THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 1:39-45 “As your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44) Jesus in Mary causes John in Elizabeth to rejoice. This is a very unique situation, not one that applies to our lives. At least not directly… since in a sense Jesus is in me. The…
Compass: Admitting When We’re Lost
(Sermon preached on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at Maranatha Church, Cambridge) Read through Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. In response to criticism from the religious leaders for welcoming and eating with ‘sinners’, Jesus tells three parables about the lost being found. In this familiar parable of the lost son, notice that while the one son is reunited with the…
Make me a blessing!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 67 “So that your ways may be known on earth.”(Psalm 67:2) This is a prayer for God’s blessing. But notice WHY the writer wants to be blessed. SO THAT other people will know God and be blessed. God originally chose Abraham to bless all nations (Genesis 12:3). But as time passed, his family…
Seeking God’s will?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 8-10 “Haman cast (the lot) for their ruin and destruction.” (Esther 9:24) In the past, the lot was used to determine the will of the gods. This is similar to drawing straws, or tossing coins (head you win). On the one hand, this reflects how we were designed. To include God in…
I am of Jesus Origin!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 6-7 “Since Mordecai is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him!” (Esther 6:13) I sense the Lord reminding me of the God that stands behind me. Even Haman’s wife knew the stories of the God behind the Jews. God may be invisible, but He is not inactive… He’s directing the story….
God does what He says!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 1:34-38 “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37) This passage makes me think of the creation story. God speaks, and His word has power; everything is created. The Spirit moves as the Word of God is spoken; humanity is created. As the Spirit overshadows the dust, Adam the son…
Great and good… like Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 1:26-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:32) This verse stands out to me, how the angel describes Mary’s baby. Every parents sees their baby as special to them. But do they see them as great, as special to God, a precious child?…
Graced!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 1:21-25 “(The Lord has) taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Luke 1:25) At that time, in that culture, barrenness was a disgrace “among the people”. The word translated “disgrace” actually means a bad name or reputation. In our day, there are also cultural stigmas that shame people with a bad name….
Pointing others to Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 1:5-20 “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17) Before the birth of the messiah baby, another baby is born. This aged couple, like Abraham and Sarah, is part of God’s salvation plan. Their child will be filled with the Spirit even before he is born – a special…
Hearing Jesus (He’s talking to YOU!!!)
(Sermon preached on Sunday, September 24, 2017, at Maranatha Church, Cambridge) Read through John 21:15-25. As you read this passage, notice how Jesus speaks personally to Peter, and addresses his own heart issues. Jesus does not let Peter shift the focus to John (“the other disciple”), making it clear to him that “you must follow me!”…