Stepping into the Life of Promise

Stepping into the Life of Promise

Sermon notes for March 1, 2026

Second Sunday in Lent 

We will use the following texts.

Genesis 12:1-4

12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”[a]4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

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Psalm 121 

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

    from where will my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

    he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 He who keeps Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day

    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

    he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep

    your going out and your coming in

    from this time on and forevermore.

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Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

4 What then are we to say was gained by[a] Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed[b] God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5 But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

16 For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed,[a] who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

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-John 3:1-17 

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[c] must be born from above.’[d] 8 The wind[e] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h]

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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Sermon: Stepping into the Life of Promise

Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

In the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit I welcome you to this study of scriptures.

Friends, you may not be aware of The Revised Common Lectionary which is a standardized, three-year cycle of weekly scripture readings used by most mainline Protestant churches in the U.S. and Canada for Sunday worship. It coordinates readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, Epistles, and Gospels to align with the church calendar. We are currently in the season of Lent.

Generally, if the preacher is following the lectionary (which I usually do), I will read all of the chosen verses to see which one or ones “speak to me”. This is the inspiration. This week all of the readings resonated with me. I saw a commonality that ran through Genesis, Psalms, Romans, and the gospel of John. That's why we have four scripture readings today.

From there, with the Spirit's guidance, I delve deeper into the Scripture for the underlying theme. Then I gather background and supporting materials to bring forth a sermon that hopefully explains, expands, and answers the question, “What does this mean for me today?” Because I believe that these words are designed to change us. 

And speaking of change, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian who wrote profoundly about Christian faith.

He is quoted as saying, "A preacher's job is to comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable" 

Hang on because today I may be doing both.

Stepping into the Life of Promise

We are starting with the troubling of the comfortable. Relax, this is not about troubling you … yet. 

The story of faith does not begin with a human searching for God; it begins with God interrupting a human life.

When we meet Abram in Genesis 12, he isn't a young man looking for adventure. He is seventy-five years old. He is settled. He has his "father’s house," a country, and a kinship network. In the ancient world, these weren't just sentimental things, they were your social security, your identity, and your protection.

Then comes the Divine Disruption: "Go."

God tells Abram to trade his certainty for a promise. Notice the tension: God promises a "great nation" and a "great name," but he doesn't provide a map. He provides a direction: "To the land that I will show you." 

 Faith is a journey toward a destination that only God can see.

The Call to "Go" (Genesis 12)

Abram was 75 years old when God told him to leave everything familiar. Usually, we think of that age as a time to settle in, not to move out.

The Question for us is, “Do we have a country, a home, a habit, a mindset, a comfort zone, or anything else that we feel God is calling us to leave behind right now?

Okay, maybe I am doing a little troubling here.

Ask yourself honestly, “Why is it harder to trust the "land God will show you versus the land you can already see? It's it fear of the unknown? Or are we just too comfortable with where we are to move to a “Promised Land” which we cannot see? 

We often want the "blessing" without the "going." But the text suggests that the blessing is found in the going. Abram’s obedience wasn't about earning God’s favor; it was about positioning himself to receive what God was already giving.

"But let’s be honest: positioning yourself for a blessing often feels a lot like positioning yourself for a panic attack. When you leave the 'land you can see' for a promise you can't, you start looking over your shoulder. You start looking at the horizon for help. And that brings us to the song Abram would have needed for the road."

If Genesis 12 is the "call" to the journey, Psalm 121 is the "song" of the traveler.

As Abram walked toward Canaan, or as we walk toward the unknown future God has called us into, we inevitably look at “the hills." There is only peril in those mountains. In the ancient Near East, the hills were places of danger, they were where bandits hid and where pagan shrines (the "high places") were built.

Our Question here is, “When you feel overwhelmed, what are the "hills" you tend to look toward first? Sometimes in our modern lives, our hills may be mountains of debt, job insecurity, troubles at home or abroad.

Now reflect on this: How does the image of a "Keeper who never sleeps" change the way you view your current anxieties?

The Psalmist asks the universal human question: "From where will my help come?"

The answer is, our help doesn't come from the landscape; it comes from the Creator of the landscape. The poem uses the word "keep" (or "keeper") multiple times in just eight verses.

He (God) is the Keeper who does not slumber.

He is the Shade at your right hand.

He keeps your "going out" and your "coming in."

This is the bridge between Abram’s journey and our lives today. The theme here is the protective care of God . We can afford to step out into the unknown because we are held by a Guardian who never blinks.

"It’s comforting to know God watches our 'going out and coming in,' but it raises a deeper, more personal question: Why? Why would the Creator of the hills care so much for a wandering traveler? Is it because the traveler is perfect? Is it because they’ve walked the path flawlessly? To answer that, we move from the story of the journey to the theology of the journey. Paul, writing to the Romans, uses Abraham as 'Exhibit A' to explain the 'why' behind the 'how.'"

In Paul’s day, people thought they could "work" their way to God and that, if they checked enough boxes and followed enough laws, they would earn a "wage" of righteousness. But Paul points back to Genesis. He notes that Abraham was called "righteous" before he did anything impressive. He was a flawed man who simply believed the God who "calls into existence the things that do not exist."

Paul’s point is radical: If you work for a paycheck, your boss doesn't "gift" you the money; he owes it to you. But God wants a relationship, not a business transaction. He wants to give you the inheritance of the world as a gift of grace. The only "work" required of us is the work of trust, the same trust Abram had when he packed his tents and left Haran.

Paul makes a sharp distinction between a wage (something earned) and a gift (something received by grace).

The question we must ask ourselves is, in what areas of our spiritual life do we still feel like we are trying to "earn a paycheck" rather than receive a gift?

