Sermons

Epiphany Sunday January 5, 2025 Matthew 2:1-12 The Gift of God— The Gift of God is for All People!   1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When…

The First Sunday after Christmas December 29, 2024 Luke 2:1-20 The Gift of God— God Gives Heaven’s Best Gift in Earth’s Unlikeliest Place!   1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem…

The Fourth Sunday in Advent December 22, 2024 Luke 1:39-55 A Real Christmas— A Real Christmas Lifts Up the Lowly!   39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will…

The Third Sunday in Advent December 15, 2024 Luke 3:7-18 A Real Christmas— A Real Christmas Results in Great Joy!   7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for…

The Second Sunday in Advent December 8, 2024 Luke 3:1-6 A Real Christmas— A Real Christmas Is Rooted in Repentance!   1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3He went into all the country around the…

The First Sunday in Advent December 1, 2024 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 A Real Christmas— A Real Christmas Requires Remembering Why Christ Came!   9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear…

Christ the King Sunday November 24, 2024 Mark 13:26-37 Live Like You’ll Live Forever— Live With Your Eyes on the Skies!   26“At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.             28“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get…

The Sunday of Last Judgment November 17, 2024 Hebrews 9:24-28 Live Like You’ll Live Forever— Live Free from the Fear of Judgment!   24For Christ did not enter a manmade sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his…

The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost November 10, 2024 Mark 12:38-44 Live Like You’ll Live Forever— Live a Life of Startling Generosity!   38As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most…

All Saints Sunday November 3, 2024 Isaiah 25:6-9 Live Like You’ll Live Forever— Live Knowing Life Only Gets Better!   6On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all…