by Rev. Bill Garrison

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warns the disciples of false messiahs and prophesies the end of the Old Covenant order with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, which is the sign that the risen Christ had ascended and rules at the right hand of the Father. 

Jesus performs His first miracle with an eye toward his hour that was to come, where the Father would glorify the Son, and the blood of the lamb would be shed to provide new wine for those who are in Christ. 

Matthew 2:1-23

Herod the Great foolishly seeks to thwart a cosmic conspiracy against his claim to the throne of Israel. The priests and experts of the law have no interest in the Messiah born in Bethlehem. And the Magi travel from afar to bow before the Jesus and offer him gifts that point to his mission to atone for the sins of man.

John 1, Hebrews 1, and Plato's Cave Allegory

For this Third Sunday in Advent, our sermon texts come from I Corinthians 4:1-5 and Matthew 11:2-19.

Rev. Bill Garrison

I. The serious of God's judgment of sin

In 2 Kings 5, we read the story of the Syrian commander, Naaman, who is healed by Elisha. Grace comes to Naaman from the word of a captive slave girl. Naaman receives the grace of God's healing only when he bends the knee dips in the Jordan. Naaman learns that God's grace is not for sale.

In this sermon, we look at the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman and consider I. Generosity, the Source of God's Provision; II Life, the Reward of Faithful Service; and III Death, the Backdrop of Joyous Resurrection.