Pastor at Dover Baptist Church in Goochland, VA.
I. The Time of the Beginning (Mark 1:1; Luke 3:1-2) Mark doesn’t ease us into his Gospel. He opens with the forceful declaration: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1, ESV). There’s no mention of mangers or Magi, no angelic announcements to Mary or Joseph. Mark skips the... Continue Reading →
I. Jesus’ Growth in Nazareth (Luke 2:39–40) There is a kind of mystery in the years that pass between Jesus' infancy and His public ministry. The Gospels give us snapshots of His birth, then again when He’s twelve, and then the curtain lifts in full in His thirties. We might be tempted to call those... Continue Reading →
Luke 2:21-38 records the circumcision and naming of Jesus, as well as when the young Jesus was presented in the Temple. It also beautifully illustrates the theme of obedience to God’s law through faith. This passage reminds us that faith is not just about belief but about living in obedience to God. Like those in... Continue Reading →
The Journey of Mary (Luke 1:39-40) “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah…” (Luke 1:39, ESV) Mary’s journey to the hill country of Judea was a pilgrimage of faith. Luke tells us that Mary “got ready and hurried” (Luke 1:39), words filled with urgency.... Continue Reading →
Introduction: So far in this series, we’ve been setting the stage for the arrival of Jesus. We’ve explored the perspectives of the four Gospel authors, each offering a unique but essential view of His life. We also looked at John’s prologue, which reminded us that Jesus didn’t begin in Bethlehem. He has always been the... Continue Reading →
Two Genealogies It’s easy to gloss over the long genealogies in the Bible, thinking they are just lists of names. However, these passages have a deeper meaning. These names are a reminder that God’s plan for salvation was set in motion long before Christ’s arrival (Luke 24:44-46). When we read of figures like Abraham, Boaz,... Continue Reading →
Series Introduction: We are continuing our sermon series, “Who Do You Say That I Am?” where we are focusing on how different people encountered Jesus and answered this question for themselves. So far we have looked at Peter the fisherman, Zacchaeus the tax collector, the rich young ruler, Nicodemus the Pharisee, a Samaritan woman that... Continue Reading →
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:17-31 Luke 19:1-10 Opening Prayer: Father God, we thank you for the honor and the privilege we have to gather here this morning to give you our offering of worship and praise. I pray that as we enter into this time of preaching, that you would give me words to speak. I... Continue Reading →
Series Introduction: Good morning and Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas holiday and are looking forward to what the new year will bring us. Since we just finished our Advent and Christmas season, where we focused on the prophecies concerning Christ and the glory of his birth, I thought it would... Continue Reading →
Scripture Reading: Psalm 96 Luke 2:1-20 Opening Prayer: Father God, as we gather here this Christmas Eve, I pray that you would open our hearts and minds to receive your Word. Be with us as we look forward to Christmas Day with eager anticipation, and help us to remember that the reason we celebrate is... Continue Reading →
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