When an old man named Simeon saw the Baby Jesus, he said some powerful words: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:28-29). When Simeon saw Jesus, he knew he was ready to die. That’s what seeing Jesus did for Simeon. He had seen God’s salvation. He knew that through that little Baby, all his sins would be forgiven, that he had peace with God, that he had eternal life waiting for him in heaven. This is at the heart of our Christian faith: If you have Jesus, you have everything you need. If you believe in Jesus, you’re ready to die. I hope you can listen to this funeral sermon for a dear old man who, like Simeon, saw God’s salvation: “Depart in Peace.” Jesus loves you!

People are searching for unity, but we often look for unity in the wrong places. The greatest unity isn’t found in skin color or language or culture or lifestyle. The greatest unity is found at the cross of Jesus. There every person has to confess their sin. There every person can find the grace of God for them. True Christian unity is being united by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Like the shepherds and the wise men. They didn’t have much in common. Yet, they were united by falling to their knees in front of a Baby on whom all their hope depended. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel” (Ephesians 3:6).  I hope you can listen to this Epiphany sermon: “Heirs Together.” Jesus loves you! 

Christmas is meant to be deep. Not just light and fluffy. At Christmas, it’s good to talk about deep truths. The meaning of Christmas isn’t just that a Baby was born. The Bible tells us who that Baby is: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). That Baby in the manger is the eternal Son of God who came to purify us from our sins and now sits at his throne at God’s right hand in heaven. At Christmas, it’s good to talk about deep truths. I hope you can listen to this Christmas Day sermon: “The Son of God.” Merry Christmas!

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11). On Christmas night, grace appeared. You need someone to care about you. Jesus cares so much about you that he left his throne to live with us. Grace appeared! You need someone to take your regrets away. To change your past. Jesus redeemed you from all sin by his death on the cross. Your past is forgiven! Grace appeared! You need someone to give you hope for the future. There is no greater hope than the hope of eternal life in heaven. Grace appeared! You need someone to stand by you. Always. When you see that baby in the manger, you can know, “God is with me. Always!” Grace appeared! I hope you can listen to this Christmas Eve sermon: “Grace Appeared.” Merry Christmas!

Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem? Mary and Joseph didn’t live there. In fact, they lived on the opposite side of the country. So why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?Because God always keeps his promises! The prophet Micah had written, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem proves that God always keeps his promises and was willing to move heaven and earth to save us. Merry Christmas!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice always? Does that sound impossible? With all the heartache, the pain, the sadness, the stress… How could we possibly rejoice always? Don’t miss the rest of the verse: “In the Lord.” God wants to give you a joy that doesn’t depend on your outward circumstances. God wants to give you a joy that no one and nothing can ever take away. It all depends on Jesus who was laid in a manger and nailed to a cross and rose from the dead, all so that you and I can always have a reason to rejoice. Doesn’t that sound good? I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Rejoice the Lord Always.” Jesus loves you!

Is it right to celebrate Christmas? As we get close to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, there are some Christians who wonder whether it’s even right to celebrate Christmas. Is it?The New Testament clearly tells us that our faith in Jesus doesn’t depend on holy days (see Colossians 2:16-17 and Romans 14:5-6). Yet, there was one very important group that most definitely celebrated Jesus’ birth…I hope you can listen to this short devotion about our freedom to celebrate Christmas and who in the Bible gives us a great example of celebrating the birth of our Savior.Jesus loves you!

You need your rest. That’s what the 3rd Commandment is telling us: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). You need your rest! Not on a certain day. Where? In Jesus. He has rest for you! Every time you’re anxious about something, you can find rest in Jesus. Every time you’re shaken by life, you can find rest in Jesus. Every time you feel guilt in your heart, you can find rest in Jesus. What does that look like? When an old man named Simeon first saw Jesus, he exclaimed, ”Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon on the 3rd Commandment: “Rest in Jesus.” Jesus loves you!

What makes someone a good pastor? I bet you have your own opinions. Often, picking a favorite pastor can divide a congregation or even lead people to leave a church. Do you know what the Bible says about how Christians should regard their pastors? “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Pastors are “servants of Christ” who have been sent by God to share the mysteries of his Word, especially the mystery of how Jesus came to save sinners like you and me. In Advent, as we hear how John the Baptist prepared people’s hearts for Jesus’ coming, I hope you’ll listen to this sermon about what God says about pastors: “Servants of Christ.” Jesus loves you!

What’s a manger? One of the most well-known details in the Christmas story is that Jesus was placed in a manger (Luke 2:7). What’s a manger?If you’ve ever wondered that, I hope you can watch this short video devotion about what a manger is and how the manger shows us God’s amazing grace to us.God bless you!