12/28/25 THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS - JOY TO THE WORLD LUKE 2:25

12/28/25 -THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS: JOY TO THE WORLD- Luke 2:25-35

Ah, the songs of Christmas: we’ve heard them everywhere this season: from secular radio to dedicated cable channels to doctor’s offices, even at our car wash facility: We vacuumed to sacred Christmas music. These songs are a witness. They BROKE  BARRIERS: they are heard and hummed by the saved & the seekers. They BROUGHT COMFORT: in the hectic busy chaos of the holidays: they are a safe place. They BROADCAST A MESSAGE: both the Christmas narrative & the theology behind it. 

We have looked at some of the great carols of Christmas in the past few weeks - 

Silent Night, What Child Is This, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. But.... Christmas Day is past: The ornaments have been put away; our sanctuary will undergo post Christmas changes, the poinsettias will be gone, and Christmas music will not be sung for another 11 months. But, before we leave our Christmas emphasis, there is one final SONG/SCRIPTURE for us to consider: both of which are perfect for the Sunday AFTER Christmas, for both deal with a message of AFTER CHRISTMAS/BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS/WHAT’S NEXT......;

the SONG: JOY TO THE WORLD

the SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:25-35

THE SONG: JOY TO THE WORLD was written by an English minister, a theologian: Issac Watts, who, even as a child demonstrated the gift of poetry: often speaking in rhyme: He remembered one time when he was chided by his Father for not closing his eyes at the dinner table. He responded: “a little mouse for want of stairs, ran up a rope to say his prayers; father, father please pity take & I no longer verses will make”. His gift continued, he wrote over 750 hymns, including WHEN I SURVEY, O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST, and our selection for today JOY TO THE WORLD. He compiled an entire hymnbook for the church. WHY? because as he looked at worship, it was lifeless: the words to the songs did not make sense, the music was worse: everyone looked and sounded like nobody cared when they sang: HIS MISSION BECAME TO INTRODUCE NEW SONGS WITH NEW MEANING. In 1719 he wrote a poem entitled THE MESSIAH’S COMING & KINGDOM. He intended it to be a paraphrase of Psalm 98, (98:1,4). It talked more about the second coming than the first. It was not intended as Christmas carol at all but an American composer used a tune by George Handel. The first four notes are the same as one of songs in that famous work and the rest is history: THE SONG IS  PERFECT FOR US TODAY BECAUSE IT LOOKS PAST THE FIRST COMING TO THE COMING: Joy, then and joy now as we await.

Our Scripture is perfect for today, because it occurs after that star spangled night in Bethlehem: eight days after to be exact, as the young couple takes their newborn to the Temple to dedicate Him, but that trip would turn out to be one of the STRANGEST BABY DEDICATIONS IN HISTORY.

Let’s read about it: LUKE 2:25-35: And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen they salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary, his mother, Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea “a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.'

Enter Simeon- he was old with a white beard; the original white bearded man at Christmas. He is a minor player, he does not in appear in your manger scenes but he was connected: he was in tune with God when so many were not: not the philosophers in Athens, not Caesar in Rome, not even the religious leaders in Jerusalem. They were  either ignorant or apathetic: BUT NOT SIMEON. What he did and said about this eight day old infant was both amazing and instructive....

Look with me for few brief moments at a PROMISE, a PROCLAMATION, and a

PREDICTION....

A PROMISE 

A description of Simeon was that he was JUST, he was righteous (right-ness) and DEVOUT, pious. He had a deep active commitment to God: HOLY SPIRIT was upon him,  he was on first hand speaking terms. Note that this description was all inward: we tend to concentrate on the outward. How many times mirror (seen people putting on makeup while driving?!), but God is more concerned with inward: Samuel said in Isiah 16:7: a man looks at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. Simeon was WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL: when the MESSIAH would bring comfort, redemption, and peace to Israel from their sorrows and oppression: If he was at a similar age to Anna, in their 80’s, then both were young adults when General Pompey had led the Roman occupation some 60 years earlier.

This Just/Righteous/Holy Spirit filled man had been PROMISED by God: you will not die until you have seen the MESSIAH:  He came every day faithfully: IS THIS THE DAY? AND  ONE DAY he saw a young couple with a newborn: and God said: THIS IS IT: AND THE PROMISE WAS FULFILLED. THERE ARE PROMISES FOR US: The Bible is a promise book: by conservative estimates, there are over 3,000 promises in the Bible, averaging three per chapter: some people MAKE promises /some people BREAK promises: God keeps His Promise!!!

There are 4 days left in this year counting today: here are 4 categories for rest of year

PRESENCE PROMISES: Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20

POWER PROMISES: Philippians 4:13, 2 Timothy 1:7 

 PROVISION PROMISES: 1 Cor. 10:13, Psalm 55:22

PREVAILING PROMISES: James 4:7 - 1 John 4:4

A PROCLAMATION 

Imagine a senior adult: someone you don’t know, have never seen asks “CAN I HOLD YOUR BABY?” And he said: now, Lord, I can die a happy man. I am filled with joy because I have seen Jesus: A LIVING EMBODIMENT OF THE PHRASE OF JOY TO THE WORLD. I have seen your SALVATION: in HEBREW: your YESHUA means Jesus. Salvation is not a what, but a who: not what you do, but who you know: not a religion but a relationship; Jesus did not say follow my TEACHINGS, follow my EXAMPLE, He said: FOLLOW ME. I WILL BE A LIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLES: Jew and Gentile: he is for everyone: God is a flashlight that leads us from our darkness into God’s light: that is why Jesus said: Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). 

And Joseph and Mary marveled, as they kept on learning how amazing their child was and /would be. HAVE YOU RECEIVED HIM? the GIFT of Jesus: thanks be unto God for HIS AMAZING, INDESCRIBABLE GIFT! 

A PREDICTION 

The child would become the most influential person in history: part of three great world religions: the greatest force for compassion; but He would also be polarizing: some would accept, some would reject him; some would love him and some would hate Him.

The first hint of the cross is found in verse 35: Mary would be at the cross but Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled that day: Isaiah 53: but he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, AND BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED. YES, A PREDICTION THAT LOOKED AHEAD TO THE REAL REASON THAT JESUS WAS BORN: THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS INDEED FELL ACROSS THE CRIB, Jesus was born to die and to live again, FOREVER.

So, in Simeon we see:

a PROMISE: God always keeps His promises

a PROCLAMATION: God’s salvation is found in a relationship with a PERSON

a PREDICTION: Jesus would indeed go to a cross, and what people believed

about Jesus would reveal their hearts & determine their destinies

AND WITH US....WE RESPOND WITH JOY TO THE MESSAGE OF HIS FIRSTCOMING

AND WE AWAIT WITH JOY AT GOD’S APPOINTED TIME FOR HIS SECOND COMING,

WHEN, AS THE LAST STANZA OF OUR SONG SAYS: 

He rules the world with truth & grace & makes the nations prove

The glories of righteousness & wonders of His love

So, as we leave for the final time in 2025, let us go with the message of a Christmas card we received this year: the Wise men came...... but they left...... the season of Christmas is ending, but not the reason of Christmas. FOR GOD IS WITH US.... IN 2026.... 

12/21/25: THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS -HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING: Luke 2:8-17

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing: The song was written by an Englishman, Charles Wesley, the brother of John Wesley, a great 19th century revivalist. The brothers were not admitted into Anglican Church because the church disagreed with their ministry (they spread the gospel outside, on street corners, with minors); which was considered improper. Charles wrote several songs, and they were frowned upon and were not going to be added to the Book of Common Prayer, except, as the story goes, the printer needed one more song to even out the number of hymns in the latest edition. Hark The Herald Angels Sing gained even more popularity when composer Felix Mendelssohn included it in one of his Christmas cantatas.

Now, we may ask the technical/theological question: DO ANGELS SING? And we will not find a clear answer in Scripture (We know the angles spoke, chanted and sang); we do know that their activity was one of PRAISING and in other places in Scripture, PRAISING involved singing, such as in Revelation 5. 

So, my personal belief is that they did sing, and I see this as the first Christmas concert; now as with any concert, you have 3 parts: the audience, the singer and the content, and that will be the outline for our message today.....

THE AUDIENCE 

SHEPHERDS: WHY?

Why bypass the rabbinical schools for unlearned shepherds?

Why bypass majestic city of Jerusalem for plain town of Bethlehem?

It had something to do with their POSITION. Shepherds were considered lowly in society; they would stay away from home for months in their job (& away from baths): It was said you could tell a shepherd

was within sight if the wind was blowing the right way; for that reason, they were considered unclean and unfit to enter the Temple; they could not go to see God: He came to see them: because this  message was for EVERYONE, Paul would later write to the Corinthians: “for ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise, noble, mighty men have been called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; the things which are despised, God has chosen (1 Cor. 1...)

GOD LOVES ALL....GOD CAN USE ALL: even shepherds to become His first preachers about the birth. It had something to do with their PROFESSION. Of any animal in the world: Jesus would identify most with sheep: He would call Himself THE GOOD SHEPHERD who cares for His sheep, and in great irony, Jesus would be presented as both SHEPHERD AND SHEEP: prophesied in Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet, He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter....  Hundreds and thousands of sheep were killed each year for a symbolic, temporary removal of sin, but when the Lamb of God was killed, it had eternal implications: this one offered one sacrifice for sin forever (Heb. 10:12)

THE SINGERS 

Angels: created with independent existence: there is no relationships among them: no cousins, no uncles, aunts, not grandfather, grandchildren, they are servants of Jesus, but have no relationship to Jesus. Jesus became one of us, not one of them; They have a perspective of Jesus that we cannot. 

BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT THEIR APPEARANCE HERE: whenever God does something grand, angels seem to show up; these angels had seen creation, had seen Isaiah’s vision in the temple, had seen God’s miracles through the prophets, had heard the promise of Messiah...THEY HAD SEEN

THE SON IN HEAVEN; they had a perspective that we will only know in the future for they could appreciate how high and glorified Jesus had been there, and how much He had given up when He stooped to be born as a baby in a manger, and although they receive no direct benefit from it, they REJOICE at this act that can lead to OUR SALVATION. One of them: (maybe Gabriel?) comes and speaks: FEAR NOT: God is connecting with you in an amazing way to change history, to change you. FEAR IS MANAGED BY TRUST.

THE CONTENT 

What do they say when they sing? THEY ARE PRAISING THE PERSON: GLORY: majesty, splendor, worth, weight (worth his weight). god is glorified in a drop of water, a ray of sunshine, a blooming flower, a singing bird, but none can compare to this act of incarnation: where God takes the initiative to  prove His love for mankind by sending His Son. (John 3:16 also a great Christmas verse); HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME? THIS MUCH! God comes to man so that man might come to God. THEY ARE PRAISING THE PLAN: PEACE: Where is peace on earth? There seems to be less and less. Look at modern translations: peace among men with whom He is pleased, upon whom his favor rests: HOW DO YOU TELL? Jesus said not everyone will be better off because I have come: John 15:22: because I have come, they have no excuse for their sin: God is pleased when you respond and receive the gift.

So, after the concert, the shepherds go, experience and tell people who are amazed. The shepherds were probably ridiculed, but they could not stop because they had EXPERIENCED Jesus. The song from the hillside had faded, but the song in the shepherds continued as with angelic hosts they proclaimed: Christ is born in Bethlehem”

HARK THE HERALD: pay attention, this is important news: “hear ye, hear ye”, read all about it: an important message to hear and to share.

PEACE CHILD: Don Richardson were missionary ministering to the tribes of New Guinea. They were living among headhunters. They valued treachery.  JUDAS WOULD BE A HERO. Another tribe came and threatened. The Richardsons asked “Should we leave”. The chieftain replied “No, we will exchange a child: a peace child: My son will go to live with the other tribe and one of their sons will come to live with us -as long as the peace children live there, there will be no treachery: I give my son and there will be peace.  Jesus was God’s peace child: PEACE ON EARTH AND MERCY MILD, GOD AND SINNERS RECONCILED

May the message that started with the angels and continued with the shepherds be lived out and spoken by us:   

JOYFUL ALL YOU NATIONS RISE

JOIN THE TRIUMPH OF THE SKIES

WITH ANGELIC HOSTS PROCLAIM

CHRIST IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM 

THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS: O Come, Let Us Adore Him - Matthew 2:1-12

Adeste, fidelis, laeti triumphantes... so begins the original Latin version of O Come All Ye Faithful, our hymn and sermon thought for today. It was written in the mid 1700’s: by a musician named John Francis Wade, an English political refugee living in France. It was  translated and adapted into English about a century later by Anglican priest Frederick Oakly (stanzas1,2,3,6). Two more stanzas were added in the 19thcentury to complete the Christmas story described by the hymn: which puts the singer into groups: 1) Seeing the first Christmas from the perspective of the SHEPHERDS who were the first to respond to God’s invitation to come and see and 2) joining the long procession of the faithful who also respond to the divine invitation to come and experience Jesus. Not everyone accepted the invitation. It was Simeon who said, as he held the baby that the hearts of many who beheld Him would be revealed (good/bad) (accept/reject). Not all would COME AND ADORE HIM: indeed, in our Scripture for today, 3 kinds of hearts are mentioned, only 1 of which comes & adores Him. See if you can pick them out as we read MATTHEW 2:1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus is written it is written by the prophet. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Did you spot them?

*Herod’s REBELLIOUS heart

*the chief priests/scribes INDIFFERENT hearts

*the Magi’s ADORING hearts

As we study them today, we must admit that we see all 3 active in our world 

As we study them today, we must ask: which is most like MY HEART?

1. HEROD

The wise men reach Jerusalem: they are ushered into the palace. They were  seen as important foreign dignitaries brought to meet Herod, a Roman client king over Judea: not the king, the Emperor. Ceaser Augustus, but one of many appointed by Rome to keep the peace.

THAT’S WHAT HE WAS, BUT GO DEEPER INTO WHO HE WAS

a.  BUILDER KING: known for colossal building projects such as the fortresses at Masada & Herodium, the founding of new cities such as Caesarea Maritima, the development of water supplies for Jerusalem through

aqueducts, and the rebuilding and expansion of the temple in Jerusalem, which became the architectural focal point of the city (the Western Wall still stands as one of the four retaining walls of the structure). He did all  this to elevate own name and to get in good with people for Herod was very insecure and filled with mental problems.

b. MURDERING KING: believing that they were out to depose him, Herod killed 1 of

his wives (Mariamne) and 2 of his sons, which caused Ceaser Augustus to say it is better to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son: He suffered physical pain and mental paranoia.

c. LYING KING: no doubt the wise men thought that the news of a birth of a king heralded

by a star would cause great joy, but not from Herod. He was deeply troubled and all  Judea with him: because of Herod’s disposition, when he wasn’t happy, no one could be happy, as this man who wanted to be king, who loved to be called king, found himself afraid of a tiny baby: He tried to trick the wise men go...search...bring word so that I can worship him.

d. EVIL KING: when they are warned in a dream not to return: he is angry beyond belief:

& the man who had no problem in murdering his own son would certainly not

think twice about murdering other people’s sons. It would have taken them more than a year to get there.

Herod died 2 years later with a still rebellious heart, and he would discover how right he

was to fear the babe, of whom he would be subject to judgement.

A Pastor told a story of a child in a stroller with a steering wheel. He turned the steering wheel one way and the other but he was not in charge, because that steering wheel was not  attached to anything that really mattered: IT IS THAT WAY WITH MANY PEOPLE. THEY HAVE A  REBELLIOUS HEART: they are not like Jesus: He cramps their style: they want to be in charge, but they are not; like the parable Jesus would tell as an adult: Luke 12:19-21.

HEROD: THE REBELLIOUS HEART

2. CHIEF PRIESTS/SCRIBES

Matthew 2:4-6: THE INDIFFERENT HEARTS

Herod called these scholars: they knew where (Micah); they knew what (Messiah), but not one of them cared enough to make a 5 mile walk to Bethlehem to see if this indeed was the time that God had chosen to fulfill His promise. Why didn’t they go? Maybe a fear of Herod; maybe the story was not fitting in with what they expected: no royal entourage to fight the Romans had appeared: for whatever reason: they were disinterested. Here were people who had HEARD it all, who had READ it all, who KNEW it all, but they were indifferent and tuned out Jesus: they weren’t antagonistic, they just didn’t care.

KNOWING WHAT DOES NOT MEAN KNOWING WHO: they knew the message but did not know the Messiah: and later an adult Jesus would address them with a fiery set of “woes” of which included: Matthew 23:27-28. Many are indifferent: but there are not 3 choices: positive, negative and neutral, there are only 2.

CHIEF PRIESTS/SCRIBES: INDIFFERENT HEARTS

3. WISE MEN

Matthew 2:10-11 They were seekers, Magi (astronomers/agricultural experts/administrators/leaders) some of the best Persia had to offer. OH CAN THEY TEACH US SOMETHING....how they were willing to overcome barriers:

a. DISTANCE: It was over 1000 miles: over a year’s time and the star led them to Jerusalem  first because God never bypasses His word: this is why you go to Bethlehem: because it is prophesied: God’s Word always gives guidance. And when they leave Herod, they AGAIN see the star, and rejoice with great joy as then it leads them to Bethlem: not to a cave, but to a HOUSE

b. RACE/RELIGION: The wise men were proponents of Zoroasterism: they had their own  religion: to seek a Jewish king: who by that time was a year old toddler.

c. PRIDE: They fell down and worshipped him. How could these grown respected men

worship a baby? THEY LET GO OF ANY PRIDE: If this is the One, He is worthy of worship: THEY OFFERED GIFTS.  DID THEY UNDERSTAND? CERTAINLY, THIS POOR FAMILY COULD USE THE GIFTS TO FINANCE THEIR TRIP/STAY IN EGYPT FOR THOSE 2 YEARS. 

We should take our place alongside them: in Jesus, our search for joy, peace, comfort, direction, salvation is OVER: & He is indeed worthy to be worshipped.

YEA, LORD, WE GREET THEE, BORN THIS HAPPY MORNING: TO THEE BE ALL GLORY GIVEN....

O Come All Ye Faithful.... FAITHFUL: what an important word: what an enduring concept: may we be known as part of the great caravan of the faithful who have responded to God’s invitation to come & experience Jesus..... AND.... May we be seen in our continued faithfulness as we live lives of faithfulness to properly reflect Jesus, the One we adore.....

May we not have the rebellious or the indifferent heart, but the adoring heart for Christ, the Lord: O come...... 

12/07/25: CHRISTMAS MUSIC What Child Is This? Revelation 22:7-21

What child is this, who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping? So begins our carol for the day: words written by an Englishman named William Dix, a man who at age 29 contracted an unexplained disease; suffered for years physically & emotionally; he  went through what he termed a dark season; he discovered COMFORT in his illness through Scripture, and one day, while still bedridden as he was recovering, he considered how Jesus left the throne of glory to be born in a lowly manger, he  wrote a poem: THE MANGER THRONE, which was later joined to an old English folk tune called GREENSLEEVES and became this carol.

The carol asks a question that needs to be answered: What Child Is This? One day, a little girl with her Mom at a Nativity Scene asked who is this? Mom replied That’s Jesus. The little girl asked why doesn’t He grow up? He was that same size last year. Many of us are content to leave the child there: an innocent child, non-offensive: like a book on a shelf, you take, you read, you put it back: but it doesn’t really affect you: because you’re still in charge: a lot of people when you say Jesus they think.... still a child in a manger. To the Muslim: he was a great prophet, who escaped the cross and was taken directly to Heaven, but he did not die for sins. A merchant may think, it really does not matter to me, as long as, during this season, He can help make me/this store more money than last year.

What child is this? Who was/is Jesus? Do you really know who Abraham Lincoln was? How can you find out? You can research and discover who his parents were, look at baby pictures, you can visit the cabin where grew up? NO, you could start there, but do not end there. What was his career (what he did); what was his character (what he believed): why was he considered one of greatest Presidents with his face on a $5, and an important part of that discovery would be to discover what he said in the Gettysburg address. So with Jesus: go to manger: the place of his birth: start there, but do not finish there:  the baby needs to grow up: we should find out who He was/how He believed/what He said.

LAST WORDS are often memorable & important in understanding a person.

Benjamin Franklin said “A dying man can do nothing easily”

Leonardo Da Vinci said “I have offended God and man because my work did

not reach the quality it should have”

John Wesley said “And best of all, God is with us”

Dwight L. Moody said “Earth is receding, heaven is opening, and God is calling”

The last words of Jesus Himself were to answer the question: What Child Is This: not in Gospels, but in Revelation: Jesus Himself appears and speaks at the end of that  great vision written by John: JESUS LAST WORDS: from the last chapter of the last book in the Bible: (red letters): and in these words, we find 3 illustrations (metaphors); I am like....... which help answer the question posed by our Christmas carol today.

Revelation 22: 7 I am coming quickly: but it has been a long time already. But it hasn’t been a long time on God’s timetable. He said when I come: it will be quick: and many will not be prepared.

THE LETTERS METAPHOR (alphabetical) 

Alpha to Omega- In the Greek alphabet, there are 24 letters: we would say from a to z.

This is something that is hard to get your mind around, that there is no beginning and no ending. No big bang: something from nothing, just luck. I do not have enough faith for that: we may not know HOW but know WHO: Colossians 1:15-17. Another amazing fact -  every word in English language, according to the Oxford English dictionary – there are 171k: when you add forms: 600k: when you add outdated words,  over million: all from a unique combination of 26 letters, and Jesus said: I encompass all: From A to Z: I AM GOD: and as God, I have right to decide who gets in and who does not: everyone must come in through the gates, and the gate is ME: John 10:9.

WHAT CHILD IS THIS? GOD: and it’s reflected in song: 

The King of Kings salvation brings: 

Let loving hearts enthrone Him

He is the A and the Z (The Beginning & The End): The King Of Kings and bringer of

salvation: HE IS GOD.

THE PLANT/FAMILY METAPHORS (botanical/geneological) 

As a root is to a plant, so I am to David: the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in 11:1: a special shoot and a branch coming forth from Jesse’s stump (David’s father): the  true source from which David’s line originates: As a child is to his Father, so I am to David: I can  trace my geneology back to David (Matthew 1:6, 16): because even though I was GOD and before David, I am also MAN and after David. Here we have both aspects of the INCARNATION: I am God and I am man: as MAN, I can identify: I understand. As GOD, I can help, with empathy and authority.

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?: He is the ROOT and OFFSPRING of David: both before David (deity) and after David (humanity). This is reflected in song: 

on Mary’s lap is sleeping

 His mother sings her lullaby

 the Babe, the son of Mary

 HE IS MAN

THE STAR METAPHOR (astronomical)

The morning star: that we see is  VENUS: The first and brightest star visible before the sun rises: Our star is Jesus, the bringer of hope and a symbol of a new day/era. But more: the fulfillment of prophecy of Balaam in Old Testament: in Numbers 24:17: there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel: Jesus is the coming King.

WE SAY COME: COME O KING: Rev. 22:17

HE SAYS COME: 

to His Disciples: COME FOLLOW ME

to Peter: to walk on water: COME

to have breakfast (provisions): COME AND HAVE BREAKFAST

to the weary/burdened: COME TO ME....I WILL GIVE YOU REST

to the spiritually thirsty: IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK: Come for help, for guidance, to enjoy gifts, for rest, for cessation of thirst.

What Child is This? More than a child: this is CHRIST THE KING: the baby who grew up who wants and is able to help/save us.

It’s a question we will answer, that we must answer: and we’d better get it right: our destiny depends on it

 who do men say I am?

 who do you say I am?

His final words give us the  answer: I am GOD, MAN, KING

Let us: haste, haste to bring him laud (praise: worthy): verbally and visually: with our words and with our lives: THE GOD-MAN IS MY KING: and I love Him, follow Him, and worship Him.

11/30/25 -

THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS: Silent Night

Revelation 12 selections

When we think of Christmas, we naturally think of music. We have already used the KLOVE Christmas music app & the Direct TV classic Christmas music channel. From children’s favorites like Up on the Housetop to classical selections like O Holy Night, the music of Christmas fills our minds and stirs our hearts during this holiday season. And in our worship services, we sing those Christmas carols: these familiar biblically based lyrics bring us to a safe and secure mental and spiritual state during a time that is often far too busy and chaotic. So, beginning today and continuing through December, I will preach a sermon series on THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS: each Sunday, I will: use the title of the carol as the title for my message ; share a little about the carol for the day: use the title as a springboard for the sermon.  For example, today we begin with SILENT NIGHT: the most widely loved Christmas carol ever written, and, according to the story, a carol that would not have been written had it not been for a broken organ....

Go with me to a small Austrian village (Obendorf) around the year 1818 (still there today: near the border with Germany: 180 miles from Munich) the church’s Pastor was 22 year old Joseph Mohr, who discovered just days before the Christmas Eve service, that the church’s organ was broken: rumor has it that church mice had eaten through the bellows of the old pump organ and there was not enough time to get someone to  come and repair the instrument; the young Pastor was visiting a woodcutter and his wife in the village who had just welcomed a new baby; as Pastor Mohr left that visit to walk home, he considered the beautiful winter evening and the calmness that had enveloped the little village like a blanket, and his mind went back to another village ,  this one in Scripture, where a baby was born....the words started to come, and he finished the lyrics at home: he found a friend, Franz Gruber, who put music to the words, and he and the Pastor sang the song as a duet as Franz played the guitar: Joseph Mohr would die some 20 years later: he never knew this side of Heaven, how his song began to be shared with other churches, and its popularity grew and grew, even  reaching the palace of King Wilhem of Prussia; today, Silent Night has been  translated into over 120 languages and still ministers to those who need peace and calm in a hectic season. 

I have no doubt that to Joseph Mohr that evening in the Austrian village was both silent and holy. The night in Bethlehem was certainly Holy as God came forth in human  form in a stable and was laid in a manger: I’m not sure how silent it was, what with the small village being overrun with people everywhere in town for the census, But I am certain that there was a place where that night was NOT silent: a place not seen with the eye or heard with the ear: a cosmic place, away from the earth, where on December 24, hatred was festering, and evil plans were forming. SUCH A PLACE EXISTS AWAY FROM THE EARTH: Paul described it in Ephesians 6:12: the place where the evil ones reside the devil and demons)  AND IN THAT PLACE, DECEMBER 24 WAS NEITHER SILENT NOR HOLY:  here is how Revelation 12 described it:  “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for toe devour her child as soon as it was born”.

Not your typical Christmas Scripture: grotesque isn’t it? It is intended to be: but also ACCURATE. You see, the birth of Jesus brought forth a series of battles: of Satan vs Jesus and, when that was unsuccessful, of Satan vs us.

THE BATTLE OF SATAN VS JESUS

SATAN WISHED TO DESTROY HIM: through Herod: trying to trick Wise Men & then BY Slaughter of Innocents; By slaughtering all male children, Satan would be sure to slaughter the Messiah. God protected them. 

SATAN WISHED TO DISTRACT HIM: to doubt God, to try God, worship me instead: we are protected by knowledge of Scripture: IT IS WRITTEN.

SATAN WISHED TO DISCREDIT HIM: even through religious people: Satan tried to discredit Jesus with his own family. 

SATAN WISHED TO DERAIL HIM: at own home town, Satan would have pushed him over cliff: and then walked right through midst of them and went His way

SATAN WISHED TO DEFEAT HIM: Satan entered into Judas: He thought he had won when Jesus was crucified but on 3rd day..... RESSURECTION

EVERYTHING THE DRAGON TRIED TO DO... FAILED: Revelation 12:5  “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne”.

THE BATTLE OF SATAN VS US - Revelation 12:17: when he couldn’t defeat Jesus, he attacks His people, those that Jesus loves. Centuries later, we still struggle with Satan: sometimes we win; sometimes we lose. Our enemy is aptly named: Destroyer, Liar, Tempter, Accuser, Adversary, Murderer: he will tempt you and make evil look so good/appealing, then afterward accuse you and say: so you think you’re a Christian and God still loves you and can use you AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE....

THERE’S A PAINTING OF THE DEVIL PLAYING CHESS WITH A PERSON: THE WINNER WOULD SERVE THE OTHER: A famous chess player Paul Morfee, saw check mate: the  King laid down, and Morfee looked this way and that and said “Young man, no, wait, you still have a move you can make; he has not won: you still have a move.

DON’T FORGET YOU STILL HAVE A MOVE, A STRATEGY IN 3 PARTS

SUBMIT, THEN RESIST: James 4:7-8

SEARCH: look for God’s way out: 1 Corinthians 10:13

 SEIZE: seize and grab hold of this certainty: THE FUTURE IS NOT IN DOUBT: Revelation 20:10: when he brings us your past, remind him of his future.

So, Silent Night was not so silent in the cosmic realm, because everyone was not happy that Jesus had come, but the babe of Bethlehem grew up to be the Christ of Calvary, and for those who accept Him as Lord and Savior, our Eternal Father, the Mighty Counselor, the Prince of Peace becomes the giver of eternal Heavenly peace.

The carol ends with these words: SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, and when you realize that sleep in Scripture often means death: the believer can leave here in peace because they go to meet the Prince of Peace which gives new meaning:

  I will sleep in Heavenly Peace!

11/23/25 - An Old Fashioned (Old Testament) Thanksgiving: 2 Kings 5:-15

When I say let’s have an “old fashioned Thanksgiving”, I think back to my childhood, when Mom would still be cooking when Dad would return from deer hunting. I think of my dating years when all of the 9 children (Peggy being the 9th) would gather with their children at Mr. Bill’s and Ms Grace Law’s house for a feast followed by yard activities ranging from picking pecans to tossing a football. I think of earlier marriage years when I quickly discovered that my wife knew how to make the best cornbread dressing I ever tasted (using the old black cast iron skillet to make the cornbread portion: she still does) and how she would make just us two a small portion of the dressing for Thanksgiving Eve.  

The picture that comes to mind of an old fashioned Thanksgiving might look like this: A Norman Rockwell painting from 1943 entitled Freedom From Want: 1 of a 4 part series of paintings that Rockwell dedicated to then President FDR from his 1941 State of the Union, which he gave 4 reasons for supporting the Allied Nations in World War 2: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. ... now that’s an old fashioned Thanksgiving. (but wait... let’s go back further)

1863: when a weary but visionary President Lincoln took the advice contained in a letter by Sarah Hale and proclaimed a national day of gratitude; against the backdrop of the bloodiest and most divisive war in US history, Lincoln hoped such a day would provide a reason to bring the country together, as he proclaimed a day of TG and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. Now, that’s an old fashioned Thanksgiving.... (but wait....let’s go back further)

1621: when the Native American people joined the Plymouth settlers for a multi-day

feast of wild fowl (probably not turkeys) and venison in an uneasy alliance..... Now, certainly that is our old fashioned Thanksgiving.... (but wait.... once more further back.....) to an OLD FASHIONED, OLD TESTAMENT time of Thanksgiving.

2. 2 Kings 5: In our biblical story for today (our old fashioned, old testament Thanksgiving), we learn that Thanksgiving comes from the overflow of a heart that had seen DELIVERANCE: deliverance of a man’s desperate need by God’s gracious deed...

In the 9TH CENTURY BC: during the reign of Jehoram in the northern kingdom of Israel, he faced endless raids by Syrian king, Ben Hadad. These raids were conducted by his brilliant, highly decorated field general Naaman. BUT ALL WAS NOT WELL: Naaman had serious skin disease: the word used for this family of diseases like and including leprosy, which would have made him repulsive to Hebrew and Syrian alike: the GREAT MAN had a GREAT DISEASE.  Matthew Henry said: such was his condition that the least slave would not have traded to be in the skin of this otherwise great military leader. A maid servant: a little girl who had been taken captive: went to Naaman’s wife and told her about the great prophet Elisha, a prophet of God: God was a good God and she believed that His prophet could use that power to heal Naaman; the wife went to Naaman, and Naaman wrote to Ben Hadad, who in turn wrote a letter to Jehoram: and sent it with gifts: gifts of silver, gold, clothing, which would equal over half a billion dollars in today’s economy; WHY? because Naaman’s valuable to Syrian king was huge: The king wanted to keep the victories and tributes coming: he was worth every penny. The king reads the communique from Syria and mistakenly thinks he is being called on to heal Naaman and he knows he cannot); IT’S A TRICK to give an excuse to attack me: he tears his clothes as a sign of his agony and warns of an incoming attack. Elisha hears and says “come to my house”. GO TO HOUSE OF GOD’S MAN TO HEAR GOD’S WORD. THAT’S STILL A GOOD IDEA; He was given directions: he did not like them: they were not logical but he understood the principle: IN HIS COUNTRY: dunking 7 times in the river, both up and down stream and scattering gifts in the water was a way  to get a deity’s attention; THIS WAS DIFFERENT: God already knew about him and was telling him through His prophet what to do: IT REQUIRED FAITH; AT HIS SERVANTS INSISTENCE, Naaman listened, obeyed, and did as he was instructed: HE WAS CURED: his skin looked as smooth as a baby.

Let me share with you 3 lessons from Naaman’s Thanksgiving that we can use in our own Thanksgiving....

THANKSGIVING WAS A RESPONSE to God’s GRACE. AFTER THE HEALING, Naaman went back to Elisha to thank God by thanking Him. Naaman had a PHYSICAL healing: he had seen the GRACE of God in action. We have had a SPIRITUAL healing from disease of SIN: we have seen the GRACE of God in action: Ephesians 2:8-9

Thanksgiving the day has always been a day of responding to God: 

In 1621: they were not thanking each other or the Indians, but GOD

In 1863: Lincoln called for a day of giving thanks TO GOD

In 2025: we need to make sure that in the midst of family, football, turkey and  dressing, WE UNAPOLOGETICALLY THANK GOD for His active GRACE in our lives. 

Psalm 107:1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever

THANKSGIVING WAS A CONFESSIONOF GOD’S GLORY. Naaman’s healing allowed him to see Yahweh God in a new light; & he responded with a confession that this God was THE only God. It was a confession that REJECTED all of the gods powerless to help and RECEIVED the one God able to help. For us, we need to confess this Thanksgiving day: not only our sins, but also our Savior: that He alone is mighty to save; that He alone is worthy of praise,

He’s more wonderful than my mind can conceive

He’s more wonderful than my heart can believe

He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams

He’s everything that my soul ever longed for

Everything that He’s promised and so much more

More than amazing, more than marvelous, more than miraculous could ever be

More than wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me

THANKSGIVING WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF A TESTIMONY of GOD’S GOODNESS

The captive child points the way for a Syrian general, she told the wife, the wife told Naaman who told the Syrian King; Syrian King told Israeli King; the news comes to Elisha who says come see me and hear God. Psalm 107:2 says “let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO”, and SHE DID

Edward Kimball was a Sunday School teacher of boys: one boy could not understand salvation. Kimball finally went and confronted Dwight L Moody and he was saved. Through Dwight L Moody’s ministry Wilbur Chapman was saved and became an evangelist: During one of Wilbur Chapman’s crusades: a professional baseball player had the day off and attended: he was saved there. Billy Sunday quit baseball and joined Wilbur Chapman’s team: he began preaching his own crusades. Bill Sunday converted Mordecai Hamm: Mordecai Hamm came to North Carolina where a  lanky teenager vowed never to go hear him but he did: He was called Billy Frank by his friends: he went, and went back, he responded: Billy Franklin Graham was saved: the trail was started by an unknown Sunday School teacher who cared for his class of boys.

