Sermons from December 2017
Not What We Expected
In this special Holiday edition of the podcast, John covers the nativity and what the birth of Christ means to us!
When we picture the birth of Jesus, we look back to the familiar scenes that adorn Christmas cards and lawn decorations. It’s depicted as serene and almost sterile. Historically we know this wasn’t so. The King of all Creation was born into this world in a dirty, drafty, smelly barn essentially. His crib was a container for feeding cattle. Is this what you would have expected from the birth of our God? Probably not.
God so often does things in a VERY unexpected, but more effective way than what we would do.
Learning to Listen
When you are conversing with someone, do you listen or do you just wait to speak? Everyone wants to give their opinions or advice. We are so quick to speak and do so without thinking about what we are actually saying. This can be seen in political commentary shows on the networks regularly.
This week John speaks on the other half of the art of conversation: listening. We have forgotten how to listen. The Word has much to say on this subject. So keep your ears open!
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
This week we had one of our “Friends and Family” days at Newland Street. Appropriately enough Richard talked about the resurrection of Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus. He speaks about how, as friends, we connect and bond. We trust our friends implicitly. Having a friend such as Jesus has much deeper implications and a more profound affect on our lives.
Soul Food
When we think of soul food, we think of mac and cheese, creamed spinach maybe, chicken fried steak; all the kinds of fair that put southern cooking on the map. But what Jesus is talking about in this week’s lesson, and what John is delving into, is true soul food. A kind of food that sustains salvation and eternal life.
