As the birth narrative of the Gospel of Luke unfolds, we find Joseph on his way to Bethlehem, his ancestral hometown, with his new wife Mary. Mary travels carrying a child conceived of the Holy Spirit, a child the angelic visitor made bold declarations of greatness about. The humble birth of this Messiah, in the town of David, is only the beginning.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Sermon Video: Joseph graciously accepts the Christmas gift he didn't ask for - Matthew 1:18-24
Have you ever received a Christmas gift that you absolutely hated? One that you can't wait to return, one that you struggle to pretend you're happy for?
Joseph was given a Christmas gift that he didn't ask for, the way he responded to this unexpected gift show why God chose him to be the dad here on earth to the long-awaited Messiah.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Sermon Video: Advent Witnesses part 2 - Joseph: A Kind Husband, Matthew 1:18-19
As Matthew relates the event of the first Christmas, the focus is upon Joseph, the adopted father of Jesus. We learn that Joseph is like his ancestor, Boaz, a man of both righteous adherence to the Law of Moses, and a genuinely kind man. When Joseph learns of Mary's pregnancy he does not seek vengeance or humiliation, but rather intends to divorce her quietly. Joseph would thus fulfill the Law without being vindictive. Is it any wonder that God chose him to parent the Son of God?
"Nice guys finish last" may be a common enough idiom, and true in any number of pop culture examples and real-world scenarios. But God holds us to a different standard than 'winning' in this life, as followers of Jesus, we don't want to 'win' at the cost of our character.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Sermon Video: Advent Witnesses part 1: Mary, willing servant - Luke 1:38
As we look at the Advent story this year from the perspective of the eyewitnesses, we begin with Mary. If is difficult to put ourselves in her shoes with a gap of 2,000 years of culture, history, and for most of us, ethnicity separating us, but in the end even us men who do not know what it feels like to bring a child into this world, there is still a common humanity that we share with Mary. That being said, her response to Gabriel's mind-blowing message is truly extraordinary. Unlike many in the scriptures who respond to God's calling with hesitancy or doubt, Mary responds with humble obedience. "I am the Lord's servant" is as powerful as it is simple.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Sermon Video: The Child of Bethlehem - Luke 2:1-7
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Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Sermon Video: The Virgin and the throne of David - Luke 1:26-33
The arrival of the angel Gabriel at Nazareth to speak to Mary marks the beginning of the centerpiece of God's vast plan of redemption for humanity. In accordance with his plan, God chooses a young woman pledged to be married to a man with a claim as a descendant of David, a morally upright couple, through whom the grace of God will work as the mother and adopted father of the Son of the Most High. The surprise visit is only the beginning, for God is working to establish a kingdom that will endure forever, quite a lot for a virgin teen to take in.
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Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Why "winning" as the goal ought to be anathema to Christians
Friday, December 25, 2015
Sermon Video: "give him the name Jesus" Matthew 1:21
The message of the angel to Joseph, to enable him to understand how Mary's pregnancy was not a blemish on her character, also revealed crucial insight into who this miracle child would one day be. The name given by the angel to Joseph, Jesus, is the Greek version of the common Hebrew name, Joshua. Joshua means, "the LORD saves", but Jesus' use of the name would be different, for as the angel said, HE would save his people, and not from oppression or injustice, but from their sins. What's in a name? For the Son of God, a lot, for it would indeed be the LORD that saved, this time in the flesh.
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Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Sermon Video: Immanuel, "God with us" - Matthew 1:22-25
How would this advent of Creator into his creation change our world? One thing became crystal clear, if God is willing to condescend so much to save us, his love for us cannot be doubted. Likewise, if God found it necessary to go to such an end to save humanity, our hope of ever fixing ourselves must have been false all along. God came down to earth at Bethlehem because there was no other way, Immanuel was our only hope.
After his dream ends, Joseph proceeds to obey the word of God by bringing Mary home as his wife. The Son of God will now have an adoptive father to raise him on behalf of his heavenly Father.
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Sermon Video
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sermon Video: Joseph and the angel - Matthew 1:18-21
Joseph decided to divorce Mary quietly rather than demand public justice. He chose to have mercy upon her, even though her apparent sin was against him, rather than taking his anger out on her to salve his pride. It was an act of restraint that is an example to us all, Joseph may have had the right to humiliate Mary, but he didn't have the heart to do it. Joseph couldnt' allow himself to be part of a lie by going through with the marriage, but he also didn't have a vindictive or self-righteous impulse.
After his decision, God sent an angel to let Joseph know what was really going on. The child was from the Holy Spirit! God had helped barren women before, it's one of the major themes of the Old Testament, but always through their husband. Now, God has created life apart from the natural process. Thus the child born to Mary will be part of David's royal line, if Joseph is willing to marry her, but not of David's fallen ancestry. To top it off, the angel tells Joseph that the child's name will be Jesus, "because he will save his people from their sins". Save them from their sins! Not even the great Law-giver, Moses, had been able to overcome sin, the whole generation he led died in the desert before entering into the Promised Land. And yet, this child, born of the Holy Spirit, will accomplish so much more than any who had before.
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Sermon Video
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sermon Video: Simeon and Anna, Luke 2:21-38
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Sermon Video
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sermon Video: The Birth of Jesus - Luke 2:1-7
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Sermon Video
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sermon Video - The Angel's Message, Luke 1:26-38
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Sermon Video
Monday, March 19, 2012
SermonVideo: Joseph's Family Reunion - Genesis 45-46
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Sermon Video
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sermon Video: Joseph: Revenge? - Genesis 42 thru 44
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Sermon Video
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sermon Video: Joseph: Interpreter of Dreams - Genesis 40-41
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Sermon Video
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sermon Video: Joseph in Potiphar's house - Genesis 39
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Sermon Video
Friday, February 17, 2012
Joseph: The all grown-up version
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sermon Video: "Joseph: From favorite son to slave" - Genesis 37
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Sermon Video