The Promise Is Given

Sunday December 24, 2023 Text: Luke 1:26-38 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-30 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice,

The Rest of Peace

Wednesday December 20, 2023 Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Isaiah 9:1-7

Let’s start this evening by agreeing that I am right. Think of all the time we could save at meetings if I just made all the decisions. Think how peaceful everything would be if everyone just agreed with me all the time. The only problem is that I’m not always right and I don’t always

THE PREACHER OF THE COVENANT

Sunday December 17, 2023 Text: Isaiah 61:1-3 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Isaiah 61:1-3

Our kids usually learn at a young age how to identify Jesus in any given picture. Even if the physical depiction of Jesus is different from the classic European with a beard and long hair, still there are certain clues they pick up on. Jesus is the one holding the lamb. Jesus is the one

The Arms of Peace

Thursday December 14, 2023 Text: Ephesians 2:12-18 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Ephesians 2:12-18

Last week we saw how two lines come together in the point of the star. This reminds us how God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, man and God made one, to bring us peace. Tonight, our text moves us down to the arms of the star. These arms can be seen

THE DOUBLE MERCY WHICH ENDURES

Sunday December 10, 2023 Text: Isaiah 40:1-11 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Isaiah 40:1-11

Verses 1-2 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.” God speaks comfort or rather tenderness to his people. God knows how

The Point of Peace

Wednesday December 6, 2023 Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Matthew 2:1-12

You need two lines to make a point of a star. Each line by itself would continue forever. Here at the point of a star the two lines come together. We need earthly things to live. We need food and clothing. We need money and friends and family. We need to know that people care

Shaken By the Lord

Saturday December 2, 2023 Text: Isaiah 64:1-9 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Isaiah 64:1-9

Isaiah 64 is a prayer by the prophet Isaiah. The prophet desires that God would remove those barriers which keep him hidden from us and come and make his home in our hearts. He prays that the Lord would shake us and shape us until we are God’s people. Isaiah 64:1-3 Oh, that You would

Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord Our Righteousness

Sunday December 18, 2022 Text: Numbers 23:16-23 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Numbers 23:16-23

In the three advent Sundays we have had so far, we have examined the names that men gave to the altars they built to the Lord. These names express what the Lord is and means to them. Jehovah Jireh, The Lord sees me and provides. Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my banner leading and blessing

This Is My Son: Cain

Tuesday December 13, 2022 Text: Genesis 4:1-16 Speaker: Pastor Rob Sauers Festival: Advent Passages: Genesis 4:1-16

Jehovah Shalom: The Lord Brings Peace

Saturday December 10, 2022 Text: Haggai 2:1-9 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Haggai 2:1-9

Gideon lived in a time of great trouble. The Midianite raiders were stealing everything the Israelites had. In their trouble Gideon and many others complained about God. They claimed that God had forsaken them. But God had not forsaken them, they had forsaken God. Gideon himself had an altar to Baal in his own backyard.

Season Advent