Marvin Methodist Church | Sermons

Sermon text: Luke 2:21-38

You can't manufacture Christmas just like you cannot manufacture the gift of the Holy Spirit. It's in all of us.

True peace is found in the presence of God and the obedience to what God has called you to do.

But the beautiful thing is that the needs, the hopes, and even the fears of ordinary people are not forgotten in God's grand narrative.

He is the most exalted being. He has the ultimate power and authority over all things. He is higher in rank, title, beauty, position, and intelligence. There is no god, there is no idol or created human being that should ever be worshipped or exalted above God. God is superior in every way.

If you allow yourself to be humbled and if you choose humility, it is God who will exalt you.

When Jesus says, "I am the vine," he's declaring himself the fulfillment of Israel's calling.

God is our life. God is our home. God is our dwelling place.

But how often do we leverage our home, our greatest investment, for the sake of the Kingdom? Jesus assumes that you and I will open our homes, our apartments, our condos up to outsiders.

When was the last time you connected with someone who never gets invited? Jesus wasn't afraid to connect with people that other avoided.

We have all been given gifts of different kinds. God gives us these gifts to be able to go out and give to other people the talents we have been given. This is what stewardship is all about.

Keep loving. Keep serving. Keep praying. Keep giving. Keep trusting. God is faithful.

The living water of Jesus Christ is what give us life. It is intended to come through us and do good works.

And only Jesus could create something like that.

The goodness in my life that I have is because of the goodness, the mercy, and the grace of God.

The church is the witness of the living waters of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the middle of ministry, from one very busy frantic activity moment to when he gets off on the shore, and the people are already gathered again to teach, Jesus says, "Hey guys, let's take a break, let's just pause for a moment, and let's stop and catch our breath."

It's always this control issue between our ego. Are we "Edging God Out" or "Exalting God Only"?

The words "follow me" mean more than a transaction. It's not just about what Jesus has done for you, but what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do for you as he intercedes for us before the Father.

But maybe he's thinking, "Where will I stay? I will be staying in your heart."

If you're going to follow Jesus, it's going to be about service.

He wants you to serve for greater Kingdom purposes, not to be comfortable and be like everyone else.

How does the church win? The church wins when faith grows, when people are saved, when we encourage one another, and when we make disciples of all nations.

If you cannot grasp this 10th Commandment, you're bound to actively participate in those previous nine. Think of coveting like a crack in the foundation of a house, it's not visible at first but over time it compromises the structure itself. Eventually, the whole house begins to lean because of what is hidden below.