This sermon explores the challenge of accepting unwanted gifts from God, using the story of Joseph and Mary from Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph, a righteous young man, faced a life-changing dilemma when his fiancée, Mary, returned home pregnant. She was carrying Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit, a miraculous child who would be the Savior. To Joseph, this unexpected pregnancy was an unwanted gift that upended his plans. Despite his faithfulness and purity, Joseph was thrust into turmoil, challenging our notions that doing good guarantees God's blessings. Job 41:11 reminds us that God owes us nothing; obedience is about trust, not controlling outcomes. Joseph's response to his unexpected situation shows we must follow God even when it's inconvenient, misunderstood, uncertain, or contrary to our plans. While we may never fully grasp God's perspective, we can trust His character, knowing from Romans 8:28 that He works everything for the good of those who love Him. In this Christmas season, amidst financial, health, or relational hardships, we are encouraged to seek refuge in God instead of fleeing in disappointment.

Chapter 1: Obedience Is Not a Formula 0:00 - 22:11
Chapter 2: Living for God's Approval Above All 22:12 - 26:52
Chapter 3: Anchored by God's Word in Uncertainty 26:53 - 34:50
Chapter 4: Trusting Even Without Agreement 34:51

This message invites us to revisit the familiar story of Mary and the angel Gabriel with fresh eyes. It's about unexpected turns—when life goes left instead of right, and our plans clash with God's. Mary, a teenage girl from an insignificant town, receives an impossible message: she's going to bear the Son of God through the Holy Spirit. Everything about this moment defies expectations—the messenger, the message, and the method. But what's most striking is Mary’s humble response: 'I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Her meekness—seeing God and herself rightly and submitting humbly—unlocks the door to God's greatest gift. This challenges us: Are we willing to do what the Bible says, even if we don't like it? Can we trust God's plans, even if we don't understand them? The Christian life often feels like you're threading in the opposite direction, where Jesus calls us to go against the grain. This Christmas, remember that meekness isn't about being weak; it's about walking the path Jesus laid out to inherit the earth.

Chapter 1: Introduction: When Life Goes Left Instead of Right 0:00 - 7:44
Chapter 2: The Unexpected Messenger and Message 7:45 - 16:48
Chapter 3: The Unexpected Method and Mary's Situation 16:49 - 26:54
Chapter 4: Mary's Unexpected Meekness: The Key to Life 26:55 - 43:56
Chapter 5: Celebrating Baptisms 43:57

This message addresses the personal challenge of aligning our lives with God's will, focusing on teachings from Colossians 3, Ephesians 4, and Romans 7. It reveals the futility of trying to change ourselves solely through willpower and emphasizes that true sanctification isn't about moving from grace to self-reliance. Instead, we're called into a partnership with the Holy Spirit, who transforms our deepest desires. Attempting to change on our own risks making us either hypocrites, maintaining a façade, or leading us to abandon our faith when we can't meet expectations. The key takeaway is understanding that confession, reconciliation, and submission to the Spirit are essential resources from God for real transformation. By trusting in His power, rather than trying to impress Him, our desires begin to shift, resulting in genuine, Spirit-led growth.

Many Christians may find their spiritual lives resembling a broken-down vehicle, stuck in a cycle of failure and forgiveness. This isn’t the abundant life God intended. According to Scripture, 'normal Christianity' involves overcoming temptation, obeying God's will, and increasingly reflecting Christ's character. The missing piece isn’t a 'what' but a 'Who'—the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 reveals that the Holy Spirit frees us from the cycle of sin and death, directs us toward God, fills our minds with life and peace, and liberates us from past patterns of sin. Transformation comes not by trying harder or 'whacking' sins into submission, but from yielding to the Spirit, trusting His guidance, and partnering with Him daily. When we focus on Christ and fellowship with the Spirit, He changes our desires to align with God's heart, leading to the abundant life Jesus promised.

