Pastor's Corner: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?

  GETTING THE GOSPEL RIGHT: Galatians, Part 1 The Gospel and the Glory of God - Galatians 1:1-5 Introduction :   You’ve heard the story of a son who asked his father for his inheritance, and then went out spent it all on wild living. Soon, the only work he could get was to feed pigs—the last thing a Jewish boy would want to do. After a while, when he is so hungry that the pig-slop starts to look good, the prodigal son comes to his senses and returns home, planning to beg his father’s forgiveness. He even rehearses his speech on the way: “ I have sinned against heaven and against you, I am not worthy to be your son, can I be servant in your house? ” You know the story, he receives a reception that he never imagined! The father runs to him and embraces him, he puts a robe on his back, sandals on his feet, a ring on his finger, and throws a party celebrating his return! There is another son in that story, an elder son, who hears the celebration and is angry… “ You never threw...

  Light in the Darkness! Luke 1:67-80 Introduction : The title for today’s message is based especially on verses 78-79, “… because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high   79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace ."        The theme of light and darkness carries through the Bible. The first creative word in Genesis 1… “ Let there be light …”   In the New Testament, Paul refers to that context when he said, “ For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ …” (2 Cor 4:6). John makes the connection already in John 1:4, “ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it .” The theme carries through the Gospel of John until twice in chapter 8, and aga...

  GOD KNOWS YOUR NAME! Luke 1:56-66 Introduction : Naming a baby can sometimes stir up discussions in families, and it certainly does on the occasion of the naming of the child of Elizabeth and Zechariah! In the Bible, the meaning of names is often important. Most importantly we know what the angel said to Joseph in a dream in Matthew 1 when Joseph was struggling with what to do when he learned that Mary, before their marriage was consummated, was pregnant… Joseph son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. The angel told Joseph about the miraculous conception of the life in Mary’s womb, and then told him what this child would be called and why: Jesus, the Greek form of the name Yeshua , “Yahweh saves,” for He will save His people from their sins . The name would testify to the work that Jesus would do. ...

  BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL! Luke 1:39-56 Introduction : This week the news reported… Two children were found on the New Jersey-Delaware border after taking their parents' car for a joyride, police said. The 12-year-old boy and his 7-year-old cousin are believed to have taken the white Range Rover around 9 a.m. Monday from… 115th Street in New York City. Police say the incident may have stemmed from some kind of social media challenge. The two kids were found at the state border by 2:30 p.m. [after one tried to use their parents’ credit card!]. They were not injured and there were no accidents or damage reported to the vehicle. The kids were being brought back to NYC to talk to police . That is a pretty shocking story, and it could have ended very badly, but thankfully no one was hurt. Later in this gospel we’ll read of Jesus, as a 12-year-old in Jerusalem with his parents for the Passover, being left behind in the city!   How did that happen? And, to make matters wor...