A suffering man beside the pool of Bethsaida expected healing to look a certain way, so much that he had no way to anticipate the healing Jesus offered. The truth that ashes tell at the beginning of Lent is similarly surprising and healing.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "The Truth that Ashes Tell" on February 26, 2020, Ash Wednesday at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 57:14-21 & John 5:1-13

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Before we leave the Sermon on the Mount and enter the journey of Lent, Jesus has one last challenge for us. It's the hardest one yet: "Love your enemies." But, lest we lose heart, the prophet Elisha demonstrates one out-of-the-box way to live this kingdom-of-heaven kind of love.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Victory Is Ours" on February 16, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: 2 Kings 6:8-23 & Matthew 5:38-48.

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In his sermon on the mountain about life in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus challenges his disciples to consider their relationships with other people—especially the people who are easy to judge. But what is never in question is God's relationship to us: covenant-maker, merciful, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Other People" on February 9, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 and Matthew 5:21-37

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Teaching about the ways of Christian life leads to baptism and flows from it. Jesus continues to instruct disciples in his sermon on the mountain about life in the kingdom of heaven, calling them (and us) salt and light for the world.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "You Are Salt" on February 2, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 49:1-6 & Matthew 5:13-20.

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Teaching about the ways of Christian life leads to baptism and flows from it, and in the first portion of Jesus' sermon on the mount we receive our first lesson about life in the kingdom of heaven: who is worthy of honor.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Blessed Are You" on January 26, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Micah 6:1-8 and Matthew 4:23-5:12

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"I can't do this!" The prophet Jonah knows our doubts and fears. But as Jesus reminds the four fishermen he calls in Capernaum, the Lord's promise is never separate from the Lord's command. "Come, follow me," Jesus says, "because I will show you the way. I can do this."

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Command & Promise" on January 19, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Jonah 1:1-12, 15,17 & Matthew 4:12-22

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When Jesus is baptized, he affirms his core identity: God's beloved child. No other fact about his life is more true that this, and no other fact about our lives is more true than the identity God gives us.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Beginning Beloved" at Hector Presbyterian Church on January 12, 2020.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 42:1-9 & Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17.

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In Jesus Christ, the secret plan of God have been revealed—all nations will be gathered into the promise! But that plan means that life won't go according to our plans.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Readjusting Our Plans" at Hector Presbyterian Church on January 5, 2020, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 and Ephesians 3 (yep, all 21 verses!)

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During the season of Advent, God met us in our fears and uncertainty. On this holy night,  we remember God’s presence in the dark: creating, listening, speaking, and hallowing our lives. Christ comes into that darkness as Emmanuel, God-with-us, to serve and to save.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Joyful is the Dark" at Hector Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve).

Scripture readings: 

• Genesis 1:1-5, 14-1 (God creates night and day)
• Psalms 130 & 131 (Crying for redemption in the dark night of the soul)
• Joel 2:1-13 (The dark day of the Lord approaches)
• Isaiah 9:2-7 (God’s light shines on people overshadowed with oppression)
• Matthew 1:18-24 (An angel speaks to Joseph in a dream)
• Luke 2:1-7 (The Creator is born in Bethlehem)
• Luke 2:8-20 (Angels light up the night sky)
• Matthew 2:1-12 (A star guides the way for seekers)
• Philippians 2:1-11 (Christ emptied himself in service)                  

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December is a noisy month, full of caroling, chatter, and the drone of commerce. Yet in the last few days of Advent, we can sense that God is doing something special in moments of stillness and silence: preparing us to participate in the work of transformation.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Holding Silence" on December 22, 2019, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 30:12-18 & Romans 8:18-27.

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Note: While Hector Presbyterian Church invited our Sunday School students to lead worship on December 15 (Advent 3), Pastor Ben preached the third installment in our four-part Advent series at partner congregation Lodi Presbyterian Church. "Holding Space for a Question" was not recorded, but you can download the sermon transcript.