Jesus encourages those who put their faith in him to follow Paul’s example in lifelong spiritual growth. Surprisingly, the reasons we are given aren’t so much about us and the personal benefits of a growing faith. The reasons we have to grow are all about our God and about those who need him. Two additional readings to go alongside these verses are Jeremiah 26:8-15 and Luke 13:31-35.

When presenting our requests to Jesus, we always pray, “Not our will, but your will be done.” Why? It’s simple. We don’t know what’s best for us, but Jesus does. Two additional reading that contain this theme are Isaiah 62:1-5 and Ephesians 3:14-21.

The only reason Mary claims she will be called blessed is because of what the Lord did for her. Humble and lowly though she was, the Lord lifted her to a place of prominence in salvation history. He still lifts the lowly today. Therefore, we praise him. Two additional readings that contain this theme are Micah 5:2-5a and Hebrews 10:5-10.

This short Christmas message is based on John chapter one. At Christmas, we celebrate the Word made flesh. We treat every day like Christmas by embracing the Word in our daily life.

The star was God’s chosen method to guide the wisemen to the place they needed to be. The Bible is God’s chosen method to guide us to where we need to be. To additional readings that contain this theme are 1 Kings 10:1-9 and Acts 13:46-49.

Who am I? All the ways we answer this question make up our identity. Christ gives us a solid place to stand when parts of our identity crumble away: our baptism. To additional readings that contain this theme are 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Luke 3:15-17,21-22.

Those who look for love need look no further than Christ’s manger, Christ’s cross, or the heart that Christ has made his home. Two additional readings that contain this theme are Luke 2:1-20 and Isaiah 9:2-7.

Isaiah 25:6-9 – Christians know that we are but strangers here on earth, and heaven is our eternal home. This All Saint’s Day sermon expresses both our longing to go home to heaven where we belong and our patience to go home when God’s ready. Two additional readings that pair well with these verses are Revelation 20:4-6 and John 11:32-44.