In the book of Ruth we get a glimpse of the mercy of God and how He included unexpected individuals in the earthly family tree of Jesus. 

Note that only the first half of the class is on the recording due to the battery dying in the recording device. 

We explore themes such as maturity, spirituality, and wisdom as understood by the world and as revealed by God. 

Unfortunately the audio didn't catch the first part of the sermon, so it is printed below.

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Today I had the pleasure of baptizing Miles into Christ Jesus and today, for the sermon, I've prepared a letter to Miles, but truly it is a letter to all who are baptized.  It is based on today's Old Testament and Gospel readings.  So, even as I read this letter to Miles, please hear in it the message for yourselves.

Dear Miles,

You have been baptized into Christ! Oh happy day, all your sins are washed away! You've received the gift of the Holy Spirit, faith in Jesus, forgiveness of sins, adoption into the family of God, and the covering of Christ's righteousness.  You have been buried with Jesus in His death and raised with him to new life!  And because of Jesus you now need not fear death, because in Him you have the victory over death! 

We examine chapter 1 as Paul begins to address the problems of the church in Corinth, especially looking at the issue of divisions in the church.

Some of the parables of Jesus are quite clear and easy to understand; this is not one of those.  What do we do with the parable of the dishonest manager?  What does it mean for us today? 

Jesus didn't come to save the "good," but sinners. In Luke 15 Jesus tells two parables; the lost sheep and the lost coin. Through these parables He makes it clear that He has come to save sinners. 

Onesimus was a runaway slave who came to faith in Jesus.  The freedom he came to know through the gospel then led him to willingly return to the master from whom he had run away.  Find out how the gospel sets you free for serving in your vocations. 

At first glance, Hebrews 13 seems like a random bullet point list of laws for the Christian. But in truth, Hebrews 13 caps off this wonderful book and builds on all that has been laid out in the chapters leading up to chapter 13. When we humble ourselves and understand the greatness of Jesus, we're led to do the very things spoken of in Hebrews 13. 

Christians will face difficult times and often find themselves asking "why?" "Why am I going through this? Why is God allowing this?"  In Hebrews 12 we are reminded why we can still live with confidence and where we can find comfort in the midst of such difficult times.