Speaker: The Rev. Mark Galloway

We spend so much of our lives self-focused, but almost none of that time self-aware. We convince ourselves of lies about how we want people to see us, but we never confront the reality of who we really are in our sinful state. The Transfiguration of Christ gives us the perspective of God’s holiness, our depravity before Him, and our need for Jesus’s saving grace. When we fall prostrate before the Lord, we gain true perspective on how messed up we really are.

Beloved, we have been living in a spiritual drought in America for a long time. We need to seek out the right type of water to nourish us in times of drought, but as Jeremiah tells us, the heart is deceitful and desperately sick. Only God searches the heart and tests the mind, and only by trusting in him will our souls be refreshed.

How often do Christians share the Gospel? How often do we share it with our spouses, significant others, children, parents, friends, or coworkers? Sadly, not nearly enough. If the Church does not preach the Gospel, people will not believe, or they will believe the wrong thing. The Church cannot preach the Gospel enough. So why are we so afraid to share the Gospel?

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus then asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” The Apostle Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Our answer to that same question is of eternal importance, making all the difference not only in this life, but also in where we end up in the next.

What is the significance of Jesus’ Baptism? The Rev. Galloway answers this question in light of Luke’s words: “for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). The Baptism of Jesus had tremendous importance for his earthly ministry, and it modeled our own call to righteousness that begins in Holy Baptism.

We often use the phrase “have an epiphany” to describe a new insight in our lives. What is the importance of an epiphany, and how does it relate to the Wise Men? The Rev. Galloway teaches how the Wise Men demonstrated what true wisdom looks like.

The Christian celebration of Christmas extends well beyond the limits of its cultural and commercial celebration. As the world is quick to abandon the celebration of Christmas, the holidays become absent of joy – because they are starving for truth. They are held by a pagan law, spiritually starving. At Christmas, in Christ’s Incarnation, we boldly proclaim the miracle that sets us free from the law of sin and fills us with eternal joy, because joy doesn’t come from a holiday, but from Christ himself.

The Nativity of our Lord marks the beautiful mystery of the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. This Christmas Eve, the Rev. Mark Galloway invites us to wonder and worship at the miracle of Christ’s blessed birth – God dwelling among us.

We are all familiar with the story of the angel visiting the Virgin Mary to announce that she would give birth to our Savior, Jesus Christ. But one woman in the Christmas narrative who is often overlooked is Elizabeth, and we have much to learn from her remarkable wisdom.