Grace and Peace

Advent not only counts down to our celebration's of Christ first arrival, away in a manger; we also anticipate Christ's second arrival. When the sun and moon stop shining, when the lights go out—that is when the Messiah arrives.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Holding Darkness Like Light" on December 8, 2019, the second Sunday of Advent, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Psalm 18:1-19 and Matthew 24:29-35.

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Dreams, prophecies, babies—these are hardly solid signs of salvation. Yet this is exactly how God comes to us to save us from fear and sin.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Holding Fear Like a Baby" on December 1, 2019, the first Sunday of Advent, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 7:1, 10-17 & Matthew 1:18-25.

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On the Sunday when the Church acclaims Jesus as king, the cross might be the last place we'd look for a picture of his reign. What do we do about a Savior who does not save himself? Or, more importantly, what does he do for us, who desperately want to save ourselves?

Pastor Ben Masters preached "A Savior who Does Not Save Himself" on November 24, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Jeremiah 23:1-8 and Luke 23:33-43.

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For those grafted into God's covenant people, eternal life isn't in question. The question is: What are you going to do with this life? Jesus invites us to learn the steps in the dance of grace, a dance which God has always led for us.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Joining the Dance of Grace" on November 17, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Amos 5:4-15 & Luke 18:18-30.

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Jesus urges his disciples to pray with audacity, assuring us that God meets us in our struggles. This All Saints' Sunday, we give thanks for the people in whose messy lives God's light has shone.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "The Saints who Struggle" on November 3, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Genesis 32:22-32 & Luke 18:1-8.

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B.N. We're sorry for the sound quality. Next week we'll have it fixed!

"When the world is sick can't no one be well, but I dreamt we was all beautiful and strong." Mercy meets us in that place where we can't imagine anything beyond our sickness and shame. Even more, mercy promises us that wholeness isn't just a dream: the God of mercy is moving in our lives to make things right.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "When the World Is Sick" on October 27, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 17-21; Luke 18:9-14.

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There's nothing new under the sun. Pointless—everything is perfectly pointless! To our our weary hearts, Jesus invites us into the path of discipleship: "Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Follow me."

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Weary of Pointlessness, Blessed with Discipleship" on October 20, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 and John 21:1-19.

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What situations do you think are inevitable? The growing gap between the richest and poorest? The uncrossable chasm between Heaven and Hell? Beyond what we conceive as imaginable, Christ Jesus waits to bless us with a holy yearning.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Weary of Complacency, Blessed with Restlessness" on October 13, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 & Luke 16:19-31.

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We often tell the story of Thomas' doubt, but what about his heartbreak? What about our bruised and broken hearts? With Thomas we learn this persistent and passionate truth: Jesus comes back for us, to place his hands on our wounds.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Weary of Hurt, Blessed with Healing" on October 6, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 and John 20:19-31.

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Anxiety: it whines in our ears, "Things will never change"; it draws over our pencil-sketch thoughts with permanent marker.  But stronger than anxiety's power over mind and body is the gentleness of God and God's invitation to vulnerability, action, and peace.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Weary of Anxiety, Blessed with Peace" on September 29, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 & Philippians 4:1, 4-9

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