Illustrations of Immanuel: A Final Fish

Saturday December 20, 2025 Text: Matthew 16:1-4 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Matthew 16:1-4

As we approach Christmas, our feelings may vary depending on our preparations and experiences leading up to this moment. Whether we are excited, anxious, or relieved, our attitude as we come to Christmas is significant. This message concludes our series on Illustrations of Immanuel, focusing on how we approach the manger and the significance of

Illustrations of Immanuel: A Lowly Manger

Wednesday December 17, 2025 Text: Luke 2:6-16 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Luke 2:6-16

Tonight, we consider the illustration of a manger, which is not a grand, great or powerful picture but rather a lowly and humble one. It is one of the best illustrations of Immanuel, because it reminds us that the son of God humbled himself and came to earth not to show off his power but

Illustrations of Immanuel: A New Branch

Saturday December 13, 2025 Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Isaiah 11:1-10

At the time of our text Ahaz was king of Judah. Ahaz was a particularly wicked and godless king. He shut up the temple of God. He worshipped the gods of Assyria. He caused his children to “pass through the fire.” Because of his faithlessness, Judah was greatly troubled. The philistines, the Edomites, Isreal and

Illustrations of Immanuel: A Chosen Lamb

Wednesday December 10, 2025 Text: Exodus 12:1-13 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Exodus 12:1-13

At Christmas, we often seek perfection in gifts and celebrations, but God has already provided the perfect gift in Jesus, the true Passover Lamb. At this time of year, many of us are busy trying to find the perfect gift(s), for our spouse, for our children, and for our friends. We are choosing the perfect

Illustrations of Immanuel: Ram – A God Who Is Near

Saturday December 6, 2025 Text: Genesis 22:6-14 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Genesis 22:6-14

Mentally raise your hand if you ever had this conversation with your father . . . Dad can you . . . Then your Dad responds, “I sure can.” And then he sits there doing nothing until you think to ask, “Dad will you . . . “ Now, mentally raise your other hand if

Illustrations of Immanuel: A Serpent For Sinners

Wednesday December 3, 2025 Text: Numbers 21:5-9 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Numbers 21:5-9

Who was bitten by the fiery serpents? Was it the righteous or the innocent? No, it was the unrighteous and the guilty. For whom was the bronze serpent put on a pole? Did Moses make it for himself? No, the bronze serpent was lifted up for the sake of the guilty. In the same way,

Illustrations of Immanuel: Serpent

Saturday November 29, 2025 Text: Genesis 3:14-15 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Advent Passages: Genesis 3:14-15

I woke up this morning and realized that for the first time in about a week, I had no pie. This was a little disappointing. Adam and Eve woke up the morning after our text with a much greater disappointment. They could never return to the garden. They could no longer walk with God in

Missing Out

Wednesday November 26, 2025 Text: Jonah 2:7-9 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Thanksgiving Passages: Jonah 2:7-9

What if our Thanksgiving table looked different this year? Suppose there was no turkey, no pie, no potatoes—perhaps just a simple meal, maybe even frozen pizza. Some might welcome the change, but many would feel something is missing. Jonah reminds us that those who forgo a thanksgiving of the heart miss out on more than

Focused on Jesus

Saturday November 22, 2025 Text: Colossians 1:13-20 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Passages: Colossians 1:13-20

Who wins most stubborn hunter? How long are you willing to sit outside without moving to get the record? It takes tenacity, persistence, patience, perseverance, and focus to be a really good hunter. You have to be single-minded if you’re going to get that 20-point buck. While single-mindedness might not be natural to humans, the

Through It All Jesus Remains

Sunday November 16, 2025 Text: Luke 21:5-28 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Passages: Luke 21:5-28

The 1996 movie That Thing You Do supposedly tells the story of The Wonders. Near the end of the movie, the band is recording in a studio, but arguments have come to a head, and every member leaves except the drummer. The drummer sits there alone, feeling really dejected, when another musician gives him some

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