Matthew 2:1-18; The first two individuals we investigated from the Scripture narrative who were greatly influenced by the coming of Jesus as Immanuel were Saul/Paul and John the Baptist. The third were a group of Gentile astronomers from near East who observed a special star over Judah in Israel and pointed to the prophesy of […]

Matthew 3:1-12; Last week we unpacked the teaching of Paul from Galatians 4 on the purpose of the coming of Jesus as Messiah, “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law“. However the prophet Isaiah foretold the return […]

Galatians 4:4-7; In his letter to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul outlines the foundational basis for Christians to celebrate Christmas. While elaborating upon the nature of being an heir under the Mosaic law, he notes that “God sent his Son” at the precise time in human history for the purpose of making believers into […]

Select gospel passages: Mother’s Day is a commemoration of the sacrifice and care our mothers selflessly invested to raise us as Christ following adults. Our focus today is an overview of the bibilical references of Mary, the special lady that God chose to bear His Son.

John 20:17-31: John continues his characteristic focus upon people who interacted with Jesus through the end of his gospel account. Mary Magdalene’s devotion to Christ allowed her to be the first withness of the Resurrection, then she is sent to inform the fearful disciples hiding in Jerusalem. Jesus appears through locked doors to commisson the […]

Passages from John 11-20; John’s gospel is uniquely personal and focused on the actions of people encountered by Jesus. We start with the Pharisees just prior to the Triumphal Entry at the beginning of Passion Week and trace the interactions of key individuals on the way to the cross…..the burial….and empty tomb.

Mark 11:1-7; John 12:12-19: The arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem just prior to Passover during the third year of His ministry was very special. Rather than walk into Israel’s capital city as another religious pilgrim celebrating the festival, He rode into town to the cries of “Hosana! Blessed is he who comes in the name […]

II Corinthians 4:7-18; With the arrival of covid and the ripple effect that transpired, life has been anything but normal the past two years. However we are not the only generation to face physical, emotional and spiritual difficulties. The Apostle Paul regularly faced rejection and threats against his life as he shared the gospel of […]

Luke 2:21-35;Advent 2021 concludes in the NT with Joseph and Mary having the Christ-child circumcised on the 8th day in Bethlehem. Then they traveled to Jerusalem to consecrate Him to the Lord at the temple, according to the Law of Moses. The Holy Spirit promted an older man named Simeon to pray over and bless […]

Psalm 89:19-21; Our Advent focus remained in the book of Psalms for the annual Christmas message. Ethan the Ezrahite, the writer of Psalm 89, was calling out to Yahweh-God to remember His covenant promises to David for a warrior king to deliver Israel from peril. There are messianic overtones throughout this special passage that point […]