January 12th is the date that most New Year’s resolutions end. At least that is what one study of 31.5 million online participants revealed. People were able to gut it out for an average of two weeks and then give in. Much of the failure is due to unrealistic or overly ambitious goals. People think that they can go from couch potato to triathlete overnight. They believe the debt they built up over five years can be paid off in one month. However, when the struggle to follow through with their resolution hits they quickly give in. How then do we overcome the inertia against change and improvement? How do we persevere in those practices that are most beneficial?  This Sunday we return to our study of Ezra and Nehemiah with our focus on rebuilding the Kingdom. In our passage for this week, Nehemiah must persevere in the wall-rebuilding project as he meets opposition. Nehemiah knew that a part of his kingdom's work was to secure the city of Jerusalem so that Biblical worship could be reestablished and protected from foreign intervention. However, the surrounding kingdoms were not interested in Jerusalem having a secure border. They wanted to maintain their power and influence over the city. Therefore, they continually harass Nehemiah in his work. In our passage, we will see that they seek to trick, discredit, and even murder Nehemiah. Nevertheless, he perseveres in his work knowing that it is a great work empowered by God himself. And what we will see is that we too must persevere in our kingdom work. While New Year’s resolutions will come and go, we must be a people who continue on in the kingdom work that we have been given. We will do this when we come to see that kingdom work is opposed, it is important, and finally that it is empowered by the Lord. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Nehemiah 6-7, Matthew 24:9-14, 1 Corinthians 1:24-2:5; 15:10, Philippians 2:12-13, and Westminster Confession of Faith 17.

I love the beginning of a new year. It is like a fresh pad of paper. The possibilities of what you will do with it are endless. You haven’t messed up yet. Everything is clean and in order and all you must do is begin writing. I think this is why New Year’s resolutions are so popular. We want to make this year one in which life becomes fuller and more satisfying. We want this year to be the one when we lose the weight and keep it off. This is the year when we are going to read through the Bible. This is the year when we will break the bad habit. We all hope that when we come to the end of 2023, we will be able to look back and say, “Now that was a year well lived.” In our passage for this Sunday, we come to the start of a journey. Jesus is about to leave behind his ministry in Galilee to go to Jerusalem. And he invites his disciples to follow him on this path. He promises them if they follow him they will find satisfaction and life. And this is an invitation that is extended to you at the beginning of 2023. Do you want this to be a year in which you find satisfaction and life? Then you must follow Christ and see that to gain your life you must give your life to Christ.

In all the Christmas nativities I have seen, I have never run across one that included this particular character. Of course, there is always Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Often you will have the shepherds and a few sheep. Larger scenes will include the three wisemen and even their camels. I have even seen boys with drums, ladies offering eggs, and multiple angels included. However, I have never seen one of the most central figures in the birth of Christ including the Red Dragon. Come this Christmas to see why we must begin to acknowledge his presence if we would fully appreciate the birth of Christ into this world. To come prepared for worship, take time this week to read and meditate upon Revelation 12:1-17, Genesis 3:15, Matthew 2:16, 1 Peter 5:8, and Westminster Confession of Faith 8.

What is your favorite part of Christmas? There are so many things to love about the Christmas season. There are the decorations, the parties, and the special worship services. There are presents and plays and concerts. I enjoy the food and the music and the anticipation. However, the best part of Christmas is the story of Christmas. The story of the Son of God born that man no more may die. Christmas is a story. It is not a fairy tale or a make-believe story. It is a true story. And since it is a true story, it is the greatest story ever.  Stories play a special role in our lives. They help us to understand and orient ourselves within this world. Stories help us to understand why certain things happen, how to interpret the events of life, and how to understand where we are going. The story of Christmas tells us that in the story of humanity God is the main character and that he has come to save his people. The story of Christmas tells us that the conflicts of our lives find their resolution in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The story of Christmas tells us that no matter how dark the world may become, a light has shone into the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. The story of Christmas tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.  In our passage for this Sunday, we come to a concise explanation of the meaning of Christmas. And in these verses, we will find that the true love story of Christmas begins with God and ends with God and man together. To come prepared for worship take time this week to read and meditate upon 1 John 4:7-12, John 3:35; 15:12-17, Romans 3:9-20; 8:7, Ephesians 2:1-2, and Westminster Confession of Faith 8.

