In the New Testament, the Son of God begets sons of God – children of God – when they believe in his name (John 1:12, 14). And when Christ returns, God would have accomplished what he had planned from creation: perfect communion between him and his adopted children in a new heaven and new earth where his people will dwell with him “evermore and evermore!”
Read MoreScripture Readings: Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:8-14 December 16, 2018 • Download this sermon (PDF) Today is the third Sunday of the Advent season. This season, the month of December, I’m preaching on the beautiful songs of Christmas, and how they refer to the Bible. In the last two Sundays, we studied the hymns, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” Today, we will study the beautiful Christmas hymn, “What Child is This?” This is one of the more Biblical modern Christmas hymns. It came from…
Read MoreIsaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Revelation 21:1-4 December 2, 2018 • Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: Today, the first Sunday of Advent 2018, we will begin a series of studies on the Scriptural basis for four of the most beautiful Christmas songs churches sing. Most Christmas songs that are popularly sung in churches are narratives like “Once in Royal David’s City,” sentimental like “Silent Night,” and childish folksiness like “Away in a Manger.” But with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” there is hardly any narrative, and no…
Read MoreEach Sunday from December 3, 2017 — January 7, 2018, I gave 15-minute meditations on six of the most Biblical — and beautiful — songs of Advent and Christmas. These were aired on KSYC 103.9FM in Siskiyou County, California at 7:45-8:00am on those Sundays. Here are the links to these broadcasts, together with the music. December 3, 2017 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” December 10 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” December 17 “What Child is This?” December 24 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” December 31 “Joy to the…
Read MoreNumbers 24:15-19; Matthew 2:1-12 January 7, 2018 • Download this sermon (PDF) Last Sunday, our New Testament reading was also from Matthew 2 the first seven verses. We looked at the wickedness of King Herod, who was a prime example of the wicked man in Psalm 10. He was arrogant and godless, full of lies and curses, and murderous. In his jealous rage, he ordered the massacre of all infants in Bethlehem two years old and younger. Today, our text includes the first 12 verses of Matthew, but we…
Read MorePsalm 10:1-18; Matthew 2:16-23 December 31, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved Congregation of Christ: Now that Christmas festivities are over, are you experiencing post-Christmas blues? One day, you’re exchanging presents and enjoying cheesecake with your kids and grandkids, the next day, you’re all alone in the house. This feeling is not merely something we read on the Internet or hear from friends, but is real. It happens to all of us. The Christmas narrative seems to end in a similar letdown. There was exceeding joy when the angels…
Read MorePsalm 98:1-9; Luke 2:8-14 December 24, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved Congregation of Christ: “Merry Christmas!” “Happy Holidays!” “Are you ready for Christmas?” These are a few greetings that we usually hear every Christmas season. Today is one of the most important days of the year for Americans. All of us long to be “home for Christmas” or “home for the holidays,” so we can gather together with our families. And we also love to sing and listen to our favorite Christmas carols. Speaking of Christmas carols,…
Read MorePsalm 98; Luke 2:14 December 31, 2017 (KSYC) • Download this article (PDF) Today is the first Sunday after Christmas. Most people consider the week between Christmas and New Year still as part of the Christmas. So I will continue on our study of the great hymns of Christmas, and how they reference the Bible. Thus far, I have spoken about, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” and “What Child is This?” Today, I have chosen “Joy to the World!”…
Read MoreDecember 24, 2017 (KSYC) • Download this article (PDF) John 3:16; Revelation 5:13 Today is the fourth Sunday of the Advent season and it also happens to be Christmas Eve. This month, I have been expounding on the great songs of Christmas, and how they reference the Bible. The three hymns I’ve explained so far are: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “What Child is This?”, and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” Today, I’ll dwell on a hymn that has mostly been forgotten by Christian churches, “Of the Father’s Love…
Read MoreIsaiah 11:1; Song of Solomon 2:1 December 17, 2017 (KSYC) • Download this article (PDF) Today is the third Sunday of the Advent season. This season, the month of December, I’m preaching on the beautiful songs of Christmas, and how they refer to the Bible. In the last two Sundays, I spoke about the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” Today, I chose the beautiful Christmas hymn, “What Child is This?” “What Child is This?” is one of the more Biblical modern…
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