The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

We reframe Luke 2 as a starting line, not a finish line, showing how God’s sovereignty turns unwanted detours into purposeful steps. From Caesar’s census to Joseph’s trials, we point to a hope that holds through soreness, stress, and the road ahead.

• Christmas as the launch of mission, not a deadline
• Luke 2 read through God’s sovereignty in history
• Romans 8:28 applied to present trials
• Joseph’s Old Testa...

We explore the theology inside Mary Did You Know through Luke 1 and the moment Mary meets Gabriel, tracing how limited knowledge meets courageous faith. We close with a practical call to honor Christ with trust and obedience in the everyday.

• context for the carol’s origin and most-loved versions
• reading of Luke 1 and Mary’s troubled response
• why angels inspire fear and awe in Scripture
• Mary’s question a...

We trace the ancient roots and fierce hope of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, moving from the O Antiphons to Isaiah, 1 Corinthians, and Hebrews to show why “God with us” ransoms captives and shatters death’s sting. We point listeners to a modern take from Skillet and end with a charge to rejoice and stay sharp.

• origin of the hymn in O Antiphons and Latin chant
• Emmanuel as “God with us” from Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23

We trace the longing for a Messiah from Abraham to Malachi to Christmas, then show how Christ’s reign within reshapes a life. A classic carol becomes a guide to hope, freedom from fear, and the daily work of sanctification.

• sword of the Spirit as the frame for truth
• why Wesley wrote the carol amid crisis
• Haggai’s promise and global longing
• Old Testament waiting across 400, 1,500, and 2,000 years
• l...

We trace the rich theology inside What Child Is This, moving from a manger’s question to a cross-shaped answer. William Dix’s illness, the Magi’s search, and Isaiah’s prophecy converge to show Jesus as fully human, fully divine, and the substitute who saves.

• background of William Chatterton Dix and his recovery 
• the carol’s central question of Jesus’ identity 
• Christ’s full humanity and full deity named in th...

We unpack the theology inside O Holy Night, moving from the Luke 2 birth narrative to the hope and freedom promised by Christ. We trace the carol’s history, define the incarnation, and connect its lyrics to Scripture and the gospel’s call to worship.

• word of God as the sword of the Spirit 
• worship as war and music beyond CCM 
• Christmas carols as theology for everyday listeners 
• origin and authorship of ...

We trace Matthew 2 to show why the Magi found Jesus and Herod missed Him, then share simple ways to keep Christ at the center of a noisy Christmas. Along the way we use Home Alone as a playful parable to train our eyes for gospel echoes in ordinary life.

• the Magi’s seeking hearts versus Herod’s self-focus
• Scripture as the surest place to find Jesus
• gold, frankincense and myrrh as foreshadowing
• practical...

We share how gratitude disarms entitlement at Christmas, using Luke 17’s ten lepers to show why returning to say thanks brings deeper wellness. A simple practice—one gratitude item for every year of your life—becomes a tool to reset your heart when envy and hurry rise.

• the Word of God as our primary weapon 
• Christmas series focus on winning with gratitude 
• the contrast between gratitude and entitlement 
•...

We press into a Christmas tip that actually changes hearts: forgive because Christ forgave us. We read Matthew 18, sort out the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and walk through a practical debt-ledger exercise to cancel what we can never collect.

• the sword of the Spirit as our weapon
• Christmas as Jesus’ rescue mission
• forgiveness as a command, not a feeling
• Matthew 18 and the mercy of...

We challenge the December rush with a simple shift: schedule your priorities instead of prioritizing a crowded calendar. With Galatians 1 and Ephesians 5 as anchors, we choose to please God over people, find rest in Jesus, and aim for heaven’s applause.

• defining winning at Christmas as giving God glory
• refusing busyness by scheduling priorities first
• putting spouse and children before extended family expectat...

We unpack how to “win at Christmas” by rejecting consumerism, embracing contentment, and aligning money with faith. Drawing from 1 Timothy 6, we share ten practical ways to spend wisely, give generously, and enjoy what God provides without regret.

• the Sword of the Spirit as our core weapon
• Christmas as a season of spiritual traps and pressure
• godliness with contentment as great gain
• ten practical ways t...

We trace how Holy Name’s “Fall on Your Knees” pairs heavy sound with humble worship and map each lyric moment to Scripture for clarity and conviction. We close with a clear call to bow to Jesus as Lord and invite men to spread the word.

• expanding worship beyond typical CCM
• Proverbs 3 and trusting God in repetition
• Psalm 23 imagery in valleys and quiet waters
• Revelation 5 and the Lamb’s worthiness
• ...

We challenge narrow ideas of worship by tracing how a live performance of Needtobreathe’s “Multiplied” led to real surrender and joy. Scripture frames the lyrics, emotion finds its place, and we invite men to offer their whole selves in praise.

• redefining worship beyond contemporary norms
• a personal journey from cultural religion to faith
• the live “Multiplied” moment and lifted hands
• God’s hesed in Exod...

We challenge narrow views of worship by unpacking verse three of the OC Supertones’ What It Comes To and tracing each line to Scripture. From the war with the flesh to the triumph of the resurrection, we show how unexpected genres can carry deep, clear theology.

• expanding what counts as worship music
• why singing to God is not optional
• the inner war between flesh and Spirit
• trials as refining fire in san...

We explore how “Graves” by KB and Brandon Lake expands the boundaries of worship while staying anchored in Scripture. From Ezekiel’s dry bones to Paul’s letters, we trace the thread of regeneration and why men need songs that preach resurrection into daily life.

• expanding worship beyond a single genre
• brief history of rap’s place in Christian music
• breakdown of “Graves” structure and lyrics
• Ezekiel 37 a...

We widen the lens on worship by looking past radio formulas to find biblical truth in Red Clay Strays’ “On My Knees.” We tie kneeling, anxiety, and gratitude to Psalm 95, Philippians 4, and Ephesians 2, and show how grace, not works, fuels true praise.

• redefining worship beyond contemporary Christian music
• the posture of kneeling as reverence and humility
• honest burdens of bills, anxiety, and temptation
•...

We challenge men to become friends who fight for each other with Scripture and prayer, not just sentiment. Five traits shape that calling: a life worth imitating, wisdom, loving confrontation, relentless intercession, and the resolve to carry a brother to Jesus.

• living a life others can imitate in Christ
• giving grounded wisdom that listens first
• removing your log before addressing a speck
• confronting si...

We call men to move beyond feelings and into decisive action that carries brothers into the presence of Jesus. Drawing from Mark 2, we show how borrowed faith, practical service, and steady courage transform crisis care into real healing.

• the Word as the sword that equips us
• what true brothers need from us
• the Mark 2 model of carrying the mat
• empathy versus sympathy and action
• borrowed faith when ...

We call men to real accountability that rescues, not shallow comfort that enables harm. Using Scripture, we show how to confront with courage and love so brothers grow strong together.

• the sword of the Spirit as our primary weapon 
• live a life worth following and seek wisdom 
• iron sharpens iron as a gritty model for growth 
• judge without hypocrisy by removing your own log 
• confront privately and d...