Jesus' Baptism | A Sermon on Matthew 3:13-17

Introduction
Today, we continue our journey through the beginning parts of the Gospel of Matthew.  Last Sunday, we were introduced to John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin.  He was called the Baptist because he preached repentance and baptized those who repented—turned away from their sin.

John came to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Lord and Savior of the world.  Today, Jesus comes to be baptized by John.  Let’s read the story.

Matthew 3:13-17
¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,^[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,^[b] with whom I am well pleased.”

Introducing Jesus
This is the first time in Matthew that we meet Jesus as an adult.  The earlier chapters show Jesus as a baby.  But now Jesus comes down from Galilee to be baptized by John and he is probably 30 years old (according to Luke 3:23).

John preached about repentance—that everyone needed to turn away from their sins and turn to God because the God’s Kingdom was at hand. When they repented, John baptized them as a sign.  But Jesus doesn’t need to repent.  1 Peter 2:22 tells us Jesus “committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”  Jesus did not need to repent.  And so, John is taken aback.  He says, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

John recognized Jesus was special.  Of all the people who ever lived, Jesus is the only one who never sinned.  Think about that.  Everyone you have ever known has sinned.  And you know yourself; and you know you have sinned.  Even if it was only a small sin, you sinned.  You have been angry at someone in your heart. Or you have lusted in your heart.  Or you have been jealous or coveted what you neighbor had.  Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glorious standard of God.”  Everyone has sinned in one way or another.  But not Jesus.  Jesus was absolutely perfect and Holy, just as God is perfect and holy.  Yet Jesus was baptized for other reasons.

Jesus was Baptized “…to fulfill all righteousness.”
In Matthew 3:15, Jesus says He is to be baptized “…to fulfill all righteousness.”  What does that mean?  Jesus’ baptism was part of God’s plan and symbolized His obedience to God and His identification with humanity.  Though Jesus was sinless, He was baptized to fully identify with us—the people He came to save. His baptism symbolized taking our sin and dying in our place.

Jesus was Baptized To Mark the Beginning of His Ministry
Baptism is a sacred ceremony that marks the beginning of a spiritual journey.  For Jesus, baptism served as the launching point for His public ministry.  Immediately after His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove, and the Father declared from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:16-17). This was a clear affirmation of Jesus’ divine identity and mission.  And it was the starting point for His ministry.

Jesus was Baptized To Set an Example for Us
Jesus’ baptism was an example for us to follow. We are baptized when we start following Jesus.  At the end of His ministry, Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize others (Mt. 28:19-20), signifying a commitment to God and new life in Jesus and their beginning of a new life.

Lessons for Us Today
Jesus' baptism matters to us today because it shows His humility and His willingness to identify with sinners, even though He was sinless. We often struggle with pride.

We don’t want people looking down on us or to feel like people are judging us.  We may even avoid coming to the altar to pray in church just because we wonder, “What will people think?”  Jesus’ humility to be baptized right alongside all the other sinners of His day—even though Jesus was innocent without any sin in his life—should be an example to us.  Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.  Just be obedient to God.  Listen to His voice and obey.

Jesus’ baptism also marks the beginning of His public ministry and sets an example for us.  How do you officially mark the beginning of your faith journey?  It is through baptism.

Some are baptized as infants, a sign that they are part of God’s family from the very beginning.  What a beautiful and sacred thing to seek God’s grace to raise our children in the Christian faith.  But even children who are born into a Christian family that promises to raise them in the faith must confirm their faith for themselves when they are old enough to make their own decisions.  In the Christian church, we call this ceremony “confirmation”, because the person who was baptized as an infant “confirms” they have decided for themselves to follow Jesus as Lord.  And those who were not baptized as infants and decide to follow Jesus as adults, begin their discipleship with the sacrament of baptism.  Baptism is the beginning for us, just as it was for Jesus. 

For us, baptism is a symbol of repentance, cleansing, and a new life in Christ.  It is an outward sign of something real God does inside us.  Jesus didn’t need to repent, but He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), showing us the importance of obedience to God. His baptism also foreshadows His death and resurrection, reminding us that through Him, we too can be made new.  Ultimately, Jesus' baptism points us to our own need for salvation and a relationship with God. It’s a call to follow Him, turn from sin, and live as citizens of His Kingdom. 

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and God the Father affirmed Him, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).  This moment reveals the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—all present together.  But it can reveal something else too.  It reveals how God see us when we walk with Christ. 

There are several Scriptures that teach when we are in Christ, God sees Jesus in us. For example:
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The mystery of the Christian faith is that our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ.  When God looks at us, He doesn’t see the dark and shameful deeds of our past.  Instead, He sees Christ in us.  And the affirmation the Father spoke of Jesus, He speaks over us:  “This is my beloved Son [or daughter], with whom I am well pleased.” 

Now, if you’ve ever had your earthly father or mother affirm their love and admiration for you, it is a tremendous blessing.  But now imagine the Father of the whole universe affirming His love for you.  Wow!  What a blessing!

If you are a Christian—meaning, you have repented of your sin and decided to follow Jesus—God looks at you and affirms you just as He affirmed Jesus:  “This is my beloved Son (or daughter), with whom I am well pleased.”  Take a moment to imagine God the Father saying these words to you right now…  If you follow Jesus, this is how God sees you.

