Light of the World (part 2) Sermon Preview

Our world today attempts to make us self-sustaining (at least in a  way).  At one point, you had a “milk man,” now you pick up a carton at Wal Mart, and check-out without aid of a  cashier.  Once upon a time you had a banker, now you have an ATM.  Once there were secretaries, now there are cell phones and email systems. Travel used to be planned through agents, now there is a website.

These steps towards autonomy are convenient, enabling us to take care of most items OUTSIDE of “normal business hours.” Technology is helpful … until it isn’t.

When was the last time you needed some help accomplishing a task.  The shelves are empty in the grocery store refrigerator … and you look for an employee to assist, can you find them?  You have a question about a charge on your debit card, and you call a 1-800 number to find yourself stuck in a web of automated artificially intelligent, yet often circular menus.  You need to change a reservation and wonder which of the rebooking options are best, yet the options on the screen don’t understand the specific challenges you will have navigating a 30 minute layover in Atlanta with a 3 year old!

When we find ourselves in need, I mean when we REALLY are in need, we don’t just want an FAQ page or a robot voice.  At some level we know that our need is not just a WHAT (a goal) or a HOW (a plan) but ultimately a WHO (we need a rescuer, a helper, a hero):  Someone wiser than us, that we can trust to get us where we need to go.

We are familiar with this dynamic on the small scale of every day tasks, but this dynamic is even MORE TRUE on the cosmic stage.  Is there a solution to the darkness of the world around us?  Is there any hope for our weary souls?

We need more than a task or a plan, we need a Savior … we need a Messiah … we need God.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will be in part 2 of our “Light of the World” Christmas sermon series.  In this prophetic passage written 700+ years before Jesus was born, the solution to the darkness problem is not met with an automated menu or a self-help book … but with a Sovereign Savior coming to radically change our reality.  We will look at this on Sunday, December 3 before celebrating the Lord’s Supper together.  Hope to see you Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 services … and bring friends!

God with us (part 1) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, November 27, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on Isaiah 7:1-16 and Matthew 1:22-23.  This message was part 1 of the “God with us” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Additionally, you can access the daily devotional “God with us” for use during the Christmas season by clicking here.  Each daily devotion will also be posted to this blog each morning.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Isaiah 7:1-16 and Matthew 1:22-23
  3. Has there ever been a time when you have observed the celebration of Christmas and felt like “that is too much”?  What contributed to your thought process in making that determination?
  4. We are very familiar with the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.  Have you ever studied this passage to see its Old Testament context?  In what ways does knowing its Old Testament context help us to understand the significance of Jesus’ birth?
  5. The enemy armies caused the nation of Judah to have their “hearts shake like trees.”  What causes your heart to fear?  How would “placing that fear on the timeline” help you in quieting that fear?
  6. The birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary is THE sign that Jesus is not just an ordinary man, but God Himself who will deliver us from our sins.  How does the virgin birth help accomplish this (remember the reasons for the virgin birth we talked about in this morning’s message)?  
  7. Since Jesus is God, it changes everything.  What does it change for you?
  8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link:

God With Us #1 11.27.22

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the service, use YouTube online: