Prepare Ye The Way: Who? – Sermon, Dec. 12, 2010
“Prepare Ye The Way: Who?”
Matthew 11:2-11
This year in Advent our theme is “Prepare ye the way!” Throughout Advent we’re looking at some questions as to why it is important to prepare the way. The first week of Advent we looked at “when?” When will Jesus be coming? Unfortunately we don’t know that answer, Jesus doesn’t tell us when he will return. But what we did learn as that we always need to be ready. We built on the boy scout and girl guide mottos, “Be prepared.” If we are always ready, the ‘when’ doesn’t really matter anymore.
Last week we talked about “why?” Why is it important to be ready? Why does it really matter if we’re ready? We looked at the words from John the Baptist as he baptized people in the river and told them the Messiah is on the way, the one who will gather the good fruit of the harvest and the rest will burn in the unquenchable fire. Why is it important? Because Jesus is coming to gather his people to join him in God’s glorious kingdom, and we want to be there because the warnings of not being there don’t sound very pleasant at all.
This week we look at the question “Who?” read more…
Prepare Ye The Way: Why? – Sermon Dec. 5, 2010
“Prepare Ye The Way: Why?”
Matthew 3:1-12
Last week, as we prepared for the ‘when’ of Jesus’ return, we talked about the need to be ready. How we need to prepare ourselves and be ready for his return, which could come at any time. This is what Advent is about. It is a time of preparation, a time to ready ourselves as we get ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
To be ready, we need to know where Jesus is in our lives. We need to know where we need to grow in our faith and learn to get even closer to our God who loves us more than we will ever know. If we are ready, then it really doesn’t matter when he’s coming, because we are already prepared. Each day can be a life lived in the presence of God when we seek to be His children.
This week we’ll look at why this is important. Why is it important to recognize Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives? read more…
The ‘Unfuneral’
What do you do when you are asked to be with a family who want some sort of recognition or ritual when a loved one has passed away? You plan a funeral or memorial service, right?
But what if that family was deeply hurt by the church 20 years ago at the most vulnerable time in their lives? What if members of that family reject the notion of of anything that resembles a traditional service of remembrance due to the pain and emotion still felt because of the way the church treated them in the past? read more…
Prepare Ye The Way: When – Sermon, Nov 28, 2010
“Prepare Ye The Way: When?”
Matthew 24:36-44
I love the season of Advent. It’s a time to get ready. Sure there’s the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas, but there’s also the excitement building for the celebration that is coming. For me, it all builds up to that special night. The night we all gather here in this place and rejoice and celebrate the real reason behind all that is going on. Christmas Eve is often our most powerful, meaningful, emotional service of the year. It’s a service of joy and peacefulness around what happened in a countryside stable.
We now know we have less than 30 days before it comes. Some of us are organized, and there are lists of things that need to be done. The calendar might be filling up with all the extra events that tend to happen this time of year. The shopping days, the parties, the dinners, the rehearsals, the concerts, the extra services, the family gatherings. Christmas Eve will be here before we know it. This month, like the rest of the year, will pass faster than we expect it will. We’ll come into the last few days, wondering how we will ever get it all done. But in the end, does it really matter? read more…
What Do We Mean By God?
(I originally posted this on http://cruxifusion.ca)
This past month some different lines of thought answering the question “What do we mean by God?” was published in a small, but national church magazine.
As I read through the responses, I found myself asking the question, “How does this represent what we read in the Bible?” A few of them, I had to confess, did not resemble anything I learn about God when I read scripture. read more…