

Rooted & Renewed: Beginning the Year Grounded in God’s Word

The start of a new year often brings with it a familiar pressure—to improve, to fix, to reinvent. Goals are set, habits are attempted, and resolutions are made with sincere hope, yet many fade as quickly as they begin. Scripture, however, offers a different vision for change. The Bible does not call God’s people to self-reinvention, but to transformation—a work rooted in God’s mercy and sustained by His Word.

As we begin this year together, our new sermon series, Rooted & Renewed, invites us to slow down and reorient our lives around what truly forms and sustains us. Rather than asking, “What do I want to become this year?” this series asks a better question: “Who is God shaping me to be?”

Over four weeks, we will explore what it means to live a life that is formed by God’s mercy, anchored in God’s Word, renewed by God’s eternal work, and strengthened for faithful endurance. This is not a series about quick fixes or external change. It is about deep, lasting formation that flows from the gospel.

Week 1 — Formed (Romans 12:1–2)

We begin where true transformation always starts—with the mercy of God. In Romans 12:1–2, the apostle Paul calls believers to present their lives as living sacrifices, not in order to earn God’s favor, but in response to it. Christian formation is never a personal improvement project. It is a grateful response to what God has already done in Christ.

Paul’s words challenge us to resist being shaped by the patterns of this age and instead to be transformed through the renewing of our minds. This opening sermon frames the entire series: lasting change does not come from trying harder, but from being reshaped by God’s truth.

Week 2 — Anchored (Psalm 1:1–3)

In a world marked by instability and constant noise, Psalm 1 paints a compelling picture of rootedness. The blessed person is not described by outward success, but by delight in the law of the Lord. Like a tree planted beside flowing streams, their life is stable, nourished, and fruitful.

This week helps us see that spiritual disciplines are not burdensome obligations, but God’s gracious means of sustaining His people. When our lives are anchored in God’s Word, we are not easily shaken by changing circumstances.

Week 3 — Renewed (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

Renewal, according to Scripture, is not a one-time reset—it is a daily work of God. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul acknowledges weariness, suffering, and weakness, yet he insists that believers “do not give up.” Why? Because even as the outer person fades, the inner person is being renewed day by day.

This message speaks honestly to those who begin the year already tired. Renewal is not denial of hardship; it is perseverance fueled by an eternal perspective. As we fix our eyes on what is unseen, God continues His quiet, faithful work within us.

Week 4 — Strength for the Journey (2 Timothy 3:14–17)

The series concludes by pointing us forward. Paul reminds Timothy that Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient to equip believers for every good work. Strength for the Christian life does not come from resolve or motivation alone—it comes from God’s revealed Word shaping us for endurance, obedience, and maturity.

This final message ties the series together, reminding us that formation, rootedness, and renewal are sustained through a lifelong dependence on Scripture.

A Different Way to Begin the Year

Rooted & Renewed is an invitation to begin the year not with frantic effort, but with faithful grounding. God is not asking us to reinvent ourselves. He is calling us to be formed by His mercy, anchored in His truth, renewed by His grace, and strengthened for the journey ahead.

We invite you to join us as we begin this year together—grounded in God’s Word and confident in His ongoing work among us.

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Advent Fulfilled

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Advent Fulfilled: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in Christ

Advent is a season of waiting—but not the kind of waiting marked by uncertainty or despair. Advent is the church’s intentional pause to remember that God keeps His promises, often in ways far greater than we expect. As we journeyed through this Advent series—The Hope of Christmas—we traced four themes that shape the biblical story and ultimately converge in the person of Jesus Christ: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

Each theme stands strong on its own, but Advent reminds us that none of them are complete apart from Christ. Together, they form a unified witness to who Jesus is and what His coming means for a world still longing for redemption.

Hope: God Keeps His Promises

Advent begins in darkness. Scripture does not shy away from acknowledging that the world is broken, waiting, and weary. Yet biblical hope is never wishful thinking—it is confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness. From ancient prophecies to fulfilled promises, Advent teaches us that God acts in history. The coming of Christ declares that waiting is never wasted when God is at work. Hope is born not because circumstances improve, but because God has spoken—and He keeps His word.

