Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Christmas
Call Him By His Name #8: Everlasting Father: The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Call Him By His Name #7: Mighty God: It Would Take A Jesus To Invent A Jesus
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Call Him By His Name #6: Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
The Story We Thought We Knew #6: The Family We Love To Know
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The Family We Love To Know Luke 2:25-40Pray with me, please. Give me Jesus,...
The Story We Thought We Knew #4: The Wise Men We Ought To Know
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The Wise Men We Ought To Know Matthew 2:1-12I wish to read for you from the...
The Story We Thought We Knew #3: The King We Wish We Never Knew
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The King We Wish We Never Knew December 15, 2013 | Memorial Drive...
The Story We Thought We Knew #2: The Father We Wish We Knew
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The Father We Wish We Knew Matthew 1:18-25I wish to read for you just a...
The Story We Thought We Knew #1: The Story We Should Know
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The Story We Should Know Luke 2:8-20I read for you a portion of the story...
The Best Loved Carol Of Them All
The Best Loved Carol Of Them All Matthew 2:7-12 Today, I wish to tell you the story of the best loved Christmas carol of them all, weaving in its sublime message and meaning. It is a story which will introduce to us seven people: a village priest, a substitute...
Keeping Christmas Holy And Wholly
Keeping Christmas Holy And Wholly Luke 2:1-14 Christmas is more than just a season. Christmas is a time to keep. The things that make Christmas Christmas ought to be true all year round. In the first place, Christmas gives us a new understanding of power. In King...
Christmas Is For Ordinary People
Christmas Is For Ordinary People Luke 1:26-38 Christmas has been, is now, and always will be for ordinary people. In other words, Christmas is for you and for me. When we stop to examine the Christmas story, what strikes home to us is its ordinariness. Christmas came...
The First Family Of Our Faith
The First Family Of Our Faith Matthew 1:18-25 Once upon a time ... in a little town called Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary and a young man named Joseph… Interesting that for all the impact Mary and Joseph ultimately made upon the world, we know so...
Simeon And Anna: No Songs Like The Old Songs
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Simeon And Anna: No Songs Like The Old Songs Luke 2:25-38You know what they say—“There are no songs...
Mary: A Faith Too Important Not To Share
Mary: A Faith Too Important Not To Share Luke 1:26-35Once in a while, there are lines in television commercials which I can’t seem to get out of my mind…Once in a while, there are lines in television commercials which I can’t seem to get out of my mind… For example,...
Joseph: A Star On The Christmas Stage
Joseph: A Star On The Christmas Stage December 4, 2005 | PROVIDENCE Presbyterian Church | Matthew 2:19-23A friend I know set out to try to make Christmas an especially significant faith experience for his family one year. So three weeks before Christmas, he bought a...
Innkeeper: When God Knocks, How Will You Answer?
Innkeeper: When God Knocks, How Will You Answer? Luke 3:1-7 The inn at Bethlehem has become the most famous of all inns—not because of what happened there, but because of something that might have happened, but didn’t. How does the Bible say it? You know the words by...
Christmas Eve: Communion And Reunion
Christmas Eve: Communion And Reunion Luke 2:8-14 I love Christmas . . . I love all that is so beautiful and inspiring about our annual observance of Christmas. I find it fascinating to note that even those who make no profession of faith or no practice of our...
The Story We Thought We Knew: Why Were the Wise Men Wise?
The Story We Thought We Knew: Why Were the Wise Men Wise? Matthew 2:4-12Why were the Wise Men Wise? Good question. The Wise Men have both fascinated and baffled Bible students for centuries. Precisely who they were we do not know. From whence they came we can only...
The Story We Thought We Knew: A Tale of a Terrorist
The Story We Thought We Knew: A Tale of a Terrorist Matthew 2:7-18 Today I wish to tell you a tale of a terrorist... The terrorist to whom I refer is not the odious, hideous Osama bin Laden but the equally odious and hideous King Herod of Biblical times. History...
Why I Believe #3: Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth
Why I Believe In The Incarnation Why I Believe In Angels Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth Why I Believe In Jesus Christ Why I Believe In God Why I Believe The Bible Why I Believe In The Church Why I Believe In Heaven Why I Believe In The Atonement Why I Believe In...