There may be some reading this message who have not yet decided to follow Jesus.  Maybe you don’t believe because something about the story is really hard to believe: that God could overlook your sins, or that God would become a man and die for us, or that Jesus could rise from the dead.  I understand that it is remarkable and hard to believe.  I can't prove the Good News about Jesus to you the way a scientist can prove gravity, but I'm not asking you to believe blindly.  There is plenty of evidence for a Divine Creator God and for the Love of God reaching out to us.  And there is plenty of evidence for the real difference faith in Jesus makes in a person's life and the hope.  Being a Christian requires a leap of faith.  It's not blind faith, because we have evidence that we can trust God, but we need faith to leap across what we can see and know to full trust in God.  But it is so worth it.  I encourage you to take that leap.

Maybe you are afraid, but I pray you will be bold and courageous.  Maybe you are too proud and don't want to admit your mistakes.  But don't let pride deter you from something so important.  Turn to Jesus today and be saved.

The saddest and most dangerous reason some people don't follow Jesus is because they don't care.  They are just fine with living their life however they want.  They don't care about God or even if there is a God.  They don't care about what will happen once they die.  They just want to live their life however they please and don't care what God or anyone else thinks.  I pray that God's message through Jesus and John the Baptist will shake those who don't care to the core.  I pray that God will send whatever trials or tribulations necessary to wake people up so they do care. 

John and Jesus preached the same message. They said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  God has extended an offer of grace and mercy.  He will forgive your sin.  He will give you a new and perfect heart—one that is full of love for God and your fellow man.  And He will welcome you into His Kingdom if you will accept Jesus as Lord.  And He will look at you too and say with genuine love:  “This is my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.”

But if the Kingdom comes before you repent and you are found still to be in rebellion, then there will weeping and gnashing of teeth and eternal punishment.  Jesus and John both said there would be hell to pay for anyone who doesn't repent of their sins and enter into the Kingdom of God.  For only those who accept Christ as Lord can dwell in the eternal Kingdom of God where there is eternal love, and joy, and peace, and life.  For all others, their will be eternal punishment. 

The choice is yours.

Introducing, John the Baptist | A Sermon on Matthew 3:1-12

Introduction
Today, we continue our journey through the beginning parts of the Gospel of Matthew.  And today, we come to the fascinating figure of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:1-12.  And I have three points to make today from this passage.  Let’s start with the first 6 verses.

Matthew 3:1-6
¹ In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, ² “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” ³ The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
    Clear the road for him!’”

⁴ John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. ⁶ And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Point #1 – John Was Not Of This World
My first point is simple.  John was not of this world.  I don’t mean he was an alien, obviously.
He was a human being.  He was born in this world and into the systems of this world.  We know from the Gospel of Luke that John was related to Jesus–his cousin.  We also know John’s father was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, probably of the Pharisaic tradition.

Jewish priesthood was hereditary, John was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps.But John had a different calling.  Instead of joining the priests, John was filled with the Spirit to preach against the deeply corrupt Temple priesthood. He rejected both Pharisees & Sadducees.  

John was much more aligned with groups like the Essenes who rejected the Temple system and chose to live in isolation apart from the corrupt worldly systems of the time. The Essenes tried to create their own religious community apart from the world.  But even the Essenes were infected by their own problems and corruptions.  So John would have rejected them too in favor of something better he knew was coming.  

You might say, John was the original doomsday prepper.  He preached about a coming Day of God's judgments.  he preached it was imminent.  And John lived in isolation out in the wilderness, very self-sufficient.  He made his own clothes out of camel hair; he wore a leather belt.  He ate wild food he gathered himself–locust and wild honey.  And because he didn’t rely on the political systems and marketplaces of Jerusalem’s social systems, John could stand apart from it all and prophecy the truth with holy clarity and fiery force. 

Like John, Christians are called to be in this world but not of it.  Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)  And though His followers live in this world, we are not to be of it.  In other words, we aren’t to be infected by the world or enamored with it.  We must always remember, we are citizens of heaven above all else.  This world is not our home.  Our hearts desire must be for our true home–the Kingdom of Heaven where Jesus reigns and heavenly principles govern.  When you love this world and the things in it, it begins to control and corrupt you and ensnare you and enslave you.

Matthew 3:7-10
⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? ⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ⁹ Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. ¹⁰ Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Point #2 – God’s True Kingdom is Bigger Than Family Ties
Being set apart from the corrupt systems of his day, John was free to boldly preach the truth, criticizing the Temple system and the religious leaders of his day.  He called both political parties–the Pharisees and Sadducees–a bunch of snakes!  And he pointed out that God’s true Kingdom is bigger than family ties.  Being a descendent of Abraham doesn’t make you part of God’s Kingdom.  Neither does being a priest, a Pharisee, or a Sadducee. 

Now these were bold words to say to the people of John’s day (and they are just as bold today).  The Jewish people of John’s time believed they were God’s chosen people because they were descendants of Abraham.  Somehow, people in Israel thought this made them special to God–more special than any other nation in the world because God promised to bless the descendants of Abraham back in Genesis.  Many people today still believe the Jewish descendants of Abraham are more special and blessed (or protected) by God than anyone else.  (I mean, the Bible does say it, doesn’t it? See Genesis 12:2-3, 13:16, 15:5-6, 17:4-8, & 22:17-18)

But John challenges this reasoning.  He preached in Matthew 3:9, “Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.”  And he goes on to warn that God was ready to cut down and burn with fiery judgment anyone who isn’t living the fruitful life God told them to live.

