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    “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all…" —Titus 2:11 As we reach the end of our Advent journey and enter the joy of Christmas Eve, we reflect on a question our ministry partners around the world are often asked. Why would God do something as... read more →

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" —Matthew 28:19 For many centuries, people like you and me have been invited to participate in God’s redemptive story. Often to our surprise—and always... read more →

    “This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’" —Matthew 3:3 Advent would not be complete without the peculiar character we call John the Baptist—the Advent... read more →

    “Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt…'" —Matthew 2:13 The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth do not linger long in Bethlehem. Following the departure of the... read more →

    “At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." —Luke 2:38 Anna, a prophet, was widowed at a young age. Following her husband's death, she made herself at home in Jerusalem's temple,... read more →

    “Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon...it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah." —Luke 2:25-26 Forty days after Jesus’ birth, His parents took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to... read more →

    “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." —Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) The word advent means coming or arrival. When referring to Jesus' arrival, however, advent takes on a special meaning, representing... read more →

    “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under..." —Matthew 2:16 King Herod ruled over Judea with Roman approval for more than 30 years. Never... read more →

    “Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey." —Zechariah 9:9 (NASB1995) When Jesus was born, it’s likely that there were animals nearby, even in the very same... read more →

    “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." —Luke 2:7 How might cultural insights impact our experience of the Christmas story? Middle East scholar Kenneth... read more →