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 four Sundays leading to Christmas I’ll share messages about some of the characters in the birth story of Jesus. God made promises…
Tag: God
With Himself In Mind
Matthew 25: 14-30 The vacation must be on my mind. “Mommy,” said little Bobby, “why does the minister get a whole month’s vacation in the summer?” “Well, son,” answered his mother, “if he’s a good minister, he needs it. If he isn’t, the church needs it.” A family went to the beach for their vacation….
God Is Generous
“Let’s celebrate. The dead ARE alive, the lost ARE found. We ALL get paid the same wage. No one is left out. No one is forgotten. The kingdom of heaven is like this.”
What Would God Do?
“The gospel story plays out with our sinless Lord dying at crucifixion, dying as a sinner, a law breaker and blasphemer, for our sakes, atoning for all sin for all time. We then plead for mercy throughout the ages, and our God forgives. Time after time after time. Century after century. Millennia after millennia.”
Who Are You?
Matthew 16: 13-20 Little Brandon Smith had just been put to bed for the 22nd time, and his mother’s patience was wearing thin. “If I hear you call ‘Mom’ one more time, you’ll be punished,” she warned him sternly. For a while it was quiet, and then a small voice called from the top of…
I’m Staying Home
Matthew 10: 27-39 Maybe because of this text of scripture or that I was at Annual Conference this week, this illustration seems appropriate. Jesus was walking along one day when he came upon a man crying, and he said, “My friend, what’s wrong?” The man replied, “I’m blind. Can you help me?” Jesus healed the…
What Should We Do?
Acts 2: 29-42 Those who heard Peter explain how Jesus was the Messiah and reiterated the promise of the Father to send the baptism of the Holy Spirit asked what they should do in response to what they heard. Peter said they should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the…
What We Will Be
Acts 1: 1-11 A few minutes ago we confessed our belief he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Not to be disrespectful, but does that mean he flew? A lady was flying with her infant daughter. When they landed, they were met in the waiting area by…
Come and See, Come and Hear
Psalm 66: 5-7, 16-20 The greatest Mother’s Day tribute ever uttered came from a very successful businessman. He said: “Yes, I am a self-made man – but the blueprints came from my mother. The kids next door told their mother she wasn’t to lift a finger on Mother’s day. They were going to do all…
You Still Do Not Know Me?
John 14: 8-14 In his autobiography, The Ragman’s Son, actor Kirk Douglas told how much pride he felt in been recognized on the street by strangers. On one occasion, he was walking down the street when a taxi pulled over to the curb. A pretty woman smiled and called to him, “Mr. Douglas!” Figuring she…
Psalm 102 in The Message 