Think about this: If your standing with God is based entirely on His promise and our trust (rather than our performance), how does that change the way we handle failure?

"This idea of a 'free gift' sounds wonderful on paper, but for those of us who like to be in control, it is incredibly difficult to swallow. We want a checklist; God offers a relationship. We want a map; God offers a Spirit. We see this exact tension play out in a midnight conversation between a man who had spent his whole life 'earning the paycheck' and the One who came to offer the 'gift.'"

We arrive at a dark street in Jerusalem where a religious leader named Nicodemus is trying to make sense of Jesus. Nicodemus is a "teacher of Israel." He knows the laws. He knows the history. But he is stuck.

Jesus tells him something that shatters his categories: "You must be born from above."

Nicodemus thinks in earthly terms: "How can an old man crawl back into the womb?" But Jesus is talking about a spiritual displacement. Just as Abram had to leave his physical country, Nicodemus had to leave his "religious country" that is his reliance on his own status and knowledge.

Jesus describes the Spirit like the wind. You can’t grab the wind. You can’t tell it where to blow. You can only set your sails to it. 

This is the culmination of our theme:

The Call: "Go" (Genesis)

The Protection: "I will keep you" (Psalms)

The Means: "By faith, not works" (Romans)

The Power: "By the Spirit" (John)

Nicodemus was a "teacher of Israel," yet he was baffled by the idea of being born again. He wanted a logical explanation, but Jesus gave him the metaphor of the wind.

My Question is (and this may be troubling the comfortable) Where do you see the "wind of the Spirit" moving in your life or community in ways that you can't quite explain or control?

Jesus says the Son was sent "not to condemn the world, but to save it." How does that specific focus on rescue over judgment reshape how we should interact with our neighbors?

"Nicodemus came looking for a logical explanation, but Jesus gave him a new life. He reminds us that this journey isn't just about moving our feet to a new land; it’s about moving our hearts into a new reality. It all culminates in the most famous promise ever spoken."

As we are getting close to the end of this sermon, I will attempt to comfort the troubled with the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16. We often read it as a slogan, but in this context, it is the ultimate "Promise." God so loved the world, this messy, traveling, wandering world, that He gave His Son. Why? Not to condemn the travelers, but to save them.

Today, we find ourselves at various thresholds. 

Maybe you are facing a "Genesis 12" moment where the familiar is fading and the future is a blank page. 

Maybe you are in a "Psalm 121" moment, feeling the oppressive heat of the sun and wondering if God really is watching over you. 

Or maybe you are a "Nicodemus," trying to figure out if you can really start over.

The message of these scriptures is consistent: God moves first. He calls, He keeps, He justifies, and He gives new life. 

We don't have to be perfect to start the journey; we only have to be willing to "lift up our eyes" and walk.

May you trust the Promise, rely on the Keeper, and feel the wind of the Spirit at your back as you go. Amen 

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Opening Prayer: The Prayer of the First Step

Let us pray:

Holy and Eternal God,

You are the Voice that calls us out of the familiar and the Spirit that breathes life into the weary. We gather here today—some of us feeling settled like Abram in Haran, and others feeling the restless wind of change.

We confess that we often prefer the safety of what we know over the promise of where You are leading. Forgive us when we try to earn Your love like a wage, or when we look to the hills of our own strength for help.

Open our ears this hour to hear Your call.

Open our hearts to receive the gift of Your grace that we could never earn.

As we journey through these scriptures, remind us that we do not walk alone. Be our Keeper who does not slumber, and our Shade at our right hand. Transform us, renew us, and give us the courage to be "born from above" this day.

In the name of the One who was lifted up so that we might live, Jesus Christ,

Amen.

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A Closing Prayer for the Journey

God of Abram and Sarah, God of the traveler and the seeker, we thank You that You do not wait for us to find our own way to You. Thank You for being the One who initiates, who calls, and who keeps. As we stand on the thresholds of our own lives - facing decisions, transitions, and unknowns - grant us the courage to step out. Help us to trust the Promise more than the Map. May Your Spirit blow through our lives like the wind, bringing us into the new life that only You can provide.

Through Jesus Christ, who is our Way, our Truth, and our Life. Amen

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The Benediction: The Blessing of the Open Road

And now, as you go forth from this place:

May the Lord, who called Abram to a land unknown, guide your feet into paths of peace.

May the Lord, who is your Keeper, watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forevermore.

May the God of Grace, who credits your faith as righteousness, fill you with a peace that the world cannot give.

And may the Spirit, which blows where it chooses, set your sails for the adventure of the Kingdom.

Go now in the confidence that you are not condemned, but saved; not alone, but kept; and not lost, but led by the God who loves the world.

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.

Amen.

Beyond Fancy Words

Sermon notes for February 8, 2026

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Feb 08, 2026

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)

God's wisdom revealed through the Spirit

2:1When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the testimony of God to you with superior speech or wisdom.

2:2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

2:3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.

2:4My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

2:5so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

2:6Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are being destroyed.

2:7But we speak God's wisdom, a hidden mystery, which God decreed before the ages for our glory,

2:8and which none of the rulers of this age understood, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

2:9But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"

2:10God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

2:11For what human knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God.

2:12Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

2:13And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

2:14Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

2:15Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny.

2:16"For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Sermon thoughts. 

Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12

Introduction: Beyond Fancy Words

In the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit I welcome you to this study. 

I promise to keep this moving because I know the only thing standing between you and lunch is me, and that’s a dangerous place for a preacher to be.

My friends, when the Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth, he didn't lead with flashy audio visuals or a professional PR team. He told them plainly: “I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom.”

Why? Because Paul knew a dangerous truth: you can win a man’s mind with a brilliant argument and never touch his soul. 

You can impress a congregation with a polished performance and leave them just as cold as when they walked in—or worse, they leave thinking the preacher is great, but forget that God is greater. (I’m praying that doesn’t happen today)

Today, I want to talk about the difference between "religion in the head" and "religion in the heart." Paul determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Now, don’t let Paul fool you—he wasn't exactly a slow learner. He was highly educated, studied under the Ivy League rabbis of his day, and grew up in Tarsus, which was basically a center of Greek philosophy. Today he would have enough degrees to cover a wall.

But Paul realized that compared to the Cross, his education was scrap paper. 

Does this mean we should be ignorant? Of course not. But if your spirituality is just high-minded philosophy or—God forbid—endless political debates on Facebook, it is a bloodless husk. 

If you have the "ten-dollar words" like Substitutionary Atonement but you don’t have the love of Jesus, you’re just a walking dictionary with a cold heart.

The Cross is our “get out of jail free card”. 

You must understand that Christ paid a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay. 

Is Christ the center of your life, or is He just a Sunday decoration—like that fancy "guest towel" in the bathroom that nobody is actually allowed to use?

Paul admits he came in "weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." This flies in the face of every "Alpha Male Leadership" podcast out there.

Mother Teresa said, “God cannot fill what is already full.”

If you show up to heaven’s gate and try to show God your "Good Person Reward Card" or your perfect attendance trophy, you’re going to leave empty-handed. 

We have to admit our spiritual poverty. I will admit that I can’t even find my own car keys some mornings. I'm certainly not able to save my own soul.

Paul's admission resonates with me because, for a long time, I rejected the Christ story as foolishness. I thought the miracles were just tall tales. Water into wine? Walking on waves? I was way too "rational" for that.

I was so full of myself that there wasn't even a folding chair left for God to sit on. I wanted the Creator of the Universe to play by my rules. 

I was like an ant trying to explain nuclear physics to the person about to step on the anthill. 

Eventually, I realized that the God who built all of reality can flick it on and off like a light switch whenever He pleases.

Paul says the "rulers of this age" think they are wise. They chase wealth, status, and the latest iPhone. 2,000 years later, we’re still doing the same thing.

But this "wisdom" is coming to nothing. The world says seek revenge; God says forgive. 

The world says "He who dies with the most toys wins"; God says "Give it away." 

To the world, God’s wisdom looks like it’s standing on its head, but really, it’s the world that is upside down.

The person without the Spirit is like someone trying to describe colors while standing in a pitch-black room. They just don't have the "spiritual senses" for it.

But for those of us who have felt the warmth of God’s love, this wisdom is more precious than gold. It’s the "deep things of God" whispered to our souls—usually right when we’ve finally stopped talking long enough to listen.

I beg you today: don't trust in a faith built on human logic. Logic is great for balancing your checkbook, but it’s a terrible savior.

Search your heart. If you feel "cold" spiritually, ask Him to turn up the heat. If you are "almost" a Christian — meaning you like the ideas but haven't met the Man — pray to be "altogether" a Christian.

Let us go forth not just "informed" by a sermon, but transformed by the Holy Spirit. Let us be people who know nothing but Jesus Christ — and maybe where we parked our cars.

Amen.

I have an epilogue to this sermon. 

John Wesley often invited his listeners to a "Covenant Prayer" of total self-surrender, a prayer designed to be a deliberate turning away from the "spirit of the world" toward the "Spirit of God." 

I am providing you with a type of covenant prayer. Use it as a starting point for your own contractual agreement with God. 

Understand that through the life, teaching, sacrificial death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has made His convenient with mankind. 

What I've tried to put into this prayer is basically my understanding of and agreement to His covenant. 

This is my prayer. If it doesn't speak your truth, edit it until it does. God already knows your heart so don't make promises you don't intend, with the Spirit’s help, to keep.

Eternal God, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, setting aside all pretenses and every mask of formal religion. I confess that too often I have been a "halfhearted Christian" maintaining the appearance of faith while living far from its true power. I have allowed the spirit of this world — its pride, its anxieties, and its shallow wisdom — to take root in my heart.

Lord, I am exhausted from living a divided life. I am tired of having one foot in Your kingdom and one foot in the world. I realize that this double-mindedness has robbed me of Your peace and left me feeling empty. I see now that the spirit of this world and Your Holy Spirit cannot live together. Therefore, by Your grace, I choose today whom I will give my soul to.

I surrender everything to You. I give You my will, my reputation, my desires, and my very life. Take away my "heart of stone" — that cold, self-centered spirit that is so easily offended and so slow to love. Instead, give me a "heart of flesh," made soft and responsive by Your grace.

Holy Spirit, come and take full possession of Your temple. Search me: Reveal the deep parts of my heart so that I can see myself as I truly am.

Fill me with love: Let the love of God be poured into my heart until every root of bitterness and pride is gone.

Confirm my identity: Do not leave me in doubt. Speak to my spirit and remind me that I am truly Your child, forgiven through the blood of Jesus and being made holy by Your power.

I am determined now to focus on nothing but Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Let that cross be the end of my pride and the beginning of a holy life. May I no longer live for myself, but for the One who died for me and rose again. Transform me from the inside out, so that my life clearly shows Your Spirit at work and brings You praise in everything I say and do.

In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and my everything,

Amen.

A Reflection on "Blessed" and a Mirror on Ourselves

Sermon notes for February 1, 2026

Matthew 5:1-12

The teaching of Christ: Beatitudes

5:1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

5:2And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

5:3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5:4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5:5"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

5:6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

5:7"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

5:8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

5:9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

5:10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5:11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

5:12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Call to Worship

(Inspired by Matthew 5:1-12)

Leader: Come, all who are weary and heavy-laden; come to the mountainside of the Lord.

People: We come with open hearts, seeking the wisdom of Christ.

Leader: Blessed are those who know their need for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

People: We bring our spiritual poverty; we ask to be filled by His grace.

Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers and the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

People: We come to be transformed by the "Upside-Down" way of Jesus.

Leader: Let us rejoice and be glad! For our reward is not found in the things of this earth, but in the presence of our King.

All: Let us worship God together!

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Holy God,

We gather today just as the disciples gathered on that mountainside long ago—hungry for a word that is true, a hope that is real, and a life that matters.

Lord, we admit that we often live by the rules of a different kingdom. We strive to be first, we hide our weaknesses, and we chase after comforts that do not satisfy. We ask that You would quiet the noise of the world around us so that we might hear the "blessed" whisper of Your Spirit.

As we look into the Beatitudes today, open our eyes to see the beauty of Your way. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours, soften our spirits where we have grown proud, and ignite in us a fierce hunger for Your righteousness.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight. We don’t just want to study Your teaching; we want to be shaped by it. Transform us today, from the inside out, that we might leave this place as bearers of Your light and agents of Your peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior,

Amen

Sermon:  A Reflection on Matthew "Blessed" and a Mirror on Ourselves

. Introduction: The Setting of the Sermon.

I've never been to the Holy Land and seen the supposed mount from which Jesus delivered his sermon on the Beatitudes. But even if I had been there, the event took place nearly two thousand years ago. I'm sure it has changed considerably over time. So we are free to use our imagination. In my mind's eye I picture a gentle rise up from the sea. The sun sparkling on the ever shifting waters and the tall grasses imitating the waves on the sea. 

Jesus arrives and immediately a crowd gathers around him. His fame as a healer and a dynamic speaker have brought the people out to see what he will do next. 

He ascended the hill not like Moses who left the people behind when he went up the mountain to talk to God. No, Jesus brings the people with him to meet God.

He took a seat on a bit of higher ground so that he could be more easily seen. He invited his disciples to come near and began to speak. 

 In his sermon you'll hear the word “blessed” a lot so it's important to understand what it means. It comes from the Greek, "ma-CAR-ee-os," makarios, meaning more than just "happy." It describes a state of spiritual well-being and divine favor that exists regardless of outward circumstances.

My friends, if we are to understand the mind of Christ, we must sit with Him on that mountainside. What He said was not a new law to crush us, but a divine revelation of the soul.

But let us be honest: we often prefer our own "versions" of these virtues—versions that at times look more like a comedy of errors than a life of holiness.

I. The Poverty of Spirit vs. The "Humble-Brag"

"Blessed are the poor in spirit..."

To be poor in spirit is to admit you are spiritually bankrupt. To be lower than a whale's bellybutton. That means being down so far that you have to look up to see the bottom. 

Yet, how often do we treat humility like a badge of honor? I'm humble and proud of it! 

We are like the man who wrote a book titled Humility and How I Attained It, and then complained when people didn't flock to him at a book signing.!

True poverty of spirit isn't saying, "I’m the worst sinner in the room," while secretly peeking to see if everyone is impressed by your modesty. 

It is the end of self-importance. It is realizing that standing before a Holy God and boasting of your "good deeds" is like a man standing in a hurricane and boasting that he brought a fan to help the wind along.

II. The Holy Sorrow vs. The Grumpy Saint

"Blessed are those who mourn..."

There is a holy grief for sin, and then there is what I call "sour-milk Christianity." Some think they are "mourning" for the world when they are really just annoyed at the way things are going.

I once heard of a man who thought he was being "spiritual" by wearing a perpetual scowl at every event he attended. My friends, that is not the mourning Christ speaks of! 

Holy mourning isn't being miserable because you can't have your way; it is weeping because we have strayed from the Heart of Love. 

If your "sorrow" just makes you difficult to live with, it isn't from the Holy Spirit—it’s likely just your indigestion.

III. The Strength of Meekness vs. The Doormat

"Blessed are the meek..."

Meekness is power under control. It is not being a "moral doormat" that everyone wipes their muddy boots on.

I have seen people who act "meek" only because they are too afraid to speak up, yet they harbor a secret list of grievances long enough to paper the walls of this worship center.

That isn't meekness; that’s just a slow-boiling pot with the lid tied down! 

The truly meek person is like a Great Dane being barked at by a Chihuahua: he has the power to snap, but the grace to simply yawn and go back to sleep. He does not need to defend his "honor" because God is his shield.

IV. The Great Hunger (and the Spiritual Junk Food)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..."

We all hunger for something. The tragedy is that we often try to satisfy a God-sized hunger with "spiritual junk food."

Let me explain. “Spiritual junk food" refers to easy, instant-gratification spiritual inputs (like shallow lip-service praise, self-aware positivity) that feel good temporarily but don't provide real nourishment, leading to spiritual emptiness, anxiety, or a focus on self rather than God, 

unlike true spiritual food (like deep scripture study, genuine service, and real Christian fellowship) which fosters deep growth and connection. Junk food clogs the soul, leaving one hungry and dissatisfied, preventing deeper spiritual understanding and connection to Christ. 

We spend six days a week gorging ourselves on the gossip of the town, the pursuit of a few extra dollars, and the latest fashions — and then we wonder why, on Sunday morning, we have no appetite for the Word of God! 

You cannot feast on junk food all week and expect to have a gourmet soul. 

If you don't hunger for holiness, ask God to give you a holy appetite. Stop snacking on the world’s trifles, and you will find yourself famished for the Bread of Life.

V. Mercy And Vengeance 

In a world that often demands "an eye for an eye" or prizes getting even, Jesus offers a radical alternative: mercy. 

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Mercy is more than just feeling sorry for someone; it is a deliberate choice to withhold punishment and extend kindness to those who may not deserve it. It is the bridge between our brokenness and God's restoration.

The beauty of this Beatitude lies in its give-and-take. It suggests that our hearts act like a valve:

When we open our hearts to forgive others and show compassion, we create space within ourselves.

In that open space, we become capable of receiving the vast, unending mercy of God.

To be "blessed" here means to experience a deep, spiritual joy that comes from being in alignment with God’s character. We are never more like our Creator than when we are being merciful.

When you choose to let go of a grudge, to help someone who can’t pay you back, or to offer a second chance, you aren't just being "nice." You are participating in the very rhythm of heaven.

VI. The Final Proof: Persecution

"Blessed are you when people insult you..."

Now, a word of caution: if people dislike you because you are rude, impatient, or just plain difficult, that is not persecution! That is simply the natural harvest of being a nuisance.

I have met some who claim they are "suffering for the Gospel" when they are actually just suffering the consequences of having a sharp tongue. 

To be persecuted "for righteousness' sake" means you were so much like Jesus that people found it uncomfortable. 

If the world is throwing stones at you, make sure it’s because you look like the Savior, not because you were throwing stones at them first!

Here is a call to action. Do not settle for a "Sunday-Christianity" that is all talk and no heart. Do not be an "almost Christian" who has the vocabulary of a saint but the temper of a wet hen. Seek his inward holiness.

Lord, we come to You as a people who often care more about looking healthy than actually being cured. 

We confess that we’ve frequently mistaken our own stubbornness for "standing firm" and our own complaining for "holy sorrow."

Lord, give us a clear and honest look at ourselves.

Strip away our pretenses and our "humble-brags," so we can be truly poor in spirit and ready to receive Your grace.

Melt the coldness in our hearts, so that we stop chasing things that don’t satisfy and start hungering for You alone.

Quiet our need to be right, so we can trade our defensive tempers for the quiet strength of the meek.

Lord, Write Your Way of Life— deep within our very character. Let Your love be the only source of our moods, our words, and our choices.

Lord, we aren’t asking for an easy life, but for a holy one. Whether we are enjoying the sunshine of Your peace or facing the heat of a world that doesn't understand us, keep us anchored in You. 

May we never settle for "good enough" until our entire lives are filled with Your love and our every thought reflects Your goodness.

In the name of the Father, the Sd the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, We thank You that Your Kingdom is not reserved for the elite, the powerful, or the perfect, but is opened wide for the broken, the mourning, and the humble.

Lord, we confess that our hearts often hunger for the wrong things. We chase after the world’s version of "blessing"—status, security, and the praise of others—only to find ourselves thirsty again. Today, we return to the mountain. We sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His voice.

Give us the courage to be poor in spirit, depending entirely on You.

Give us the strength to be meek, using our influence to lift others up.

Give us the vision of a pure heart, so we may see You moving in our lives.

For those here today who are being persecuted or reviled for doing what is right, remind them of their great reward. Let them feel the "great gladness" that comes from being counted among Your children.

As we leave this place, transform us into a "City on a Hill." May our lives reflect the beauty of Your upside-down Kingdom, bringing light to the dark places and peace to the broken spaces.

In the name of Jesus, our Teacher and King,

Amen

Hear, Come, and Tell

First Reading: Psalm 40:5-11

5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.

6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

7 Then I said, "Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.

10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

11 Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever

Second Reading: John 1:35-42 

35. The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,

36. and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"

37. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

38. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39. He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.

40. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed).

42. He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

________________

Title: The Echo of Grace: Hear, Come, and Tell

Scripture Focus: John 1:35-42 & Psalm 40:5-11

Introduction: 

The Beautiful Burden of a Secret

Have you ever received news so good that it felt like you would burst if you didn't share it right away? Perhaps a job offer, a pregnancy, or a clean bill of health? 

The one that immediately came to my mind was when my oldest daughter was baptized. When we returned home she immediately ran to the neighbor to tell her.

In those moments, silence is impossible. Joy, by its very nature, demands to be shared.

Today, we look at two passages separated by centuries but united by a single heartbeat: the necessity of sharing the wonderful works of God. 

From the poetic testimony of David in Psalm 40 to the practical invitation of Andrew in John 1, we see that the Gospel of Christ is not a treasure to be buried, but a light to be held high.

I. The Foundation: Recognizing the Wonder (Psalm 40:5-8)

Before we can share the Gospel, we must be overwhelmed by it. David begins by marvelling at God’s intentionality:

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you..." (Psalm 40:5).

Sharing the Gospel isn’t about reciting a dry manual; it’s about reporting a miracle. David notes that God doesn't just want ritual or "sacrifice and offering"—God wants a heart where the Word is written.

The Internalization: To share Christ, we must first let Christ "dig out" our ears (v. 6) so we can truly hear Him.

The Motivation: We share because we have discovered that God’s thoughts toward us are too many to count.

II. The Proclamation: Breaking the Silence (Psalm 40:9-11)

David makes a bold claim that challenges every "quiet" believer:

"I proclaim your saving help in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know." (Psalm 40:9)

He uses four powerful words to describe God's character: Righteousness, Faithfulness, Salvation, and Love. We often fear "witnessing" because we think we need to be theologians. But look at David’s strategy: he simply refuses to hide what God has done. He speaks of God's "saving help" in the assembly.