What is it then?  What makes you right with God?  According to John, it’s turning away from your sins (repentance) and living the right way according to God’s commands instead of your own selfish ambitions.  But it’s going to take even more than that to be made right with God.  And that brings me to the final point I draw from this passage about John the Baptist.

Matthew 3:11-12
¹¹ “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

Point #3 – John Points to Jesus
John’s purpose was to prepare people for Jesus.  Jesus is the one who makes people right with God.  John called people to recognize their sin and to turn away from it.  Repentance is the first step toward salvation, healing, and reconciliation.  But something else is needed–something much more than John is able to give.  Only Jesus can seal the deal.  And so, John points to Him.

Conclusion
John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare the way, but Jesus is the way. He is the only door to salvation, the only path into the Kingdom of Heaven—a Kingdom that is both a future promise and a present reality for those who follow Him.

You cannot enter this Kingdom through the broken, corrupt systems of the world. No political system, no religious institution, no worldly success can get you there. In fact, these things often distract and deceive us, keeping us from fully embracing God's Kingdom.

You cannot enter this Kingdom through family ties. Just because your parents, grandparents, or spouse are believers does not make you one. Being raised in a Christian home, attending church, or calling yourself a Christian does not mean you belong to Christ. Faith is not inherited—it is a personal decision to repent of sin and follow Jesus.

Now, some have sinned badly and will easily see that they need to repent of that sin.  But others may struggle with this.  They may think, “I’m a good person.  I don’t do bad things.  I’m trustworthy, honest, and a good human.”  But sometimes the sin is a simple and subtle as thinking you are in charge of your own life.  It seems reasonable.  But the message of Scripture is we belong to God.  We are not our own.  We do not get to determine how we live, who we are, and where we want to go in life.  We were made by God for His purposes.  And it is sin to think we are in charge of our own life.  And we all need to repent–even of this.  We need to recognize that Jesus is Lord of all.  And that means He is even Lord of our will.  And so we need to repent of our own selfish ambitions and let Jesus truly be Lord of our life–Lord of our life.

John’s baptism was symbolic, a way of preparing hearts for Christ. Today, Christian baptism is also symbolic, marking our public entrance into the church. But the real baptism—the one that matters most—is spiritual. It happens when we surrender to Jesus, and He fills us with His Holy Spirit, transforming our hearts and lives.  As the physical water of baptism washes over us, the spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit circumcises our hearts and marks us as part of God’s people.

So, let me ask you today:
Have you truly entered God’s Kingdom?
Have you made a conscious decision to repent and follow Jesus?

If not, don’t wait. Come to Jesus today. He is ready to receive you, to wash away your sins, to fill you with His Spirit, and to welcome you into His Kingdom.

Will you choose to follow Him?

Does Jesus Love Sports | Guest Blogger: Cooper Middleton

I'm was so excited to have Cooper Middleton come and speak at my church on Super Bowl Sunday for our special annual Super Bowl Sunday service. Cooper lives right in our area in Tunnel Hill and is the son of Jamie and Aaron Middleton. He has a sister, Kate, who is 14, and a brother, Jack, who is 11. Cooper is a sophomore at Christian Heritage. He plays football, wrestles, and was at a wrestling tournament just this weekend. He also plays baseball at CHS. Additionally, he is a member of the FCA, the Key Club, Beta Club, and the National Honor Society. He is also a part of the Impact Team, a community-wide student leadership team. Cooper is a two-year starter on the varsity football and wrestling teams at CHS.  Most importantly, he gave his life to Christ when he was just six years old and has been serving Him ever since. 

Cooper Message:

Good morning! How’s everybody?

Thank you, Mr. Mullis, for that introduction. Like he said, my name is Cooper Middleton, and I’m a sophomore at Christian Heritage. I play football, wrestle, and also play baseball. I’ve started on the football team and have played varsity for the high school football, baseball, and wrestling teams. I play linebacker and also travel for FCA. So you could probably say that sports are a big part of my life. Because of that, I’m going to be talking about how my faith in Jesus has helped me to be a better athlete and how playing sports has also helped me to be a better Christian.

First, I’d like to read Colossians 3:23, which says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." This is one of my favorite verses because it pushes me to work harder in the weight room, to never give up, and to have a better work ethic. If I’m doing something for the Lord and not for human masters, then I should do it with my best effort. But this verse applies to more than just my work ethic—it means that everything I do should be done at a higher level. Whether it’s listening to my coach, cleaning my room, or any other task, everything I do is a representation of God.

I can also use my work as a way of worship. Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." This verse reminds me that everything I do can be offered as an act of worship to God. That means I should never do anything halfway because that would be worshiping Him halfway, and that’s something I never want to do.

This leads me to my first point: God has helped me to be a better athlete by giving me a reason to always push myself to be the best that I can be. A great example of this is the story of Cain and Abel. Abel gave God the best of what he had—his firstborn lamb—while Cain did not give God the best of his crops. Genesis 4 tells us that God looked with favor on Abel but not on Cain. This shows that we should always give our best because not only is that what God expects, but it is also a way we can worship Him.

My second point is doing everything for the glory of God. This allows me to play for something bigger than myself. Studies have shown that when you play for something bigger than yourself—whether it’s for God, your family, or a greater purpose—you perform better. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Even in something as simple as eating and drinking, we are called to give God glory. That means every part of my life, including sports, should reflect Him.

