Sermons

strength

December 22, 2019

All I Want for Christmas: Strength 

Gabriel came to Mary and told her she was going to bear a son…and not just any boy, but one who would be the Son of God, the great King of Israel, who’s kingdom would never end. That is a promise that the One coming into the world would be stronger than any other ruler; any other hope; any other leader.  Do we not look for strength in our own world? We want leaders with clear vision and a decisive nature. We want someone to offer protection and fairness in our lives. Like Herbert Hoover promised in his presidential campaign of 1928, we want someone to make sure we get “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” But then came 1929. The coming of the Messiah is the strength we are looking for.

Luke 1:26-33

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

restoration

December 15, 2019

All I Want For Christmas: Restoration

The angel told Joseph that Jesus would “Save the people from their sins.” Sin meant separation from God and in their culture the only way to be restored was to offer the right sacrifices and live the right laws. But it was only temporary, as more sacrifices would be needed for sins committed. In the coming of the Messiah we have two great gifts…one is freedom from the penalty of our sins and the other is strength beyond ourselves to overcome the lure of sin and grow in our obedience and love for God.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

change

December 8, 2019

All I Want for Christmas: Change

Gabriel told Zechariah that his son John was coming to bring change. He would right wrongs, change hearts, and prepare the people for someone greater than himself…the Messiah of God. As we are preparing for the celebration of the coming of Jesus in the manger of Bethlehem, what change do we need for our own lives? Do we seek restoration in relationships? Do we have problems with anger and resentment? Do we think we are better than others or do we think of ourselves as worthless? The fact is, we need change just as much as the world did in Jesus’ day and there is good news! The birth of Jesus promises us the change we seek if we seek it in Him. 

Luke 1:5-17

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”