More than ever before the church is in need of going back to the biblical drawing board and answering the question - what exactly does it mean to be a Christian; to live and act like a Christian?
There wasn't any Jewish calendar, in any home that didn't have a circle around the dates that marked the Feast of Passover.
Jewish law actually required all the men, from 13 years of age and up, to attend three feasts in Jerusalem - Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. Custom allowed men who lived far away to attend only one of the three and Passover was typically the favored feast. /Adapted from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13 (Victor Books, 1989), p. 32
The ceremonies would last 7 days.
It's at this very moment in the Jewish calendar, which would have been late March and early April that Luke gives us another glimpse into the boyhood of Jesus.
I have nothing to offer you but blood, toil, tears and sweat. Maybe it's about time we re-advertised Christianity. Maybe it's time to witness to people and then tell them that if they follow Christ - He demands that they carry a cross.
What if we told people that Christ has nothing to offer them but blood, toil, tears and sweat?
With the growing animosity of our culture toward the Christian church, Christians are growing frightened and even angered that their convictions and freedoms are no longer being respected.
Where did God say the world would be our friend? When did the church ever receive a promise that the world would respect our convictions?
We have lived in the lap of luxury and freedom and frankly, the church has come to believe these are her rights.
The television is stocked with pseudo-pastors and pseudo-Bible teachers who continue to promote the lie that an easy path through life is synonymous with the narrow path.
No wonder people today, especially in America, who decide to give Jesus a try become shocked when instead of getting a catalog from heaven with lazy-boys to choose from, they get a sword and a shield and a helmet.
Jesus Christ said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." Which means what? Hell is gonna try.
Not just institutionally, but personally.
So, strap on your armor.
Perhaps it's time to re-advertise Christianity by re-discovering the life of Christ - as it really was. Even in His earliest days.
What has the Bible revealed about the boyhood of Jesus?
The truth is, the Bible is not as silent as the average Christmas play might lead you to believe.
It wasn't over after the shepherds left the manger scene. It was just beginning.
In fact, 8 days after the manger scene, some wonderful events begin to unfold in the life of our infant Messiah.
What does it really mean to follow Jesus? Is the Christian life truly one of comfort and ease, as some would have us believe? The first Christmas story suggests otherwise. From the moment Jesus was born, His family was thrown into turmoil--forced to flee in the middle of the night, live as fugitives in Egypt, and navigate their way through a dangerous world that wanted nothing more than to destroy them. Stephen Davey paints a vivid picture of the hardship faced by Mary, Joseph, and even the wise men, revealing that the birth of Jesus was not the beginning of comfort but the beginning of conflict.
This episode of Wisdom for the Heart delves into the real story of the nativity--the part that isn't often shared. Discover why the Magi's visit was more about worshiping a divine King than about a mere exchange of gifts, and how Joseph's courage in fleeing Herod's soldiers teaches us about true obedience. Stephen brings out the significance of God's plan, which involved moving the Holy Family time and again--not with miraculous shortcuts, but with the grit and persistence of real faith.
You'll walk away from this message with a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Christ--to accept the blood, sweat, and tears that come with true discipleship. And ultimately, you'll see how every trial Joseph and Mary faced serves as a reminder that the narrow path of following Jesus is not necessarily an easy one--but it is one worth traveling, no matter the cost. Listen in and be inspired to live with constant, courageous, and costly loyalty to your King.
In Extravagant Grace, Part 3 (Philippians 4:6–7), Stephen Davey teaches believers how to conquer anxiety through prayer and trust in God. He compares worry to a deadly anaconda that strangles faith, urging Christians to “be anxious for nothing.” Instead of allowing fear to consume them, they are to replace worry with prayer—bringing every concern to God with gratitude. Davey explains that worry pulls believers apart, while thankful prayer realigns their hearts toward God’s power and presence. The result is a supernatural peace that “guards hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” a peace flowing directly from God’s own character. This peace doesn’t come from understanding circumstances but from trusting the God who controls them all. Through continual, thankful prayer, believers display the extravagant grace of God by living free from fear and full of peace.
In Extravagant Grace, Part 2 (Philippians 4:4–5), Stephen Davey teaches that believers are called to display grace in a disappointed and self-centered world through two qualities—a resolution to be joyful and a reputation for gentleness. Joy, he explains, is not dependent on circumstances but flows from the Holy Spirit, the gospel, and trust in God’s sovereignty—even in suffering. Gentleness, often misunderstood as weakness, is strength under control—a willingness to yield, be courteous, and respond to hostility with grace. Using vivid examples from history, culture, and personal experience, Davey challenges believers to demonstrate joy and gentleness as living testimonies of Christ’s presence. Because “the Lord is near,” Christians can embody supernatural calm and kindness, showing a frustrated world the reality of God’s transforming grace.
Stephen Davey’s sermon “Reconcilable Differences” (Philippians 4:2–3) explains that real church and family life are messy, which is exactly where extravagant grace must be practiced. Using humorous and honest stories, he shows that grace is more than a doctrine we receive from God—it’s a costly, deliberate way of stooping low in attitude and action toward difficult people. Paul’s appeal to Euodia and Syntyche models gracious confrontation: he names them, refuses to take sides, reminds them of their shared labor in the gospel, and urges them to “live in harmony in the Lord,” enlisting a trusted “true companion” to help them reconcile. Stephen Davey draws out principles that disagreements are inevitable, even mature believers don’t always disagree agreeably, and small conflicts—if unchecked—can damage an entire church. Instead of taking sides, spiritually mature believers should step in to untangle issues and protect the unity of the body, remembering that everyone’s name is written in the book of life. He concludes with the example of a Christian bus driver whose daily, practical kindness creates a community of grace, urging believers to let that same grace characterize their relationships in the church.
In Father Abraham, Part I (Romans 4:1–3), Stephen Davey introduces Abraham as Paul’s prime example of justification by faith, not works. He explains that Abraham lived 2,000 years before Paul, proving that salvation by faith is not new but has always been God’s plan. Abraham, the forefather of Israel and “friend of God,” was revered for righteousness, yet Scripture reveals his flaws—fear, deceit, and unbelief—showing that his justification came by faith alone. Davey warns against relying on human reasoning or cultural religion, urging believers to ask, “What does the Bible say?” Like Abraham, sinners are declared righteous not by merit but by trusting God’s promise of redemption through Christ. God credited righteousness to Abraham’s account by grace, illustrating the same salvation available to every believer today.
In his sermon on Ecclesiastes 7:1–14, Stephen Davey explains how Solomon shifts from raising life’s troubling questions to offering God-given wisdom for living well. Davey highlights four truths Solomon teaches: contemplate your mortality, because facing death cultivates serious thinking and a life of purpose rather than pretense; choose wise companions, since the rebuke of the godly is far more valuable than the shallow laughter of fools; cultivate godly character, resisting the pull of anger, corruption, impatience, and nostalgic fantasies about “the good old days”; and consider your Creator with humility, recognizing that God ordains both prosperity and adversity, the straight paths and the crooked ones, to deepen trust in Him. Davey concludes that Solomon’s inspired counsel urges believers to live with sober perspective, intentional relationships, steadfast integrity, and humble dependence on the God who shapes every season of life.