In the locker room, for example, if some guys are swearing or picking on a younger player, I have three choices: (1) join in, (2) do nothing, or (3) stop them in a loving way. If my actions are meant to praise God, then the third option is the right one. Similarly, on the field, I could choose to play dirty, trash talk, or criticize my teammates when they mess up. But instead, I should remind myself that my actions are a testimony to Christ. If someone trash-talks me, I respond with, "Jesus loves you, man," and walk away.

That brings me to my third point: the power of the tongue and peer pressure. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." I’ve seen firsthand how words can either tear a team apart or bring them together. Once, after a practice, some teammates were late to conditioning. The seniors got mad and spoke harshly to them, which caused division on the team. Our coach had to spend time addressing the issue to bring us back together, because, as Jesus said, "A house divided cannot stand." This situation taught me that words can either destroy or build up, and it takes far more effort to rebuild than to tear down.

My fourth point is sports are a great way to spread the gospel. I have seen countless people come to Jesus through sports, especially through FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). At my school, we have Testimony Tuesday after practice, where a player or coach shares their testimony. Sports provide a platform to witness to others who might not otherwise hear about Jesus.

Lastly, God gives us all unique roles to fulfill in the body of Christ. Just like a football team has different positions—quarterbacks, offensive linemen, linebackers—each of us has a specific purpose. If an offensive lineman tries to be a wide receiver, the team won’t perform well. Likewise, in the body of Christ, we each have a role to play. Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever." God has placed each of us where we are for a reason, and it is our job to glorify Him with the opportunities we’ve been given.

Before I close, I want to share a video about faith in sports. (Video plays.)

To wrap things up, I want to encourage you to use whatever gifts God has given you to glorify Him, whether it’s through sports, music, art, or anything else. God can use anything for His glory.

Let’s close in prayer:

"Lord, thank You for this day and for bringing us together. I pray that You bless the Super Bowl players with safety and that You be glorified in their efforts. Help us not to get too caught up in winning or losing but to always seek Your will above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen." 

Return to Nazareth | A Sermon on Matthew 2:19-23

Introduction
I have preached on a lot of different Scriptures over the 25 years of my ministry. I figure I have preached at least 1,000 sermons at this point in my life. But I have never preached on the passage I will speak about today. It is near the beginning of Matthew, but not the very beginning. During Advent, we studied to story of the Wisemen coming from the East to visit Jesus at His birth.  They gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  But evil King Herod wanted to kill the newborn king of the Jews.  So Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt with the baby Jesus. And then we come to Matthew 2:19-23.

Matthew 2:19-23
¹⁹ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. ²⁰ “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

²¹ So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. ²² But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. ²³ So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Return to Nazareth
I’ve never preached on this passage.  It falls between the story of Christ’s birth (which we study every Christmas) and the stories about John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism.  Those stories are so interesting and we focus on them again and again.
But, we just take this little section of Matthew in between for granted as a transitional passage. 
Now, we know Jesus fled to Egypt and then he came back to Nazareth, so we just skim over these 4 verses that tell us the details how he got back to Nazareth.  But one thing I’ve learned in 25 years of preaching the Word of God, every section, every verse, every word is important and packed with significance and meaning.

The Gospel of Matthew intentionally connects Jesus with the story of the Israelites in the OT.  You will remember that another “Joseph” ended up in Israel.  The Joseph of the Old Testament was a dreamer. This was Jacob’s son, Joesph, back in Genesis—the Joseph who wore the coat of many colors.  That Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, but God was with that Joseph and gave him the power to interpret dreams and he rose to power as second in command to Pharoah.  And then Joseph’s father and his brothers and all his family—the Israelites—escaped a terrible famine by moving to Egypt, where they lived for 400 years.

And here in Matthew, we have another Joseph—Mary’s husband, Jesus’ earthly father—who has now had three important dreams.  In the first dream the Angel of the Lord told Joesph not to divorce Mary because Jesus was God’s Son.  In the second dream, the Angel of the Lord told Joseph to flee to Egypt because Herod was trying to kill Jesus.  And now in this third dream, the Angel of the Lord tells Joseph to take Mary and Jesus back to Israel.

This fulfills the Old Testament prophecy from Hosea 11:1 – “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.”  This passage from the prophet Hosea speaks of both Israel and God’s Son.  God brought the Israelites out of Egypt through Moses in the Exodus.  And God also brought His Son, Jesus, out of Egypt back to the land of Israel.  But what does this have to do with us today?

First of all, Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy.
You cannot separate the Old Testament from the New Testament. The OT & NT are intrinsically connected as one whole story of God’s salvation plan. And there are connections there you cannot even imagine.  Even parts you think don’t matter, do. And the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament.  Don’t ever forget. This grand plan stretching across thousands of years glorifies the power and wisdom of God.

Second, Jesus fulfilled everything the Israelites failed to do right in the OT.
And that might not seem important to you personally, but it is.  You can probably think of some regrets you have in your life, things you wish you’d done differently, mistakes you’ve made, sins you’ve committed.  I want you to know that somehow through the mysterious power of God, Jesus fulfilled everything you were supposed to do but didn’t.  It’s not just that Jesus’ blood washes away your sins; it does, but Jesus is also your righteousness.  He completes you. In Christ, your broken past is made absolutely right so you can stand before God fully vindicated.

