Sermons on B C P Sunday Before Advent:

3 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

"You brood of Vipers!" and still they come.

What do we do with this John the Baptist? Here is the third Sunday in a row with him. Such a strange man. "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Heaping abuse on the people. And still they came in droves to be baptized. John had that charisma that attracted people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

4 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

"My Soul magnifies the Lord"

Here we are on the fourth Sunday of Advent. The morning of Christmas Eve. It’s hard not sliding right into Christmas. Snow, the excitement, the baby to be born, the manger, the Shepherds -- the whole nine yards. Christmas as we have come to know and love and expect. Gifts under the tree, a feast -- ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Standing To The Covenant.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 30, 2024

"And all the people stood to the Covenant" (2 Kings 23:3).

STANDING TO THE COVENANT. 2 Kings 22:8-10, 2 Kings 23:1-3. A pivotal moment in the history of the Bible was when Hilkiah the priest told Shaphan the scribe, “I have found THE BOOK OF THE LAW in the house of the LORD.” Shaphan took the book, and read it (2 KINGS 22:8). Shaphan the scribe ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 22:8-10, 2 Kings 23:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Days And The Restoration.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 9, 2024

A glimmer of hope for the faithful remnant.

THE LAST DAYS AND THE RESTORATION. Micah 4:1-4, Micah 4:6-7. I). “In the Last Days” (Micah 4:1-5). So far in the book of Micah it has been a message of doom and gloom for the recalcitrant people of God, with just a glimmer of hope for the faithful remnant. But as the dark clouds gather over ...read more

Scripture: Micah 4:1-4, Micah 4:6-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Nearness Of The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2024

The righteous LORD draws nigh unto all that call upon Him.

THE NEARNESS OF THE LORD. Psalm 145:17-21. Our trust in the LORD is not based in our ability to believe, but in His perfections. He is righteous in all His ways: He is just. He is kind in all He does: He is holy (Psalm 145:17). It is good that we can view the LORD as a God who is not ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:17-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

The start of Advent

23 Pentecost B Mark 13:1-8 / Hebrews 10:11-25 19 November 2000 Such a text. Wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes, famines, family discord, signs of the end of the world. Could be the nightly 11:00 news. We’ve heard it and seen it all. If we were of a ceratin theological bent, we would talk about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Lutheran

A Trial Of Steadfast Faith.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2024

Humble yourselves before God and resist the devil.

A TRIAL OF STEADFAST FAITH. 1 Peter 5:5-11. “Yea, ALL OF YOU be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility” (1 PETER 5:5b). This calls for mutual respect and humility, preferring the other to oneself. The reason follows: “for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

2 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

John the Baptist declares, "It is time!"

This is a great text. The majesty of the writing -- what would Christmas be without the Christmas text from Luke? "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus . . . ." All the names and dates. Historical details that make the story come alive. The event, marked in time and place -- in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

2 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Dec 4, 2001

Jesus comes among us in our time and in our place.

2 Advent C Luke 3:1-6 10 December 2000 Rev. Roger Haugen This is a great text. The majesty of the writing, what would Christmas be without the Christmas text from Luke? "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus . . . ." All the names and dates. Historical details that make ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Globalwarming B.c.

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Aug 18, 2007

Climate change is not a new thing. In fact the bible records how society dealt with it in the 9th century B.C. Two leaders had very different ideas about how to solve the crisis. One chose the living God.

The Mountain of Battle Today we look at two leaders with very different perspectives about God, Religion and Authority. Our study is not unlike the times we live in. Even in our present age we are faced with two powerful leaders who seem to be destined to square off over God, Religion and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:16-45

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Second Sunday Of Advent C, Advent 2-- Crying Out In The Desert

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 2, 2021

Can we say to John the Baptist this Advent, “The Wind Brought Your Voice To Me?”

We don’t sing the Gloria in Advent until the angels sing the "Gloria in excelsis Deo" at Christmas but we do hear a prophetic voice, crying out in the desert, which are often windy places. The voice is from John the Baptist, carried on the whistling wind, that says, “Prepare the way of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

1 Advent B

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Dec 3, 2002

Jesus invites us to "Watch, stay awake". As we watch, we are invited to see through the eyes of Jesus. Watching helps us to see the hope in the midst of terror.

1 Advent B Mark 13:24-37 1 December 2002 Rev. Roger Haugen Elie Wiesel is a Jewish writer whose novels prod the depths of the Holocaust, asking difficult questions of humanity and of God. In Night, a child hangs from a S.S. gallows and the question goes up, “Where is God?” Wiesel writes: “And I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Lutheran

3 Advent B

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Dec 12, 2002

The prophet Isaiah speaks of one who comes to bring good news to the oppressed. God gives us eyes to see hope in the midst of darkness.

3 Advent B Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11 15 December 2002 Rev. Roger Haugen Christmas is a time of images. We so easily create mind pictures of gentle snow and evergreen trees. We imagine presents under decorated Christmas tree, good food whose smell invites us to taste and enjoy. We think of angels and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Praising The Beauty Of Holiness.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 31, 2025

Before we can talk about the “city of our God” we must recognise and acknowledge the God of the city. The Bible does not begin with Jerusalem, but with God. The New Testament does not begin with the church, but with Jesus.

PRAISING THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. Psalm 48:1-7. This psalm begins with a simple statement of fact: “Great is the LORD” and, because of the greatness of the LORD, He is “greatly to be praised” (PSALM 48:1a). Where is the LORD to be praised? In the place that God has chosen (cf. 2 Chronicles ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 48:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Ye Fast.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 16, 2024

The deed is done before the all-seeing God. His approval is reward enough in itself.

WHEN YE FAST. Matthew 6:16-21. True Christianity is not the dour, miserable affair which some of its play-actors portray (Matthew 6:16). So when we fast, we must wash-and-brush up in our usual manner (Matthew 6:17). The approval of God is far more to be desired than the applause of men (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational