Everyone likes new things for Christmas. How about a new and better life?
In the third chapter of his letter to the Colossians, Paul urges them to put on a new life. But what’s it like and where do we we get it? In this sermon, Pastor Hinkle warns that such a life isn’t a do-it-yourself project and points us to the true source for a better life.
The Gospel Lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Advent recounts the Blessed Virgin Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth, her relative and the mother of John the Baptist. The actions and words of the two women have much to teach everyone about faith, worship, and service to God. For those facing an unexpected pregnancy the same lesson provides the “hows and whys” of a godly way forward.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Text: Luke 1:39-56
Christians are often troubled when they see God help others, but not them. Why some are miraculously healed and others are not is difficult to understand.
Luke records a time when John the Baptist sent two disciples to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or shall we expect another.” They had heard what Jesus was doing, but what he wasn’t doing concerned them and they were struggling. Jesus answered gently and with great respect for John, referring to what the prophet Isaiah had foretold and saying in effect, “trust me.”
Being ready for Christ’s return isn’t a matter of knowing when it will occur, it is rather a question of being faithful to the tasks we have been given. You don’t need chats and diagrams to understand what Jesus said in Mark 13, just simple faith in your savior.
How can we be confident God will hear and help us? The answer is here.
Are you looking for something more than a simple reminder to give thanks or a list of blessings? In this expository sermon on Luke 17:11-19, the account of Jesus healing ten lepers, Pastor Hinkle draws upon a structural analysis of the passage presented in Arthur Just’s Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke. Professor Just suggests looking at the passage from the outside in. The result is a fresh look at the incident and a sermon that goes much deeper than “Hey, don’t forget to give thanks.”
In this sermon, Pastor Hinkle encourages his hearers to trust that God will provide for their needs and to participate in God’s work by providing for the needs of others.
Would you like to receive Pastor Hinkle’s sermons as a podcast? Add https://stpaulwapello.org/category/devotional/feed/ to you podcast app.