Third, this passage shows God's ongoing guidance and protection in our lives.
Just as God guided Joseph to protect His family, God is actively involved in our affairs. When we walk with God daily and seek to be in His will, He shows us the way. God’s Holy Spirit is there to guide you to avoid danger, to make good decisions, and to accomplish His plans for you.  But it is His plans, not your own selfish ambitions. Therefore, give yourself to God.  Let Him be in charge and listen to His voice guiding you.

Fourth, this passage shows God cares about the poor and the humble.
By settling in Nazareth, a humble and obscure town, Jesus' life aligns with the lowly and humble. God doesn’t just focus on the power centers of our world—Jerusalem & Rome in the ancient world or DC & Wall Street in our modern one.  No, God’s son was born in the small town of Bethlehem, lived as a refugee in Egypt, and then returned to grow up a Nazarene from an unimportant, backwater town in northern Israel, far from the centers of power and influence. This shaped His ministry among ordinary people rather than the elite.

Holy Communion
Jesus’ journey back to Nazareth wasn’t just a transition or insignificant detail of history. It is part of God’s great salvation plan.  A small, seemingly unimportant town became the place where the Savior of the world was raised.  And that should be an encouragement to us.

Many of you may feel like your life is far from the center of power or influence. Maybe you think your work, your home, or even your struggles seem small in the grand scheme of things. But this passage reminds us that God is at work in the ordinary. Jesus didn’t grow up in a palace. He wasn’t raised in a wealthy family. He lived among humble, hardworking people like you and me. And yet, He was the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise.

That same God is working in your life. He is guiding you. He is protecting you. He is calling you to follow Him. Like Joseph, you may not always see the full picture, but if you trust God, He will lead you where you need to go.

As we come to the Lord’s Table today, remember that Jesus is our righteousness. He fulfills everything we have failed to do. He washes away our sins and makes us whole. And He invites us to follow Him—not to the great cities of power, but into a life of humble obedience and deep faith.

Come to the Table.  Receive His grace.  And trust that wherever you are, no matter how small or ordinary it may seem, God is working in your life.

I was On Your Mind - A Heartfelt Youth Sunday Sermon by Abigail Mullis and Amy Harris

This past Sunday was Youth Sunday at my church.  It is a time when the middle and high school students lead worship.  As part of this service, my 18-year-old daughter, Abigail, shared a heart felt message followed by a message from her youth pastor, Amy Harris.  I share their messages with you here.

Abigail's Message
This is my last Youth Sunday, which is crazy. I’m a little nervous, so stick with me. I hope you can take away even a little something from my message today.

That song I sang earlier is called "On Your Mind" by John Mark Pantana. If you’re ever looking for Christian songs that aren’t on the radio (because those aren’t my favorite, if I’m being honest), ask me for some—I’ve got some good ones. I decided to sing this song a month ago because it’s about this wonderful thing called prevenient grace. It’s the idea that God is looking out for us before we’re born, before we give our lives to Him, and even before the world began. He had you in His heart. That is incomprehensible, but I see it consistently in my life.

I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a single church, which is really remarkable because most kids of Methodist pastors don’t get that opportunity. I’ve been here since I was three years old, and that’s crazy to me. I’m very grateful for it because you’ve all helped me grow in my faith and made me who I am.

I want to start with a verse that I’ll keep coming back to—1 Corinthians 13:13: “Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” Pleasant Grove has embodied this verse for me. After all, where would I be without the love of my church?

Sherry Dickon’s love of prayer has inspired me. David’s love of music has pushed me and nurtured my own love. Angel and Sally have a zest for life that I deeply admire. There are so many of you who cared for me during Sunday school classes and children’s programs, even when I was the only one there. That might seem small, but it meant a lot to me that you showed up, even when it might have felt pointless. I’ll never forget weekends with T.W. and Margie, who cared for me like surrogate grandparents. Emily Andrews looked after me on weekends when my parents went on date nights. Elaine McDonald gave me a book of prayers after my first Youth Sunday sermon because I talked about how anxious I was, and I still read it almost every day.

And Deborah—I can’t forget her. She’s my Sunday school teacher, even though I’m the only one in her class. She takes me on rides and is basically my grandparent. We don’t just do Sunday school anymore; we talk, and it’s the most wonderful thing.

But my biggest thank-you goes to Amy. She makes me laugh every time I see her, tells me crazy stories from her life, and writes messages that touch my soul. She shows me the love of God in a way no one else has. She’s always there to listen and talk, free of judgment, and she speaks pure love.

God put this church, and the majority of you, in my life when I was three years old. Even then, I was on God’s mind. But soon, I’ll leave. In a couple of months, you’ll have new Abigails to raise. I thought I’d give you some advice on how to love others the way you’ve loved me—not just children, but everyone who needs love. Everyone needs love. Being a loving Christian is how we shine our light into the world. True, unbounded, unexplainable love is what sets Christians apart. Yes, we’ll fall short, but when we let God into our hearts, we are changed. In my experience, that makes loving God much easier.

2 Corinthians 6:6 says: “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.”

Love is more than an idea or virtue; it’s a way of life. It means loving everyone, even if they dislike you, disagree with you, or show you no love in return. When I have a hard day, I wear a cross necklace my parents gave me for my 15th birthday. It reminds me to reflect on how people see me and how God calls me to love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says: “If I could speak all the languages of earth and angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, understood all of God’s secret plans, and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I had to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

We often approach witnessing the wrong way. It’s not about telling people what God is, what Jesus did for them, or why their thinking is wrong. It’s about showing what God did for you and how He changed you. Show how God loves you through your actions. Empathetic, sincere love touches the soul.

