"Unexpected Hope" - Mike Ashcraft | Unexpected Christmas, Week 1
Jesus doesn't come to whisk us away from life's challenges but instead walks alongside us in the midst of them. He entered into not only our mess, but also the messiness of humanity and our broken world. The very name "Immanuel" means God with us, signifying His abiding presence as the source of hope. During this week, we’ll explore the dichotomy between a "Hope for" mentality, rooted in circumstances, and a "Hope in" mentality, grounded in a personal relationship with Him. Our human tendency is to manufacture hope, peace, and joy through control, but we'll learn the importance of trusting God's plan over our own.