Jeff takes us back 730 years before Jesus' birth when God first promised not just a savior, but also his protection for us. And because Jesus came down to us, he is our protection. Even when we stop believing in God's promises, Jesus is there, loving us and waiting for us to call on him.

Jeff shared God's invitation to joy this Christmas. The Shepherd received unexpected joy, shared it with others, and brought it back to God in prayer. We can do the same. And when joy is difficult, God is ready to receive us in the middle of our hardships.

With the second week of Advent being about peace, Jeff shares how God wants to offer us a Shalom peace this Christmas, a peace that is complete, whole and sound. He encourages us in both experiencing peace and giving it away this holiday season.

Matt Farrand starts off our series for Advent using Isaac Watts' song "Joy to the World" to prepare us. Just like John the Baptist did before Jesus' ministry, we are asked to prepare for Jesus. We can do so by looking to the "dust and cobwebs" in our soul that need cleaning, by setting aside time to focus on our preparations, and by treating our pain with the hope that he brings.