December 21, 2025 | "When Fear is Louder Than Faith

As we continue our Advent series With Us in the Dark, this Sunday we’ll be leaning into the Advent theme of Love and it may not be the kind of love we usually associate with this season. So much of our world right now feels unsettled. Many of us are carrying anxiety, disappointment, grief, or quiet questions we don’t always name out loud. Advent reminds us that God does not wait for the darkness to lift before He draws near. In fact, the Christmas story begins right there. This week we’ll be in Isaiah 7:10-14, a passage spoken into a moment of fear and uncertainty. A king is shaking. A nation feels threatened. And instead of waiting for faith to get stronger, God makes a promise anyway: “They will call him Immanuel, God with us.” We’ll explore what those three words really mean and why they are the clearest expression of God’s love. Not a distant love. Not a conditional love. But a love that moves toward us in our weakness, our sin, and our need for rescue. If you’ve ever wondered whether God is truly near… If you’ve felt spiritually tired or uncertain… If this season has stirred more darkness than light… This message is for you. I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we reflect on the beautiful, costly truth of Advent love: God is with us in the dark.