November 29 | John 1:10-18. Luke 21:25-36 | When Grace Came Down there was Hope

C.S. Lewis once said that hope is recognizing that since our desires remain unquenched in this life, it is because we were made for another one. Hope is in the promise of a life after this one. He’s referencing our spiritual needs only getting met by leaving this world for the Promise Land. I will politely disagree with him and suggest that hope exists in the here and now. The Incarnation is the birth of everlasting hope. 

December 6 | John 1:10-18, 1 Cor 13:1-13 | When Grace Came Down there was Love

Love is the one commodity that doesn’t diminish when shared, as a matter of fact, it increases. And we see this personified in the life and work of Jesus  Christ. The Incarnation is the birth of everlasting love. This sermon will be more thematic analyzing the awesomeness of God’s everlasting love. 

December 13 | John 1:10-18 | Philippians 4:4-9 | When Grace Came Down there was Peace

Peace is not readily available in our world. We will name wars and rumors of wars (ISIS, Beirut, Paris, Syrian refugee, American political debates) as examples and talk about Jesus bringing a different message. Phil 4 says to continue to do the things we’ve seen in Jesus then we will experience the peace of God. This sermon will flyover examples of how we can imitate Jesus so we too can experience peace. It will also suggest that the Incarnation is the birth of everlasting peace since the road to peace is by following in Christ’s actions. 

December 20 | John 1:10-18, Luke 1:39-56 | When Grace Came Down there was Joy

This sermon will look at Mary’s song and see that she is foreshadowing the gospel before the gospel was born. She will acknowledge Jesus as Savior who raises the lowly and lowers the proud, who sends the rich away and secures the poor. Mary’s song is the gospel story told before the gospel unfolds. It’s as if God knew all along that the Incarnation is the birth of everlasting joy. 

December 24 | The Bird of Dawning Singith All Night Long

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a conversation ensues between two of the characters on Christmas Eve. In that conversation, Shakespeare reminds us that despite the evils and bewitcheries of day, something holy emerges the eve of Christmas. It’s so special that the bird of dawning sings all night long. This homily will pick up on the splendor of of Christmas Eve and the expectant and jubilant hearts we all carry as we contemplate the birth of our King.