In this reflective sermon, Josh Hofford looks back at 2025 and shares key lessons God taught him through devotional time, trusted friends, and times of difficulty. He begins by asking the congregation to consider major news stories and family events from the past year, emphasizing that we should "look back to learn, but not to stare." Josh shares that God has been training him to walk through normal daily assignments while trusting Him completely.

The first major lesson is that God is working even when we don't see it at the time, referencing Hebrews 12:9-13 about discipline yielding peaceful fruit later. Josh emphasizes the importance of daily devotional time, noting that Sunday church attendance alone cannot sustain us through life's challenges. He shares personal examples about his three children and how God has been faithful to them as they've grown and faced their own difficulties. The second lesson involves choosing counselors carefully, drawing from Jeremiah 23:16-18 and the story of King Rehoboam in First Kings 12. Josh warns against taking counsel from those who don't stand in God's council, emphasizing the importance of seeking wisdom from those who know and obey God's Word rather than simply following popular trends or peer advice.

In this Christmas sermon from the "Rethinking Christmas" series, Pastor Jeremy focuses on how we can "offer more" to others because of what Jesus has done for us. Using John 1:1-18 as his primary text, Pastor Jeremy explains that this passage serves as an "abstract" or synopsis of the entire Gospel of John, introducing Jesus as the Word, the Light, and the source of all things.

Pastor Jeremy emphasizes four key ways we can offer more: more light through our actions and attitudes; more truth by verbalizing our faith (not just being different but explaining why); more grace by showing patience and forgiveness; and more love through self-sacrifice. He explains the difference between justice (getting what we deserve), mercy (not getting what we deserve), and grace (getting something good we don't deserve), noting that God gives us "grace upon grace." The sermon concludes with the reminder that Jesus came because "God so loved the world" (John 3:16), and because He first loved us, we can love others. Pastor Jeremy challenges anyone who hasn't decided to follow Jesus to do so before leaving.

Pastor Luke invites us to reconsider what makes a "successful Christmas" by examining how our perspective shifts from childhood (toys) to teen years (monetary value) to adulthood (children's happiness). He warns against making Christmas "thing-centric" or "me-centric" instead of worship-centric, and identifies two main reasons we spend impulsively: wrong motives stemming from our "SAD hearts" (Selfishness, Arrogance, Damaging) and social pressure.

Instead, Pastor Luke encourages spending intentionally - expending resources with purpose and focus to advance God's kingdom and bless others. These resources include time, talents, truth, and treasures. He outlines three focuses: pleasing God first (Ecclesiastes 2:26), truly blessing others through gifts that honor and refresh (Proverbs 11:25), and choosing contentment rather than consumption (Philippians 4:11-12). Pastor Luke concludes with practical next steps: taking inventory and making a plan, asking God for help with our motives, and creating a reminder to rethink Christmas next year.