1 Corinthians 9:22 says: “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”

Love is our most powerful tool. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being human. When we truly love freely and generously, we see the world through God’s eyes. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 reminds us: “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely.”

God knows us completely, including our shortcomings and darkest secrets, yet He loves us. Humans are beautiful in their flaws, and we are made in God’s image. How wonderful is God’s plan to reach us in a way we can understand?

So now it’s your turn. If you ever question your impact on this world, remember 1 Corinthians 13:13: “Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” I love you all so much, and I’m so grateful to have experienced your love for the past 15 years of my life. Thank you.

After Abigail spoke, her youth pastor spoke.  Here is what Amy Harris said:

Amy's Message
Well, I think I didn’t really need to give a second sermon, and I definitely should have let Abigail go last this time. But I did prepare a message, so you’re going to listen to it!

Today is one of my favorite Sundays of the year. I get here, and I’m a frazzled mess. Jeremy and David are up there trying to say, “We’ve got this—you can just walk away from all things technology.” That’s for their benefit, not mine, because I don’t know what I’m doing. They’ve got it under control. I get here, I’m a mess, I’m running around, and then it all falls into place because we are honoring God this morning. These young men and women show up, and they lead, and I love it. I absolutely love it.

What an honor and a privilege it is for our young men and ladies to have the opportunity to represent Christ in such a bold and public way. Not everyone is made to be in front of crowds, and some of these guys and gals are way out of their comfort zones this morning. I’m so very proud of them.

I’ll start my message with an easy question for each of you: What is God’s ultimate will for your life? Where does He see you in 10, 15, or 20 years from now? Everybody good? Got it all laid out? Okay.

God’s will is not a topic that can be covered in a 15-minute sermon. My scripture research alone took two hours because the entire Bible lays out God’s will for our lives. I’ll start with, and put a lot of focus on, the story of Jonah this morning.

I had a lot of fun digging into Jonah this week, and, unfortunately, we can probably all relate to Jonah at some point in our lives. Jonah was a prophet, and one day God called him and told him to go preach to Nineveh because the people there were very wicked. Jonah hated this idea because Nineveh was one of Israel’s greatest enemies, and he wanted nothing to do with preaching to them.

(Side note: When I was much younger, I had a part-time job at the White Wing Christian Bookstore—do you all remember when that was around? At the time, the VeggieTales movie Jonah had come out, and we played that on repeat. That was my favorite movie! The silly fish—do you all remember them? I loved it. Anyway, back on topic.)

Instead of traveling east to Nineveh, Jonah tried to run away from God in the opposite direction and headed west by boat to Tarshish. The boat was full of pagan sailors, so God sent a great storm upon it. The men on the ship were terrified. They prayed to their gods and threw cargo overboard to try to lighten the ship and prevent it from sinking. Jonah, meanwhile, was asleep through all of this. The sailors went to wake him and shouted at him to pray to his God. Jonah had already told the men that he was running from God. Together, they decided that Jonah was to blame for the storm, and Jonah told them the only way to stop it was to throw him overboard.

These pagan men didn’t want to do that. They tried rowing harder and faster to get out of the storm, but it only grew worse. Finally, they sought forgiveness from Jonah’s God and threw Jonah overboard. As soon as Jonah hit the water, the storm stopped. Then God sent a big fish (some call it a whale) to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning.

While in the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God for help. He thanked God for not abandoning him. While Jonah never truly repented, he did praise God for His mercy. For three days, Jonah sat in the belly of the fish. Then God had the fish spit Jonah out onto the shores of Nineveh. Where else would our God send him?

A second time, God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to the great city of Nineveh and deliver the message the Lord had given him. So Jonah half-heartedly preached a five-word sermon to Nineveh. (You should be so lucky this morning!) He warned them to repent before the city was destroyed in 40 days. Surprisingly, the people believed Jonah’s short and sweet message. They turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them, sparing the city from destruction.

Jonah, however, became angry and bitter because God didn’t destroy the Ninevites, Israel’s enemies. Jonah sat to rest and watch to see what would happen to them. God provided a vine to give him shade, but the next day, God sent a worm to eat the vine. Now Jonah was sitting in the hot sun, complaining and wishing to die. God scolded Jonah for caring more about a plant than the 120,000 people of Nineveh.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were called to issue a warning or message, but the recipients were so terrible and rebellious that you didn’t feel they deserved it? Jonah is a perfect example of how human stubbornness can’t change the will of God. Yet God can still use the most resistant hearts to build His kingdom.

The entire story is almost like satire. Everything that should be isn’t, and everything that shouldn’t be is. The man of God is angry and disobedient, while the pagan sailors and the wicked Ninevites are repentant. But when you desire to know God, you realize this makes perfect sense. We don’t serve an ordinary God. We serve a God full of surprises and miracles.

Then you have the heroes of the Bible who never second-guessed their role in God’s plan. Take, for instance, the woman at the well. Jesus broke down social barriers when He met her. She had a sorted past, yet she immediately followed Jesus when she learned who He was. She went back to her town and told others about Him—this man who knew everything about her and still offered her the opportunity for forgiveness and eternal life. Through her, hearts were changed after just one meeting at a well with Jesus.

Consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Mary learned she would be the mother of God’s Son, she could have been put to death. Yet, according to Luke 1:38, Mary responded to the angel Gabriel with, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” She was willing to accept the risk because she trusted God. Every Christmas, I’m reminded and inspired by Mary’s selfless faith.

The disciples also stand as examples of faith. They walked away from their livelihoods, their families, and everything they had known to follow Jesus.

We know that even when we live outside the will of God, He is faithful. He is a God of second chances. Adam and Eve were the first example of God’s faithfulness and His desire to see no one perish. They disobeyed His direct order and lied about it, yet God forgave them. David broke half the Ten Commandments in one fell swoop: coveting, abuse of power, adultery, treachery, and even murder. Still, God forgave him.

Jesus shares the parable of the prodigal son—the ultimate example of an undeserving second chance. This reminds us that unconditional forgiveness is a cornerstone of Jesus’ love for us. Peter, who followed Jesus closely, denied Him three times to save his own life. Yet, Jesus forgave him.

When we fall out of step with God’s will, we have the option to fall right back into it, as if we never left. That’s the beauty of serving a forgiving God.

We talk about God’s will like it’s difficult to understand. We sing, “Thy will be done,” and we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” But then we hesitate when we’re called to carry out difficult tasks. We forget that:

• The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.
• The will of God will never take you where the arms of God cannot support you.
• The will of God will never draw you where the riches of God cannot supply your needs.
• The will of God will never take you where the power of God cannot endow you.
• The will of God will never take you where the love of God cannot enfold you.

We tend to think of God’s will as something outward, requiring extraordinary steps to complete tasks. But in reality, God’s will for our lives is about transformation—of mind, body, and spirit. It’s saying goodbye to the old me and hello to the Holy Spirit-filled me. Without this transformation, we may never fully understand the specific calling God has for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 spells it out: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Following God’s will isn’t just about daily actions; it’s about a heart and mind transformation. When we follow Paul’s advice to always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in everything, our hearts are focused on being who God wants us to be. When we’re focused on God, we hear His direction more clearly. There’s less room for the world’s voices to distract us. If we are focused on Him, we’ll recognize His voice, and there will be no mistaking His instructions.

There’s a story about a young woman trying to decide where to go to college. She prayed about it and found Amos 4:4, which begins, “Go to Bethel.” Excited, she thought God was leading her to Bethel College. But if you read the rest of the verse, it says, “Go to Bethel and sin.” This is why it’s important to live a life focused on God’s voice. If we’re not focused on Him, we risk misunderstanding His direction.

Where is the will of God leading you today? Are you, like Jonah, reluctant to take that step God is calling you to take? Are you running in the opposite direction?

I recently came across a pastor named J. John. He told a story about a man who wanted to become a missionary. The man worried about how to provide for his family while pursuing his calling. J. John suggested finding ten people to donate a tenth of his annual income. But God also told J. John to give the first tenth himself. Reluctantly, he did. Today, that missionary has traveled across Europe, established multiple ministries, and has a staff of 35 people. J. John now proudly says, “I did that. God directed me, and I followed.”

God wants you to use your blessings to bless others so you can say, “I did that. I followed God’s directions.”

Where is God leading you today? Are you always joyful? Always praying? Thankful in all circumstances? Not for all circumstances—because sometimes life is hard—but in all circumstances, knowing God works through all things for good.

As we sing our last song today, I invite you to come to the altar. Lift up our young leaders, our youth ministries, and our children’s ministries. Our church has gone through enormous transitions, and I feel like we’re ready to grow. But we can’t grow if our children’s and youth ministries aren’t thriving. They are the future of Pleasant Grove.

Come to the altar, pray for these ministries, and see what God can do—just through your prayers.

The Apostle's Creed - Articles 4, 7, 9, and 11

Introduction
This past Sunday, my church held a unique service different from our typical Sunday service.  This service was based on the 12 articles of the Apostles' Creed.  The Apostles' Creed is a short statement of core Christian beliefs that has been used by the Church since ancient times. It summarizes foundational doctrines about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, forgiveness, resurrection, and eternal life. The Creed is called the Apostles' Creed because it is traditionally believed to reflect the teachings of the apostles, though it was not directly written by them. It serves as a unifying confession of faith for Christians across denominations, guiding worship and teaching while connecting believers to the historic Church.

The service included scripture and 12 hymns associated with each article of the creed.  You can watch the full service here.  In this blog, I want to share the short sermonettes I gave for articles, 4, 7, 9, and 11.  

Article Four – “…He descended to the dead.”
I think most people in our congregation are familiar with the statements from the Apostles’ Creed that say: “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.”  But the last statement may be unfamiliar.  “He descended to the dead.”

The confusion stems from the fact this statement about Christ “descending to the dead” or “descending to hell” is included in the traditional forms of the Apostles’ Creed but not the ecumenical form many congregations have used.  The ecumenical version was used in many congregations (like ours) for the last century, but the traditional Apostles’ Creed has been used for most of the Christian Church’s history for 2000 years.  Some creeds, including the oldest creeds that were used in the 2^nd and 3^rd century, did not include the phrase “He descended to the dead.”  But the overwhelming majority of Christians through the centuries included the phrase “He descended to the dead (or hell)” as they recited the Apostles’ Creed.   Well?  Did Christ descend to the dead or not?

