In this third message of our Advent series "For Unto Us," we dive into one of the greatest Christmas verses of all time—Isaiah 9:6—and discover that it's not just about Jesus' first coming, but also about His second. The ancient Israelites were waiting in darkness for a light that would bring joy, break oppression, and establish everlasting peace. That light came 2,000 years ago when God Himself entered the world as a baby in Bethlehem. But while Jesus has already conquered sin and death, we're still waiting for the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: a world where war ends, peace reigns, and God's government covers the earth. The problem is, it's easy to settle. Just like the Pharisees and King Herod stopped anticipating the Messiah and missed Him, we can stop anticipating His second coming and start "going through the motions" of our faith. But when we live with eager expectation for the coming kingdom, everything changes—our worship, our struggles, our daily lives become infused with the sounds, smells, and spirit of what's to come. This Christmas, don't just celebrate what Jesus has done—anticipate what He's about to do.

In this second message of our Advent series "For Unto Us," we explore the profound significance of Bethlehem—not just as the birthplace of Jesus, but as a declaration of God's upside-down kingdom. The ancient Jews expected a Messiah like King David: a mighty warrior who would crush their enemies and restore Israel's earthly glory. But they missed what God was really doing—choosing the small, the insignificant, and the lowly to accomplish His greatest work. Just as David was the overlooked eighth son and Bethlehem was too small to be counted among the clans of Judah, Jesus came in humility to crush our ultimate enemies: sin, Satan, and death. This Christmas, we're confronted with the same temptation the Jews faced—gravitating toward earthly greatness and placing heavy demands on ourselves and others. But Jesus still says, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." If you're overwhelmed by the season, feeling distant from God, or battling depression and anxiety, this message is a reminder that God's heart is for the broken and the lowly—and that's exactly where His kingdom begins.