Peace: God Sends a Shepherd-King

When the prophets spoke of peace, they envisioned more than the absence of conflict. Biblical peace—shalom—includes security, wholeness, and restored relationship. In Advent, we see that peace does not originate from human power or political strength, but from God’s sovereign promise. The Messiah comes not from a palace, but from Bethlehem. Not as a conqueror, but as a Shepherd-King. Jesus brings peace by reconciling sinners to God and gathering a people who can dwell securely under His reign.

Joy: God Announces Good News

Advent joy erupts suddenly—announced by angels to shepherds in the fields. This joy is not fragile or circumstantial. It is rooted in good news: a Savior has been born. Biblical joy is not denial of hardship; it is confidence that God has intervened. The joy of Advent declares that fear does not have the final word, darkness does not win, and salvation has arrived. This joy continues to shape God’s people as they live between Christ’s first coming and His promised return.

Love: God Gives His Son

At the heart of Advent stands the clearest declaration of God’s love—not sentiment, but sacrifice. God does not merely say He loves the world; He shows it by giving His Son. The incarnation reveals a love that moves toward sinners, not away from them. Christ does not come to condemn a world already broken by sin, but to save it. Advent love is costly, initiating, and missional—calling us to believe, to receive, and to reflect that same love to others.

Advent Points Us to Christmas—and Beyond

Advent does not end in sentimentality. It ends in worship. As we arrive at Christmas, we are reminded that these themes do not belong only to a season. Hope sustains us. Peace guards us. Joy strengthens us. Love compels us. All because Christ has come.

And yet, Advent also reminds us that we are still waiting. The story is not finished. The same Jesus who came in humility will return in glory. Until then, we live as a people shaped by the promises fulfilled in Christ and the promises still to come.

As this Advent season closes, may we carry its truths forward—not boxed up with decorations, but embodied in daily faith. Christ has come. Christ is with us. Christ will come again.

This is the hope of Christmas.

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The Hope of Christmas: God’s Love

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Sermon Series, Advent. No Comments on The Hope of Christmas: God’s Love

God’s Love Displayed in Christ

Advent Series: The Hope of Christmas
John 3:16–17 (CSB)

Love is a word we use often during the Christmas season. We speak of loving family gatherings, loving traditions, and loving the feeling of the holidays. Yet the Advent season invites us to slow down and consider a far deeper question: What does it truly mean that God loves the world?

John 3:16 may be the most familiar verse in all of Scripture, but familiarity can dull its weight. When Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, they were not meant as a slogan or a sentimental phrase. They were a revelation—one that redefined love itself and reframed how salvation would be understood.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16, CSB).

The phrase “in this way” is crucial. God’s love is not merely an emotion or a declaration; it is an action. The Father’s love is demonstrated, not assumed. He loved the world by giving. And what He gave was not something expendable, but His Son—His most precious gift.

This love is astonishing not because the world is large, but because it is broken. Scripture never portrays the world as lovable or deserving. The world Jesus speaks of is rebellious, sinful, and resistant to God. Yet God’s love precedes repentance, precedes obedience, and precedes belief. God acts first. Love originates with Him.

Advent reminds us that God’s love entered history in a particular moment, through a particular person. The incarnation is not an abstract idea—it is costly love made visible. Salvation is free to us, but it was not cheap. The giving of the Son points directly to the cross. From the beginning, the manger casts a shadow toward Calvary, reminding us that Christmas joy and sacrificial love are inseparably linked.

John 3:17 deepens this truth: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jesus did not come to announce humanity’s guilt—we were already condemned by sin. He came as the rescue we could never provide for ourselves, stepping into a world already under judgment to bring redemption instead.

