Mosaic Church | Winter Garden Audio

God’s path for us, as described in Psalm 1, leads to life and freedom, rather than the world’s way that leads to destruction. Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 7 and John 14 further highlight this narrow path to life, which is difficult yet rewarding. As we enter a new year, let us focus on following Jesus, not just personal goals, and seek abundant life through faith in Him. May Jesus be our guide as we journey this well-worn, narrow path.

In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie Brown struggles with the overwhelming commercialization of the holiday he loves. His attempt to direct a Christmas play that highlights the ‘true meaning’ of Christmas seems doomed to fail. But when all hope feels lost, Linus reminds everyone that the beauty and joy of Christmas isn’t found in things, toys, or clothes–it’s in the glorious news that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. This Christmas, may we worship, rest, and rejoice in the truth that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son for us.

In “Arthur Christmas,” Arthur goes to extraordinary lengths to deliver a gift that was missed before Christmas morning. His unwavering love and determination remind us of the lengths Jesus went to save His people. This Christmas, let us rejoice in the truth that our God delights in leaving the 99 to save the 1.

In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” we find that ordinary choices, like George Bailey’s forgotten selfless actions, can have profound impacts. Being made in God’s image and having been redeemed through faith in Christ, we can see our lives as meaningful, regardless of our accomplishments. We can also embrace opportunities to love and serve others in simple, yet significant ways.

In Miracle On 34th Street, faith is declared despite a great lack of evidence. But Hebrews 11 tells us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” What a joy it is that God shows us that He can be trusted. That we can be assured of the hope of our future. And that this hope is infinitely more secure because Jesus is better.

In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge found himself transformed by a vision of his past, present, and future. The story of God and the gospel offers followers of Jesus a much greater vision of our past in the virus of sin, our present in being made alive in Christ, and our future hope of God’s eternal kindness.

As we follow Jesus, we have great hope in our sufferings, knowing that God, our faithful and abiding possession, will keep us faithful to endure even as we waver in faith and joy and that we may receive the promise of what’s to come.

In this passage, the author of Hebrews speaks to two groups of people. First, he soberly warns those who have rejected Christ and His sacrifice completely. He then reminds the followers of Jesus that God is faithful to love, forgive, and sanctify His people. He does this, that both groups would draw near to Jesus, and be sure that Christ’s death was enough to cleanse all sin.

To conclude all that has been said, the author of Hebrews reminds us that Christ’s return is coming! Therefore, the author calls us to be a people who faithfully draw near to God, hold fast to Jesus, and continuously consider how to provoke one another towards increasing love and good deeds!

Jesus is the eternal high priest and the fulfillment of the new covenant. The new covenant, as described in Jeremiah 31, promises God’s law written on hearts and the forgiveness of sins, empowering believers to follow God with confidence. Believers are made perfect by Jesus’ finished work and are enabled by the Holy Spirit to choose righteousness as He ensures their eternal safety and freedom.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that God found no pleasure in the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, for these were merely a shadow that pointed to Christ’s final and sufficient sacrifice on the cross. May we then, as the people of God, learn to rest in the glorious truth that Christ has taken away sins “once for all.”

The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus’ death on the cross put away our sins “once and for all.” What a reminder this is—that followers of Jesus can trust that our sin has been removed forever! We may work to remind ourselves of this truth more and more as the day of Christ’s return draws near.

Jesus has promised to always be with us, and isn’t only present during our trials, but also embodies peace that transcends our circumstances. Just as we recognize that as the disciples faced a literal storm, we encounter figurative storms in our lives. As the ruler over the storms, He instills a peace that is rooted in His divine authority and we find strength in being anchored to Him.

Jesus, as the high priest and mediator of a new covenant, has secured the will of an eternal inheritance for believers through His death and resurrection. As inheritors of Jesus’ will, we have been given all because we have been given Him and His kingdom. We are already recipients of this inheritance, no matter our circumstances, and therefore, always have reason for hope.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that our forgiveness, redemption, and future resurrection has been purchased by the blood of Christ and Christ alone. This reality pushes us to continually choose life! Not out of obligation, but in great joy—knowing that our conscience has been cleared—that we may serve the living God.

The author to the Hebrews contrasts the old covenant with the new, helping us see that Jesus offers a better promise and covenant through the gospel. Through Jesus and Him alone, rather than old covenant rituals or our own performance, we can confidently access the presence of God now and forever.

The New Covenant, established and obtained by Jesus, is superior to the Old Covenant because of its unconditional nature and the inside-out, transforming power of the Spirit. Followers of Jesus may find themselves in a dangerous chapter, but are always in a safe story because of the eternal covenant of Christ.

As the people of God in a new and better covenant, the authors of Hebrews remind us of the glorious truth that we have a high priest in Jesus. One who sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and who daily intercedes, prays, and ministers on our behalf.

To be immersed in the way of Jesus is to be ‘all in’ on the teachings of Jesus. “It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.” Christ declared it is impossible to serve both God and money. We then, as followers of Christ, have the opportunity to shove back the gates of hell not only by how we live, speak, and walk–but by how we spend. ‘For where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.’

The Bible is clear, eternity is much longer than we can imagine and much more real than the reality we currently experience. Because of this, The New Testament calls us to live our lives on earth in light of the eternal life and inheritance that awaits us. Every follower of Jesus must take the time to consider how they may steward their relationships, resources, and circumstances for the glory of God and the good of His people.