The Challenge: Are our lips "sealed" by fear, or "opened" by gratitude? The Gospel is public news, not a private hobby.

III. The Invitation: "Come and See" (John 1:35-39)

Moving to the New Testament, we see David’s poetry put into action. John the Baptist sees Jesus and points: "Look, the Lamb of God!"

Two disciples hear this and follow Jesus. When Jesus asks what they want, they ask where He is staying. His response is the greatest evangelistic tool ever given to the church: "Come and see."

Low Pressure, High Impact: Andrew didn't start with a sermon; he started with an invitation to come see.

The Experience: They stayed with Him that day. We cannot lead people to a Christ we haven't spent time with ourselves. Our "sharing" is most effective when it flows from a recent encounter with the Master.

IV. The Multiplication: The "First" Thing (John 1:40-42)

The text tells us something vital about Andrew:

"The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus."

The Priority: For Andrew, sharing Christ was not just another task on his list of things to do; it was the top priority. 

Unlike many people who may have put off evangelism or sharing their faith as something that could be done later, Andrew understood the urgency and importance of spreading the message.  

For all those who seek to follow in his footsteps must make sharing Christ their top priority as well.

The Impact: Andrew is often overshadowed by his brother, Simon Peter. But without Andrew’s simple act of sharing, would there have been a Peter to preach at Pentecost?

Your "Simon": 

In every person's life, there is always that one person in their circle who is just one invitation away from meeting the Messiah. 

This person may have gone through difficult times and may have strayed from their faith. However, there is still a glimmer of hope within them and they are just waiting for someone to extend a hand and guide them towards the light. 

They may be searching for something greater in their life and are open to the idea of finding spiritual fulfillment. 

It is up to us, as members of their circle, to recognize this potential and take the initiative to invite them to meet the Messiah. With a simple invitation, we can potentially change this person's life forever and bring them closer to God. 

Conclusion: Will You Seal Your Lips?

The Gospel is a chain reaction of grace. David sang it, John the Baptist shouted it, and Andrew whispered it to his brother.

God has done "many wonders" in your life. He has drawn you up out of the slimy pit and set your feet on a rock. Now, He asks you to unseal your lips. You don't need a degree; you just need a story and an invitation.

The call today is simple:

Look at the Lamb (John 1:36).

Come and see where He dwells (John 1:39).

Go and find your "Simon" (John 1:41).

 As believers, we are called to be witnesses of God's faithfulness and help in our lives. We must not hide the blessings and miracles that He has bestowed upon us, but rather share them with those around us. 

By doing so, we can inspire and encourage others to also put their trust and faith in God. Let us not keep His goodness to ourselves, but let it echo through our words and actions for all to see. 

I pray the grace that we have received from God may continue to flow through us, spreading hope and love to those around us. As we lift up His name and proclaim His faithfulness, may others be drawn to experience His goodness and mercy as well. Let us be vessels of His grace, shining His light in a dark world and bringing glory to His name. May the echo of grace continue through us, touching hearts and transforming lives for the glory of God. Amen

A Call to the Outcasts: The Ransom of the Lord

The Opening Prayer: A Petition for Gathering

Most high and holy God, you are the Shepherd of Israel and the One who seeks the lost. We come before you now as a people who have long been scattered by our own wrongdoings. You promised in your Holy Word to gather us from the north and from the farthest corners of the earth.

Please look down on us, Lord. Give sight to the blind so they may see your wonderful light, and give strength to the weary so they may walk in the way of your commands. Let your Spirit move through this gathering, so that we don’t just hear about your redemption, but actually feel its power deep within us.

Draw us close with your loving-kindness, and turn our sadness into a sacred hope for your grace. May we come together today to experience your goodness. Please open our hearts, align our wills with yours, and prepare our souls to receive the living water you have so freely promised.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:1-14 NRSVUE

[7] For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.” 

[8] See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor together; a great company, they shall return here. 

[9] With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back; I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path where they shall not stumble, for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 

[10] Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him and will keep him as a shepherd does a flock.” 

[11] For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 

[12] They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. 

[13] Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow. 

[14] I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord.

A Call to the Outcasts: The Ransom of the Lord

A Sermon outline on Jeremiah 31:7–14

I. The Joyful Proclamation

In these verses you will hear, “North country, Israel, and Ephraim”, all refer to the 10 tribes who broke away from the land of Judah. His message is delivered to Judah. 

“For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations.”

Do you see, my friends, the divine order of grace? God does not wait for the sinner to find his own way home; He first sounds the trumpet of deliverance. In our natural state, we are like scattered sheep, lost in the wilderness of sin, wandering in the "north country*" of our own pride and rebellion.

*Yes, the Almighty utters a cry of invitation! This is not a sullen call to duty, but a shout of gladness. 

Is it not the very essence of the Gospel that while we were yet sinners, Christ sought us? 

God commands His people to "proclaim" and "praise." We are not to hide the light of His redeeming love under a bushel, but to proclaim it until the ends of the earth hear that "The Lord has saved his people."

II. The Inclusiveness of the Remnant

“Behold, I will bring them from the north country... and with them the blind and the lame.”

Look at just who God gathers. He does not seek the strong, the self-sufficient, or those who boast of their own righteousness. No, He gathers the blind—those who cannot see the path; and the lame—those who have no strength to walk it.

This is the very hallmark of Methodism and, indeed, of early Christianity. The grace of God is "free for all, and free in all." 

Do you feel your own weakness? Do you stumble? Do you grope in the dark? Fear not! The Great Shepherd has a special care for the "woman with child" and the "woman in labor*." His grace is sufficient for the most vulnerable. They will come "with weeping"—not the weeping of despair, but the holy mourning of repentance—and with "supplications" will He lead them.

