Second Sunday of Advent-Peace: Isaiah 11:1-10 & Romans 15:1-13 — “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9). We are called to be peacemakers. Peace is possible because the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, came and made peace possible.
Read MoreFirst Sunday of Advent-Hope: Isaiah 1-2 — God is real! Jesus is real! He came, and he is coming back! Really, he is! So we must keep watching! Keep hoping! So that we are ready to stand before him when he comes.
Read MoreGod’s people are a people who are sent and are sending. We learned last week that God sends us into the world as agents of his salvation. And God sends us into the world as messengers of his Word. It became clear that our God is a sending God. This morning we will explore this more by looking at how this sending is the work of the Holy Trinity. Then we will look at how and for what Jesus sends us into the world. Lastly, we see how we are to send others.
Read MoreIn our last sermons we learned that God’s people are a people who bear witness to the only true living God. And we are a people who proclaim the gospel of Christ. Today, and next week, we will see that God’s people are a people who are sent and who send. Sent and send to witness and proclaim.
Read MoreJesus is God reigning. Jesus is God returning. Jesus is God redeeming. In Jesus God’s kingdom has come into the world, into human history. God’s kingdom is here! We must proclaim that our God reigns. We must proclaim that Jesus is Lord and Savior!
Read MoreGod’s people are a people who proclaim the gospel of Christ. The gospel is good news. But what is this good news? The word gospel “is one of those words that is so basic, so fundamental to [the Christian faith] that it can be taken for granted” – Dickson
Read MoreLast week we learned that God’s people bear witness to the living God. God called Israel, and told them, “You are my witnesses!” God tells us today, “You are my witnesses!” “You are my servant!” God calls us to be witnessing servants. But how can this be? How can a disobedient, sinful people be God’s witnesses and servants? Only God can do this! Only God’s miraculous love, grace, and saving power can change blind, deaf, and lying people into witnessing servants.
Read MoreLast week we learned that as God’s people we know the one living God and Savior. We have seen and experienced God. We know that there is no other God, no other Savior, and no other Lord. And because we know there is no other, we cannot help but speak about, and tell the world about him. We, who know God, are called to make God known. God’s people, we, bear witness to the living God. As he told Israel, and as Jesus told his disciples, God tells us — You are my witnesses!
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