Why I Believe #2: Why I Believe In Angels
Why I Believe In The Incarnation Why I Believe In Angels Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth Why I Believe In Jesus Christ Why I Believe In God Why I Believe The Bible Why I Believe In The Church Why I Believe In Heaven Why I Believe In The Atonement Why I Believe In...
Why I Believe #1: Why I Believe In The Incarnation
Why I Believe In The Incarnation Why I Believe In Angels Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth Why I Believe In Jesus Christ Why I Believe In God Why I Believe The Bible Why I Believe In The Church Why I Believe In Heaven Why I Believe In The Atonement Why I Believe In...
A Prayer for Christmas #5: Obedience Of Mary And Joseph
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: Obedience Of Mary And Joseph Luke 2:1-14Once upon a time… There lived in a little town called Nazareth, a young...
A Prayer for Christmas #4: The Peace Of The Christ Child
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: The Peace Of The Christ Child Luke 2:1-14Nobody loves Christmas more than I do. However, I do feel constrained...
A Prayer for Christmas #3: Perserverance Of The Wise Men
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: Perseverance Of The Wise Men Matthew 2:1-12I suppose that we all get sucked into the frantic rush that is...
A Prayer for Christmas #2: Eagerness Of The Shepherds
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: Eagerness Of The Shepherds Luke 2:15-20It has always seemed to me that God has a special relationship with...
A Prayer for Christmas #1: Joy Of The Angels
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph LUKE 1:26-38Last Christmas, at Westminster Abbey in London, the worshipers gathered there prayed this prayer, May the joy of the...
The Faces and Places of Christmas #4: Jerusalem And The Jealous King
Israel And The Family Tree Nazareth And The Holy Parents Bethlehem And The Wise Men Jerusalem And The Jealous King The Faces and Places of Christmas: Jerusalem And The Jealous King December 24, 2000 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Matthew 2:13-23It has always...
The Faces and Places of Christmas #3: Bethlehem And The Wise Men
Israel And The Family Tree Nazareth And The Holy Parents Bethlehem And The Wise Men Jerusalem And The Jealous King THE FACES AND PLACES OF CHRISTMAS: Bethlehem And The Wise Men Matthew 2:4-12Why were the Wise Men wise? Good question. The Wise Men have both fascinated...
The Faces and Places of Christmas #2: Nazareth and the Holy Parents
Israel And The Family Tree Nazareth And The Holy Parents Bethlehem And The Wise Men Jerusalem And The Jealous King THE FACES AND PLACES OF CHRISTMAS: Nazareth And The Holy Parents Matthew 1:18-25Nazareth was not much of a place. It is not mentioned a single time in...
The Faces and Places of Christmas #1: Israel And The Family Tree
Israel And The Family Tree Nazareth And The Holy Parents Bethlehem And The Wise Men Jerusalem And The Jealous King THE FACES AND PLACES OF CHRISTMAS: Israel And The Family Tree Matthew 1:1-17Call them “skeletons in God’s closet”. I am referring to that long list of...
A Carpenter’s Christmas
A Carpenter's Christmas December 1998 | First Presbyterian Church OrlandoScene 1: Joseph in the workshop This is very awkward for me because I’m not accustomed to standing in front of people and speaking. I am a man who has been known more for my brawn than for my...
Christ Was Born For This
Christ Was Born For This Luke 2:1-20In the Golden Days of the settling of the American West, an old prospector was exploring new territory looking for gold. As he pulled his mule along behind him, he trudged over a rise and suddenly came to an abrupt halt at the very...
Walking With Us In Love
Walking With Us In Love Luke 2:1-7 Familiarity breeds complacency. When William O’Dwyer was serving as the mayor of New York City, he frequently welcomed distinguished visitors to that place. On one occasion he greeted two dignitaries from South America. He asked them...
Anticipating The Joy
Anticipating The Joy Luke 2:8-20It snows in Bethlehem. I know that we do not often think of that as being true; but last year, for example, at just this time of the year they had a seven-inch snowfall in Bethlehem. Because that region stands some 2,000 feet above sea...
