Redeemer West Side

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | Esther 2:3-10, 15-23 
This portion of the story sets the stage and introduces us to the king of Persia, Esther, and Mordecai. They are put into place through an accumulation of small circumstances, which fulfills God’s design. No one knows what the future holds, but it is no surprise to the Lord and he guides history. The sovereignty of God is a central theme of the Bible, and this passage displays what it looks like even when we are not aware of his presence.

As we have seen since September, God made promises that one day he would rescue his people and put everything right. These promises eventually focused on one thing in particular: God would become king. That day has come with the birth of Jesus who in his first sermon identifies himself with a revolution that will overcome darkness with light and a call for followers to turn from darkness and follow him.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | Matthew 2:1-12 
One of the core promises of the Bible is given to Abraham early on: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). This promise comes true through the birth of Jesus in the humble town of David. Soon after we see illustrious Magi from the east come to worship him and offer their treasures. This story invites all who spiritually seek to journey to Jesus too.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | Matthew 1:1-17
When Jesus appeared on the scene of this world, he ushered in a new era in world history. He is inarguably the most influential and consequential figure who ever lived. But where did he come from? What was his background, and what does that tell us about who he is and what he came to do? Jesus didn’t appear out of nowhere, but was the climax and fulfillment of a long and messy history.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | 2 Samuel 6:1-16  
David resolves to bring the ark of God’s presence home to Jerusalem with much fanfare, only to be derailed by a shocking loss, anger, and fear. David learns that bringing God into your life is as much God bringing you into his life: God comes on his terms. The story begins and ends with joyful worship, with hard lessons learned in the middle. In Advent, God comes in a new ark and on terms accessible to all: a newborn baby, vulnerable, and surrounded by joyful worship.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | Psalm 98
Advent is a season where the story of Jesus’ birth is celebrated in word and song. Psalm 98 captures the wonder and purpose of Jesus’ birth through poetic imagery of creation rejoicing over God's great gift of salvation. It also anticipates the second Advent of Jesus when he will return to “judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | 1 Samuel 16:1-13 
We are looking at the grand story of the Bible. In Genesis we saw that God’s plan to save the world begins when he creates a covenant people (Abraham). But the people are continually unfaithful to the covenant. As we come to the story of David we find that the books of Joshua and Judges revealed that the Mosaic law and the Promised land were not sufficient to make the people faithful. The book of Judges ends pointing to the failure of the tribal affiliation model of the nation and points to the need for a king, God chooses the first two kings—Saul and David. Saul’s failure shows the need for a True King. In this passage we are introduced to David, who unlike Saul, has a heart for God (1 Sam 16:7) which is the essence of covenant faithfulness (Deut 6:5). Yet as the story of David proceeds, we see even in him the deep flaws that show us that we need some greater leader and shepherd.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | 1 Samuel 1:2-11, 19-20, 24-28  
This grand narrative that will introduce us to David begins with a very human story of a family that, like Rachel and Leah, Hagar and Sarah, is outwardly pious but internally suffering. Hannah’s pain and waiting and longing, expressed to God, are a reminder that as Buechner put it: “If indeed there is a God and if indeed he is concerned with the world… one of the ways he speaks to us, and maybe one of the most powerful ways, is through what happens to us.”  Hannah’s prayer is answered as she gives birth to Samuel who will eventually navigate Israel’s transition to a theocracy marked by kings who are portrayed as fully human, filled with longings, doubts and faith.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | Genesis 50:15-26
In one of the most well known narrative twists in Scripture Joseph, who began as an arrogant, favored son of Jacob, has become God’s agent of redemption. This is a reminder of how God uses the dark chapters of our lives for our good and His glory. As the curtain comes down on Genesis we find hope in the midst of Joseph’s death as he looks to a day when his family will no longer be in Egypt but brought back home.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | Genesis 37:1-11, 19-20, 34-36
Joseph is a dreamer, but it lands him in trouble. The divine message is hard for others to accept. Even Joseph forgets his dreams until they come true (Genesis 42:9). This sermon draws lessons for big dreams and for when God’s plans seem impossible, mysterious, or too hard to accept.