Advent Series - The Magnificat

This passage is known as the Magnificat because it is Mary's song that magnifies the Lord.  After realizing and embracing who Jesus is and what He's done for her, she responds with this song of exaltation to the Lord.  It's so easy for us to lose the significance of Jesus' birth and to take for granted who He is and what He's done for us.  My prayer is that through this Magnificat we'll come to embrace once again who Jesus is and what He's done for us so that we can respond with our own Magnificat.  

Passage: Luke 1:46-49

Advent Series - Jesus Messiah

Mark 1:1~3
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER  AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3  THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”
 

Walk With Me (Cloud by Day Fire by Night)

In times of change and challenges, there is nothing more assuring that the presence of our God.
As the Israelites left Egypt with the promise of freedom and a new land, God made sure that
they would know that they were never alone. In the same way, God marks our paths with His
living presence—though we may not know where we are, we always know whom we are with.

Passage: Exodus 13:17-22

Thanksgiving Sermon - Beyond THX

Hebrews 13:15-16

Summary:

It's that time of the year again, the season of Thanksgiving.  And yet another annual sermon about Thanksgiving and how we should set aside some time this week to say thanks to God.  But, this year I will like to share a quite different message.  Yes, we should set apart time to give thanks to God.  Yes, it's another Thanksgiving message. This time around I will like for us to see a different angle on our thanksgiving to God.  I will like to point out that our gratitude to God should have greater meaning than simply saying "thanks". 

Romans Series - Knowing God

Today, we take a very close look into the scheme of salvation.  How much does God know in advance and predetermine and how much does the free will of man affect his salvation?  Do babies go to heaven?  Can salvation be lost?  We engage in some challenging questions of faith (predestination, election, sovereignty,…) as we explore Paul’s writing in chapter 9 of Romans.

Passage: Romans 9:1-5

Romans Series - The Best is Yet to Come

Our minds can shift from longing for absence of suffering toward the full revelation of God’s glory in us.  When we understand that there is a grander scheme that is far beyond ourselves, we should take comfort in knowing that God knows and is in full control over our lives.  In that, we trust in His working while doing our part in loving Him with all that we have.

Passage: Romans 8:26-30

Romans Series - Present Sufferings, Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Romans Series - Abba

 Paul crystalizes His view on justification by introducing another great metaphor—describing the new relationship of the Christian to God as one being adopted into the family of God.  We explore the deep meaning of the passage as we understand the Roman thought of adoption.  Also, we address the difficulty of understanding God as our Father as our relationship with our earthly father is often broken and unhealthy. 

Passage: Romans 8:12-17

I still need the Gospel

We return to the book of Romans after a 3-month hiatus.  In our return to this book, we are reminded of the simple truth of the Gospel—God loves just as we are.  Many are focused on behaving right but we ought to more focused on believing right.  The Good News (Gospel) is not just the basics of Christianity, it is EVERYTHING for Christianity.  God’s grace for us is completely unmerited and we ought not to add value to this perfect gift of God.

Passage: Romans 8:1-4

Impact Series - His Hands, His Feet

Making an impact in our community is not just about planning an event to help those in our community.  Impacting a community is not to be centered on an event or events.  Rather, it should be centered on a mission.  And that mission is to continue the work that Christ has done here on earth.  As Jesus came to point and bridge man to the Father, we are called to point and bridge people to Jesus.  We, as the body of Christ, can accomplish this by being the very hands and feet of Jesus to our community.  Jesus was sent with a mission by the Father, and now Jesus is sending us into our communities to continue that mission. 

Passage: John 20:19-23