Chapter 1: Redefining Normal Christianity 0:00 - 7:07
Chapter 2: What the Holy Spirit Provides 7:08 - 25:14
Chapter 3: How to Experience Spirit-Filled Life 25:15

Why does the transformative news of salvation often feel like it's not changing us? This message delves into the tension between who we've become spiritually and how we still live practically. Drawing from Romans 6 and 7, it reveals the crux of the issue: our problem isn't merely doing wrong, but wanting wrong. Our misaligned desires create a sin problem. Like Paul's confession in Romans 7, we grapple with doing what we hate and failing to do what we know is right, not due to ignorance or lack of willpower, but because our desires don't align with God's. Introducing a concept from Thomas Chalmers, the message highlights the need to replace wrong desires with godly ones, akin to filling a cup with water to expel air. It outlines a pathway involving two transformative practices: confessing both sinful actions and desires, and relying on Christ's sacrifice for reconciliation. This isn't about trying harder but accessing divine resources for ongoing sanctification.

Chapter 1: A New Kind of Sin Problem 0:00 - 17:30
Chapter 2: The Battle of Our Affections 17:31 - 34:51
Chapter 3: The Expulsive Power of New Affections 34:52

This sermon challenges us with the profound truth that we're not simply flawed individuals in need of improvement; we're spiritually dead and need to come alive through Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 2 and Romans 3, it shows the gospel as a story of resurrection, not self-help. We explore the ABC framework: Admit that we're sinners in need of a Savior, Believe that Jesus is the only available Savior, and Choose to trust in what He has done. The message highlights our inability to grasp spiritual truth on our own—just as a lifeless body cannot respond, we require God’s Spirit to awaken us. It's not about agreeing intellectually or trying harder, but about receiving the unique gift of grace that Christianity offers. We're urged to put our full trust in this faith and recognize it's not meant to stop with us. For those already transformed by the gospel, we’re reminded to share this life-changing news with the eight to fifteen people within our relational world, praying for them to awaken to this truth.

Chapter 1: Admit That You're a Sinner in Need of a Savior 0:00 - 20:35
Chapter 2: Believe That Jesus Is the Only Savior Available 20:36 - 32:51
Chapter 3: Choose to Put Your Faith in the Gospel 32:52

When we say the church belongs to Jesus, it emphasizes profound ownership and leadership. In Matthew 16, Jesus declares, "I will build MY church," highlighting that it's His to lead, not ours to control. True biblical leadership stems from this principle, as seen in the qualifications for pastors and deacons in 1 Timothy 3, which stress character traits like faithfulness, self-control, and hospitality—qualities all believers should embody. Jesus chose shepherds and table waiters—roles looked down upon in the first century—to illustrate that true authority in His kingdom comes through humble service. This creates a dynamic where both leaders and followers are accountable to Jesus. In this partnership under Christ's authority, pastors lead humbly, and congregations follow joyfully, ensuring everyone flourishes as we remember whose church it truly is.

Chapter 1: Jesus Is the Leader of His Family 0:00 - 15:27
Chapter 2: Jesus Appoints Under Shepherds and Servants 15:28 - 37:38
Chapter 3: Mutual Accountability Under the Great Shepherd 37:39

In this powerful message, we're challenged to reconsider our relationship with the church. Are we merely attendees, or are we truly part of God's family? The early church, as described in Acts 2, sets a compelling example of devotion, fellowship, and shared purpose. We're reminded that belonging to a church family isn't about privileges, but about purpose. It's not just about being present, but about participating and partnering in God's mission. This message urges us to move beyond a 'hotel' mentality, where we simply receive, to embracing a 'home' mentality, where we contribute and engage. As we reflect on our own involvement, let's consider: Are we holding unswervingly to our shared hope? Are we spurring one another on towards love and good deeds? The invitation is clear - God hasn't called us to attend His family, but to belong to it. How might our lives and our community be transformed if we truly made ourselves at home in God's family?

Chapter 1: The Importance of Being Present 0:00 - 20:39
Chapter 2: Participation in Church Life 20:40 - 36:50
Chapter 3: Partnership and Membership in the Church 36:51