*”Woman in labor” and With weeping they shall come” is a powerful metaphor used to describe the intense anguish, distress, and impending judgment facing Israel and Jerusalem, particularly as the "Daughter of Zion," They will face destruction and exile; it's also a call to summon professional female mourners to lead public lamentation for the nation's sins. 

III. The Watering of the Soul

“And their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.”

Here is the promise of Christian Perfection—that state of heart where the love of God is shed abroad so abundantly that the soul becomes like a garden, well-tended and blooming.

The Drought of Sin is a desolate and barren landscape, where the heart is left parched and cracked by the scorching heat of lust and the destructive winds of pride. 

It is a place where the absence of grace has left nothing but dryness and emptiness. However, through the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, the "rivers of waters" flow, bringing life and nourishment to this once barren land. The Living Water of grace quenches the thirst of the soul and fills it with peace, joy, and long-suffering. 

These are the fruits of the Spirit, which take root and flourish in a heart that was once overrun by thorns of malice. Through grace, the drought of sin is replaced with an abundance of spiritual growth and transformation. The heart becomes a fertile ground for love, kindness, patience, and all other virtues to bloom. 

The Living Water is a gift from God, and it is through this miraculous source that we can find true fulfillment and satisfaction in life. With grace, even the most desolate landscapes of our hearts can become beautiful gardens filled with the fruits of the Spirit.

Does your soul feel like a desert today? The promise is to you! God does not merely offer a drop of comfort; He promises to " (sāSHēˌāt) satiate the soul of the priests with fatness" and satisfy His people with His goodness.

IV. The Exchange of Sorrow for Joy

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance... for I will turn their mourning into joy.”

Can any power on earth transform a broken heart? No. But the power of God can. He takes the heavy garment of heaviness and replaces it with the "oil of joy."

Notice, it is a communal joy. Young and old rejoice together. This is the "fellowship of the saints." We are not saved to be solitary, but to be built up into a spiritual house, where the "wheat, and the wine, and the oil" of spiritual blessing are shared by all.

The Application

My dear friends, are you still in the "north country"? Are you wandering in the cold indifference of a world that does not know God?

The message of "Repent: Turn your face toward Zion. Believe: Trust in the 'Ransom' mentioned in verse 11.

Look for the watering of your soul this very hour" is a call to turn away from our sinful ways and towards God. It reminds us that only through repentance and belief in Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice and ransom for our sins, can we be redeemed from the power of Sin and Death. The imagery of facing towards Zion, the holy city of God, symbolizes a turning towards God and His ways. 

By trusting in Jesus and expecting the watering of our souls, we can find true peace and salvation. This message serves as a reminder that no matter how strong the grip of Sin and Death may seem, the Lord has already redeemed us from it through His love and grace. It encourages us to put our faith in Him and eagerly await the refreshing and renewing of our souls through His power. 

This message speaks to the heart of every believer, reminding us to continuously turn towards God, trust in His plan, and expect His blessings in our lives.

Let us not rest until our mourning is turned into dancing and our souls are satisfied with the goodness of the Lord. Amen.

The Closing Prayer: A Benediction of Satisfaction

Lord God Almighty, you have rescued us from powers much stronger than ourselves. We give you our humble and sincere thanks for the Word we have heard today. We acknowledge that without you, our souls are like a parched and exhausted desert.

We ask you to fulfill your promise: make our souls like a well-watered garden. Let the grain of your Word, the wine of your joy, and the oil of your Spirit overflow within us, so that we may never grieve like those who have no hope. Send us out into the world now—not as people still in over our heads, but as those who have been set free by the Lord.

Help us be witnesses to the leading nations that you are a Father to your people. Keep us from wandering away; hold us close in your perfect love. Satisfy us so deeply with your goodness that we desire nothing but you, and nothing else in comparison to you. Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, be honor and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The Servant of All: A Sermon on True Righteousness

The Servant of All: A Sermon on True Righteousness

First reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 

The Servant, a Light to the Nations

1Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice
    or make it heard in the street;

3 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
    until he has established justice in the earth,
    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,[a]
    a light to the nations,

7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have come to pass,
    and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
    I tell you of them

Second reading: Matthew 3:13-17 NRSVUE

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”

Call to Worship

Leader:  Come! Let us follow Jesus to the edge of the Jordan River to be baptized. 

People:  We come to be cleansed and made whole.

Leader:  Come! Let us witness John’s confusion and Jesus’ insistence that John baptize God Incarnate.

People:  We come to join Jesus in choosing life in the kingdom of God.

Leader:  Come! Let us hear God declare the truth of Jesus’ identity and the truth of our identity as baptized people. 

People:  We come to remember and embody who we are as beloved children of God.

Leader:  Come! Let us worship God who leads us into the baptismal waters and salvation life.

People:  We come to worship God who empowers us through divine presence to live together as the family of God.

Opening Prayer

Everlasting God, during Jesus' baptism, you revealed him as your own Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. We pray that you will guide and keep all of us who have been reborn through water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling as your people. 

We humbly acknowledge our own stubbornness, Lord. As we enter this season of your light shining upon the world and your blessings pouring out upon us, we find ourselves consumed with our own problems, needs, and desires. Help us to instead desire you, Lord. May our hearts yearn for your presence. Wash over us once again with the waters of baptism, cleansing us from self-pity and pride. Nourish and heal us so that we may joyfully serve you. Remove any jealousy, greed or negative thoughts that prevent us from truly living out our calling as your people. May we embrace the blessings of creation, Jesus' birth and baptism, and the ministry of your holy saints.

We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Now hear these Words of Assurance

The love of God is always offered to us, freely, joyfully, for all eternity. Rejoice, dear friends, this is the good news of our Lord. Amen.

