Sermons on The Incarnation:

He Who Comes From Above

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 4, 2020

He must increase, but I must decrease.

HE WHO COMES FROM ABOVE. John 3:31-36. John’s disciples came to him with the observation, ‘The One of whom you testified is baptising, and all men come to Him’ (cf. John 3:26). ‘All men’ might have been an exaggeration, but Jesus was making more disciples than His forerunner (cf. John ...read more

Scripture: John 3:31-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Please Use The Servant Entrance

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 23, 2020

We naturally want to be in control of our lives and focus on taking care of ourselves first. But Jesus set the example of being a servant.

If you were to ask me what my favorite TV show is right now, I think I would have to answer “West Wing.” I’m really enjoying the opportunity to see something of the inner workings of the white house and how policies come together. Today’s text, the story of the birth of Jesus, leaves me thinking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Philippians 2:7, Matthew 20:26, Matthew 23:11

The Christ In A Manger

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

We have heard the story so often that it seems obvious that Christ was born in a manger. But that would have been shocking to the world of that day.

I always enjoy the chance to meet people from different cultures and learn how 2 people from 2 different cultures can look at the same event and see it differently. Years ago, we lived in New Delhi India. Kathy and I had to take a bus to a shop in the old city, so I brought my Bible along to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:11-12

The Word Became Flesh Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 24, 2021

Who ever heard of the guest getting more and greater gifts than the one whose birthday is being celebrated? Only at Christmas does this happen, and that is why it is such a joyous birthday.

Everybody in the world has a birthday. It doesn't make any difference if they are rich or poor, black or white, or educated or uneducated. Everybody has one in every age. Methuselah had 969 of them before he died, and that was the world record until Jesus came. Jesus only had 33 birthdays ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

The Face Of God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

When Mary pressed the soft warm cheeks of baby Jesus to her own, she was touching the face of God. When the shepherds and the wise men came to see Jesus they were seeing the face of God. Christmas is about the face of God.

John Mcgee Jr. wrote the poem High Flight. It is so meaningful to some pilots, they repeat it as they sit in their planes soaring though the skies. It goes like this- Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Recipe For A Merry Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

If you really want to help others have a merry Christmas, let the Spirit of Christ be incarnated in your flesh, so that your life, acts, and words are used to encourage others.

Back in the 60's, a movie was made telling the story of a man, who, like Job, got so discouraged that he wished he had never been born. His guardian angel granted him his wish, and also the freedom to go back to his hometown to observe the consequences. Nobody knew him, of course, not even ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

God's Human Nature Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The full Gospel is Christmas and Easter, and that Jesus was fully man and fully God. He was the God-Man. If you take either one out of the church year you have destroyed it, and if you take either of the natures of Jesus out of him you have destroyed the Gospel and the Jesus of the New Testament.

Superman has always been popular as a comic book character, and I can remember racing across the snow in a blizzard to trade comic books with a friend in order to get some new adventures of this heaven-like hero of humanity. In our day now the movies of superman have made millions because they ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

What If Jesus Had Not Come

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Oct 12, 2020

Today, we want to imagine for a moment what would life be like if Jesus hadn’t been born. Jesus Himself raised that question the night before He was crucified...

This time of the year we are bombarded with the programming of the season. Many of these television specials have the word “Christmas” in their title or somewhere in their script but most fail in pointing out the true meaning of Christmas— that God became man and dwelt among us that God the Son ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas: God… Is… Now… Here!

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 19, 2020

We can greet each other—instead of with “Merry Christmas,” we could shout instead, “God chose flesh,” “God became one of us!”

The Christmas story confirms one pattern of God—He shows up in unexpected places. Maybe you have heard that popular story about an atheist who had a big poster hanging on the wall in his living room, which said: “God is nowhere.” One day, while he was reading the newspaper, his little daughter, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Catholic

Christmas Trivia Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

We are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, but sometimes they seem so trivial we tend to ignore them. Christmas trivia is a good example. Dr. Luke was a man of detail, and he records for us a number of things that can be called Christmas trivia.

One of the great paradoxes of Christmas is that almost everything the Bible tells us about this most sacred event, is secular in nature. It is filled with what is temporal rather than eternal; physical rather than spiritual; and world oriented rather than heaven oriented. Christmas is really a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

The Wonder Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

Just scratching the surface of a match can cause it to burst into flame and though that is all we can do with Luke's record, scratch the surface, it is hoped that this will kindle a flame of wonder in our hearts for Christmas.

Typical of last minute Christmas shoppers, a mother was running furiously from store to store. Suddenly she became aware that the pudgy little hand of her three year old son was no longer clutched in hers. In a panic she retraced her steps and found him standing with his little nose pressed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Prepare His Kingdom Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 14, 2018

To "Prepare His Kingdom" John the Baptist inquiries about Jesus' Kingship through 1) The Request (Matthew 11:2-3), 2) The Reply (Matthew 11:4-6), and 3) The Recognition (Matthew 11:7-11)

Matthew 11:2-11 [2] Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples [3]and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" [4] And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: [5] the blind ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Other

Baptism: The Gift Of Identity

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jan 10, 2022

A sermon for The Baptism of Our Lord, Year C

January 9, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 3:15-17, 21-22; Acts 8:14-17 Baptism: The Gift of Identity Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. When the Israelites had coursed their 40-year journey out of slavery ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:15-22, Acts 8:14-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Procures Our Salvation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 28, 2022

No angel could have accomplished this.

JESUS PROCURES OUR SALVATION. Hebrews 2:14-18. 1. It was necessary that Jesus should partake of flesh and blood in order to procure our salvation (Hebrews 2:14). a. Jesus overcomes death (Hebrews 2:14), and the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15), through His own death upon the Cross. Death is ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph, The Chosen Man!

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 26, 2022

When the SECULAR WORLD talks about Christmas, we hear a great deal about: Santa Claus, reindeer, fruitcakes, mistletoe, presents, and parties.

When the SPIRITUAL WORLD talks about Christmas, we hear a great deal about the Virgin Mary, the angels, the shepherds and the wise men. You may hear about Joseph, the earthly father of the Lord Jesus, and you may not. But Joseph and Mary are two bless people. Just think about that, of all the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist