"Jesus, Wait!" (Luke 5:12-16)
In this sermon and text, we meet a leper who defied societal rejection to approach Jesus for healing. Though he had been isolated and excluded, he cried out in faith, “Jesus, wait.” In response, Jesus touched him and healed him, showing us the power of mercy and the importance of drawing close to him, even when we feel distant or unworthy.
Week 1: "Come With!" (Luke 5:1-11)
In this sermon, we’ll explore Jesus’s call to his first disciples. As Peter, Andrew, James, and John dropped their nets to follow him, their relationship with Jesus deepened. But this wasn’t an easy path. Peter’s initial excitement turned to fear as he cried, “Away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Yet Jesus reassured him, saying, “Don’t be afraid.” Similarly, we may feel unworthy when we first encounter Jesus, but his call reminds us to trust him and embrace the journey.
The Heart of Wisdom (Proverbs 3:1-10) (TRUST)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But what is its heart and core? The heart and core of wisdom is trust not in your own name, in your own ways, in your own wealth, in your own thinking or understanding. No, the heart of wisdom is not those things. The heartbeat of wisdom is trusting in the Lord. In this sermon, we’ll explore the reasons why so many other things and people are unworthy of our trust. At the same time, we’ll see why and how God is truly worthy of all our trust.
True wisdom from God has value for everything. This is true of Jesus, who is Wisdom from God. It is also true of the wisdom that the Spirit gives and works deeply in us. The writer urges us: Do not let this go! Do not let this out of your sight but hold it tightly. Wisdom is what the Teacher calls us to love and desire above all things. (Proverbs 3:11-24)
What is Wisdom? Why does it matter and how do we get it? This week we’ll begin to answer those questions this way: On the one hand, our Father calls out to us and urges us to tune our ears to wisdom and to seek it with all of our hearts. Yes, open up your ears to hear! And, at the same time, he reminds us that wisdom from him is truly a gift from him. Wisdom is a Spirit-worked, spiritual gut instinct that is truly a gift from our God. And so, we pray, “Lord, give me this wisdom!” Proverbs 2.
As we enter 2025, we hurry with the Wise Men to worship Jesus. Jesus himself walks beside the Sea of Galilee and calls us to follow him with a lively faith. But how? What does such a lively faith look like? Solomon has something to say about that. He calls us it “the Way of the Wise.” In this four week series, we’ll begin to learn to walk the way of the wise.
Today, we learn from Solomon that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:1-7
O Christ our Redeemer, Come.
The one who paid the price
With your life and death.
O Intercessor before the Father’s throne
To welcome us into our eternal home, come.
A sermon on Matthew 25:1-13
O God Among Us, Come. Great king, who gives the Law To gather nations nigh, O Lord our God, Redeemer, To save your children, come. A sermon on Isaiah 7:14
12/25 (Isaiah 28:16)
O King of Nations, come.
The hope and cornerstone
Who makes from many, one,
You fashioned us in Eden –
Your earthly vessels, save.
12/24 (Isaiah 9:2-7, especially 2)
O Glorious Dayspring, come.
The bright eternal light
And sun of righteousness,
On those who sit in darkness
And death’s dark shadow, shine.
We are now in the season of Advent. “Advent” means coming or arrival. This means that it is a season of anticipation, longing and hope. We look forward to and long for the coming of Christ even while we celebrate the fact that he came.
We sit right at the edge of our celebration of Christmas. It just a few days away now. It is so close we can almost taste it. Oh, how good it will be when he walks through the door and ushers us into eternity.
Today, Wisdom speaks to us through the Scriptures and tells us, “Blessed are those who wait at my door… for those who find me find life.”
12/18 (Revelation 3:7-13)
O Key of David, come.
Unlock what none shall bind,
And lock what none shall loose:
The captives in the darkness
Imprisoned, now set free.
The countdown is on. Each Sunday that passes in this season of Advent brings us one Sunday closer to our remembrance and celebration of Christmas. Hope begins to grow. Expectation and joy begin to increase. This only grows when we consider who Wisdom truly is: He is Christ, the Lord. The One who sits on heaven’s high throne. The One who gives all gifts for body and life, for soul and eternity. The One who is the eternal Son of God, truly God and truly human being, in one person. Today, we learn another thing. He was there at the very beginning, creating this world together with the Father and the Spirit, delighting in what was being created and finding joy in us, the crown of God’s creation. He is Wisdom, the one who is delighted with us.
Today we see that Wisdom was not only there before the world was created, but he was also there at creation. He was constantly at the Father’s side, rejoicing in his presence and delighting in humankind.
12/11 (Isaiah 11:1-10)
O Root of Jesse, come.
This ensign raised for all
To whom the nations pray,
Before whom kings keep silent:
To rescue quickly come
We are now in the season of Advent. “Advent” means coming or arrival. This means that it is a season of anticipation, longing and hope. We look forward to and long for the coming of Christ even while we celebrate the fact that he came.
Today, we meet John the Baptist who cries out, running ahead of Jesus, preparing the way for him. And what does he say? What does he tell us about Jesus, true Wisdom of God? He declare the greatness and eternity of Jesus, of Wisdom: “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me” (John 1:15). That was his clear and loud testimony. “I am not worthy to stoop down to untie his sandals” (Luke 3:16).
12/4 (Exodus 3:1-14)
O Lord of Israel, come.
Through bushes breathing fire,
To Moses you gave Law;
O come, redeeming Ruler,
With arms outstretched to save.
This is about wisdom in the book of Proverbs, but not the practical, know-how kind of wisdom. This wisdom from God is his very own Son. As we end one church year and move into another, we call out for true wisdom from God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1) to come. Last week we learned that Christ is true wisdom. Today, we see that since Christ is wisdom on his throne, he comes with and gives gifts to meet all our needs. Proverbs 8:17-21.
This is about wisdom in the book of Proverbs, but not the practical, know-how kind of wisdom. This wisdom from God is his very own Son. As we end one church year and move into another, we call out for true wisdom from God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1) to come. In this first sermon Pastor Chris explores who Wisdom is and what that means for our lives. If Christ is true wisdom, he is the power behind all thrones since he is on heaven’s highest throne. Proverbs 8:12-16.
It’s such a beautiful letter. So, moving and touching. With a deep desire for so much forgiveness. Paul writes with such passion and love that he would even pay the debt in the place of the sinner. He told Philemon, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me” (18). Yes, like I said at the beginning, this is such a tender letter of love and a desire for reconciliation that both Philemon and Onesimus would fight for the family.
How can I say anything more than that? Our pastoral hearts beat with a desire that confessions would be made, forgiveness would be given, and God’s people would be restored to one another. How sweet would that be for our family here at Mount Lebanon and beyond if we would “fight for the family” and live together like this? How sweet would this be for our families at home and at work if we would “fight for the family?” If we would confess our sins to another when we have sinned against them? If we would forgive their sins when they have sinned against us (even if they don’t confess)?
What would that say to the community around us if we were known as the church that “fights for the family?” What if we were known as the church that, in love, confronts sin in others and among us – and then forgave it!?! What if we were known as the church that lives together like this?
Oh, dear people of God, “Refresh my heart in Christ” and let’s live together in love like this.
A sermon on Philemon.
During Advent and Christmas, we will cry out, “O Come!” The title of the series comes from the O Antiphons. These are short sentences and prayers that historically have accompanied the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from Dec 17-23. These sentences embody a a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
Beginning on Christ the King Sunday (11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22)
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
12/4 (Exodus 3:1-14)
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
12/11 (Isaiah 11:1-10)
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
12/18 (Revelation 4:1-8)
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
12/24 (Isaiah 9:2-7
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
12/25 (Isaiah 28:16)
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
12/29 (Isaiah 7:14)
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