1 Peter 3:18-20 in the Bible says of Jesus: "He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built."  The “imprisoned spirits” were people who died before the time of Christ.

Ephesians 4:9 says, "What does 'He ascended' mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions?"  Where else could Jesus have descended but hell (or the place of the dead)?

There is an understanding in Scripture (and among early Christians) that Jesus descended to the place of the dead (Hell or Sheol) and shared the Gospel with those who died before He came so they too would have an opportunity to repent and believe and be saved.  Think of all the heroes of the Old Testament era like Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, and David.  These people never had a chance to hear Jesus’ message of salvation.  They died before He came.  But God, in His infinite mercy and ultimate justice, would not leave anyone out of His plan to save the world—even if they lived and died before Jesus’ time on earth.  So, Jesus descended to the place of the dead (AKA Sheol or Hades or Hell) and preached the Good News.  And anyone who believed and accepted God’s grace was saved.

The points we can take away are these:  First, God is just – God would never condemn someone without them having a fair chance to be saved. Second, though Christ was God, He was also human and really did experience everything it means to be a human—including death and the reality of what can happen to sinners who face judgment in hell.

Article Seven – “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” (see Acts 1:9-11)
This really is an important statement to affirm.  Christ was clear.  He said He would come again.  The angels were clear.  Christ will come again.  The Bible is clear.  Christ will come again.  It has been nearly 2,000 years since Christ ascended into Heaven.  After so long, some might think Christ will not return as promised.  But we affirm He will.

And Jesus said no one knows when the second coming will happen, but that He will return “like a thief in the night” and catch many by surprise.  So, we should always be ready and live as if His return is imminent. 

You will see Jesus face-to-face in your lifetime.  Either He will return for the whole world al at once in the second coming or He will return for you individually when you die.  And when He comes, what will He find when He evaluates your life?  Will He say of you, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”  Or will He say, “Away from me, you have lived a wicked life and never repented and turned to me as Lord.”

Remember, none of us knows how long we have—whether it is years or days, or moments.  Therefore, repent and turn to the Lord now for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Article Nine – “I believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints.” (see Colosians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22-23, & Hebrews 12:1)

I get more questions about this one statement in the Apostles Creed than any other.  I get it. 
It was the same question I raised when I first attended a Methodist Church as a boy and recited The Apostles Creed.
I thought we were Methodist.  Why do we say we believe in the “catholic Church”?

The word catholic means universal. We do not profess to believe in the “Roman Catholic Church” (which is only one denomination of the WHOLE Christian Church). No, we believe in a universal Church that transcends denominational lines and includes every person around the world who follows Jesus Christ as Lord. This universal (or Catholic) church includes Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, people who attend non-denominational churches, and people from every other Christian denomination.  It even includes Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians if they truly follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.  This is the universal (or catholic) Church.  And I believe in the holy, catholic church.

The second part of article nine is important too and related: “I believe in… the communion of saints.”  The communion of saints is the community of all believers—both living and dead—who follow Christ.  The communion of saints includes you and me (if we are truly Christian) as well as all the Christians who lived over the last 2000 years and are now living with Jesus in heaven.  Even though we cannot see those saints in Heaven, we join with them in praising God every time we worship.  They care about us and cheer us on as we seek to live for God in this life (Hebrews 12:1).

Article Eleven – “I Believe In The Resurrection of the body."  (See Job 19:25-27 & Romans 8:11)
That seems straightforward enough, but I think we don’t fully consider what it means.  The idea of Heaven is common in popular religion in America.  Even those who do not attend church may believe the idea that when a person dies, their spirit will go up to heaven.  But Christians boldly proclaim, “I believe in the ressurection of the body.”  Of the body…  The teaching of the Holy Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, and therefore the belief of the Christian Church, is that our physical bodies will be resurrected.  We will not be disembodied spirits floating around in heaven.  No.  We will live forever with Jesus with a perfected, healed, physical body.  God created Adam and Eve as physical creatures with perfect bodies and we will ultimately have our broken, sinful bodies healed and restored to perfection. 

Jesus is our example.  He was born as a baby and lived on earth in a physical body.  He died after His physical body was crucified on a cross.  And then He rose from the grave on the third day.  He was not a spirit or a ghost.  He ate breakfast with His disciples.  He told Thomas to touch His physical hands and feel the actual nail scars.  If Christ rose to eternal life in a physical body, so too will we.  So, we believe in the ressurection of the body.”

The Full Apostles’ Creed
Now that we have examine the meaning of these articles of the traditional Apostles’ Creed, read the whole creed as one and contemplate the meaning in these historic words. What new insight do you find in them?

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried. 

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father,

He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Closing
Today, we have examined 4 articles of the Apostles' Creed, affirming the foundational truths of the Christian faith. We have declared our belief in God the Father, the Creator of all; in Jesus Christ, the Savior who conquered sin and death; in the Holy Spirit, who empowers and guides us; and in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the ressurection of the body, and life everlasting.

As we leave, let us carry these truths in our hearts and live them out in our lives. May the faith we have affirmed today shape our actions, inspire our worship, and deepen our love for God and one another.

Remember, this Creed is not just words we recite—it is the foundation upon which we build our whole life.  It guides us to live boldly for Christ, trusting in His promises and sharing His love with a world in need.

Now, as you go, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever.  Amen.