This Thanksgiving, may our testimony be GOD IS GOOD..... & ALL THE TIME.....

YES, Naaman’S OLD FASHIONED, OLD TESTAMENT THANKSGIVING was:

*a response to God’s grace: He has done great things for us

*a confession of God’s glory: great things come from a great God

*included a testimony of God’s goodness: WHO CAN YOU TELL?

Let’s go and make some spiritual memories this Thanksgiving. 

11/16/25 - God’s Plan for Giving: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

A circus strongman dazzled the crowd each night by displaying various feats of strength. He always closed his time with a simple display of power coupled with a challenge. He would take an orange and wrap his massive arms around it until he had squeezed the orange dry. After the squeezing, he would lay the nearly flat orange down and say: here’s a 100 dollar bill to anyone who can get another drop of juice from that orange. Each night, 2 or 3 people, usually brawny and muscular types would try, but they invariably failed. One night, an older, whisper of a man came forward. Enduring the laughter of the crowd, he took the orange, braced himself, slowly and steadily compressed what was left of the orange and nothing happened.... not for 10, 20, 30 seconds. The strongman was about to take the orange from the man, when, to the amazement of all, a singular drop of juice fell, splattering on the floor. ... After presenting the man with the 100 bill, the strongman took him aside and asked how did he develop such strength? The little man smiled and said, well, you see, sir, I’m the treasurer of the local Baptist church, and I am quite used to squeezing donations out of reluctant givers.

RELUCTANT GIVERS: Christian giving should not come as a result of arm twisting, brow beating, or wallet squeezing, but in response to a good God who has blessed us over and over again. Indeed, Paul said that our God loves to see CHEERFUL givers, and the word he used was the Greek word HILARISMOS: hilarious: not RELUCTANT givers, but REJOICING givers. God has a giving plan for His church, a plan for his people to follow, and it is clearly described in our passage for today. ***1 Corinthians 16:1-2**God’s plan for giving is: PROVISIONAL, PATTERNED, PERSONAL, PROPORTIONATE.

PROVISIONAL: The number one reason why Paul mentions money is because of a NEED: their sister church in Jerusalem was having a difficult time financially. Times were hard enough for these early Christians: there was persecution: many of these new converts were disowned by families or fired by employers, which already stretched the resources of a church in an economically depressed, occupied area. Add to that a severe famine and you see the need of financially helping this struggling fellowship: 16.  Paul was convinced of the legitimacy of the need and the responsibility of believers to help one another, he did not apologize for requesting the special offering: HE DIDN’T SAY:

.... if you don’t mind

.... if you’re not offended by it

.... if you can afford it

NO: he boldly challenged them: take an offering and have it ready when I arrive. 

When we take a look at our budget for 2026, it shows not just facts and figures, but  needs that our funds meet:  A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM HELPING A MISSIONARY FORCE IN OVER 125 COUNTRIES AND IN ALL 50 STATES & US territories; 117,000 baptisms in 2024: 494 receive Jesus at this year’s state fair. Our budget covers our Sunday School books, our bulletins, prayer guides, music pieces, the church staff. I will not insult you by saying that every need is met by our giving, but I do say that some needs will not be met unless you give. God’s plan is PROVISIONAL; it meets NEEDS.

PATTERNED: Upon the first day of the week, this sets a predetermined pattern for our giving. The Bible describes a God who loves order, not chaos and God’s plan for giving shows the pattern of order: Paul said: do it before I come: it’s not going to be a big emotional speech and passing of the plate, but take care of it as your privilege and duty; that was true of this special appeal and it was true of their normal, WEEKLY offering.  Some give when they feel like it: can you imagine what life would become if we just did something when we felt like it? How many meals would be cooked; how many houses would get cleaned, how many toilet bowls scrubbed, how much homework done?  A preacher had heard one of his Deacons say I don’t feel like giving this: week; the next week, the preacher went to his place of business, he was an auto mechanic: the preacher had him patch a tire: The bill - $5;The preacher gave him 53 cents, saying that’s all I feel like giving...... some give when they can afford it: if you wait until you can afford  it, we would never have children, never buy a house. Some give only when they approve: NOT IN CORINTH, the most dysfunctional church, they couldn’t even   decide which pastor they liked best.  We are to give on the first day of the week: this tells us a couple of important things:

a. Sunday was their prime day of worship

b. gave their offering to their local church

 We not against other legitimate ministries: we have several throughout the year:

but it is to be beyond the tithe with the local church. God’s plan for giving is PATTERNED: regular: a plan that includes Sunday, worship, and the local church.

PERSONAL: Let every one of you give, no one is excluded: young or old; male or female; rich or poor. Indeed in Scripture, no one is too poor to give: remember the widow’s pennies in Scripture, no one is too rich to give: In Mississippi, we’re not doing so well: among MS Baptists: 20% give 80%: less than 20% tithe: I once took undesignated giving and divided it by number of family units, if it represented 10% of income, our church membership qualified for being at federal poverty level.

THE PROBLEM? Your love for Jesus: how much has he done for you?

A Pastor had 10 inactive members who were not giving anything. He asked his secretary to send a gentle letter to each. He received a return letter in the mail: check; Dear Pastor: I want you to know that from this time on, I will be back in church, and I will give. Enclosed is a make up check for 5K: I’ll be regular from now on. You can count on me.  PS: Please tell your secretary that you don’t spell dirty with 2 t’s and you  don’t spell skunk with a c. Well, you may not be a dirty skunk, but you may be a DISOBEDIENT SINNER in that you are not involved in God’s plan for giving, PERSONALLY.

PROPORTIONATE: as God hath prospered him.... God says our motivation for giving is to respond to what He has already given us: THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE FOR ALL OF BELIEVER’S LIFE:  Because He has blessed us with His presence, power, forgiveness, wisdom, hope,  He asks that we support HIS CHURCH by giving back a portion: never less than 10%:  Jacob promised a tenth to God, he never rescinded, one constant: grateful response

to God’s blessings, but if it is proportionate: not ask how little but how much.

Aren’t you glad God is not a reluctant giver? Where would we be if God blessed only spasmodically or reluctantly? Instead, we glory that God is a giving God!

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase

To added affliction He addeth His mercy

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure

His power no boundary known unto men

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

11/09/25 - WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT: James 5:7-11

The headline read: “SICK OF WAITING, PATIENT SUES DOCTOR:

Ken Fleckenstein had arrived on time for his appointment with his podiatrist, Dr. Robert Taylor. He waited 87 minutes; for his next follow-up appointment, he waited 51 minutes. Fleckenstein, a self-employed handyman claimed the unacceptable wait had cost him time, money, and customers, and he presented his doctor with a $92 invoice. When the doctor refused to pay, Fleckenstein sued for lost wages + $12. 75 in court costs and attorney fees. In court, the doctor admitted to sometimes double and even

triple booking appointment times, but he also claimed that the extended wait times in these cases were due to emergencies, which always took priority. The doctor did publicly apologize to Fleckenstein both verbally and in writing, and the court sided with the doctor. Now, Ken Fleckenstein’s lawsuit may seem frivolous to us, but his concern about time doesn’t. Time is our most precious commodity, even greater than money; 

you can print more money, but you cannot create more time (except for this last weekend when you got to live the hour between midnight and 1 again with the ending of Daylight Savings Time). WE HATE TO WAIT: in a doctor’s office/in a restaurant, in gridlock on a road. In our instant gratification society, where we can find almost any answer to any question with the help of “sister’ Siri or “professor” Google, we dislike waiting on people, we even dislike waiting on God. Did you know, that in the Great Physician’s office, the waiting room is also the Emergency Room? Yes, He views your ability to wait on Him as a true diagnosis

of your spiritual condition. And, that is what our passage for today (James 5:7-11) begins with .....  Be patient until the coming of the Lord. Jesus came the first time, and He promised to return and come the second time, and we are WAITING for that glorious new/next chapter in history. We are waiting: so, what do you do while you wait?

POSITIVE THINGS TO DO WHILE WE HAVE TO WAIT: play on your phone, talk to people, fall asleep.

NEGATIVE ACTIONS WHILE WE HAVE TO WAIT: get mad at the driver in front of you, look at your watch every 90 seconds, push past the next person in line.

Here, James gives us 3 positive suggestions of what to do while we are WAITING ON JESUS TO RETURN..... AND, BY THE WAY, before we go any further, WAIT in Scripture does not mean the same as the word translated WAIT in the Bible..... It is not passive:  it doesn’t mean sit back, do nothing: rock days away & wait on Jesus. It is active : to  lie in wait prepare to ambush; plan, be alert, be ready: I’m about to meet God in a  moment and I don’t want to miss it.

So, what are the 3 suggestions for positive/active waiting on the Lord?

BE PATIENT (7-8) Be long tempered, slow to anger: the opposite of having a short fuse: the ability to hold emotions in check: not letting people push your buttons: the ability to think before speaking, taking a step back, taking a long breath: Will Rogers said: when angry: count to 10, when very angry: count to 100.

Being patient has nothing to do with your personality or your internal wiring. You can’t say this is how God made me and I can’t help it.

ILLULSTRATION: THE FARMER: make no mistake: the farmer works:  The field does not plow itself, the seed does not plant itself, the harvest does not reap itself; the farmer does what he can do, BUT THE FARMER ALSO WAITS: for the early rains Oct-Nov to germinate the seed, the late rains in March-April to mature the plants. He works and waits: and so should we: work as if all depended on you, but wait as if all depended on God, and if we do, God will ESTABLISH our hearts: to be steady, stable, strong: be steady now as you remember WHO is coming.

DON’T GRUMBLE (9) This is one of 30 “one another” commands: don’t take your frustration out on a Christian brother: remember He is your Christian brother and you both have the same Father. The word grumble here means to sigh or groan inwardly out of pain/grief; to speak bitter words, be unsettled, hurtful, lash out, unsatisfied words: there in an emphasis at the first of the sentence: STOP DOING THIS: stop grumbling, complaining, whining: WHY?

SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED: yes, Christians are judged: we are saved from the final judgment of sinners, but Christians will face a divine exam for how we lived our Christian lives: 2 Cor. 5:10. Are you known as a grumbler? Do you have a reputation of a complainer? STOP IT: He has already given you a new mind/heart: use it! Ask Him to help!: Philippians 4:13

ENGAGE SCRIPTURE (10-11) Look in the book: find 2 godly examples: learn from what you read. The Prophets: they spoke the Word even while they suffered: Jeremiah suffered in stocks/bonds, Hosea’ suffered family tragedy, Elijah’s suffered depression and loneliness: Hebrews 11:32-38a:  but they waited on God.  Job ENDURED: though he slay me, yet will I serve Him, for I know that my redeemer liveth.

He came, and He is coming again: Acts 1:11 2 & while we wait: do not forget: God uses His waiting room as an exam room to diagnose the quality of your faith:

*be patient

*stop grumbling

*engage Scripture

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming

One day the skies with His glories will shine

Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing

Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising He justified freely forever, 

One day, He’s coming, O glorious day

11/02/25 -OMITTING THE OMISSION! James 4:17  

For want of a nail, a shoe was lost

for want of a shoe, a horse was lost

for want of a horse, a rider was lost

for want of a rider, a battle was lost

for want of a battle, a kingdom was lost

ALL FOR THE WANT OF A NAIL

Avoiding the bad is not enough. Usually when we talk about sin, we talk about doing

something bad: God has said DON’T DO IT, and WE DO IT ANYWAY. We gauge our faith on how we handle the THOU SHALT NOT’S; like the 10 Commandments: thou shalt not steal, lie, kill, commit adultery, covet: Lord, I don’t do those things (except maybe lie/covet); so I’m ok: NO, YOU’RE NOT: avoiding the bad is not enough to please  God; it’s not enough to be a success at your faith; it’s not enough to define your religion in the negative.....

Theologically, there are 2 categories of sins:

a. COMMISSION: doing the wrong thing; misdeeds

b. OMISSION: not doing the right thing; missed deeds

shoulda/coulda; it is the sin of OUGHTNESS

To omit something is to leave it out. Omission is the sin of what is LEFT OUT.  Leaving something out or off can be a big deal:

Leave off one digit from your SSN: credit application is denied

Leave off one letter from an email: it gets bounced back

Leave out one bolt from an oil pan: you can ruin an engine

I will see you Monday (after, before, morning, PM ??)

YES, LEAVING SOMETHING OUT CAN BE A BIG DEAL.....

At the close of James 4, we find a single verse that says leaving something out....can be a big deal spiritually...... Let’s look together at the SIN of OMISSION and let us agree to work toward OMITTING the OMISSION.

TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD: 

knoweth=to perceive, to be SEEN: we have KNOWLEDGE

good=God: what is good: God’s will for you

God holds you accountable for what you know, and we know what we ought to do: we know right from wrong: 

How can I say that? 3 reasons: 3 things God has given us

a.  conscience: ROMANS 2:15: now, some people have had their conscience seared by their environment, relationships; de-sensitized by constant overrides.  

b. Word of God:  it helps us navigate through this turbulent, upside down, backward world: like Psalm 19:7-11,

c.Holy Spirit of God: God Himself is with you: & He will “guide you into all truth” _

You can only claim ignorance if you are ignorant: so with these 3, we have NO EXCUSE: we know better.

AND DOETH IT NOT: INACTIVITY -this verse is not only an admission of knowledge, it is also a call to action: a call to move away from inactivity/negligence: of having to admit: I knew what I was supposed to do....and I didn’t do it.

No: we saw something we should have done and we looked the other way, walked by on the other side of the road, we stuck our head in the sand like the proverbial ostritch, and in God’s eyes, we become just like the DOCTOR or the LIFEGUARD who can help but doesn’t.

WE GET A CASE OF AMNESIA: HOLY AMNESIA: we come to church.......

WHY?

1. Fear: consequences, cost, being rejected/judged:

Answer: Acts 5:29: having a clear conscience and the approval of God outweighs fear: one day, we will look into HIS eyes, not the eyes of those that keep us from doing right

2. Rebellion: we just don’t want to: God says GO and we say NO: We don;t feel like it: don’t want to

Answer: Proverbs 3:27

TO HIM IT IS SIN: INACCURACY: it’s wrong, we missed the mark: we are not accurate in our choices/thinking/doing: we have fallen short  of what God intends.

Why? Let’s hear what  Jesus on the sin of not doing good: 

Matthew 25:41-43: YOU DID IT TO ME

THE PROBLEM IS : YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE

In the Holocost Museum there is a tribute to “righteous Gentiles”: non-Jews who helped out Jewish people from their would be German tormenters: 2 of the people in tribute:

Oscar and Emily Schindler: a businessman in an ammo plant in Poland: he employed 1100 Jews: he was able to protect them.

IN THE FINAL SCENE OF THE MOVIE “SHINDLER’S LIST”: I could have done more! But Oscar, over 1100 people were saved because of what you did: you blessed generations. It’s not enough: why did I keep this pen/this car; I wasted so much money; I should have done more.

WHAT IF WE HAVE DONE ONE MORE GOOD DEED FOR GOD?

someone encouraged, helped, saved?

We want to lessen the I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE’S before the Father: How? James 4:7-8: SUBMIT: get in rank behind your commander: draw away from the fear/rebellion and draw near to him. MAY OUR FAITH HAVE LESS NEGATIVES.... AND MORE POSITIVES

We will be judged by how we stayed away from the thou shalt nots & how we got involved in the thou shalts.

Let’s work toward OMITTING the OMISSION

10/26/25 TAMING THE TONGUE: James 3:1-12

An old man spread rumors about his younger neighbor stealing equipment. The young man was arrested for theft but was later released and cleared. After his release, the young man sued the older neighbor for slander and wrongful accusation. During the ensuing hearing, the old man said... they were just words; they didn’t hurt anybody. Before passing sentence, the judge said to the older man: before you leave this courtroom today, I want you to write down everything you said about this man on this piece of paper.  After you write them, leave the courtroom and walk to the park across the street. Use these scissors to cut the paper into a dozen pieces and throw them up in the air. Then leave, go home, and come back tomorrow and hear my decision. Thinking this was some way to do “penance” in the judges’ eyes, the old man agreed. The next day, he came back into the courtroom ready to confirm that he had followed the judge's orders and, having learned his lesson, he would be exonerated. To his surprise, the judge said: before I pass sentence, I want you to go across the street to the park and pick up every piece of paper you threw away.... The old man said, your honor I can’t; the wind has blown them in a hundred different ways. The judge said, Sir, you are right: and so it is with your hurtful words: they have blown through the community for all to hear. They have injured this young man’s reputation and character, even though they were not true. And, once spoken, you cannot take them back. If you cannot say something good, do not say anything at all.

The tongue is powerful. It can lift up and it can tear down. It is difficult to tame. In fact, James says if anyone can control the tongue, then he is a PERFECT (fully mature) completed man. In James 3, James uses 6 dramatic, vivid word pictures to describe the power of the tongue and taming of the tongue.

Do you suffer from a case of athlete’s tongue? (it comes from sticking your foot in your mouth) Have you ever said something you wish you could have taken back? Has your tongue ever gotten you in trouble? 

