This Sunday we continued our Advent series When God Came Near by looking at Galatians 4:4–7. Paul reminds us that when God sent His Son, He came fully God, fully human, and perfectly sinless—uniquely qualified to save. Jesus came near with the power to restore what was broken, the humility to stand in our place, and the perfection to bear our sin. Because of the incarnation, we are no longer slaves but sons and daughters—welcomed into God’s family and freed to live in the security of His love.

In Philippians 2:3–11, we saw three building blocks of a Christ-like identity: humble confidence, surrendered security, and selfless service. Because Jesus came for us, we are freed from pride and self-loathing, secure enough to let go of control, and confident enough to serve others. In the incarnation, God came near—not just to save us, but to show us a whole new way to be human.

This Sunday, we began a new sermon series for Advent, reflecting on the stunning truth at the heart of John 1: that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Christmas tells us that God didn’t stay distant or detached—He stepped into the chaos of our world and came near. As we enter Advent, we’re invited to see God’s heart revealed in Christ: the God who draws near, speaks clearly, and loves deeply.