Advent: Joy Johnathan Edwards once wrote, “Self-denial will also be reckoned amongst the troubles of the godly… But whoever has tried self-denial can give in his testimony that they never experienced greater pleasure and joys than after great acts of self-denial.” On the third Sunday of Advent, we focus on the theme of joy. Yet we can often miss the biblical pathway to joy. We tend to think that joy comes when we have all that we want. Joy comes when we get the Christmas presents we were longing for. Joy comes with the Christmas dinner and the Christmas desserts. These earthly blessings may bring joy at the moment, nevertheless, there is a lasting joy that only comes when we are willing to follow the path laid out for us by Christ. This Sunday we will continue our Advent series by going to John 16:16-24. Here we will see that true lasting joy only comes in the presence of Christ. To come prepared for worship take time this week to read and meditate upon John 16:16-24, Psalm 16:11; 30:5, Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 1:8, James 1:2, and this article on Sorrow and Joy.

When you read our passage for this coming Sunday, you might ask yourself, “Why would Pastor Weber choose this passage when Sunday’s theme is peace?” In the first verse of the passage, Jesus says to his disciples,  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”(Matthew 10:34 ESV)  How does this verse parse with the angels’ promise of peace on earth? (Luke 2:14) How do we understand what Jesus is saying here in light of his mission to bring peace to the world? (John 16:33)  To answer these questions, we must first understand the nature of this world. Jesus’ advent was not a homecoming. Rather it was an invasion. Jesus was born into enemy territory. For the god of this world is Satan, himself. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Jesus came to bring peace, but that peace must first be won. Paradoxically, the only path to true peace is conflict. Jesus had to come and wage spiritual war against sin, Satan, and death. He had to take up the cross and fight the battle to establish his kingdom.  In our passage for this Sunday, we see that Jesus is calling his followers to know peace through this spiritual conflict. The peace that he brings is a peace that must be won. It is a peace that every Christian must fight to attain. For the way to peace is the way of the cross. And what we will see is that every Christian is called to battle for true peace through submission to Christ alone. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Matthew 10:34-39, Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:2-7, Jeremiah 6:14, Micah 7:1-6, Ephesians 6:12, and this article on the peace Christ brings.  This week we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine we look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” “Good Christian Men, Rejoice,” and “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.” Sermon Information Text: Matthew 10:34-39  Title: The Battle for Peace Outline:  Every Christian Must Submit Their Peace to Christ (v. 34) Every Christian Must Submit Their Loyalties to Christ (vv. 35-37) Every Christian Must Submit Their Self to Christ (vv. 38-39)

The First Sunday in Advent: “Confident Hope in Jesus Christ” Giving thanks to God for His goodness to us in all things is always appropriate for Thanksgiving and Advent. I pray that each of you will ponder Jesus Christ in all His beauty and love as you walk through Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy God’s provision and celebrate His grace!  As we look to this coming Lord’s Day, we enter the Advent Season, praising God for the blessing of our hope in Christ. And yet we realize that the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are not always easy. We navigate family relationships and remember those whom we have lost. We embrace the beauty of the coming of Christ yet couple His birth with the reality of His life and death for our salvation. Biblical contrasts demonstrate how the advent of God’s Son into this world speaks hope and joy for abundant life while recognizing the great cost to our Savior for our wholeness. This Sunday, in our sermon entitled, “Confident Hope in Jesus Christ,” we’ll examine Titus 2:11-14. We’ll see how we cannot separate the experience of God’s grace and steadfast hope apart from Jesus Christ as loving Savior and almighty King. To enjoy all the benefits of being His, we embrace an intimate relationship with Jesus as His changes and shapes our hearts according to His image. To come prepared for worship, please be in prayer! Meditate upon Titus 2:11-14 and ponder the two appearing of Christ in our text. One looks back to the appearing of grace and the second looks forward to the appearing of glory. Consider how those realities shape our current experience in His power and love. In celebrating the Advent theme of hope, please also read 1 Peter 1:3-5. The hopeful expectation and anticipation of the Advent of the Lord Jesus is captured in our singing the Hymn of Praise “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” the Acclamation of Praise “Joy to the World! The Lord is Come,” and the Hymn of Response “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed.” Come this Lord’s Day, ready to have the hope of the gospel poured into your lives.

