(Romans 5:1-8). Paul doesn’t tell me that suffering is like some spiritual exercise. He speaks of God pouring out a gift into my heart. Suffering is not the cause, but the occasion of God’s gift of love and thus Paul’s occasion for joy.

 (II Peter 1:16-21). Peter has seen and touched and heard the Lord of Life speak. Peter’s experience of the One who is the Truth is far more substantive than any myth.

(I Corinthians 2:1-12). Paul is trying to get his congregation and us to lose our reliance on the ways of this world. He uses the example of his own preaching, but also notes that it came among them with power and the Spirit of God. It was not because Paul was right, but God was right. Thus, both Paul and the Corinthians need to put aside their own ideas and let the Spirit of God have his way with them.

(Matthew 2:13-23). The slaughter of the innocents may seem like a macabre theme for the Sunday after Christmas. Herod clearly was due for some coal in his Christmas stocking. Can’t we just let the season be and forget all this nasty stuff? It would be nice to continue the sentimentality of Christmas and just leave this story unread. But to do so would be to miss Christmas’ greatest point. In the face of evil, in the face of trauma, in the face of suffering, God works in hidden ways.

(Luke 1:26-38): We contemplate the name Jesus, which was given to him at his birth. It is a reminder to us of his reason for entering into our world: He came to save us. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke 1:31.

Psalm 119:81-88. We conclude the four-week sermon series from the Psalms called, “O Sing to the Lord.” The psalmist helps us to respond to the day when our trust in the Lord will be put to the test. Let’s finish our journey in God’s Word. Other Scripture reading referenced: Hebrews 11:17-31; 12:1-3.

(Psalm 33:10-22)  The psalmist points us toward living without anxiety about the things of life but rather simply trusting that God who loves is looking out for us. Our Father created us and is watching over this world, always caring for it. This is the third sermon in the sermon series from the book of Psalms called "O Sing to the Lord."

(Psalm 100). Jesus warns us of covetousness and calls us to a joyful and living trust (Psalm 100). As God’s people, the sheep of His pasture, together, we praise and give thanks to the Lord and serve Him with gladness. This is the second week in our sermon series from Psalms called, "O Sing to the Lord." During the service we blessed the new Bible Story curriculum, for use in Noah’s Ark Preschool.

 (Psalm 138). Prayer is faith/trust in embodied action. But many people have at one time or another found their prayer life unsatisfying. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, calls us to know, trust, and communicate with our Heavenly Father – and He with you! This is the first sermon in the “O Sing to the Lord” sermon series from the Psalms.

 Ephesians 1:15-23

Christ is in control, head over all! He has been given all rule, authority, power, dominion. That is why he ascended on high. With the eyes of our hearts so enlightened, with that revelation and spirit of wisdom, let us not lose heart. Our ascended Lord rules and fills all things for us, his Church.