Moses has returned to worship the Lord at Mount Sinai just as God had foretold. And God, being rich in mercy, invites Israel into a covenantal relationship. Israel has become a people of privilege and purpose. God calls Israel to be a 'kingdom of priests'. Likewise, our purpose as the church is to bring glory to God by faithfully proclaiming the good news of the gospel.

In Exodus 18 we learn that transformed lives transform lives. Moses shares the story of the mighty deliverance God has provided to his father-in-law, Jethro. The testimony of Moses and the work of God is the means by which Jethro is brought to saving faith in God.

Within two months of their departure from Egypt the Israelites faced hostile opposition on the journey to the promised land. Through their battle with Amalek God demonstrated that he is the one who gives victory to his people. We too can have confidence that we have victory through Christ over sin, death, and Satan. Just as God led the people of Israel to the promised land so too will he lead us to the new heaven and new earth.

Thirty-nine years ago today, the Supreme Court exacted a judgment that legalized abortion in the United States. On Sanctity of Life Sunday, we examine Proverbs 24 and Isaiah 58 and listen to what God expects of his people when the innocent are taken away to death.

Music is powerful. Music can impact us in a number of ways, effecting our emotions, mood and affect. Each week we gather to sing songs that glorify Christ and help us respond to who He is. This week we discuss Exodus 15 and learn why we sing, what singing accomplishes for the gathered church and how it glorifies God.

We begin 2012 as a church family with a focus on prayer. We look to Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus as an example to follow and also strive to be strengthened by Christ's indwelling presence through the Spirit. Indeed as Paul states, God is able to do more than we can ever ask or imagine.

Jesus was the greatest king to walk the earth. He is able to give us a gift that no other king can give us. This Christmas we invite you to receive the gift of a king.

When we think of Christmas, we should not only think of what God has done in the past. Instead, we should also think of the continual blessings that come from Jesus specifically, 'grace upon grace'. The blessing of Christmas manifests itself in our lives everyday. We ought to worship and celebrate because of the grace we continually receive.

In Exodus 14, Israel crosses over from death to life through the Red Sea. God delivers his people by his chosen mediator, Moses. So to, we, God's people, have been saved by God when we crossed over from death to life by God's perfect mediator-Jesus.

God mercifully leads Israel out of Egypt and toward the Red Sea by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. God's presence with his people was constant and faithful, never departing from them. As we think about Israel's deliverance and our own, there are many similarities, perhaps none greater than God's presence. As we near Christmas, we celebrate our savior, Immanuel, God with us.