Luke 2:1-21 | Luke: Good News of Great Reversals | Jim Knauss

The angel’s good news of great joy in the birth of our Lord is perhaps one of the most well-known passages in all of Scripture. It graces our refrigerators in the form of greeting cards, decorates social media walls (and sometimes. . .actual walls), and has even made it into animated cartoon shows as early as 1965! But have we ever considered what the good news is that the angel of Luke 2 is proclaiming? Have we ever thought about why it should drive us to great joy? In Sunday’s sermon from Luke 2:1-21 we will consider these things and look to God’s word and wisdom for the answers.

Luke 1:57-80 | Luke: Good News of Great Reversals | Jim Knauss

Scripture paints a view of God's blessing in terms of providing for, helping, and strengthening us. But what does it mean for us to bless God? Are we providing for, helping, or strengthening him in some way? Is there something he needs from us? Looking at Luke 1:57-80, we turn our focus to one of the greatest examples of blessing God in the form of Zechariah’s Benedictus. This sermon will examine the circumstances surrounding this great song of praise to God and the motivation behind it.

Luke 1:39-56 | Luke: Good News of Great Reversals | Jason Read

The Lord sent Gabriel to tell two women their lives were about to be turned upside down—both will be surprisingly pregnant. These two separate stories are about to come together as one and erupt in joy. Joy in what God is doing for these women. Joy in what God will do through their children. Joy in what God will do in his world. Through Mary’s child, the promised Messiah, the whole world is about to be turned upside down. The story of great reversals comes to light as the exalted Lord humbles himself in order to exalt the humble.

Luke 1:5-38 | Luke: Good News of Great Reversals | Trent Hunter

Luke begins his story of the gospel in 1:5–38 with the stories of four characters and their visits by an angel named Gabriel. We've become familair with these names and encounters but perhaps in a way that takes the shock and awe and even terror out of them. But Luke would have us to ponder the upside down nature of Jesus' good news by way of these surprising first announcements of its coming arrival.

Luke 1:1-4 | Luke: Good News of Great Reversals | Trent Hunter

This sermon from Luke 1:1–4 begins our journey through the third account of the good news of Jesus Christ. Here is a story of great reversals and great joy for all people—which means this is good news for us. In these opening lines, Luke prepares his original audience to read his book. With these opening lines, we prepare to hear this book preached. How should we listen? What should we listen for? What do we hope to gain? Here is a story of great reversals and great joy for all people—which means this is good news for us. May we be a church easily edified by the Word, a church of expository listeners.

Isaiah 56-66 | The Gospel According to Isaiah | Trent Hunter

Isaiah's 55th chapter offered us a feast of rich food without price, forgiveness and fellowship at the cost paid by the Suffering Servant. We might be tempted to think that Isaiah should be done at that point. What more is there to offer? What more is there to give? Apparently at least eleven more chapters. And this is good news, for God sent his Servant to suffer and rise for more than our forgiveness but for our complete transformation. In this final section of Isaiah's prophecy, chapters 56–66, we see how great a transformation our Lord has in mind, not only of his people but of the entire cosmos.

Genesis 1-2 | Joe Rigney

So which is it: Only desire God? Or enjoy everything God richly provides? Count everything as rubbish? Or receive everything with thanksgiving? Set your mind on things above? Or enjoy the good and perfect gifts that have come down from above? This is not just a tension in your life; it’s a tension in the Bible. In this sermon from Genesis 1–2, Joe Rigney will teach us how we may enjoy the things of earth while glorifying and enjoying the God who made the earth and everything in it.

Isaiah 55-55 | The Gospel According to Isaiah | Trent Hunter

What is the first thing we must do upon hearing and receiving the work of God's servant? We must sing! Singing is the sound of God's forgiveness and transforming work breaking into our lives. After each Servant Song, Isaiah has called on us to sing. Now devotes a stretch of two chapters, chapters 54–55, to that very cause. Maybe singing is more important than we thought. Maybe our Lord loves to hear our voices more than we have imagined.

Isaiah 53:10-12 | The Gospel According to Isaiah | Trent Hunter

What was Jesus looking forward to on the other side of his cross? The cross was anguish, distressing, and horrifying. He who knew no sin became sin for us. But what was in it for him on the other side? Sharing his life with us. This Sunday's sermon from Isaiah 53:10–12 brings us to Isaiah's prophecy of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Here we get a peek into the inner life of our Lord, revealed through the prophet many years before Christ came. Here is where the Lord Jesus' inner life was nurtured by the Scriptures as he grew and matured on his journey to the cross.

Isaiah 53:7-9 | The Gospel According to Isaiah | Jason Read

He wasn’t what they expected, so they rejected him. Rejection gave rise to undiluted hatred. They spit on him, stripped him, and struck him. People screamed at him. Priests lied about him. Politicians washed their hands of him. They numbered him among the transgressors and made his grave with the wicked. Why did he endure this injustice? Why so great an injustice? Because the injustice of the cross is a shadow of the injustice of the gospel. See the scandal of the gospel in this sermon from Isaiah 53:7-9.