Preparing For Peace
Preparing For Peace Luke 1:26-38I believe in angels. Don’t think for a moment that I must have lost touch with reality to dare to stand up here in the enlightened, sophisticated age in which we are living and make what some would regard as an absurd statement. But I...
Waiting In Hope
Waiting In Hope Luke 21:35-36There is a wonderful story that comes out of Swedish folklore about a country doctor who went out to a farmhouse one night where a woman was about to give birth. As the woman went into labor, the doctor asked her husband to assist him by...
Three Men And A Baby
Three Men And A Baby Matthew 2:1-12Just recently, while driving about the city, I was listening to a talk show on the car radio. The subject had to do with space travel. The featured guest on the talk show was a prominent scientist. A listener called in and asked this...
The Night The Angels Sang
The Night The Angels Sang Luke 2:1-20 If you are surprised to find a shepherd from twenty centuries past standing in this place tonight, then be assured that I am much more surprised than you. I never, ever expected to be standing in such a holy place. You see,...
Christmas … For #3: Christmas Faith For The Faithless
Christmas Hope For The Hopeless Christmas Spirit For The Spiritless Christmas Faith For The Faithless Christmas Faith For The Faithless Luke 2:15-20A decade ago, in 1987, I spent the summer studying at the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Israel. It was a...
Christmas … For #2: Christmas Spirit For The Spiritless
Christmas Hope For The Hopeless Christmas Spirit For The Spiritless Christmas Faith For The Faithless Christmas Spirit For The Spiritless John 1:6-16The word “Christmas” and the word “spirit” go together like a first and last name: “Christmas spirit”. We speak so...
Christmas … For #1: Christmas Hope For The Hopeless
Christmas Hope For The Hopeless Christmas Spirit For The Spiritless Christmas Faith For The Faithless Christmas Hope For The Hopeless Isaiah 6:6-9Years ago, when I was in seminary, I worked as an intern in a church where the church custodian was not blessed with an...
No Vacancy
No Vacancy December 24, 1996 | First Presbyterian Church OrlandoMy name is Eliazor Ben Yakkov, but I suppose that's not so very important. The year is 34 A.D. The place, the little town of Bethlehem. That is important. I am an innkeeper. I operate a small hotel...
The Shepherds, Charter Members Of The G.N.T. Club
The Shepherds, Charter Members Of The G.N.T. Club December 24, 1996 | First Presbyterian Church OrlandoDo you know the name Tom Bodette? If you don't recognize the name, you would certainly recognize the voice. He's the fellow who does those home-spun "Motel 6"...
Dreaming Of A Right Christmas
Dreaming Of A Right Christmas Luke 1:26-38A friend of mine who is a psychologist told me recently that he has found the perfect formula for getting through Christmas. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, he said: "You just put your mind in neutral and go where you are...
Starburst In A Time Of Storm
Starburst In A Time Of Storm Luke 2:8-14A friend I know set out to try to make Christmas an especially significant faith experience for his family one year. And so three weeks before Christmas, he bought a manger scene to use in teaching his children the real meaning...
Peace By Piece
Peace By Piece John 3:1-17One of my favorite "Peanuts" comic strips is the one where Lucy decides that her brother, Linus, has got to grow up and learn to live without his security blanket of his. So while Linus is asleep, she slips the blanket out of his hands, takes...
Christmas Contradictions #4: Glory In The Lowly
Victory In The Defeat Light In The Darkness Splendor In The Silence Glory In The Lowly Christmas Contradictions: Glory In The Lowly Luke 2:1-20It has always seemed to me that life is better measured by the breaths we do not take, than by the breaths we do take. In...
Christmas Dreams
Christmas DreamsDecember 24, 1995 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Psychologists are all agreed that we as human beings are shaped by three great driving dreams. We dream of having a sense of belonging, a sense of personal worth, and a sense of ultimate security....
Christmas Contradictions #3: Splendor In The Silence
Victory In The Defeat Light In The Darkness Splendor In The Silence Glory In The Lowly Christmas Contradictions: Splendor In The Silence IsaiahTwo young brothers were sent off to camp for the very first time. After about six days, their parents received a postcard...
