Preacher Paul's Blogs

  Recognizing the Savior This Sunday I will be preaching from Luke 2:22-40 on "Recognizing the Savior." This passage details how two faithful Israelites, Simeon and Anna, encountered the infant Jesus at the temple and instantly perceived his true identity as the long-awaited Messiah. Despite Jesus' humble appearance as a peasant child, Simeon and Anna saw him through eyes of faith as God's salvation for the world. In my sermon, I will highlight how we also must nurture spiritual sensitivity to recognize Jesus amid lowly disguises in our everyday lives. Though he often works anonymously, Christ promises to be present whenever believers gather in his name. Therefore, we must continually ask God to heighten our awareness to discern Christ's veiled presence in common people and routine events. As we open our eyes to see and ears to hear, we may be surprised by the everyday moments that are actually divine encounters. May the examples of Simeon and Anna inspire us to e...

  The Shepherds' Story: Embracing Our Worth in God's Eyes This Sunday my sermon will focus on the remarkable encounter between the angelic host and the “lowly” shepherds in Luke 2. I will be preaching on "The Shepherds' Story: Embracing Our Worth in God's Eyes." The shepherds exemplify a common human struggle many of us face... feelings of inferiority, self-doubt, or believing we are not "worthy enough" for God's purposes. Yet this passage shows us that God intentionally chooses the people society overlooks or rejects to carry and embody the gospel message. This divine revelation to the shepherds flips human assumptions about significance completely upside down, reminding us we are ALL equally beloved children with a vital part to play. As we prepare our hearts for worship this Sunday, consider: ·         Do you ever feel like an "outsider" who questions their worth or significance? What might God be saying to you through this scr...

The Angels Sing  This Sunday I will preach on the radiant revelation from Luke 2:10-14 when an angel and multitude of heavenly hosts appeared proclaiming the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Together we will explore the angels' grand announcement as well as their example of worshipfully receiving and spreading the glorious gospel news. My aim is for this passage to reignite wonder in our hearts at God's stunning grace on display that Bethlehem night. I want us to recapture the joy and praise modeled by these divine messengers so we too can faithfully proclaim and celebrate Emmanuel this Christmas season. As we prepare our hearts, here are a few questions to ponder from Luke 2:10-14: Do you respond with praise when reflecting on the gift of Christ's coming? How can you cultivate deeper joy and awe this Advent season? Let's allow these mysterious messengers from heaven to enlarge our worship and empower our witness as we share the good news of great ...

  T he Bethlehemites This Sunday I'll be preaching from Luke 2:4-5, the familiar passage about Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem where she gave birth to Jesus. As we enter the Advent season, my message focuses on the tragic irony that this small town was too preoccupied to notice the monumental miracle happening right in their midst. The locals were bustling about, profiting off the influx of visitors there to register for the census. Yet they completely missed the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. In our consumer-driven December rush today, we can easily grow distracted just like the Bethlehemites. I want to challenge us not to gloss over the Advent themes of waiting, longing, and making room for Jesus. My prayer is that we'll set aside the extra busyness to reflect on the quiet yet powerful way Christ entered our world. As you read Luke's account this week, consider these questions: ·         What things tend to crowd out your awaren...

 The Innkeeper This Sunday I will be preaching on the innkeeper briefly mentioned in Luke 2:7, the one who may have (for the sake of the sermon, we are going to assume he did) offered his stable to Mary and Joseph on that holy night. We know little about this person, yet his small act of hospitality set the stage for the birth of Jesus - the pivotal event in God's plan of salvation. I'm titling the message "The Innkeeper" and will explore how he serves as a metaphor for our own role in making room for Christ.   Just as the innkeeper unknowingly gave shelter to the Savior by offering his stable, we too may serve God simply through small acts of kindness toward those in need. We may feel our contributions insignificant, yet God uses even simple gestures of goodwill to unfold God’s divine plan. As we anticipate Christmas this season, let us reflect on how we can actively make room for Jesus amid the busyness. What changes might we make to focus less on self and more...