December 21, 2025
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Luke 2:1-14
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christmas
The INFINITE became an INFANT. The ETERNAL ONE entered human history. At Christmas, we celebrate the staggering truth that the One who CREATED all things stepped into His own CREATION. God did not send a MESSAGE from heaven, He sent the MESSIAH, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ––God in the flesh!
But here’s the question: Why does the incarnation matter to us today? Why should it move our hearts and change the way we live? Because too often the true meaning of Christmas gets buried under shopping lists, wrapping paper, and holiday festivities. We enjoy the celebration, but miss the meaning. If we’re not careful, we can celebrate Christmas and overlook Christ.
In the second chapter of Luke’s gospel, he gave a historical account of the incarnation, describing the humble birth of God’s Son and the angelic announcement to shepherds watching their flocks nearby. In this birth announcement, we can see the true meaning of Christmas revealed.
December 14, 2025
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Luke 1:39-56
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christmas
Does the message of Christmas, of Christ’s coming, cause you to make much of the Lord? To esteem Him highly? To call Him great! Or do you struggle during the Christmas season? You’re tired of all the “Jingle Bells” and Santa songs on the radio? You’re overwhelmed by the crazy busyness and expense of the gift buying and present wrapping, home decorating…and it’s giving you a “Bah! Humbug!” attitude this Christmas? Or maybe it’s that present you won’t be buying, the stocking you won’t be hanging, the empty seat at the table that won’t be setting… that’s got you feeling a lack of joy this Christmas?
But what if we’re focusing on the wrong things at Christmas? What if there’s a more faithful way to respond to the true and good news of Christmas?
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded that when Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, she was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit, and her unborn baby leaped for joy in her womb, leading both women to faithfully respond to the Good News of the coming Messiah.
December 7, 2025
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Luke 1:26-38
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christmas
Like Mary, many of us struggle to understand that God wants to do something significant in our lives. We look at our resumes, our past mistakes, or our current limitations, and we think, “God couldn’t possibly use me. I’m nothing special.” We tend to think God’s favor is something we have to earn, achieve, or qualify for. We need to know today that God’s activity in our lives isn’t based on our performance, but on His unmerited favor. If we miss this, we miss the heart of the Gospel.
Luke’s account shows us a different way. It shows us that God breaks into ordinary history to reveal His extraordinary, unmerited grace to ordinary people.
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded how the angel Gabriel announced God’s gracious favor to Mary, revealing the miraculous conception of God’s Son and assuring her through God’s Word and power so that she might respond in faithful submission.
December 22, 2024
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Luke 2:1-20
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christmas
The gift of gold points to Christ as King. The gift of frankincense points to His divinity and priestly work. So what does the gift of myrrh point to? It points to the cross. The gift of myrrh points to Christ as Savior!
In the Gospel of Luke, he recorded the shepherd’s faithful response to the good news that Christ the Savior had been born. We too can faithfully respond to the good news about Christ the Savior has come.
March 24, 2024
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Luke 23:32-46
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Christ, cross
Although Christ entered Jerusalem on a Sunday to adoring crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matt. 21:9), Christ exited Jerusalem on a Friday to an angry crowd shaking their fists and yelling, “Crucify him!” The crowds in Jerusalem were divided in their response to Jesus. They had different views of Jesus and took different sides. The message of Christ and His cross still divides people today. It still calls people to choose sides.
You and I weren’t in Jerusalem when Jesus made his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday 2,000 years ago. Nor were we there when He was hung on a cross between two criminals. We may not have been there, but the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross calls all of us to answer: “Which side of the cross are you on?”
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded that Jesus was crucified between two criminals, one on the right side and one on the left side. They were both criminals facing death, both seeing and hearing how Jesus faced death. Yet they chose different views of the cross of Christ. They chose different sides. We are faced with the same choice. Which side of the cross will you choose?
December 24, 2022
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Luke 2:1-14
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christmas
Everyone loves a story. And the best stories are worth telling over and over again.
What story are you telling yourself this Christmas. Is it a story about your past? Past mistakes you’ve made? Past hurts you’ve experienced? Or maybe it’s today’s story? So many of us get discouraged and even depressed at this time of year. Maybe there’ll be an empty seat at the Christmas dinner table this year? You’ve lost a loved one and Christmas won’t be the same? Or maybe it’s because we’re telling ourselves the wrong story. What if there’s a better story? In Luke’s gospel, an angel of the Lord invited the shepherds to come and be part of Christ’s story. The Lord still invites us to be part of Christ’s story.
December 19, 2021
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Luke 2:1-20
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christmas
Don’t you feel the tug towards something more simple? The Christmas season has become so chaotic and busy. Don’t you long for less chaos and more meaning? Something less fleeting and more lasting? Don’t you think Christians ought to know how to celebrate Christmas best? It seems that the world should be at our door at this season, but we’ve lost our distinctiveness. We’ve joined the world’s celebration instead of inviting them to ours.
Let’s go against the consumer Christmas culture this year by focusing less on giving presents and more on being present. Let’s get back to the simple story about Jesus.
December 12, 2021
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Luke 1:26-38
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christmas
Every invitation deserves an RSVP, a response. Christmas invites us to respond to this word: the Son of God, the Savior, Christ Jesus has come. And He is coming again. This is what we mean when we speak of this Christmas season, this season of Advent. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” Advent speaks of the incarnation and the return of Christ Jesus. He has appeared and will appear again.
How will you respond? People respond in different ways. Some come to faith immediately. Some reject believing outright. Some go through a long season of searching and stumbling before finally believing, while still others remain skeptical or even apathetic their whole lives. Don’t you wish you knew how to respond?
Let’s look at the story of Mary’s simple response of faith to God’s Word to consider our response.
February 21, 2021
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Luke 15:11-32
This week we’re inspired by the song, “Desparado” by The Eagles.
Have you come to your senses? Or are you still out there hiding behind your fences? Have you opened the gate to let somebody love you? You might’ve been hurt and now you’re afraid to open up your heart again. Or you’ve been looking for the perfect relationship and so judgmental of others, that no one measures up. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus told a parable about a man who had two sons who had not yet understood their father’s gracious love for them.
January 17, 2021
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Luke 16:1-13
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finances, financial stewardship
Do you run out of money before you run out of month? Do you get anxious about your debts, how you will pay them? As Ben Franklin said, “He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.” Are you experiencing the sorrow of out of control spending and indebtedness?
Wouldn’t you like to know how to manage your finances, so that you are able to get out of debt, meet your families needs and be more generous with God and others? In the book of Luke, Jesus taught his disciples a parable to illustrate how to wisely manage money and possessions with an eternal perspective. We can wisely manage our money and possessions with an eternal perspective.