Luke 1: 5-25 A five-year-old daughter looked at a calendar and asked, “How many be-good days ’til Christmas?” She made promises undoubtedly to be good in those days leading to Christmas. In these three Sundays leading to Christmas, I’ll share messages about three of the characters in the birth story of Jesus. God made promises…
Category: preaching
I Want to Please the Lord
Colossians 1: 9-14 Paul wrote and we heard it this morning, “We have not stopped praying for you. . . ” A mother was teaching her three-year-old daughter the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bed time she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to try it on her…
You’re A Participant
Luke 21: 5-19 This past week most if not all of us participated in the honorable practice of voting for candidates for office. In fact, we can participate in campaigns and elections in several ways in addition to voting. It was time for the politicians to go campaigning in the backwoods and rural areas of…
Given Sight & Given Stature (All the More)
Luke 19: 1-10 The Baptist preacher and author, Dr . Eugene Brice wrote many years ago, “According to Christian tradition, the gospel of Matthew was written by a tax collector, and if this is true, the clarity and the simplicity of the gospel comes as a surprise to anyone who reads it. Imagine, a gospel…
So Much Is Going On
Luke 17: 11-19 A third grade Sunday School teacher was making the point with her class that God was omnipotent – that God was able to do anything. She asked her class, “Is there anything you can think of that God cannot do?” There was silence. Then one boy held up his hand. Somewhat frustrated…
You Don’t Have to Go Far
Luke 16: 19-31 The rich man dressed well and feasted sumptuously. Lazarus laid at the rich man’s gate, longed to eat his crumbs, and dogs came to lick his sores. What is the one thing consistent with both? They both died. Bertha Jones was a middle-aged woman who had a heart attack and was taken…
For What Is Right
Luke 16: 1-13 During World War II, a program was organized to train volunteers in the skills of emergency first aid. There was a fear that if a city in our nation should be bombed there would not be adequate medical care available for the people who would be wounded. There was one woman in…
Nothing Else Matters
Luke 15: 1-10 A little boy needed $100 for a school field trip, so his mother told him to ask God for it. He prayed for two weeks, but nothing turned up. So, he decided to ask God for the money in a letter. At the post office, the postmaster opened the letter to God…
The Large Crowds
Luke 14: 25-33 Frieda, Henrietta, and Gertrude were Baptist sisters who lived in separate states but always managed to get together for Christmas. One year, they were discussing their respective churches. Frieda lamented, “Our congregation is sometimes down to thirty or forty on a Sunday.” Henrietta sighed, “That’s nothing. Sometimes our congregation is down to…
Who Gets Invited?
Luke 14: 15-24 A family was hosting a dinner for the minister and his family of ten. At the table, the hostess turned to her 6-year-old daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?” The little girl replied, “I don’t know what to say.” Her mother said, “Just say what you hear Mommy…
Psalm 102 in The Message 