Christmas Contradictions #2: Light In The Darkness
Victory In The Defeat Light In The Darkness Splendor In The Silence Glory In The Lowly Christmas Contradictions: Light In The Darkness John 1:1-5If you take a long hard look at the Christmas story, you discover that it is filled with startling contradictions. Because...
Christmas Contradictions #1: Victory In The Defeat
Victory In The Defeat Light In The Darkness Splendor In The Silence Glory In The Lowly Christmas Contradictions: Victory In The Defeat I Corinthians 11:3-26It occurs to me that Christmas is a time of contradictions. There is, most obviously, the contradiction of...
Home For Christmas #5: Some Christmas Memories
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Home For Christmas: Some Christmas MemoriesDecember 24, 1994 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando |...
Home For Christmas #4: When It Is More Blessed To Receive
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Home For Christmas: When It Is More Blessed To Receive Luke 2:15-20I saw a cartoon recently which...
Home For Christmas #2: The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Home For Christmas: The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven Luke 2:8-14You cannot imagine...
Home For Christmas #1: Make Your Heart Christ’s Home
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Home For Christmas: Make Your Heart Christ’s Home John 1:1-5The letter came at Christmas time, tucked...
Nothing’s Over Like Christmas When It’s Over!
Nothing's Over Like Christmas When It’s Over!December 26, 1993 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Matthew 2:13-21I forget who said it, but even if I don’t remember who said it, I do remember what was said: "Nothing is as over as Christmas when it’s over!" I suppose...
The King Who Would Not Wear His Crown!
The King Who Would Not Wear His Crown! I John 4:7-11My name is Melchior....The name literally means "The King of Light" or "The King from the East". You know me from the part I play in the drama of the first Christmas. Of course, I find it ironic that sometimes you...
What Can I Give Him?
What Can I Give Him? Matthew 2:7-12One of the most beloved legends of Christmas is the story of "The Little Drummer Boy." When the Christ-child was born, according to the story, many beautiful gifts were brought to the manger, gifts of great value and splendor. But...
Wise Christmas Gifts
Wise Christmas Gifts Matthew 2:7-12Just recently, I came across an absolutely charming little Christmas story. The story burrowed it’s way down into my heart and gave shape and life to this sermon. It’s a story written by a husband whose wife went Christmas shopping...
Mary: Portrait Of A Powerful Faith
Mary: Portrait Of A Powerful Faith Luke 1:26-35There was one line in the television commercial which I can’t seem to get out of my mind… The commercial to which I refer is the one produced by the Mercedes Benz Automobile Company. It showed a Mercedes Benz being rammed...
Christmas Has Some Wonderful Things To Say To Us
Christmas Has Some Wonderful Things To Say To Us Luke 2:8-14Have you heard the story about the young woman who lived on a large ranch in Texas? She had fallen in love with a local cowboy named Tex. She wanted to get married, but Tex was inexperienced in the world of...
Christmas In The Carols #13: I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas Is The Right Time And The Best Time
Christmas Is The Right Time And The Best Time Galatians 3:26-4:6 Some people say that Christmas is for children. I, for one, will not agree with that. But I think in a special way Christmas is for older people, too. For over the years, one builds up a vast...
Christmas in the Carols #12: Silent Night, Holy Night
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #11: The First Noel
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #10: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #9: Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
The Bible And Bethlehem
The Bible And Bethlehem Matthew 1:18-25 The Bible and Bethlehem go together. We cannot read the Bible or celebrate Christmas without seeing that they are inseparable. Martin Luther rightly described the Bible as "the manger in which Christ is laid." Just as shepherds...
Christmas in the Carols #8: There’s A Song In The Air
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #7: O Come All Ye Faithful
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #6: What Child Is This?
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #5: Away In The Manger
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas – A Time To Keep
Christmas - A Time To Keep Matthew 1:18-25There is something truly beautiful and inspiring about our annual observance of Christmas. Even those who make no profession of faith or practice of religion get caught up in its joyous mood and are made to feel, at least...
Christmas in the Carols #4: O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #3: We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #2: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas In The Carols #1: Joy To The World
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Sounds I Hear At Christmas
Sounds I Hear At Christmas Luke 2:1-7That night in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born, was a night of startling contrasts in the sounds that were heard… There were the sounds out on the hillsides and the sounds in the town; the sounds in the stable and the sounds in...