Money can be a touchy subject, particularly in the church. Nevertheless, money plays a central role in our personal lives and in the advancement of God’s kingdom. Therefore, the Bible addresses financial issues head-on. In our passage for this Sunday, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall is once again interrupted. This time, however, the conflict is not external but internal. Ungodly financial dealings have put the entire economy of the Jewish community on the brink of collapse. Those with financial power have used their position to take advantage of those with fewer financial resources. As a result, the average citizen has become unable to provide for themselves and their families. They have been forced into debt to buy food and pay their taxes. Many of the Jews have even sold themselves or their children into indentured servitude. As the economy is falling apart the work on the wall cannot continue.  What is Nehemiah to do? What we will see in our text is that if the Kingdom of God will advance God’s people must repent of their wicked ways and obey God’s teaching on finances. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Nehemiah 5, Deuteronomy 23:19-20, Psalm 24:1, Proverbs 22:7, Matthew 6:21-24, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, and this article on misunderstood verses about finances.

When things are going well on a project or something that needs to be done oftentimes opposition arises that will try to put an end to the good that is occurring. We should expect opposition and the cause can come in a variety of ways, it could be jealousy, pride, change, or being excluded. Whatever the reason, someone or something will find a reason to oppose the good work that is being done. How much more true is that for the Christian life especially when God's Kingdom work is going well? Nehemiah 3 tells us that the work of rebuilding the wall was underway and things were moving in a positive direction. Many people were involved, gates were being repaired, the wall was being built, and much progress was being made. Then we come to Nehemiah 4 and opposition arises. So, how did Nehemiah respond when this happened? This Sunday we will see that Nehemiah handles the opposition he faces by praying, making a plan, and remembering the Lord is fighting for him. As we live our lives and deal with opposition, may we by God's grace and mercy through Christ follow and remember Nehemiah’s response when opposition arises. In preparation for Sunday’s sermon, please read Nehemiah 3-4, Exodus 15:3, Matthew 27:41-43, and Ephesians 6:12,

Inertia is the tendency of an object at rest to remain at rest. A boulder will not start rolling unless a large force is exerted to get it moving. It takes more energy to get a car up to sixty miles per hour than to keep it at that speed. In like manner, it takes a great effort to get people to move from inaction to action. There is an inertia toward inaction that keeps us doing nothing when we know that we should act. We know that we should be exercising but it is much easier to remain inactive. We know that we should mow the lawn or rake the leaves, but it is easier to put those chores off until tomorrow. As God’s people, we are called to work toward the building of God’s Kingdom. The primary task in this work of building the Kingdom is to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). And yet it is easier to do nothing. It is easier to remain a resting Christian, not an active Christian. How then are we to overcome this inertia toward inaction? How are we to overcome the tendency to do nothing and begin to act in faith for the sake of God’s Kingdom? In our passage for this Sunday, we see that Nehemiah must take the next step to progress the work of the Kingdom. Last week we saw that he prayed first. He fasted and he prayed that God would move so that His people might flourish again. This week Nehemiah is given the opportunity to act. He is presented with the challenge to trust that God will answer his prayer as he steps out in faith. And what we will see is that if we would act in faith we must take the risk, we must count the cost, and finally, we must trust the outcome of acting to God. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Nehemiah 2, Psalm 48, Luke 14:28-30, 1 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 11:1,6, and Westminster Confession of Faith 16.