When was the last time you were surprised? Truly, knock-you-off-your-feet surprised? In today’s internet age of global, instant communication, perhaps we’re a bit jaded. We have heard so much from so many different places that something has to be incredibly touching or disturbing to get through because otherwise, nothing is all that surprising anymore. We experience so many different things second-hand that are outside of our personal bubble through social media and other sources, even if the truthfulness might often be suspect.
"Are You Sure?" (Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11) | December 14, 2025
Have you ever been incredibly certain of a reality in your life or a fact about the world around you, only to have that truth shot down in an instant? Maybe it was something pretty low stakes like learning someone doesn’t like some kind of food that you thought they loved. Maybe it was being certain that something was true, until a teacher in school pointed you to sources that questioned that reality of that. Maybe it was something much more troubling, such as someone keeping a secret from you that changed how you saw them or how you felt you could trust them.
"Wait for the Lord" (Sermon on Psalm 130) | December 7, 2025
Almost every parent of small children knows that this time of year can be taxing. Sure, there’s a lot to do, so many tasks to check off the list, but often for the children, there’s one thing and one thing only in view: those Christmas presents. I know that in my own childhood, I was continually looking for ways to convince my parents to make early Christmas presents a thing because it was tough to wait. That rarely went very far, despite the great reasons I had for implementing something!
"Live for Later, Not for Now" (Sermon on Isaiah 2:1-5) | November 30, 2025
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” I’m not really sure how much truth there is in that in corporate America, though I can see an argument for self-respect in it. I know even less of what that means in Silicon Valley when often people that are worth more than the GDP of some nations typically wear jeans, tshirts and hooded sweatshirts, but there is a kernel of something that I think is worth focusing on: you want to plan for the future; you want to think ahead; you don’t want to just be stuck spinning your tires here hoping things change instead of making those changes happen.
"Repentance Produces Joyful Fruit" (Sermon on Luke 3:7-18) | December 15, 2024
When young children are first being introduced to the idea of receiving gifts, what do parents often have to instill in them? Showing their thanks. Now, that doesn’t mean they aren’t thankful or appreciating for a present or other kind gestures, but a parent will help the child learn how to express that to the gift-giver. Are you thankful? Say, “Thank you!” For children (or even some adults), this concept can be a bit of a foreign one, and it’s only with modeling and direction that it starts to become ingrained and automatic (though, hopefully not thoughtless) to thank the person giving you something or who has done something kind for you.
"My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord" (Sermon on Luke 1:39-55) | December 22, 2024
Well, we’ve reached it. The Fourth Sunday in Advent, the last Sunday before Christmas, finally has a Christmas feel to it. It’s still Advent; we’re still firmly in the preparation phase, but with readings focused not on the end, not on John the Baptist’s ministry, but firmly on prophecy of the Savior’s birth and reaction to the upcoming arrival of the Savior. We’re almost there; the preparations are nearly complete.
"The Days Are Coming!" (Sermon on Jeremiah 33:14-16) | December 1, 2024
The days are coming! How many until Christmas? I’m sure you could ask most of the children and they could give you an exact number. The rest of us could probably do the math, but perhaps we don’t want to think about that just yet. There’s so much to do to prepare—planning, decorating, cooking, emotionally centering ourselves. It’s a lot. But unless the Lord returns before December 25, it will be here. That day is, in fact, coming!
