Sermons on Luke 1:5-2:15:

What Did The Angels Think Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jul 18, 2021

What did the angels think about God taking on flesh and coming into His creation as a weak, helpless baby? Why would God do such a thing for these … these pathetic, corrupt creatures?

If you remember, last week we took a little trip back in time … to that night in Bethlehem. Let’s picture that night once again. Bethlehem asleep under the stars … the shepherds out in the fields … the quiet punctuated by the occasional bleating of sheep. To the rest of the world … from the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: United Methodist

"congratulations! It's A Savior!" Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jul 25, 2021

God continues to look for women and men like Mary and Joseph. People who will pursue obedience, whatever the cost. People who will trust God – even though the outcome seems unsure. God continues to raise up people for His purposes.

When I first proposed doing this, I know that it struck a lot of you … well, probably all of you … as something odd … out of the ordinary. When it came time, you weren’t sure what to do. Do we put up our traditional Christmas decorations? And, again, I’m sure that you found my answer a bit odd … ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35, Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: United Methodist

The Mystery Revealed

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 28, 2021

At the time Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden, a mystery was unleashed. God's words to the serpent, the woman, and the man answered some questions, but raised others that would not be answered for a very long time.

Note: I have developed a set of PowerPoint slides for use with this sermon. If you are interested in the slides I will send them to you by Email. Email your request to me at sam@srmccormick.net and be sure to enter "Easter Slides" in the subject line (otherwise I am likely to overlook ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-19, Ecclesiastes 6:3, 2 Chronicles 9:13-22, Ecclesiastes 5:10-15, Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, Galatians 3:27, Philippians 1:21, Ephesians 3:1-10, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:9-11, Romans 8:1-3, Revelation 1:6, Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 9:2-3, Hebrews 10:19-20, John 14:1-6, Hebrews 2:14-15, Mark 15:37-38, Acts 2:1-41, John 14:7-11, John 13:3-9, Acts 17:22-31, John 16:12-14, Mark 4:10-12, Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 13:17, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Ecclesiastes 8:4-9, Ecclesiastes 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 5:14-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Messiah In The Context Of Jewish History

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Aug 3, 2021

Normally when we talk about the arrival of the messiah we’re talking about it in the context of Christmas season and we end with a very colored picture, seeing Jesus in the context of Christmas trees, bells, candy canes, and lights.

Normally when we talk about the arrival of the messiah we’re talking about it in the context of Christmas season and we end with a very colored picture, seeing Jesus in the context of Christmas trees, bells, candy canes, and lights. But today, I’d like to shift our perspective, and we shall try to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Salvation Army

God Is Better Than The Impossible Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Aug 21, 2021

If you were to do a word study from the Book of Hebrews, one word that keeps popping up is the word "better". Studying that word "better" challenged me to find other things that Jesus is better at that were not included in that Book of Hebrew's list.

Introduction: If you were to do a word study from the Book of Hebrews, one word that keeps popping up is the word "better". At least twelve (12) times that word shows up in the text. Jesus is a better revelation; Jesus is a better priesthood; Jesus is a better hope, and Jesus is a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:37, Luke 18:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of The Gospel

Contributed by Michael Mays on Aug 31, 2021

"Good news" is not a naturally-occurring phenomenon in our fallen world, and our flesh is given to mistrust or take it seriously--especially news "too good to be true." The regular reaction to the Gospel is no different.

I. Intro: “The Good News Paper Gets Bad News” - St. Petersburg Times, Apr 5, 1972? The Good News Paper is going out of business after 16 months of fighting ‘doom and gloom’ because the publication cannot pay its bills.? “We have simply run out of time and money,” publisher Bill Bailey said Monday ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

The Right Way & The Wrong Way To Receive Good News

Contributed by Michael Mays on Aug 31, 2021

Amazing how the same message engenders such different responses. What was your reaction when the message of hope was shared with you?

I. Intro: Bad News A. Quotes 1. “Bad news travels at the speed of light; good news travels like molasses.”--Tracy Morgan 2. “He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news.”--Bertolt Brecht 3. “I've just had some bad news. Tomorrow is the mother-in-law's funeral. And she's ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-56

Confetti

Contributed by Bala Samson on Apr 7, 2021

If you continue to stay faithful to God, patient, long suffering and loyal to God even when you don’t see results and applause, mark my words, God would one day shower confetti on you.

Confetti Luke 1:9 “…according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. A priest named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth are the main characters of my devotion today. They were people of integrity, pious and blameless but still ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Angelic Host Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

Angels were the primary messengers of that first Christmas. The Star of Bethlehem was their only competitor, and it reached only the wise men. All others were reached by angels.

Before the turn of the century, a Bishop was paying his annual visit to a church related college. He was the guest of one of the professors, and was stating to his host, that now since man knows all about nature, and all inventions have been discovered, we must be on the verge of the millennium. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-15

The Enjoyment Of God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is also the chief end of Christmas. The way to have a merry Christmas is to do what all the characters did on that first Christmas-they enjoyed God and they praised Him..

One of the biggest attractions in all of history was the smallest man alive-General Tom Thumb. He was only 25 inches tall and weighed only 15 pounds. Over 20 million people paid to see him sing and dance. He charms his way into the hearts of the greatest people of his day-Queen Victoria of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

The Babe And The Bell Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

It is no wonder that bells have become a symbol of Christmas, for God chose the bell to be a symbol of joy and victory in His presence. There are numerous types of bells, but all of them have some positive value, and thus, have something in common with the Babe of Bethlehem.

Bells are one of the common symbols of Christmas, because all through history, bells have been used to play the role of the angels on that first Christmas. Bells ring forth the message of joy. The bell and the babe of Bethlehem are linked in many ways. Nowhere is this more evident, than when you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Expectations Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

There is no other holiday like Christmas, where expectation is so much a part of it's celebration. We look forward to Christmas, longer, and with greater anticipation, then all other holidays combined.

Henry McCushy, of the Texas Employment Commission, said they had a hard time getting men to be department store Santa Clauses, one year. The reason was, the high percentage of children who were kicking Santa in the shins for not coming through the year before. They expected Santa to live up to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-32

The Approachable God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

To find the Child-that was the goal. Anything that takes us off the path that leads to Christ is not part of God's plan. The job of the angels and the star was finished when the shepherds and the wise men bowed before the Christ-child.

Lucy is expounding on the meaning of Christmas and she says, "this is the time of the year that we show kindness and good will, when we accept others and welcome them into our home." Charlie Brown says, "why can't we be kind and accepting all through the year and not just at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Christmas Babies Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

Jesus is the only person in history who chose to be a baby. This tells us just how important the baby centeredness of Christmas is to Him. The message of Christmas is not that the angels came; that the shepherds came, or that the wise men came, but that the baby came.

Elenor Cicok had a three year old daughter who developed an emotional block and ceased to talk. She never said a word, not even mama when she wanted her mother. It was a terrible ordeal as she went month after month in silence. Her mother taught her about God and prayer, and read to her about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

The Complexity Of Christmas

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

We often see the first Christmas though rose colored glasses tinted by centuries of tradition. But the plain facts are that Mary and Joseph had a very difficult time with all the events surrounding that first Christmas.

Approaching the Christmas season in 1972, Fred Putman decided to have a evening in front of a cozy fire. He used two boxes of matches, one pint of started fluid, and the Sunday addition of the New York Times, and still could not get the fireplace burning. Bent on romance by fire-light, he decided ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:18-45