In our series, Live to Follow, we’re unpacking the difference between agreeing with Jesus and arranging our life around Him. Somewhere along the way, following Jesus became more about showing up and checking boxes—be good, go to church, avoid the big sins. But Jesus never invited us into religious performance. He invited us into transformation. Because the goal isn’t to become a better Christian. It’s to become the person Jesus had in mind when He thought of you. It’s an invitation to follow—fully.

In our series, Live to Follow, we’re unpacking the difference between agreeing with Jesus and arranging our life around Him. Somewhere along the way, following Jesus became more about showing up and checking boxes—be good, go to church, avoid the big sins. But Jesus never invited us into religious performance. He invited us into transformation. Because the goal isn’t to become a better Christian. It’s to become the person Jesus had in mind when He thought of you. It’s an invitation to follow—fully.

In our series, Live to Follow, we’re unpacking the difference between agreeing with Jesus and arranging our life around Him. Somewhere along the way, following Jesus became more about showing up and checking boxes—be good, go to church, avoid the big sins. But Jesus never invited us into religious performance. He invited us into transformation. Because the goal isn’t to become a better Christian. It’s to become the person Jesus had in mind when He thought of you. It’s an invitation to follow—fully.

In our series, Live to Follow, we’re unpacking the difference between agreeing with Jesus and arranging our life around Him. Somewhere along the way, following Jesus became more about showing up and checking boxes—be good, go to church, avoid the big sins. But Jesus never invited us into religious performance. He invited us into transformation. Because the goal isn’t to become a better Christian. It’s to become the person Jesus had in mind when He thought of you. It’s an invitation to follow—fully.

In our series, Live to Follow, we’re unpacking the difference between agreeing with Jesus and arranging our life around Him. Somewhere along the way, following Jesus became more about showing up and checking boxes—be good, go to church, avoid the big sins. But Jesus never invited us into religious performance. He invited us into transformation. Because the goal isn’t to become a better Christian. It’s to become the person Jesus had in mind when He thought of you. It’s an invitation to follow—fully.

In our series, Live to Follow, we’re unpacking the difference between agreeing with Jesus and arranging our life around Him. Somewhere along the way, following Jesus became more about showing up and checking boxes—be good, go to church, avoid the big sins. But Jesus never invited us into religious performance. He invited us into transformation. Because the goal isn’t to become a better Christian. It’s to become the person Jesus had in mind when He thought of you. It’s an invitation to follow—fully.

Life With Emmanuel | Rev. Steve Carter

Advent is this wild, hope-soaked reminder that we’re not stumbling through the darkness on our own—because in Jesus, God is with us and God is for us. Isaiah 9:6 names Him in ways our souls desperately need: He’s the Wonderful Counselor who speaks wisdom into our confusion, the Mighty God who fights the battles we can’t win on our own, the Everlasting Father who never bails when life gets messy, and the Prince of Peace who brings calm to our chaos. This series invites us to slow down, breathe deep, and recognize again that the God who stepped into our world is still stepping into our stories—lighting the way, lifting our hearts and leading us toward a hope that will not disappoint.