Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 Names are an interesting phenomenon. We have last names, first names, and many of us even have middle names. In some places in the world, people are properly addressed by their first names and then their last names, while in other parts of the world you begin an address with a person’s last name and then their first name. Often our last names are somehow tied to and reveal something about our heritage. We know that a Kelley probably has some Irish

Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out of you. He will stand & shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will dwell secure, he will become one of peace. Most of world history is the story of conflict. During the past almost 6,000 years there have been nearly 15,000 wars, & these are only the ones we know about. As I preach this morn

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Joy to the world, the Lord is come Let earth receive her King. (Isaac Watts) Joy reverberates throughout these closing verses of the otherwise sobering (if not downright depressing) book of Zephaniah. If Isaac Watts’ intention was to write a hymn celebrating not the first but the second coming of Christ, when God ultimately sets all things right, then Joy to the World is an appropriate inclusion for this third Sunday of Advent: judgment is pas

Malachi 3:1-4 Those of us who are familiar with mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers, know about the tyranny of “updates”, when a message flashes up on your screen, “Update Available” and something which follows along the lines of “Do you want to install updates now... or postpone for an hour?” How many of us get irritated by that? Right in the middle of our busyness and important work, we get a message to say “here’s an update”. How many of us ignore it .

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Today is the First Sunday of Advent. Advent means coming. During this season, believers prepare for the coming celebration of the birth of our Savior. We also prepare for the coming of Christ the King on Judgment Day. Through the living and active word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ also comes to life in our hearts. The importance of our Savior, the Savior of all people, is discovered in the very name of Jesus. Therefore, God highly honored hi