In Gospel of Luke 4:1–13, Jesus—the Second Adam—faces temptation at His weakest point, defeating our greatest enemy, Satan.  Where Adam, Israel, and every one of us have failed, Jesus trusts God’s Word instead of bread, power, or safety from suffering. This isn’t just a model for resisting temptation, it’s the announcement that our Victorious Warrior has won in our place. Stop fighting alone, run to Christ, and stand in the strength of the One who conquered for you.

Jesus declares, “I am the Light of the World,” and in John 9 that light breaks into darkness in a breathtaking way. For the only time in all of Scripture, a man born blind receives his sight—a powerful, unmistakable sign of the Messiah at work. Yet even more startling than the miracle is the response: the religious leaders, staring directly at the Light, remain spiritually blind. That tension presses the question onto every one of us—are we still in darkness, or has Jesus opened our eyes to truly see?

John 9:1-41

Luke describes for us an encounter between Jesus and an unexpected outsider, a Roman centurion. This Centurion displays unexpected faith and humility, trusting fully in the authority of Jesus while recognizing his own unworthiness. Jesus marvels at this faith! Luke’s account shows that God’s grace is not earned by privilege or religious status but is unleashed through humble trust.

Jesus is on a mission to save the world. He will accomplish our salvation on his own, yet he invites people to participate in this mission. Peter becomes a classic example of one who is called out of his normal life of fishing into a new life of fishing for men. Whenever we encounter Jesus, we will be exposed to his holiness which reveals our sinfulness. The amazing truth is that Jesus does not turn from us but calls us to participate in his work of saving humanity.  

We were created to walk closely with God, and then fill the earth with His glory! When we put our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven, counted as righteous, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and adopted into God's family. This allows us to draw close to Him, become more like Him, and then take Him into the world through the way we live our lives.

As a new year begins, many of us set goals for growth, discipline, and change—but what if we’re aiming at the wrong thing? In this message from Luke 19, we look at Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus and discover the difference between being curious about Jesus and truly knowing Him. Zacchaeus moves from watching Jesus at a distance to being known by Jesus—and that relationship changes everything. Jesus later defines this kind of relationship as “eternal life” (John 17:3). This sermon invites us to begin the year with the right aim: not doing more for God, but knowing God deeply and personally through Jesus Christ. 

Everyone longs for peace in their hearts and in the world. Christmas provides the opportunity for us to reflect on the promise of peace that God provides for us. Christmas is a time to reflect on God’s work "for us." “For to us” a child is born, “to us” a son is given. God provided the greatest gift the world wasn’t looking for. Jesus Christ was God in human form, who brought us peace with God as he died for our sins and rose again the third day. When Jesus returns again, he will also bring ultimate Joy, Rest, Victory, and Peace. 

Everyone must choose a way to live. In Isaiah 8-9:2, Isaiah contrasts two paths, the way of darkness and the way of light. He describes what characterizes these two paths. The way of darkness is characterized by discontentment, disdain, detachment, despair, and a drivenness to save one's self. The way of light is characterized as a life lived in the presence of God, sustained by the transcendence of God, a life at rest in the safety of God, and hopeful in a future with God. This way of light and life is offered by the grace of God. Which path will you choose to walk in? 

Isaiah 8:5-9:2

We all deal with worry, and God’s Word tells us that worry has the potential to choke out our spiritual lives. So how do we deal with it? Today’s passage shows us how to relieve our worries and replace our worries.