This is where Advent love becomes deeply missional. The Father sends the Son. The Son enters the world. Love moves outward. God’s love does not withdraw from brokenness; it steps directly into it. And the invitation remains open: “that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (v. 16).

To believe is not merely to agree with facts about Jesus. It is to trust Him, to place our hope in Him, to yield our lives to Him. Advent love calls us to respond—not with effort, but with faith rooted in the grace already given.

For those who are in Christ, Advent is a reminder that you do not live under condemnation. God’s love has already been proven, already been poured out, already been secured through Jesus. For those who are not in Christ, Advent proclaims that the door is still open. Love still invites. Grace still reaches.

As we approach Christmas, Advent calls us to behold—not a vague idea of love, but the living, breathing demonstration of it. The Father giving the Son. The Son entering the world. Love displayed, not just declared.

This is the heart of Christmas. This is the hope of Advent. This is the Good News for everyone. And this is the love that changes everything.

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Preparing our hearts for Christmas: Great Joy

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Advent, Sermon Series. No Comments on Preparing our hearts for Christmas: Great Joy

Good News of Great Joy: Preparing our hearts for Christmas

Advent Series: The Hope of Christmas
Luke 2:8–14 (CSB)

Joy is one of the most familiar words of the Christmas season—and one of the most misunderstood. We sing about it, decorate for it, and hope to feel it. Yet for many, joy feels fragile, fleeting, or even out of reach. That tension is not new. When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they did not speak into a peaceful or prosperous world. They spoke into a world marked by fear, oppression, and waiting.

Luke tells us that the announcement of Christ’s birth came first not to kings, priests, or scholars, but to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. Shepherds lived on the margins of society—working long hours, often ceremonially unclean, and largely overlooked. And yet, it was to them that the heavens opened.

“Don’t be afraid,” the angel said. “For look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10, CSB).

This joy was not rooted in circumstances. The shepherds were still shepherds. Rome was still in power. Life was still hard. But something had changed forever. The joy announced that night was anchored not in comfort, but in a person: “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (v. 11).

The angel’s message reveals something essential about biblical joy. It is not optimism. It is not denial of hardship. And it is not a temporary emotional high. Joy, in Scripture, flows from God’s saving action in history. It arises when heaven breaks into earth—when God fulfills His promises and draws near to His people.

Notice how the angel defines the good news. The joy comes from who Jesus is and what He has come to do. He is Savior—the one who rescues from sin and death. He is Messiah—the promised King Israel had been waiting for. He is Lord—the true ruler over all powers and authorities. This joy is “for all the people,” not limited by status, background, or worthiness. It is joy that comes to us, not joy we manufacture.

Then, suddenly, the skies fill with praise: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!” (v. 14). Joy leads to worship. The birth of Christ redirects attention upward—to the glory of God—and outward—to the peace God brings to humanity. Joy, in the biblical sense, always moves us toward God’s glory and the good of others.

Historically, this announcement would have stood in sharp contrast to Roman propaganda. Caesar was called “lord.” Imperial decrees were announced as “good news.” Peace was said to come through military power. But the angels proclaim a different gospel. True joy does not arrive through force or political strength. It comes quietly, humbly, in a manger—through God’s saving grace.

For us today, Advent joy still speaks into lives marked by fear, fatigue, and uncertainty. We often wait for joy to come after circumstances improve. Scripture invites us to receive joy now—because Christ has already come. Joy is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Jesus. It grows as we remember that God keeps His promises and enters our darkness with light.

As we move closer to Christmas, Advent calls us to slow down and listen again to the angel’s announcement. Joy is not something we chase—it is something we receive. It is good news. It is for all people. And it is rooted in the Savior who has come near.

This is the joy of Advent: not shallow happiness, but deep, abiding confidence that God has acted, God is with us, and God will finish what He has begun.

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Born in Bethlehem

Written by Dusty Marshall on . Posted in Sermon Series, Advent. No Comments on Born in Bethlehem

The Prince of Peace Is Born in Bethlehem

Advent Series: The Hope of Christmas — Peace
Text: Micah 5:2–5a (CSB)

Peace is one of the most familiar words of the Advent season—and one of the most misunderstood.