As we examine what James says about the tongue, I’m going to borrow a 3 point outline of Dr. Warren Wiersbe from this passage that discusses the POWER OF THE TONGUE

 *POWER TO DIRECT (1-5a)

*POWER TO DESTROY (5b-8)

*POWER TO DELIGHT (9-12)

THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER TO DIRECT (1-5a)

In Verses 1-2 James is talking about teachers: this was a prestigious position: some speaking more than they know: sinning with words, not only condemning themselves,  but leading others astray as well. But we all sin with words (what we speak); not just teachers: we all stumble REPEATEDLY; in fact, if you can handle the tongue (the hardest thing), you can handle the entire body; if you can control what you speak, you are perfect (fully mature), the FINISHED product.

Verse 3: ILLUSTRATION 1: A bit in a horse’s mouth: the typical roman war horse  weighed 900 pounds, and a bit weighed less than a pound, yet the smaller directed the larger.

Verse 4: ILLUSTRATION 2: A rudder on a ship: even the largest ship that ever sailed,The Seawise Giant was 564,763 tons (a cargo ship); it’s rudder was 230 tons, or .04 of the weight (1/2 percent.  The smaller directed the larger.

Verse 5a: in the same way, the tongue directs the body; it can move you toward success or failure; reveal you to be bitter or boastful or holy or humble. By the way, also the first hint of how to control the tongue: the bit is put in by someone apart from the horse; the rudder is directed by someone not a part of the boat.

 IT COMES FROM HANDS THAT ARE WITHOUT WHAT IS MOVING.

THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER TO DESTROY (5B-8)

After establishing the tongue has the power to direct, James introduces 2 more word pictures that demonstrate how the tongue has the power to DESTROY.

Verse 5b: ILLUSTRATION 3: An out of control fire: it starts little and grows, destroying much: The Great Fire of 1910 burned 3 million acres, including parts of 10 national parks: 87 died (mostly Firefighters). One of the causes: embers/sparks from a passing locomotive in the region: small to large; OUR SPEECH CAN BE A FIRE THAT DESTROYS (Proverbs 16:27) A worthless man’s speech is like a scorching fire. 

Words can burn you, hurt you.

Verse 6: Don’t miss this verse full of spiritual truth about the tongue. Evil words contribute to an evil world; one reason we have so much trouble in this world is because we have so much trouble with our tongues. Words can define and direct the entire course of our lives (yes/no/I do/I will not). The unredeemed/unrepentant tongue has a direct connection to hell itself: Gehenna: 11 by Jesus and here by James: the picture...... the point: uncontrolled speech comes from the influence of Satan himself:

WHAT DOES YOUR SPEECH SAY ABOUT WHO IS LEADING YOU AT THAT MOMENT?

Verse 7: ILLUSTRATION 4: we can tame animals: teach lions to jump through hoops,

Bears can learn to ride on bikes: America’s Got Talent winner, the dog Hurricane did unbelievable tricks.

Verse 8: here’s another hint: WE CAN’T DO IT BY OURSELVES: we cannot tame the tongue: again, that control must be outside of one’s self.

THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER TO DELIGHT (9-12)

Verse 9-10: We BLESS (eulogy: speak well) of God and curse those made in image of God. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE.

Verse 11: ILLUSTRATION #5: A BUBBLING FOUNTAIN. A flowing spring will not have both a sweet and a bitter taste, it can’t be both fresh and salt water. This is not natural: something is very wrong.

Verse 12: ILLUSTRATION 6: A FIG CANNOT GROW ON AN OLIVE VINE. That is not natural; that is, against THEIR NATURE. It is a call to consistency: reflect your nature, because the  tongue reflects the heart: “what’s in the well will come up in the bucket”.

So, what do we do?

Start with 2 hints already covered

1. It must come from without (like the bit or the rudder)

2. We cannot do it ourselves (no man can tame his tongue alone.)

DO YOU WANT TO TAME YOUR TONGUE?

FIRST CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT YOU NEED HELP

Here are some biblical descriptors of the tongue:

 wicked-deceitful-filthy-blasphemous-contentious

TAKE THIS TEST: have any of these come from your mouth?

 GOSSIP: Proverbs 16:28: A contrary man spreads

conflict, and a gossip separates friends. 

COMPLAINING: James 5:9: Brothers, do not complain

about one another, so that you will not be judged.

DISHONESTY: Colossians 3:9: Do not lie to one another,

since you have put off the old man with his practices.

CONFESS YOUR NEED FOR HELP TO GOD AND ASK

*Psalm 141:3: LORD, SET A GUARD FOR MY MOUTH,

KEEP WATCH AT THE DOOR OF MY LIPS.

PRAY BEFORE YOU SPEAK

CONCENTRATE ON HIS WAY AND HIS WORDS

A. HIS WAY

*Philippians 4:8: Finally brothers, whatever is true, 

whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever

is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,

if there is any moral excellence, and if there is any

praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS

T.H.I.N.K before you speak: ARE YOUR WORDS:

True Helpful Inspiring Necessary Kind

So, let us close with Ephesians 4:29 and commit our speaking

this week to God..... No rotten talk should come from your

mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone

in need in order to GIVE GRACE TO THOSE WHO HEAR

MAY THOSE WHO HEAR MY WORDS THIS WEEK RECEIVE GRACE

10/19/25 - JAMES: BLUE JEANS THEOLOGY: #2

James 2:14-26: 3 Types of Faith

Faith is an essential element in the Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Ephesians 2:8: we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH. 2 Cor. 5:7: we are to walk by faith, not by sight (live Christian life). Romans 14:23: whatever is done APART FROM FAITH is sin. SO, YES, IT IS IMPORTANT; YES, IT IS ESSENTIAL

We TALK about faith. Keep the faith/take a leap of faith/act in good faith/faith healing/got to have a little faith.

We SING about faith - have faith in God/faith of our fathers/my faith looks up to thee

What is faith? The Oxford Dictionary describes it as complete trust and confidence in someone or something. Hebrews 11:1 says “now faith is the substance of things  hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION. 

F.A.I.T.H.: forsaking all, I trust Him

The best definition I can give concerning faith is to find the answer to this question: IS FAITH A NOUN OR A VERB? we will answer that question this morning, and, it does make an eternity of difference.

There are different kinds of faith. In today’s Scripture, James mentions 3 kinds of faith....

*DEAD FAITH 14-17

*DEMONIC FAITH 18-19

*DYNAMIC FAITH 20-26

3 KINDS OF FAITH: but ONLY 1 is what we would call SAVING FAITH, F AITH THAT SAVES OUR SOULS FROM SIN AND AN ETERNITY IN HELL (that’s how important it is to know if faith is a noun or a verb).

DEAD FAITH (14-17)

A faith that substitutes words for deeds. People with this type of faith know the right vocabulary; they can say the right words: they can give the proper “church” answers; they can even quote the right Bible verses. To them faith is a noun. They know stuff (even good stuff); you might say they know WHAT, but not WHO: they know about Jesus, but they don’t know Jesus. This is INTELLECTUAL FAITH. The problem is -this type of faith cannot save: 3 times, in verse 17, 20 and 26: James calls this a DEAD faith; WHY? because their WORKS do not equal to their WORDS. Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks more than your talk talks.

The verdict of James: any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life is a false, counterfeit declaration. DO WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF FAITH? Do our works match our words? Does our walk equal our talk? If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Beware the dead, intellectual faith (noun only); Warren Wiersbe said “No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same any more than he could come into contact with a 220 volt of electricity and remain the same”: HAVE YOU BEEN CHANGED? 2 Cor. 5:17

DEMONIC FAITH 18-19

Yes, even demons have a kind of faith. They believe that God exists: there are no atheists/agnostics among demons. They believe in the deity of Christ: Mark 3:11-12. They believe in the existence of a place of condemnation: Luke 8:31. They believe Jesus will be the Judge: Luke 8:28-29 but their faith is only one step further than a dead faith: it is intellectual plus emotional: a noun with an exclamation point: They still only believe things about God, about Jesus. This type of faith also CANNOT SAVE: a person can be enlightened in the mind and stirred in the heart and still be lost. You must go beyond intellect and emotion; faith is more than  knowing the right stuff and feeling the right things and it is more: faith is also making the right decision: a decision that leads to a CHANGED LIFE:

-a faith that receives Jesus as Savior and reveals Jesus as Lord in the way we act

-a faith that involves the intellect, the emotions, & the WILL

-a faith that combines right thinking and right feeling with right DOING

-a faith that is a NOUN, an exclamation point, and a VERB... 

and that is precisely what James describes in our final section for today.

DYNAMIC FAITH 20-26

Faith that is perfected (completed) by works: dynamic faith leads to a necessary end: what saves you? what kind of faith saves you?

2 illustrations that, on first glance, are people with nothing in common

-Abraham: faithful father of the nation

-Rahab: Gentile harlot living in a doomed city

what holds them together? FAITH THAT PRODUCED WORKS

Abraham: in his obedience in coming to point of sacrificing Issac

Rahab: in her obedience in protecting the spies and sending them out

by another way.

