Sermons from December 2018
Matthew 2 | The Magi Cometh | December 30, 2018
Matthew 2 | Part of our Christmas decorations always seems to include three whacky overdressed guys showing up on Jesus’ birthday. Today we are going to talk about who these guys are, where the traditions come from and how history and scripture contradict myth and legend to tell a better…
Matthew 1 | The Heroic Shepherds | December 23, 2018
Matthew 1 | On this Christmas Sunday we reflect on one of the characters that shows up in iconic manger scenes. Like a lot of things we find in the Bible, the shepherds are not simply good background filler. There is a great reason why the shepherds are there!
Acts 28 | The Last Chapter | December 16, 2018
Acts 28 | Paul makes it to Rome to stand trial for a supposed offense against the Jewish leadership of the Temple — an offense the Roman emperor has no interest. Paul could not have envisioned the great opportunity he will have for the next two years! Yet, this story seems to end without an…
Acts 27 | Shipwrecked | December 9, 2018
Acts 27 | Paul has been arrested and held over for trail … in Rome! Weirdly, Paul is completely innocent of any law violation in Israel or in the Roman Empire. He could have been released, but he chose to take his court case to the emperor himself! That involves travel in the Mediterranean late in the fall. That seems like a bad idea.
Acts 24 | Felix and Festus | December 2, 2018
Acts 24 | Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem by the Roman Commander in charge of keeping the peace in the Temple. Yet, the Commander didn’t know what to charge Paul with. Frankly, Paul was not very helpful on that point either. So, he gets passed on up the food chain hoping someone may know what to do with him.