Mothers Weeping, Children Rejoicing

December 31, 2018September 25, 2019 BigSpringsBabylonian exile, Genesis 35, Herod, Jeremiah 31, massacre of the innocents, Matthew 2, Rachel weeping, wise men from the east

Genesis 35:16-20; Jeremiah 31:10-17; Matthew 2:13-18 December 30, 2018 • Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: Here’s a Christmas Day tweet from a self-styled ultra-liberal socialist U.S. Representative-elect: “Joy to the World! Merry Christmas everyone – here’s to a holiday filled with happiness, family, and love for all people. (Including refugee babies in mangers + their parents.).” She was comparing the migrant caravans trying to cross into the U.S. illegally, to Joseph and the pregnant Mary going to Bethlehem to register according to the order of Caesar Augustus…

Christmas Matthew Numbers Sermons

“We Have Come to Worship Him”

January 8, 2018September 25, 2019 BigSpringsChristmas, Matthew 2, Numbers 24, star of Jacob, We Three Kings of Orient Are, wise men

Numbers 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…

Advent Christmas Christmas Hymns KSYC Program Sermons

“We Three Kings of Orient Are”

January 7, 2018September 25, 2019 BigSpringsgold frankincense myrrh, Matthew 2, Numbers 24, We Three Kings, wise men

Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2:1-7 January 7, 2017 (KSYC) • Download this article (PDF) In the Christian calendar, January 6 marks the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, particularly to the “wise men from the east.” One of the most popular hymns to commemorate this event is “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” a hymn about wise men from the east who traveled to Bethlehem after they saw “his star.” Who hasn’t seen Christmas pageants and nativity scenes where Jesus lay in a manger surrounded by…

Christmas Matthew Psalms

“Break the Arm of the Wicked!”

January 3, 2018September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAntipas, Archelaus, Christmas, Herod, magi, massacre of the innocents, Matthew 2, Psalm 10

Psalm 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…

Christmas Sermons

The King-Priest is Worshiped at His Birth and Honored at His Death

December 21, 2015September 25, 2019 BigSpringsgold frankincense myrrh, John 19, king-priest, magi, Matthew 2, wise men

Psalm 45:6-7; Matthew 2:7-12; John 19:38-42 (text) December 20, 2015 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Everyone loves the Nativity scene: a cute baby in a manger holding out his hands in blessing; Mary and Joseph in wonderment of their firstborn son; lowly shepherds and three kings kneeling in worship; and adorable sheep and cows in the background. But Nativity scenes are far from real, and not even Biblical. A few years back, Dr. Jack Kinneer, professor at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wrote a…

Christmas Church Blog KSYC Program

The Shepherd-King from Bethlehem

December 21, 2014December 21, 2014 BigSpringsBethlehem, Christmas, Good Shepherd, Isaiah 40, Matthew 2, Micah, prophecy, Psalm 23

Micah 5:2-5 (text); Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 2:1-11 December 21, 2014 KSYC (Yreka, CA) • Download this meditation (PDF) “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days… And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD” (Micah 5:2-4). This Sunday before Christmas we will focus on the little town of Bethlehem and the wise…