Picture a child in a burning house, He escapes to the top floor: he’s leaning out window with a death grip on the sill: a strong man below sees him and cries “drop, I will catch you”. That young man can agree to strength, he can cry tears of joy that someone is there, but until he decides to drop, he will not be saved.

SO WITH FAITH…INTELLECT...EMOTION....WILL: a  noun, with an exclamation point, also a verb: drop into the arms of our Father.

So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise, they won’t worry me

For I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God

He walks with me, and nought on earth can harm me

For I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God 

10/12/25 - THE BLUE JEANS THEOLOGY OF JAMES

Chasing the Dream: James 1:1-12

We hear slogans all the time: products, people, and plans that make grand promises, but do not always deliver. If I try this, wear this, apply this, if I agree to this, then I will be a winner, more popular, richer; life will be better.

James grew up as the half brother of Jesus. During Jesus’ ministry, he and his siblings thought Jesus’ teachings were nonsense and even accused Him of being out of his mind, a madman.

But, after the crucifixion and resurrection, his attitude toward Jesus had changed; you might say his half brother had become his whole Lord. 

James continued to grow in the faith, and one day, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he took a pen to paper and sent words of wisdom to believers (12 tribes) who were scattered throughout the region. 

It was not an easy time to be a believer, and James wanted them to know what it should look like to follow Jesus in everyday life. He began by talking to them about the goal of life, the dream that they should chase after in life......

It’s one thing to follow a product slogan and make a purchase of that product because it promised happiness, health, fulfillment; it’s quite another to follow a life slogan, and base our life on that idea, to follow that dream because it promised  health, happiness or fulfillment.... HOW TRAGIC IT WOULD BE to get to the end of life, and realize TOO LATE that the dream you were following was just a slogan that did not deliver what it

promised . 

What dream are you chasing?

Are you convinced your dream will deliver what you desire?

Let’s learn from James.....

CHASING AFTER THE DREAM OF COMFORT (1-4)

What a way to start your book: my brother is God and suffering should make you smile.... WE DO NOT AGREE: we Americans are obsessed with comfort, not suffering, with the absence of pain, not the presence of trials: we want to avoid trials. WORLD’S SLOGAN: “WHERE COMFORT IS KING”: so we fill our lives with stuff that brings us comfort: from adjustable beds to heated auto seats to on demand TV: life is all about my comfort, and we chase after it.

Trying (TESTING) of your faith produces endurance

TESTING: The job of a silversmith: refining, purifying a piece of silver: bringing impurities to the top and scrape them off: that process eventually produces the beauty of silver. THIS IS WHAT GOD IS DOING WITH US - THROUGH THESE TRIALS: bringing something good from something bad “he made something beautiful of my life”

If you chase after comfort, it atrophies the muscle of maturity:  you never learn  the spiritual quality of ENDURANCE; we say: PAIN IS POINTLESS, and we get mad at God/Jesus when we hurt: James says PAIN HAS A PURPOSE: like working in a gym, PAIN PRODUCES: like childbirth: pain brings new life (better and stronger in quality). THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNPRODUCTIVE PAIN, not for the pain itself, but for the God who is in the pain with us: God’s desire is to purify you by using trials to scrape away the impurities. DON’T FOLLOW THE LIFE SLOGAN: COMFORT IS KING; IT WILL NOT DELIVER. 

CHASING AFTER THE DREAM OF DESTINATION (5-8)

We lack wisdom, we don’t know to use knowledge: the art of decision making: how do I

get to where I want to go. WORLD’S SLOGAN #2: THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH:

where you want to be: doing what you want to do  so, God, give me wisdom on how to get there.  So what’s the problem? We are critical, doubting, wavering, indecisive:  We have asked and God has given: BUT WHAT GOD ANSWERED IS NOT WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR: because listen: GOD WILL NOT GIVE GOOD DIRECTIONS TO BAD LOCATIONS.

My doctor tells me I need to lower my A1C: follow a low carb diet: He did not say go to State Fair and eat 5 cinnamon rolls.

The problem here is: this hypothetical man James discusses and has asked God, how do I get to the place I want (others say I need to be) instead of, God, how do I get to the place YOU want me to be? WE NEED TO TRUST GOD FOR THE RIGHT DESTINATION, and for that, He will give us wisdom and direction. DON’T FOLLOW THE LIFE SLOGAN: THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH; IT WILL NOT DELIVER.

CHASING AFTER THE DREAM OF STATUS (9-11)

Here James describes a rich person who withers away, a proud person who is not humble: some base their whole existence on the gathering of money and popularity, and... YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU. CHASING THE DREAM OF STATUS: world slogan #3: IMAGE IS EVERYTHING: it will not deliver, because status, material wealth, popularity has a heavenly exchange rate of 0; they may define you here, but they will not define you in eternity. Remember the warning: you cannot effectively serve God & material things. DON’T FOLLOW THE LIFE SLOGAN: IMAGE IS EVERYTHING; IT WILL NOT DELIVER.

WHAT, THEN, SHOULD WE CHASE AFTER?

WHAT IS THE DREAM THAT SHOULD DELIVER?

I’m glad you asked.....

You see: comfort is not king: Christ is King. Don’t search for a magical place on earth, but for a majestic place beyond earth. Image is not everything; belief is everything: belief not in a slogan, a fad, or an idea, but in a PERSON: the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus”...... HE IS THE DREAM THAT DELIVERS! 

October 5, 2025

Dr. Rex Yancy

I hope you brought your imagination today. We are visiting II Samuel Chapter 21, the first 10 verses. 

We’re taking a trip. We’re going to the airport and flying to Atlanta (even to go to heaven in the south, you must go through Atlanta). We fly across the pond to Paris, then fly to Tel Aviv in Israel. The bus is waiting to take us to the Hill of Gideon. Picture an amphitheater. We see a host of characters before us. King David – we know it’s him, he’s good looking, dressed in purple, no doubt a king known for his wisdom and wealth, without rival, unmatched in popularity. We ask why he is here. He tells us I am here because of a famine. God is responsible and he told he the reason, because Saul broke his covenant to the Gibeonites. The greatest need today is restitution, making a wrong right. This is a characteristic of a child of God, he wants us to repent. David was a great sinner but was also a great repenter.  David prayed for forgiveness (Psalm 51). Because of his sin, he felt dirty though he could afford the finest baths, linens and perfumes. 

A girl wrote a letter to Walmart “I stole gum from your store. I have been saved and I am sorry. Enclosed is the money for the gum.“

The greatest need in the church is for forgiveness. This past week I celebrated 60 years in the ministry. I have seen discord in many churches, people with hate in their heart that needs to be eradicated. Bitterness is a terrible sin. The longer bitterness is in your life, the longer it takes to get rid of it. We need to forgive each other. By being bitter, you have done more to Jesus than anyone can do to you.

At a revival, a number of people were saved, even in the parking lot. Two men, both deacons, once friends, had been on the outs with one another for years. They met at the front during that revival and got right with each other and eventually fished together again. We need to be able to work things out. It affects our family, our life and our prayers. Do you need to forgive someone? Leave your gift at the altar go and make amends.

Back to the amphitheater, seven men impaled on sticks, dead. We ask “what did they do to deserve such a punishment? The answer “they are not there because of something they did but something their grandfather did.

At one time Saul got too big for his britches, became proud. A man at that same revival in Atlanta came forth and said I just received my doctorate and got too proud. I ask God to forgive me. We are hindered by pride. Kids today are on drugs, alcohol, involved in casual sex. They learn from their parents. Most families today are dysfunctional, divided. Your testimony goes on after you die. Children follow patterns. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Daddy had a little boy. 

His soul was white as snow; 

He never went to Sunday school

‘Cause Daddy wouldn’t go.

He never heard the word of God,

That thrills the childish mind.

While other children went to class

This child was left behind.

As he grew from babe to youth,

Dad saw to his dismay,

A soul that once was snowy white,

Became a dingy gray.

Realizing the son was lost,

Dad tried to win him back.

But now the soul that once was white,

Had turned an ugly black.

Dad even started back to church,

And Bible study too.

He begged the preacher, 

Isn’t there a thing that you can do?

The preacher tried, but failed and said,

We’re just too far behind.

I tried to tell you years ago,

But you would pay no mind.

And so another soul is lost,

That once was white as snow,

And Sunday school would have helped

But Daddy wouldn’t go.

At the amphitheater is a little old lady. You’re out of place. You shouldn’t be here. She said, that boy there, and that one – they are mine. I will not leave this place until the winds rattle their bones. I will ward off the birds and the beasts. She stayed there for three months. She loved those boys. Not far away, on the hill of Calvary, Jesus could have called angels to deliver him but he committed to taste death for every man. What love!

So we fly back from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt, then to Atlanta and finally Jackson, back to this sanctuary. If someone, a thousand years from now, asked us to relive this service, would you say you were there for restitution? Is there someone you need to forgive? Someone I wanted to be an example for because I love the Lord.