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“Gabriel’s Gracious Greeting” (Luke 1:26-38) Every year on the Fourth Sunday in Advent, the Holy Gospel is a reading about Mary. Last year it was the message to Joseph that Mary would bear a son. Next year it will be … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Advent
“He Will Surely Do It” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24) This has been an Advent series about the Second Advent, the Second Coming of Christ. Each Wednesday we’ve looked at the Epistle reading from the previous Sunday, and the connecting theme that … Continue reading
The following sermon corresponds to Advent 3 Midweek according to the Advent service plan “For unto us a Son is Given.” Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The altar of incense stood … Continue reading
“When the Messiah Gives You a Makeover” (Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11) Have you ever seen one of those makeover shows on TV? My daughter used to watch one. It was called “What Not to Wear.” The idea of the show was … Continue reading
“New Heavens and a New Earth” (2 Peter 3:8-14) This year’s theme for our Advent midweek services is “Waiting for the Day of the Lord.” We’re looking at the Epistle readings for the first three weeks of Advent, all of … Continue reading
“A Baptism of Repentance for the Forgiveness of Sins” (Mark 1:1-8) Well, here comes John the Baptist again. He always shows up around this time of year. Always with kind of a depressing message: “Repent! Get your life straightened out!” … Continue reading
“A Day of Judgment and Salvation” (1 Corinthians 1:3-9) In thinking about a theme for our three midweek Advent services this year, I decided to go with the Epistle readings for the first three Sundays in Advent. For there is … Continue reading
The following sermon corresponds to Advent 1 Midweek according to the Advent service plan “For unto us a Son is Given.” Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. “Long ago, your fathers lived … Continue reading
“Oh That You Would Rend the Heavens and Come Down” (Isaiah 64:1-9) The Old Testament Reading for today, from Isaiah 64, is an intense prayer. The prophet is begging God to intervene on behalf of his people. As such, it … Continue reading
“Isaiah’s Immanuel Prophecy” (Isaiah 7:10-17) Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! There’s that word “Emmanuel.” And … Continue reading
“He Comes, We Come” (Isaiah 35:1-10) “You go, we go.” That’s what the Chicago Cubs told their centerfielder and leadoff man Dexter Fowler the last couple of years. “You go, we go.” In other words, “As you go, Dexter, so … Continue reading
“Be Patient until the Coming of the Lord” (James 5:7-11) Advent is a season of waiting. We’re waiting for Christmas. This is a time of penitential preparation awaiting that festive celebration. The season of Advent always begins on the Sunday … Continue reading
Psalm 45 My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 2 You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; … Continue reading
“The Shoot and the Root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1-10) Today we continue our series on “Isaiah’s Advent Prophecies.” Today’s prophecy comes from Isaiah 11, and it begins, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a … Continue reading
Romans 15:4-13 The Bible is the most revered book in the world. People who rarely read it and know little of what it teaches treat it with respect. The Bible is a symbol of tradition, of stability, and of truth. … Continue reading
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand” (Matthew 3:1-12) “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand”: That was the message of John the Baptist as he came preaching in the wilderness. “Repent, for the kingdom of … Continue reading
“The Mountain of the House of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:1-5) Today we’re beginning a series of sermons I’m calling “Isaiah’s Advent Prophecies.” We’re taking the Old Testament readings for this season of Advent, all taken from the prophet Isaiah, and … Continue reading
Advent means coming. Jesus’ first coming was at Christmas. He came in humility. His second coming will be on Judgment Day. He will come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead. He came in humility. He … Continue reading
“‘Hosanna!’ Our Advent Prayer and Praise” (Matthew 21:1-11) Today is the First Sunday in Advent, the season leading up to Christmas. But you’ll notice that the Holy Gospel for this day is actually a reading about Palm Sunday. What gives? … Continue reading
Before next Sunday, we will once again celebrate that most significant of events in human history, the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the wonderful proclamation that for your sake, God came down from heaven, was incarnate by … Continue reading
“Spirit-Given Faith Greets the Savior” (Luke 1:39-56) We’re coming near the end of Advent, and it’s time to greet the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ–not only at Christmas, but also when he comes again. Are you ready? Are you … Continue reading
Advent is here, and Christmas is approaching. It’s very easy for us to overlook Advent because of Christmas. This is a bit unfortunate in a way, and in another way it is actually very fitting. It is unfortunate, because the … Continue reading
Nathaniel confessed Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel as soon as he met him. He saw that Jesus had divine powers. Jesus saw Nathanael sitting under a fig tree that was nowhere near where Jesus was … Continue reading
“A Ruler from Bethlehem” (Micah 5:2-5a) So which is it? “Too little” or “by no means least”? We’re talking about Bethlehem here. On the one hand, the prophet Micah says that Bethlehem is “too little to be among the clans … Continue reading
Rorate coeli John 1:19-28 New King James Version 19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, … Continue reading