FOUNT

Pastor James Powell from The House Vegas reminds us of Paul's instruction in Philippians 3:13. It comes from a place of lived experience, not theory. Writing from prison, Paul reflects on a life marked by both great success and deep failure. Rather than allowing either to define him, he makes a conscious decision to forget what is behind him so he can faithfully pursue what God has ahead. Selective amnesia is the discipline of releasing what no longer has authority so we can walk fully in God's purpose.

Luke 2:8–16. In the Christmas story, God announces the arrival of Jesus not to the elite, but to shepherds, outsiders who lived nearby, but not in. Through them, we see the heart of God: good news for all people, especially those who feel forgotten, labeled, or pushed to the margins.  This Sunday, Pastor Brittany Smigielski shows us how Jesus enters the darkness, meets us on the outside, and invites us in. When we behold Christ, the Lamb of God and the Good Shepherd, our true identity is restored, our labels are broken, and our souls discover their worth in Him.

Luke 2:8–20. Pastor Kevin Myers reminds us that joy is not superficial or fleeting, it's rooted in grace. As we close out 2025, this message points us to the unlikely joy announced to shepherds: good news for all people. In a city and a world searching for fulfillment, Jesus comes as Savior, Messiah, and Lord, offering deep, lasting joy that isn't shaped by circumstances. 

In todays Leadership Lesson, Mike Oaks teaches about the furnished room of the Shunammite woman becomes a picture of the heart. The bed calls us to rest and healing, the chair establishes God's authority, the table invites fellowship and formation, the lamp brings light and discernment, and the walls remind us this dwelling is permanent, not seasonal. As we intentionally furnish the heart, we become a place where God rests, leads, and works through us.

Matthew 1:23, John 1:14, Genesis 1:1–2. This Sunday, Pastor Brittany Smigielski reveals the everlasting with‑ness of a God who moves first. From creation to Christ to this very moment, God's defining nature is nearness. When shame isolates, suffering overwhelms, or faith feels fragile, Immanuel steps toward us. God is not distant, He is with you, present in every season, bearing every pain, and restoring what was broken.