The Child Who is Called Son of God - Part 2

Son of God Advent Series – Part 5

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from 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. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God.”

- Luke 1:26-35

The Child Who is Called Son of God - Part 1

Son of God Advent Series – Part 4

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from 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. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God.”

- Luke 1:26-35

Do You Believe in the Son of God?

“Son of God” Advent Series – Part 3

“And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),  34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.  35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.  36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there.  37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."  38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.  39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads  40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."  41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,  42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"  44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.  45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.  46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."  48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.  49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."  50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.  52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,  53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

- Matthew 27:33-54

Truly You Are the Son of God

“Son of God” Advent Series – Part 2

“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.  25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.  26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.  27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."  28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."  31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

- Matthew 14:22-33

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

“Son of God” Advent Series - Part 1

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

- Matthew 16:13-18

The Worshiper and God's Presence

“Worshiper” Series – Part 8

“A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAH. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,  6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;  7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.  8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;  10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.  11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.”

- Psalm 63:1-11

Pouring Out in Worship

Worshiper Series – Part 7

“One of the Pharisees asked him [Jesus] to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.  37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,  38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.  39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."  40 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."  41 "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?"  43 Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."  44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."  48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"  50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 

- Luke 7:36-50

Lament in Worship

Worshiper Series – Part 6

“1  How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?

2  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3  Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,4  and my enemy will say, “I have overcome
    him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5  But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6  I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me. “

-Psalm 13:1-6