Date: December 21, 2025

Text: Luke 1:39-55

Mary's example reminds us that Jesus's birth is good news for everyone who is normal, ordinary, and unremarkable by the standards of this world. He is faithful to lift us up, and in return we exalt him.

Date: December 14, 2025

Text: Luke 1:5-25

Disappointments happen in life. We have unmet expectations. Prayers take way longer to be answered than we think they should. Yet even in our disappointment, God is faithful. He was faithful to the childless Zechariah and Elizabeth, he was faithful to his people as they waited for the Messiah, and he is faithful to us.

Note: This week's sermon was rough. I was struggling with a cough that would not go away. I stopped and prayed about 12 minutes into the sermon and God took it away. But those first 12 minutes or so were hard. I edited out all the coughs and that prayer (you're welcome for not coughing in your ear), but if it sounds choppy at first, or you hear the strain in my voice, that's why. Also, I misspoke at one point. The reason Zechariah and Elizabeth couldn't have a baby was PHYSICAL, not SPIRITUAL. I said it the other way around.

Date: December 7, 2025

Text: Matthew 1:1-16

Matthew highlights people with messy stories as he presents Jesus's genealogy. Their examples give us hope that despite the messiness and even brokenness in our lives, we can be included in God's plans and purposes.