As Christmas approaches, we speak of peace in sentimental tones: quiet nights, warm gatherings, and a brief pause from the noise of the world. Yet the biblical vision of peace is far more substantial—and far more costly—than a seasonal feeling. When the prophet Micah speaks of peace, he is not describing the absence of conflict or a temporary calm. He is proclaiming the arrival of a Ruler whose presence fundamentally reorders a broken world.

Micah 5:2–5a draws our attention to an unexpected place: Bethlehem. A small, overlooked town with little political or military significance. And yet, it is precisely there that God promises the birth of the One who “will be the peace.”

Peace From an Unlikely Place

Micah prophesied during a time of national anxiety. Israel faced external threats, internal corruption, and the looming reality of judgment. Jerusalem—the city of power—would soon be humbled. The people were waiting for deliverance, but their circumstances suggested anything but hope.

Then comes the surprise:
“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me.”

God’s peace does not emerge from visible strength. It does not rise from fortified cities or political centers. It comes from humility, obscurity, and divine promise. Bethlehem was David’s hometown—a reminder that God delights in bringing His greatest works out of places the world overlooks.

Advent peace begins here: trusting that God’s purposes are not hindered by smallness or weakness.

Peace Rooted in God’s Promise, Not Human Power

Micah tells us that this coming Ruler has “origins from antiquity, from ancient times.” This is not a sudden solution to a temporary problem. God’s plan for peace stretches back through His covenant promises—to David, to Israel, and ultimately to all nations.

The peace Micah describes is covenantal. It flows from God’s faithfulness, not human effort. Israel’s history had shown repeatedly that human rulers could not secure lasting peace. Kings failed. Alliances collapsed. Strength faded.

Yet God promises a Shepherd-King whose reign would not depend on human power but on “the strength of the LORD” and “the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.”

Biblical peace—shalom—is not merely the absence of war. It is wholeness, security, flourishing, and restored relationship with God. This peace can only come from a ruler who stands under God’s authority and carries out God’s purposes.

Peace Through a Shepherd-King

Micah describes the Messiah not only as a ruler, but as a shepherd. This image matters.

A shepherd does not dominate his flock—he protects, leads, and provides. In a world accustomed to rulers who exploit power for themselves, God promises a King who exercises power for the good of His people.

“He will stand and shepherd them… and they will live securely.”

Peace, in Micah’s vision, is deeply personal. It is not abstract. It is the result of being cared for by the right King.

This Shepherd-King will gather the scattered, restore the broken, and establish security where fear once ruled. And His reign will not stop at Israel’s borders—“his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.”

Advent peace is global, redemptive, and enduring.

Peace That Arrives Through Waiting

Micah acknowledges a painful reality: there would be a delay between promise and fulfillment. God would “give them up” for a time—allowing hardship, exile, and longing to shape His people.

This tension resonates deeply with Advent.

We live between promise and fulfillment. Christ has come—but the fullness of His peaceful reign is not yet complete. We still experience conflict, injustice, and unrest, both in the world and within our own hearts.

Advent reminds us that waiting is not wasted time. God is at work even in delay. Peace often grows in the soil of trust before it blossoms in visible fulfillment.

Peace Has a Name

Micah concludes with a simple, profound declaration:
“He will be their peace.”

Peace is not merely something the Messiah brings. It is who He is.

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of this promise. Born in Bethlehem, descended from David, shepherding God’s people, and reigning in God’s strength—He is the Prince of Peace foretold centuries earlier.

This Advent season, peace is not found by escaping the darkness, but by trusting the Light who entered it. Not by securing control, but by surrendering to the Shepherd-King.

As we wait for Christmas, Micah invites us to lift our eyes beyond temporary calm and place our hope in the One whose reign brings lasting peace—peace with God, peace among His people, and peace that will one day cover the earth.

“And he will be our peace.”


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