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This Week at First

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December 17th: Doing Our Part



The Third Sunday of Advent: Isaiah speaks about being called to preach good news to the oppressed in chapter 61. The Gospel recorded by John says something similar in the first chapter concerning John the Baptizer. Is there a universal message for God’s people in these two passages? I think so. Our message, based on Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and John 1:6-8, 19-28, will be a follow-up to last weeks sermon and involves each of us “Doing Our Part.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

This Week's Scriptures


Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

The Good News of Deliverance 61 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.



8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing;[a] I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

 

John 1:6-8, 19-28

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.


The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”[a] 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said,

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’”

as the prophet Isaiah said.

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah,[b] nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.






December 10th: Is There Hope for the World?



The Second Sunday of Advent: The prophet Isaiah said “Comfort, O comfort my people....” (Isaiah 20:1a) As a church, we need to bring comfort and good news to a world torn by war. There is war in Ukraine, war in Gaza, war in Israel, war in Lebanon, war in Yemen, war in Pakistan, war in Ethiopia, war in . . . War seems to be everywhere. How can we bring comfort and joy given what we know about human nature? We will explore the question as we look at Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8. Our message will be “Is There Hope for the World?”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

This Week's Scriptures

Isaiah 40: 1-11

 

God’s People Are Comforted

40 Comfort, O comfort my people,    says your God.2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,    and cry to herthat she has served her term,    that her penalty is paid,that she has received from the Lord’s hand    double for all her sins.

 

3 A voice cries out:“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be lifted up,    and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level,    and the rough places a plain.5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,    and all people shall see it together,    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

 

6 A voice says, “Cry out!”    And I said, “What shall I cry?”All people are grass,    their constancy is like the flower of the field.7 The grass withers, the flower fades,    when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;    surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers, the flower fades;    but the word of our God will stand forever.9 Get you up to a high mountain,    O Zion, herald of good tidings;[a]lift up your voice with strength,    O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,[b]    lift it up, do not fear;say to the cities of Judah,    “Here is your God!”10 See, the Lord God comes with might,    and his arm rules for him;his reward is with him,    and his recompense before him.11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;    he will gather the lambs in his arms,and carry them in his bosom,    and gently lead the mother sheep.

Mark 1:1-8

 

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[b]

 

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[c]

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,[d]    who will prepare your way;3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,    make his paths straight,’”

 

4 John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  8 I have baptized you with[f] water; but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.”






Blameless



December 3rd, The First Sunday of Advent: During Advent, do you think about preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus or are you preparing for his return? This week, we will work on being “Blameless”. Our scriptures will be 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 and Mark 13:24-37.


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

This Week's Scriptures

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

 

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

4 I give thanks to my[a] God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,  5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—  6 just as the testimony of[b] Christ has been strengthened among you—  7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 13:24-37

 

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,    and the moon will not give its light,25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

 

26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.  27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

 

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.  29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he[a] is near, at the very gates.  30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.  31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

The Necessity for Watchfulness

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  33 Beware, keep alert;[b] for you do not know when the time will come.  34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.  35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,  36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.  37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”







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