Sermons
As the people of God, believers can look back at God's faithfulness and ahead in expectation of his future mercy and grace. These future promises have significance for our every day lives. We live now in the new identity and kingdom to come.
No one can ever say that Jesus cannot understand their situation or suffering. Jesus took on flesh and came to us in order that he may be our hope in our sufferings. In condescending Jesus demonstrates his love and care for his people. He loves us in to adoption as brothers and sisters.
Jesus Christ was willing to empty himself for the advantage of hopeless sinners. In emptying himself, through faith, we can be full, which sets us on a path of unity and mission. It is that truth we celebrate at Christmas.
The glory of the Lord was shown to a group of shepherds heralding the coming of the Son of God in a manger in a small town called Bethlehem. A lowly birth, announced to a lowly group, and a small town carries with it the most joyous news.
The Triune God is a creative, life-giving God. He created at the beginning, and brings the beginnings of a new creation at the incarnation of Christ. The Spirit points to this work and the Person of Christ, and we, who are called by the Spirit, ought to follow His leading.
Often it can seem like the world is full of darkness, chaos, and hopelessness, but God has sent his light into that darkness, Jesus Christ. God sovereignly works for the good of his people and his glory in the midst of and in spite of circumstances. He works through a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father, a Prince of Peace.
The overarching message of the book of Hebrews is that Christ is better and that truth ought to drive the way we live out our faith. We don't have faith in a kingdom that is shaken. The kingdom to which we fix our eyes is an unshakeable one because its king is an unshakeable God.
Faith in Christ is no promise of comfort and ease. When difficulties and challenges arise followers of Christ must be resolved to push forward with their eyes fixed on Christ. Additionally, Christ-followers must avoid bitterness to arise from the challenges and be shaped by holy grace.
No good father would allow his child to continue on a path that leads to destruction and not offer correction. Our good Father, God, disciplines and corrects us for our good. The hardship and pain that we feel in this life are good for us as we seek to live lives pleasing to God.
God calls us to run the race of faith with endurance. There is guarantee that race will be easy. In fact, our race is wed to Jesus' race, which climaxed in the cross. Hence, to run the race with endurance, we must fix our eyes upon Jesus.