Brian's Sermons

The presents are all unwrapped, the tree is losing its needles, the house is a wreck, stockings are thrown in the corner, Christmas toys are broken, and the fruitcake has been passed on to another unwitting victim.  Decorations are coming down, and people are turning off their Christmas lights.  Parties are done.  Festive music has stopped again for another year.  We’re heading into the coldest, grayest time of the year.  It’s the day after Christmas.  Christmas is over.  It can be a seriously depressing time of year. Charities often do really well around Thanksgiving and Christmas, as many people are cognizant of the “true meaning” of Christmas, whether or not their idea of the “true meaning” has anything to do with Jesus. But the day after Christmas, after we’ve all satisfied our need to help someone, the hungry are still hungry.  The homeless are still homeless.  The lonely are even more lonely. A few weeks ago, I was visiting with someone who challenged me that I had somehow give

Luke 1:48b-55 Last week we started in on Mary’s song.  Remember that a song in the Bible is never just a song; it’s going to be much more than that.  Mary’s song is the summary of the entire Book of Luke/Acts as well as a summary of salvation history.  It’s all about what God is doing, rooted fully in God’s purpose.  Mary’s song started with rejoicing in her inmost being; everything she is celebrates what God has done for her.  All generations will call her blessed for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name! (Luke 1:49).  Notice that the activity in this passage is never human activity; it’s all about God. His mercy extends to those who fear him,  from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;  he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones  but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things  but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his s

Luke 1:46-55 In college, I had a great friend who always asked great questions. One of the best questions he would ask came out of mundane, even trivial answers.   An example would be a greeting: he’d start with “how’s your day going?”   I’d give the obligatory, “good,” and he’d ask, “What’s good about it?”   Not in a dismissive way, but in a “I really want to know” way.   Then I’d get the chance to tell him what was good about my day. This is exactly what we find in Mary’s song.   Two weeks ago, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, telling her that God had a special mission for her.   Last week, Mary hurried to the home of her relative, Elizabeth, who didn’t need any explanation, but immediately, inspired by the Holy Spirit, knew that Mary was blessed among women for her obedience.   And this week we finally get a full response to what’s going on. She starts with a word of praise, but like the situation with my friend, she doesn’t stop there.   Instead, she elaborates with the re

Luke 1:39-45 Have you ever had an experience where something incredible happened to you, but you couldn’t share it with anyone because you knew nobody would ever believe it?   Not in the “he’s always crying wolf” scenario, where maybe you’ve got a reputation for always telling outlandish stories, but in the “this could never happen to anyone” category.   And you’ve just got to tell someone, but you know that nobody would believe it.   Last week we took a look at Mary, who had an amazing encounter with an angel, who told her that God was going to fulfill his promises to the patriarch Jacob… through her.   That she was going to be the mother of the Son of God. Really, who would believe that story?   From a nobody from Nazareth… and an unmarried young woman at that.   But Mary knew someone who would believe her, so she hurried to the home of her relative, Elizabeth.   And before she can utter a word, Elizabeth knows .   There is a reason why Elizabeth knows.   The same angel had v