Sermon

We use as our text the readings from Isaiah 42 and Matthew chapter 3

​I. The Lowly Manner of the King

Friends, observe the method of our God. When the Almighty introduces His Chosen One, He does not speak of a conqueror with a sword of steel, but of a Servant. Isaiah tells us he shall not "cry out" or "lift up his voice" in the streets. There is no pride here, no worldly pomp.

​How does this match the scene at the Jordan? See the Lord of Glory standing in the muddy waters with sinners! John the Baptist rightly trembles, saying, "I need to be baptized by you." But our Lord answers "To fulfill all righteousness." True righteousness is not found in escaping the needs of humanity, but in stooping to meet them.

In the light of these scriptures, there are questions we must ask of ourselves.

​Am I willing to "fulfill all righteousness" by attending to the small, humble day by day actions of my life as though to the Lord, even when they bring me no worldly honor? Or do we ask, “What's in it for me?”

Do I, like John the Baptist, allow my own ego to decrease so that Christ may increase in my life? Can I step out of being the center of my own universe? I remember a bumper sticker that said, if God is your copilot --- you are in the wrong seat.

​II. The Gentleness of Divine Grace

​Mark well the character of this Servant: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench." Is this not the very essence of the Prevenient Grace of God?

​The Bruised Reed: 

Have you ever felt like a reed by the water that’s been stepped on? Snapped, hanging by a thread, feeling useless? 

The world would snap that reed the rest of the way and throw it aside. But Jesus says, "I will not break you." Perhaps you have felt your soul is snapped by the weight of sin or the sorrows of this life. 

The words of Amazing Grace come to mind. “‘Twas Grace that caused my heart to fear.” There is great fear when we realize how unworthy we are of God's love and forgiveness. We can feel crushed under the weight of our failures when the Spirit shines a holy light upon us.

However, the hymn writer also penned these words of hope, “and grace my fears relieved" because he understood that Jesus came to save, to lift up, and to heal. He sought us before we even knew him.

​Let's now turn those inward thoughts outward and ask, “How do I treat the "bruised reeds" in my life—the weak, the struggling, or those who have offended me? Do I crush them with my opinions, my words, or my deeds?

Or do I lift them up with my words, works, and prayers?

The Dimly Burning Wick: Perhaps your faith is but a flicker, nearly extinguished by the cold winds of the world. Maybe your faith feels like a candle that’s been blown out, where there’s no flame left, only a little bit of smoke. 

The world would pinch that wick and move on. But Jesus says, "I will not put out that spark." ​

Ask yourself, can I be patient with my own "dimly burning wick," trusting God’s work of Sanctification, or do I give way to that spiritual apathy which prevents understanding or faith. It can be described as a deep spiritual sleep or paralysis against divine callings. It can impact prayer and spiritual awareness. This requires spiritual awakening through prayer and study. 

​Hear the Good News! Our Christ does not come to crush you or blow out your fading hope. He comes to "faithfully bring forth justice." He comes to bind up what is broken. He does not grow faint until His work in your heart is finished.

​III. The Baptism of Spirit and Fire

​As Jesus emerges from the water, the heavens are rent asunder. The Spirit descends—not as an eagle, a bird of prey, but "like a dove." 

Here we see the "New Things" Isaiah spoke of.

​The Father’s voice declares, "This is my Son." Friends, this is the Witness of the Spirit. Just as the Spirit rested upon Jesus, so it is offered to you. 

It is not enough to have the "form of godliness" as described in 2 Timothy 3:5-7 “ holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power.” We must have the power thereof. It is this Spirit that opens the blind eyes and brings the prisoner out of the dungeon of habit and despair.

​IV. The Call to Holy Living

​Finally, consider that God has established a sacred, binding agreement with humanity in the firm of Jesus.  Christ was given as a light to the nations. If we are his followers, we cannot remain in the shadows.

​If the Father is "well pleased" with the Son for His humble obedience, shall He be pleased with us if we remain idle? We are called to be a Blessing.

1. ​Seek the Light: Allow the Spirit to show you your own heart.

2. ​Walk in Righteousness: Not by your own strength, but by the "Spirit put upon Him" which is now shared with us.

3. ​Tend the Reeds: Find those who are bruised and offer the same gentleness Christ offered you.

Here is the Life Application of this lesson. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit hear these words.

The Lord declares "new things" this very hour. Do not wait for the wick to go out. Come to the flame of grace. Let the Spirit descend upon your life, that the Father might say of you also, "In this child, I am well pleased."

Let us pray 

Divine Creator, through the baptism of Your beloved Son in the Jordan River, You consecrated water for the symbolic cleansing of sin. We, Your humble servants, ask for Your gaze upon us. We are grateful that You have not extinguished our flickering faith or crushed our fragile spirits, but instead have supported us through Your unmerited grace.

We pray that as the heavens opened for Him, the radiance of Your truth will illuminate our dark hearts. May Your Holy Spirit descend upon us, not for our own glory, but for the restoration of all nations. Take us by the hand and steer us away from worldly temptations, molding us into a people of covenant - pure, passionately doing good deeds and following in the footsteps of Your Son until we are perfected in love.

Hear our plea, in honor of Him who is the Light of the World, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Benediction: 

May you depart with peace; show affection and concern towards one another in the name of Christ; and may the same divine presence that filled Jesus, Isaiah, and John also fill your innermost being. May the strength of God, which sustained them, empower you for each day; and may the same love of God, which guided their every deed, be your guiding force and guiding light, both now and for eternity. Amen.

©2026 Thomas E Williams 

Created January 11, 2026