Sermon Video - The Angel's Message, Luke 1:26-38

As the Christmas story continues, Gabriel goes to the small backwoods village of Nazareth to seek out a descendant of David, a carpenter named Joseph.  When he arrives, Gabriel speaks to Joseph's fiance, Mary, instead.  The message he has for her is unlike any other; a child is to be born, before Mary has union with her future husband.  Mary is rightly confused about how this could be possible until Gabriel explains that the child will be called the Son of God; the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and God will "overshadow" her.  The end result: Emmanuel, God with us.  Mary's response to this shocking news is a credit to her character, "I am the Lord's servant".

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Is the relationship between a pastor and his church like a marriage?

I've been thinking about the turmoil that can happen between a pastor and a church when the relationship goes sour.  I know of several pastors to whom this has happened over the years, some of which you might expect it, and others of whom anyone would be surprised to find them in that situation.  The same could be said of the churches, there are some whose "personality" is such that you aren't surprised to learn they ran another preacher out of town, and others that you thought it would never be involved in a bad pastor/church relationship.
So, is the best analogy to describe the relationship between a pastor and his church the familiar marriage covenant?  On the surface we know that most pastors will not stay at the church they begin with until "death do us part"; in many denominations they have no choice in the matter, a Bishop makes those decisions.  But aside from the realization that the relationship is not forever, the dynamic is very similar.
The foundation of marriage: mutual self-sacrificial behavior, is also crucial to a healthy ministry.  If the pastor simply gives, and the church simply takes (or vice versa) it won't last and it won't be healthy.  Likewise, the policy of honest communication and holding your tongue if you don't have anything constructive to say will help foster peace between a husband and wife as well as between a pastor and his congregation.  This sort of comparison could continue.  In the end, what is needed is a mutual relationship where neither side is dominated and neither side is used or neglected.
If the relationship between a pastor and his church runs into trouble that goes beyond the ordinary bumps in the road the same sort of messy divorce that sadly plagues marriages in America today also occurs.  There will be some who love the pastor and feel upset that he's been shown the door (or left of his own accord) and there will be some who hated the guy and are happy to see him go.  Children who have grown up in a divorced household will recognize this blame game and the guilt and regret that go with it.
Bad endings to a pastor/church relationships cannot be entirely avoided, neither can the hurt feelings that accompany them.  The burden that is placed upon us, as Christians, is to be people of healing and reconciliation.  To follow our God's example and offer second chances to those who have gone astray, and to protect and defend the God ordained relationship between a pastor and his church much as we would a marriage within our own family.  In the end, without mutual sacrifice, respect, and love; no marriage, whether between a husband and wife or a pastor and a church, can be expected to last.

Sermon Video, The Promise of John the Baptist - Luke 1:5-25

The opening act to the Christmas story begins with the morally upright priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth.  This ideal Jewish couple have only one problem, they can't have kids.  What would be seen as a difficulty to be overcome today was a shameful deficiency in the 1st Century.  While serving in the Temple, Gabriel appears to Zechariah and promises that God has answered their prayer in the form of a miraculous child who will take up the mantle of the prophet Elijah and lead his people back to their God as well as prepare the way for the Lord's advent.  If this is God's opening act, imagine how amazing the Messiah must be.

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Sermon Video - Hannah's Sacrifice, I Samuel 1:21-28 and 2:18-21

In part 3 of the series on Hannah, the time of fulfilling her vow to the LORD is at hand.  With young Samuel at her side, Hannah makes the sacrifice to conclude her vow and then present the boy to Eli.  From this day forward, Hannah will still be Samuel's mother, but his care and upbringing will be done by the LORD (through Eli).  Samuel thus begins a lifetime of service to God with daily sacrifices, offerings, worship, and prayer.  What do we take from Hannah's sorrow, triumph, and sacrifice?  That even the righteous must undergo trials to strengthen them for God's greater purpose, that when we endure hardship we should honestly bring our need to the LORD, and that when we are faithful in obedience God will indeed be gracious to us...In case you were wondering, Hannah certainly felt pain when she said goodbye to her son (she continued to visit him), but she was not defeated; for her, the fulfillment of her vow was a victory worth celebrating.  God certainly agreed with her obedience, he blessed her with three more sons and two daughters.

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Sermon Video, Hannah's Triumph - I Samuel 1:11-20

In part 2 of this 3 part series on Hannah, Hannah makes a vow to the LORD to give her hoped-for child to the LORD in lifelong service if only he will remember his servant and bless her.  In the midst of her praying, the priest Eli scolds Hannah because he mistakes her for a drunkard.  In his embarrassment, Eli in turn blesses Hannah and tells her to "go in peace".  Not long after Hannah becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, whom she names Samuel, because God remembers her.  The story of Hannah faith and persistence combined with God's mercy toward a faithful servant is one we all can learn from.

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