Following Yonder Star
Following Yonder Star Matthew 2:1-11Perhaps the most uplifting verse in Matthew's telling of the Christmas story is this: "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." Today I would like for us to think together about that star—the Star of...
How Far To Bethlehem?
How Far To Bethlehem? Luke 2:8-16Frances Chesterton has a children's Christmas poem which poses the question: "How far is it to Bethlehem?" If we answered that question literally, we would have to say that Bethlehem is nearly 2000 years and 7000 miles away. But I...
Why Have Christmas At All?
Why Have Christmas At All? John 1:1-14Why have Christmas at all? At first blush, that question seems ridiculous, if not a bit sacrilegious. I mean, who could stop the tidal wave of holiday tradition that swoops over us at this time of the year, even if one were of a...
Christmas Dreams #4: Fulfillment
Embarrassment Banishment Postponement Fulfillment Christmas Dreams: FulfillmentDecember 25, 1988 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Matthew 2:22-23"What kind of preacher do you have?" a man asked an acquaintance. "He is a lighter of lamps in a dark world," came the...
Christmas Dreams #3: Postponement
Embarrassment Banishment Postponement Fulfillment Christmas Dreams: PostponementDecember 18, 1988 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Matthew 2:19-21Think with me about Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, the man most often forgotten at the manger… Just north of...
Christmas Dreams #2: Banishment
Embarrassment Banishment Postponement Fulfillment Christmas Dreams: BanishmentDecember 11, 1988 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Matthew 2:13-16It actually happened in a church I know… A worried mother phoned the church office on the afternoon before the Sunday...
Christmas Dreams #1: Embarrassment
Embarrassment Banishment Postponement Fulfillment Christmas Dreams: Embarrassment Matthew 1:18-25He is, I think, the forgotten figure of the Christmas story. I refer to Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth… Our Christmas cards portray the Babe in Bethlehem, the mother...
Stable Snapshots #4: The Wise Men
The Angels The Shepherds The Innkeeper The Wise Men Stable Snapshots: The Wise Men Matthew 2:1-12He cut a rather dashing figure. No one who saw him ever forgot him. He was darkly handsome, dressed always in the splendid, ornate garb of the Orient, though he himself...
Stable Snapshots #3: The Innkeeper
The Angels The Shepherds The Innkeeper The Wise Men Stable Snapshots: The Innkeeper Luke 2:1-7Dusk was settling down on the Judean hillsides. Stars popped into view one by one in the deep purple sky. The little town of Bethlehem found its homes and its hotels...
Stable Snapshots #2: The Shepherds
The Angels The Shepherds The Innkeeper The Wise Men Stable Snapshots: The Shepherds Luke 2:8-12It snows in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I know that we do not often think of that as being true; but last year, for example, they had several snowfalls there, totaling some...
Stable Snapshots #1: The Angels
The Angels The Shepherds The Innkeeper The Wise Men Stable Snapshots: The Angels Luke 2:13-15(These sermons during the Christmas season are designed to focus our attention not so much upon the principal players in the drama of the First Christmas, but upon the...
A Gift For The God Who Has Everything
A Gift For The God Who Has Everything Micah 6:6-8I do not hesitate to tell you that my mind has trouble with large numbers. For example, I came across a paragraph the other day which was intended to demonstrate how much money one billion dollars is. It suggested that...
Colin And The Christmas Chimes
Colin And The Christmas Chimes Matthew 5:14-16 There was once far up in the highlands of Scotland a wonderful Church. It stood high on a hill overlooking the moors and the glens of the rugged Scottish country-side. Every Sunday, as well as on several days like...
Singing Angels And Dying Children
Singing Angels And Dying Children Matthew 2:7-18If you were to travel to Bethlehem today and stand in Manger Square, you would see two churches sharing a common wall built over the site where Christ was born. If you were to descend the stairs in one of the churches,...
Call Him By His Name #5: This Shall Be A Sign
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Call Him By His Name #4: The Promise Of The Angels
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Call Him By His Name #3: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Call Him By His Name #2: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Call Him By His Name #1: Here Comes The Son!
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...