King's Table Church Sermons

As John baptizes in the Jordan, Jesus himself comes to be baptized - identifying himself with us, with the people, with Israel. And heaven is opened, the Holy Spirit descends, and the voice of God announces - "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased!" Luke immediately follows this declaration with Jesus' genealogy - the son of Joseph, Boaz, David, Jesse, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, No...

God's Word came to John and traveled around the Jordan preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins - just as Isaiah had prophesied. He has hard words for those who assume their standing in Abraham: the axe is already at the root of the trees. But he has a message of hope to those who are ready to receive: the one who is more powerful than I am is coming and will baptize you with the Holy Spir...

Jesus grew full of wisdom and God's grace. After getting separated on a trip to Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph found him in the temple asking questions of the teachers of the law. All those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers to their questions. When asked why we was where he was doing what he was doing, Jesus responds that it was necessary for him to be in his Father's h...

When the time comes for Jesus to be presented at the Temple after 8 days, Mary and Joseph bring him in fulfillment of the law of Moses. And in Jerusalem, there are two people who recognize this child as the answer to God's promises. The first is Simeon - who has been celebrating and anticipating the coming of Israel's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he comes to the Temple, takes baby Jesus up in hi...

The first two angelic pronouncements that we have seen in Luke's gospel have been private - messages for Zechariah and Mary. But the angelic pronouncement we see in this passage is a public proclamation! It is an announcement of great joy that will be for all people! An announcement made by a great host from heaven to all the peoples of the earth! The gospel can't get any more cosmic in scope than...

⁠The dawn from on high that Zechariah prophesied has arrived. He is born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. But these are so much more than superfluous details. This baby is born in the city of David because he is from the house and lineage of David. He is the answer to God's promise that David's heir would sit on the throne and rule forever a Kingdom with no end. He is great David's greater Son!...

When John is born, all are astonished when Zechariah speaks. His muteness falls aways, and he announces the name that the angel gave him for the child. Luke tells us that fear came upon all their neighbours and they wondered, "What sort of child will this one become? For indeed the Lord's hand was with him." This echoes the question that will be marveled at later about Jesus - "What sort of man is...

When Mary comes to visit and greets Elizabeth, the child inside of her (the prophet sent to announce the coming of the Lord) leaps for joy! The arrival of this Messiah is one that sparks uncontainable joy! Mary too responds rejoicing in God her Saviour. She exalts the great and mighty things he has done - scattering the proud and toppling the mighty while exalting the lowly and satisfying the hung...

The birth of Jesus announced. This is the Messiah. The one for whom our soul waits. He is the Son of the Most High - given the throne of his father David to rule over Jacob in a kingdom with no end. This announcement from Gabriel is chalked full of fulfillment language. It is right that we sing at Christmas time - O little town of Bethlehem! The hopes and fears of all the years are met in you toni...

An angel appears to Zechariah while he is serving in the temple, bringing the announcement of John's birth. After 400 years, the silence has been broken. God is speaking. God is moving again in the life of Israel. An angel speaking to one from Aaron's line. A man and his wife who are old and barren but promised a child. A vow that this child will be set apart and reserved for the service of the Lo...

Luke addresses his gospel (just like the sequel, Acts) to the honourable Theophilus. Just as many others have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled in Jesus, Luke also is inspired to record these things. He has carefully investigated and interviewed eyewitnesses and writes this gospel so that his readers might know with assurance the things that they have been tau...

We are called to contend for the faith. We are to discern and root out counterfeit teachers who have stealthily presented an alternative gospel. We are to keep ourselves in the love of God, building up our faith and having mercy on those who waver. But all of this is only possible because He (God) is the one who is able. He is the one who prevents us from stumbling. He is the one who holds and kee...

In every generation, the church will encounter those who oppose the things of God. Jude therefore urged believers to contend for the faith and to keep themselves “in the love of God.” This “keeping” is not mysterious or isolated; rather, it is an exhortation to the regular assembly of worship, where we hear from God’s Word and cultivate relationships with other believers. It is a call to steadfast...

Throughout the Old Testament, we find an unfolding picture of God Almighty as the divine warrior appearing from heaven to establish justice and righteousness on earth. Jude’s letter reminds us that this anticipation finds its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus. He who came to earth, died in our place, rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven will one day return as promised, judge the whole world, an...

The relativism of our age would have us think that we can believe whatever we want and do whatever feels good. In contrast, Jude, writing nearly twenty centuries ago, appealed to believers to contend for the faith and to beware of those who were distorting the Gospel by exchanging its freedom for license. Jude’s appeal, while unpopular, is just as critical today. Genuine Christians must stand firm...

Jude begins by establishing several truths that are vital for God’s people everywhere to understand. As believers, we are called, beloved, and kept by God and recipients of his unending mercy, peace, and love.

The only Son from the Father - full of grace and truth. There are many things that John could have mentioned the Son coming in the fullness of - full of justice, full of righteousness, full of holiness. After all, he possesses every perfection. "A faithful God who does no wrong; upright and just is he." (Deut 32:4) And yet John chooses to highlight that he comes full of grace. And not only is HE f...

John tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. But this means so much more than we could imagine at first blush. Christ, the Eternal Word, took on flesh and dwelt among us. This doesn't just mean he lived with us. It doesn't only mean that he walked around in close proximity and slept in a human bed to see what it was like. (This is not Undercover Boss: the Incarnation.) He took on f...

He came into the world that he created, but the world did not receive him. Instead, he was rejected. We esteemed him not. We regarded him stricken and afflicted. Do you struggle with fears of rejection? Have you expereinced what it is like to not be accepted. So has Jesus. By the very world he created. But he was rejected so that we might be received. To those who received him he gave the right to...

God is the creator of everyone and everything. There is nothing made that was not made by him. He is the source of all things. And John tells us that the Word - Christ the Son - is the Creator God. They are one in the same. All the glory that is due God Almighty - that makes Paul exult in singing, "From him and to him and through him are all things! To him be glory forever!" - also belongs to Chri...

Contstruction is finished and Jerusalem is reinhabited. They establish priests and leaders and singers and gatekeepers. The wall is dedicated with a joyous celebration and music. Provisions are made for the house of God and those who serve in Israel's worship. But the full glory of Jerusalem never returns. Even after Nehemiah goes back into the service of Artaxerxes, he comes again to Jerusalem to...

The Israelites gather to corporately confess their sins. They sing about God's repeated faithfulness - recounting the story of God creating the world, covenanting with their fathers, and delivering his people from bondage. They confess their own arrogance and stiff necks - but God's gracious, slow-to-anger forgiveness. The pattern continues. God blesses and does not withold good; His people rebel....

When the walls are rebuilt and the doors installed and the exiles returned, Nehemiah gathers the people for the public reading of God's law. The people kneel low, worship, and weep as they hear the words of the law read aloud. Because they know that they have a long history of transgression. But Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites instruct the people not to weep but to rejoice! Today is a day that is...

The wall around Jerusalem is almost rebuilt, but those who oppose the work will not stop trying to derail the endeavour. They fabricate invitations to lure Nehemiah away from the work. They invent false rumours that the king has caught wind of the rebuilding and is planning to put Jerusalem down as insurrectionists. They hire false prophets and send intimidating messages. But Nehemiah refuses to b...

The rebuilding of Jerusalem also involves the reform of Jerusalem’s people. The walls weren’t the only things broken. As they come together and undertake the work to rebuild, Nehemiah learns that some of his countrymen are taxing and charging each other high interest rates. They are exacting and oppressive – even causing one another’s children to be sold into slavery due to their indebtedness. Hea...