Sermon Video: Jesus weeps over Jerusalem - Luke 19:41-44

On the very day of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with his own Passion less than a week away, Jesus pauses on the road to weep over the coming fate of Jerusalem.  The irony of Jesus' tears is that it didn't have to be this way, the path of peace was available to God's covenant people, if only they had recognized him as their Messiah and heeded his message.  This then offers a lesson for the Church today, reminding us of our need to hear God's voice and humbly accept correction (as needed).

Sermon Video: Be Slow to Anger - James 1:19-21

How much better would our world be if everyone followed the advice of James that we ought to be, "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry"?  Sadly, the opposite is often the case for many people as they are instead, slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry.  For the Christian, this path is not optional, as we are commanded to be disciples of Jesus Christ, ever growing toward Christ-likeness by learning to value other people enough to put our own impulses and desires aside.  When we make progress toward that goal we will be able to listen to other people, because we care about them, hold on to our tongue to avoid saying things we shouldn't, because we care about other people, and keep our anger in check, whatever its cause, because we care enough about other people that we aren't willing to hurt them to indulge our anger.
Anger is the key to the point that James is making about our attitude as Christians.  Anger simply does not lead to righteousness.  We are not the righteous judge that God is, nor do we have our anger under control, so that even our "righteous anger" at evil tends to run away with us.  It is better for us, as Christians, to not allow anger a place in our hearts, we're in far less danger of giving in to the temptation to sin without it.

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Sermon Video: Jehoshaphat seeks the Word of the LORD, 2 Chronicles 18

Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, was a man who, “walked in the ways his father David had followed.”  As king of Judah he continued his father’s fight against idolatry and went a step further by sending his officials along with priests and Levites to all the towns of Judah to teach the people the Word of God so that they would understand their obligations under the Covenant. 

                The fault that can be found in Jehoshaphat lies not with himself but with those whom he chose to associate.  Jehoshaphat made a politically savvy, but spiritually foolish decision to ally himself with Ahab, king of Israel, by having his son marry Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter.  This familial alliance led Ahab to ask Jehoshaphat to help him reclaim a city that had been lost in the previous wars with Aram when Jehoshaphat’s father Asa had bribed them to invade Israel.  Perhaps Jehoshaphat was naïve, perhaps he was an idealist hoping to reunite the kingdom, but he agreed to help Ahab in the proposed war.

                Jehoshaphat was not without caution, however, and he required Ahab to consult a prophet of the LORD before proceeding.  Ahab’s court contained 400 prophets, but not one of whom served the LORD.  When Micaiah spoke to Ahab the Word of the LORD, he did not concur with the 400 false prophets that victory was assured, instead he told Ahab that this venture would be a calamity that would cost him his life.  How did Ahab respond to the truth, he locked Micaiah in prison intending to gloat over him when he returned victorious.

                Jehoshaphat should have stopped right there, he was the one who asked Ahab to seek God’s counsel, and now he had heard it, but he didn’t listen to it.  In the ensuing battle, Ahab disguised himself to try to avoid God’s judgment, while Jehoshaphat remained in his royal robes and was nearly killed by enemy soldiers seeking to kill the king of Israel.  At the last possible moment, Jehoshaphat realized his error and called out to the LORD who rescued him.  Ahab did not thwart God’s Word through his subterfuge, a “random” arrow hit him in an “unlucky” spot between the pieces of his armor and killed him.  The Word of the LORD had been given to Ahab and Jehoshaphat, both of them failed to heed it, and Jehoshaphat was very nearly caught up in the destruction that fell upon Ahab.  The Word of God is not to be trifled with, it is our warning against error and our comfort in despair, to seek it is certainly the correct first step, but we must still listen to it and obey.

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Sermon Video - An undeliverable message, Isaiah 6:1-13

Communication in the modern world is easy. We can talk, text, e-mail, video chat, any who knows what else with just about anyone in the world anytime we want. The process of delivering a message has never been easier, but one requirement is still needed: a willing recipient. When God called Isaiah to be a prophet he gave him a message that he knew would not be received by the Covenant people to whom Isaiah was charged with delivering it. Isaiah received his vision in 740 BC; The Assyrian army was not outside the walls besieging Jerusalem until 39 years later. There was time for repentance and revival, but there wasn’t a willing heart.


We often equate Isaiah’s “Here I am, send me” with foreign missions, with those willing to leave home to go and take the Gospel to people who have never heard it before. Isaiah’s task was much different, and in most ways much harder. He was sent to warn his own people, his own family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Jews. These were people who knew who God was, they knew God’s power, and they knew the consequences for disregarding their obligations under the Law of Moses. Their problem was not of the head, it was of the heart. They knew what was required but instead following God with their whole hearts their only did so on the surface. Isaiah was not a missionary, he was a reformer, a far different task.

It doesn’t matter if the people had closed their own eyes, ears, and hearts to God’s call or if God had done so to them in judgment. If it was their own choice, they had no excuse; if God had utilized his prerogative as holy judge and the author of the covenant, he had every right to do so. God was the injured party in this relationship, the cheated on spouse in this marriage. That God was willing to send prophets to try to save at least some of his people, until the very last moment before the long predicted judgment arrived, demonstrates the love that God had for his people. To disregard the Law of God is a very serious thing for his people, it has consequences that cannot be disregarded.

Thus we see another step on the road to the cross through the words of Isaiah. God’s people, a people who knew better, would not listen to his call to repent. The only way this cycle of disobedience, warning, and wrath could be broken would be if God himself came to take the weight of that righteous anger upon himself once and for all.

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Sermon Video - The Conversion of Paul, Part 2 - Acts 9:10-22

Most people know that Saul/Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, we're familiar with that part of the life changing event we call conversion.  Less people remember that there was a second person that Saul needed to meet before he could move forward toward becoming the famous Apostle Paul.  That second man wasn't famous, we hardly know anything about him other than his reputation as a respected devout observer of the law.  While Saul was sitting in darkness, literally, and not eating or drinking for three days, God was talking to one of his obedient servants, a man named Ananias.  What was Ananias' reward for a life lived in faith on obedience?  He was asked to follow in the footsteps of Jonah by giving mercy to his enemy.
Ananias objected to God's initial call, we all would have, and actually tried to explain to God that Saul was a villain, not someone you'd want to help.  That God knew all about Saul long before he called Ananias to help him is obvious, and yet throughout the Bible others have also tried to explain to God why the mission he is sending them on is a mistake.  Ananias joins a list with names such as: Moses, Gideon, Elijah, Jonah, and Zechariah, all of whom struggled to make sense of God's plan.  The missing piece of their puzzle was of course the power of God.  When God tells you to do something, his power will see it through if we but obey.
In the end, Ananias listens to God's command and takes to Saul not only the message about his future ministry, but just as importantly the words, "Brother, Saul".  If Ananias had not welcomed Saul into the Christian community in Damascus, if he had not offered to him forgiveness, love, and support during this crucial phase in his life, what would have become of Saul?  History remembers the great man, the Apostle Paul, but those of us who serve the Lord realize that behind every great person or powerful movement stands a host of unsung heroes who simply listened to the voice of God, and obeyed.

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Sermon Video: The Martyrdom of Stephen - Acts 6:8-8:2

The powerful story of the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts marks the moment when Christianity became a new religion, and not just a reform movement within Judaism.  On it's surface, it is also an important message about remaining faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what the consequences might be.  There is another message for those willing to listen to it, one that may be difficult to hear, and that is the sermon of Stephen itself.  If you read the sermon of Stephen, it begins as a summarization of the history of Israel as God's Covenant people.  As it progresses, the emphasis shifts to the lack of faith and disobedience of the people, especially the trouble that Moses had in trying to lead them.
When Stephen reaches his conclusion, that his audience are heirs of that "stiff-necked" heritage, the trial itself has become a referendum on those sitting in judgment.  Are they followers of the prophets of old, or are they followers of the unbelieving generation that died in the desert?  The question is easily answered by Stephen's conclusion, "you who have received the law...but have not obeyed it."  To obey the Law is to follow Moses, to ignore it is to follow the path of rebellion.
When you read the story of Stephen, who do you identify with?  Most readers would assume that they're on Stephen's side, that they stand with the martyrs against oppression, hatred, and rebellion.  Most would assume that, but Stephen's question remains, do you obey the Word of God?  Everyone who obeys, by faith, can rightly claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, those who do not, are sitting with the Sanhedrin.
When you hear the Truth, from God's Word or God's modern-day prophets, what is your response?

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Sermon Video: "Speak, your servant is listening" - 1 Samuel 3

The call of Samuel by the LORD is told in chapter 3 amidst the tribulation surrounding the wickedness and subsequent judgment of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phineas.  While that unfortunate drama progresses, the LORD calls Samuel in the night to begin his road toward leading Israel as his prophet.
The advice that Eli gives to Samuel when he realizes that God is calling him is to say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."  That attitude of humble listening to the Word of God is one that we all can learn from.  God may not speak to you with an audible voice, but his will is available to guide us through the Scriptures, prayer, and the wisdom of our fellow followers of Jesus.  However, we will never hear what God is saying if we don't take the time to stop and listen. 
The post script of God's call to Samuel is the observation that from this day forward he listened intently to God's word and consequently grew in stature and honor among the people.  When the time comes for Samuel to lead the people, he'll be ready because he listened to God.

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