Focusing on Luke 3:21-4:13, Jesus begins His ministry by submitted to baptism by His predecessor, John. Jesus' identity is majestically confirmed by the presence of the Spirit and the voice of the Father booming affirmation from the heavens: You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased! We are each His beloved children as well, just as affirmed and blessed as part of the family (of which His Spirit is a seal upon us). Jesus goes straight into temptation - a pattern of the enemy's, coming after us when we've had a mountaintop experience. Jesus shows us the way to parry the temptations sent our way by being centered in our identity in God and knowledge of His word.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The ministry of John the Baptist fulfills prophecies made about him by Isaiah and Gabriel, and as he calls the people to repent and be baptized, we are called to do the same, and if we've already done so, it's time to renew our commitments to the King. Luke 3:1-20.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We begin a series on the Gospel of Luke today, whose first sentence states he will summarize "the things that have been fulfilled among us," in a far reaching work that begins with Gabriel's visit to Zechariah in the temple predicting the birth of John the Baptist through to the gospel being taken to all the known world at the end of the Book of Acts, the companion volume to Luke's gospel. Luke devotes his introductory first two chapters to Jesus' birth, and we look briefly today at Luke 2:22-40 and its themes of waiting and promise fulfillment.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The mercies of God are new every morning, and each day offers us a fresh start in Him. God is in the business of making all things new, including us, and He reminds us today of the moment when everything changed.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We focus today on the convergence of multiple themes around the visit of the wise men to the Christchild. In looking at that story today (in Matthew 2:1-12), we focus on two prime lessons: they represent all of us as OUTSIDERS being welcomed into the family of God. And Matthew holds two kings up to us to ask which one we follow: the Heroes of the world, or the Christ in a humble manger?

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

One of the dangers of telling the Christmas story (or Easter, or how your grandparents walked from home to school uphill both ways...) as often as we do is that the stunning, mind-blowing aspects of God becoming human - and all that that means - can become ordinary and unremarkable. In this message we ask John in his prologue (John 1:1-14) and Paul in his use of an ancient Christian hymn (Phil 2:5-11) to help refresh our wonder.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The good news of Jesus begins with four humans and one angel: Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, and Gabriel. The angel startles the humans with news of God’s upcoming action in and through their lives. Their different reactions are patterns for us to follow - or avoid - as we walk in their steps. None of them are of great import in their world. In fact they are decidedly ordinary. If God can use them to transform the universe, He can certainly move His plan through us. *If* we walk in their steps of willingness and walking in His promises.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

On this third Sunday of Advent we hear from someone intimately acquainted with the early goings-on associated with the Incarnation.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.