Search for sermons - Matthew 2
The King Has Come! - Matthew 2:1-6 - Dec 13, 2006 - 85
We begin with the words of Flannery O’Connor: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Truth is truth whether we like it or not. The fact that I personally may object to the truth doesn’t matter. Those things that are objectively true remain true ev ... More
The King Has Come! - Matthew 2:1-6 - Dec 16, 2001 - 686
We begin with the words of Flannery O’Connor: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Truth is truth whether we like it or not. The fact that I personally may object to the truth doesn’t matter. Those things that are objectively true remain true ev ... More
Christmas Tears - Matthew 2:16-18 - Dec 14, 1997 - 87
"The rulers of this world are seldom friendly to the cause of God.” J. C. RyleLast night the contemporary Christian musician Michael Card performed a Christmas concert at Wheaton College. As part of the build-up to the concert, the Chicago Tribune carried a brief article on Friday that be ... More
We Three Kings - Matthew 2:1-12 - Dec 23, 1990 - 104
Surely one of the great stories of Christmas is the story of the visit of the Wise Men from the East. Wherever the story of the birth of Jesus is told, so too is told this delightful tale of strange men from some faraway land who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.From time immemorial every children&r ... More
The Boys of Bethlehem - Matthew 2:13-23 - Dec 18, 2012 - 1472
Have you ever checked out a website called Neighborhood Scout? The answer is probably no unless you’re thinking about moving. Modern technology has made it possible to sit at your computer and do a virtual search of any city, town and neighborhood in the country. You can find out about the sch ... More
Out of Egypt - Dec 5, 2007
Sometimes you’re reading along when suddenly a phrase pops out and you say, “Whoa! Where did that come from?” That happened to me this week as I was reading the Biblical Illustrator in preparation for this message. I ran across a statement by W. P. Balfern regarding my text, which ... More
When Was Jesus Born? - Dec 5, 2007
Let me begin by saying right up front that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born because the Bible does not clearly answer this question. That doesn’t mean the question is unimportant, only that it is not essential to our Christian faith. As we approach Christmas this year, it is good to re ... More
A Savior is Born - Luke 2:11 - Dec 21, 2003 - 198
Recently I received an e-mail from a man who attended “Two from Galilee,” the Christmas program presented by our music ministry several weeks ago. He wrote to say how much he enjoyed it, and then added this sentence: “God is just in the amazement business.” That Sunday— ... More
Follow the Christmas Star - Matthew 2:7-12 - Dec 23, 2001 - 95
This isn’t exactly the sermon I planned to preach on the Sunday before Christmas, but I don’t suppose that will surprise anyone since Christmas itself comes as a relief at the end of a year that has not been what we thought it would be. If one searches for glimmers of light on the horizo ... More
Six Miles From Jesus - Matthew 2:1-6 - Dec 22, 2009 - 1233
How long would it take to walk six miles? If you are in good shape, you could walk it in a couple of hours. If the terrain is relatively flat, you could easily cover six miles in an afternoon. That’s not much of a hike. If you wanted to walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, it’s only six m ... More
Christmas Joy - Luke 2:8-11 - Dec 21, 1997 - 93
If there is a single word that describes what Christmas is all about, it’s the little word “joy.” Several of our favorite carols mention it: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” “Shepherds, why this ju ... More
The Man Who Would Be King: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Frivolous Curiosity - Luke 23:1-12 - Apr 8, 2001 - 126
This is the story of a man who had a chance but didn’t take it and was never offered another one. The man’s name is Herod Antipas. On Good Friday morning Jesus stood on trial before him. What happened on that fateful day led directly to the crucifixion of Christ. It also sealed Herod&rsq ... More
Easter And The Secular Mind - Acts 25-26 - Apr 15, 1990 - 173
Backstage at Bethlehem - John 1:10-13 - Dec 13, 1998 - 82
It’s amazing how simple some things really are. Take the Bible, for instance. At first glance, it’s an intimidating book filled with strange names, places we’ve never heard of, books we can’t pronounce, and verses we don’t understand. Even people who have read the Bible ... More
Herod: The Man Who Tried to Kill Christmas - Matthew 2 - Dec 16, 1990 - 102
This is the story of the man who tried to kill Christmas. It is strange and bizarre and doesn’t seem like it should be in the Bible. It doesn’t seem like we should read it during the Christmas season. It doesn’t sound right amid all the Christmas carols. It doesn’t look r ... More
God Has a Bigger Plan - Jeremiah 29:10 - Apr 8, 2008 - 821
We have heard it said that God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. It’s easy to agree when we like the plan. But what do you do when the plan isn’t what you expected?The doctor calls with bad news. “I’m sorry. It’s cancer and there’s nothing we can do ... More
Shall We Kill Our Children Today? - Hebrews 11:23 - Sep 23, 2008 - 1166
Are children a burden or a blessing?I suppose it all depends on who you ask or what you mean or why the question even matters at all. If you have to ask the question, you are bound to come to the wrong answer. The Bible is clear enough on this point. “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, childre ... More
No Crib for a Bed: The God of Every Circumstance - Galatians 4:4 - Dec 7, 2003 - 199
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 KJV). While doing some preparation for this message, I ran across a sermon title that stuck in my mind. Someone preached ... More
