With what or whom are you well pleased? Was it the same a decade ago? Will it be the same in a decade? In Matthew 3, God the Father said he was well pleased with Jesus, and he never withdrew that status. Can God say the same about you? Why or why not?

Of all the good things you can do, and you can do plenty, what could be better than pointing someone to Jesus? That good thing could have eternal results. That good thing was also the special role God gave to John the Baptist and the special role God gives to us, too. Today, the Spirit will not only teach us about John the Baptist, but he will encourage us and give us wisdom for pointing others to Jesus.

Are you impressed by people born in impressive places? A small restaurant chain in the south is named for a man born while his parents were climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, inspiring his parents to carry him to the top. Or was it all a marketing gimmick? Still, no one would name a restaurant after someone born in Possum Grape, Arkansas or Burnt Corn, Alabama. You might not expect much from towns like those. That's the way people felt about Jesus' childhood home of Nazareth. But Jesus turned the world upside down. Smart sophisticated people (like you) don't have a lock on the truth; Jesus does. He unlocks it for all; but maybe not the way you expect. Welcome to a time to marvel at who Jesus is, what he came to do, and his message and ministry.

No one likes a detour. It always means a longer drive in a direction you didn't want to go. It's one thing to encounter a detour on a trip, it's quite another to encounter a detour in your life, a change of plans you can't avoid and don't like. On that kind of detour, when your life takes a turn for the worse, it's tempting to hear Satan's muttering that God has left you. But a detour doesn't mean you won't arrive at your destination; only that you won't arrive as you planned. After Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the Lord led Mary, Joseph, and Jesus home via quite a detour. That was his plan to protect, help, and save them. He's leading you home, too, even if it's not the way you planned. He's leading you home by another way. May the Spirit encourage you by the Lord's plan for his Son, for the people around his Son, and for you, too.

Come far to follow him. That’s what the wise men, or magi, did. Join us to celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord, which means Jesus was revealed not only to one people, but to all nations. May our response to Jesus’ presence be like that of the wise men. We’re glad you’re here to worship the Savior of the nations with us.

Right on the heels of the joy of Christmas comes the reality of another year. Undoubtedly some of it will be easy to take; some of it will be hard to take. We all pray for more of the former and less of the latter. But we don’t know, do we? How do you plan to face the unknown or even the unpleasant of 2025? God’s children can do so much better than whistle in the dark, think positive thoughts, or hope for the best. Let the inspired author of Psalm 27 fill you with the One Thing you need for the new year, and every year.

One of the privileges of having a child is the authority to name that child. Parents get to name their child because it’s their wonderful privilege to manage their child, to help him or her find his or her talents, to find his or her capacities, to develop their child, and to bring their child to fullness. It's a wonderful thing to be a parent. But Mary and Joseph were not allowed to name their child. They would care for him, sure; but they wouldn’t manage him. He would manage them. Why? Because their son is not just their son. He’s God with us. He will manage you. It’s a bit frightening, don’t you think? Until you know who he is and why he’s come. Then it’s only gloriously joyful. We’re glad you’ve joined us to worship him this Christmas Eve.

The story of David and Bathsheba is probably one of the best-known stories of all time, but not because it's such a good example for anyone to follow. Still, when you think of it, if God was going to take on a human body through a human mother, what choice did he have but to do so through sinful human beings. That's all there are. The most wonderful thing about the story of David and Bathsheba is that through them, they and we received a Savior from sin. Welcome to St. Andrew. We’re glad you’re here to give thanks for how our Savior came to earth the first time and to encourage one another until he comes again in glory.

One of the women Matthew includes in his record of Jesus' family tree is Ruth. Her life would seem to be a series of misfortunes and lucky breaks. But no way. The Lord God was at work through her, her mother-in-law, and her husband Boaz to accomplish his plan to send his Son to be the Savior of the world. We aren't in Jesus' family tree, but the Lord would want us to know he's just as much at work in our lives. It's not luck. It's not fortune. It's the Lord who has promised to take care of us. He daily invites us to repent of our sin, trust that he's already rescued us, and be part of his way of working things out. We’re glad you’re with us today. Please accept as our gift to you a copy of the Matthew study book from the atrium.

Drama. Political spies. Seamy and seedy locations. Life-threatening danger. Chase scenes. Does all that sound like a John le Carré or Ian Fleming novel? Those elements are also part of the story of Rahab, one of five women Matthew includes in the family tree of Jesus. We’re glad you’re with us to not just gain fascinating information about this woman and the events around her, but to recall the unmistakable work of God to redeem a fallen world through her. Rahab isn't ancillary to God's plan to save; she's at the very heart of it.