Brian's Sermons

Throughout Advent, as we have been preparing for Christmas and for Christ’s return, we have been focusing on the four words of the Advent candles: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. Today, as we celebrate Christmas Eve, we lit the most important candle, the Christ candle. And as we light the Christ candle, it is only fitting that we would focus on Christ and his place within this wreath. Jesus Christ is not only the center candle for his obvious central role in the Christmas story, but his spot in the center of the wreath is because he is the fulfillment of all of the candles. We began Advent with hope. Fitting, that Hope Church would focus on hope. For a people caught in the “in between” times, Micah’s prophecy includes these words of hope: But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7) In the Old Testament, when you find the word “hope” it is almost always characterized not simply as “hope” b...

What is it you hope for this Christmas? If I ask ten different people that question, I imagine I will get ten different answers. But I think I can boil it down into several categories. Our kids make Christmas lists of things they hope for – sometimes those are more like “demands,” like the ones someone holding hostages might make: I’ll let these innocent people go if you’ll get me the following top nine hot toys from Toys ‘r’ Us: Despicable Me Talking figure: $59.99-$69.99 (age 4-12) Sofia the First Royal Talking Vanity $79.99 (age 3-5) The Ugglys electronic pet $29.99 (age 5 and up) Doc McStuffins Deluxe Get Better Check Up Center $79.99 (age 3-5) Ever After High Dolls LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra $149.99 (ages 4-6) – comes in green or pink LEGO the Legends of Chima The Lion CHI Temple $98.99 (age 8-14) Razor Crazy Cart $399.99 (age 9 and up) Xbox One $499.99 (technically age 6 and up, though games have their own ratings) Girlfriends and boyfriends are hoping they ...

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 As we have been discussing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, something should be clear – we can’t do things the way culture dictates we do them. It’s back to the broad road and the narrow road – the broad one leads to death, and many are on it, while the narrow one leads to life, and few find it. It should also be clear that becoming the ones who Jesus pronounces “blessed” is not something that just happens by accident or by osmosis. It doesn’t happen because your parents were in church or even just because you come to services every Sunday! It all starts with being poor in spirit – realizing that we are absolutely powerless to save ourselves, that what we bring to the table is worthless for salvation. And so we empty ourselves for God to fill us. We mourn our sinfulness and through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God gives us comfort. We hold our power under control and are given ...

Again and again he tries.  Each time, he knows he will succeed.  Though he’s failed every time in the past, this time will be different.  He approaches the ball… and it’s yanked out from under him.  Have you ever felt like Charlie Brown?  You’ve tried so hard, but things aren’t going like you expected them to go.  You didn’t plan them out this way? When I was entering the final quarter of my senior year of college, I had my life all planned out.  I was going to graduate college and get married.  Then I was going to continue my education at Indiana University, where I would get my master’s degree in Education, after which I would get a job, where I would teach high school German and coach soccer.  I had everything planned out. To make a long story short, things didn’t work out like I had planned. My fiancé and I broke up, and the last place I wanted to be was where she was, so I didn’t go to grad school.  Life didn’t turn out at all ...

...for they will receive mercy. If you don’t look out for yourself, nobody will. I’m looking out for #1! Roman philosophers saw mercy as a disease of the soul , a supreme sign of weakness . There is no reason to show mercy to others. After all, what’s the quickest way to being taken advantage of? Show mercy. What, then, is mercy? Mercy is compassionate treatment of others, especially those over whom you have power. Mercy isn’t just feeling sorry for someone. It requires action. It isn’t aloof, sitting "above" others, saying, "Because I’m so great, I suppose I’ll condescend to help them." It’s not just false pity that helps someone just to make me look good. Mercy is compassionately meeting people’s needs. We show mercy: mostly through physical acts : feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick/imprisoned, give practical help needed. in our attitudes : no grudges, resentment, capitalizing on another’s failure/weakness, or publicizing others’ sins. spiritually :...

... for they will receive mercy. Matthew 5:8 One of my favorite movies is the Lord of the Rings – well, as a trilogy, it’s technically three of my favorite movies, but that’s beside the point. In this movie, two Hobbits, Frodo and Sam, have a dangerous task – to take an evil, magical ring of power deep into enemy territory to destroy it. While they are on their way, Gollum, the creature who formerly owned the Ring, attacks them and tries to kill them. When they finally overpower him, Sam wants to kill him. Frodo won’t let him. Instead, Frodo shows mercy. As it turned out, Gollum led Frodo and Sam to their destination. He did not show them mercy – this was his way to later try to steal the Ring for himself. But his actions eventually helped destroy the Ring and seal victory for good over evil. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Showing mercy is counter-cultural. Instead of going for the jugular, mercy gives second chances. This beatitude walks hand-in-hand w...