Isaiah 7:10-17 and Luke 2:1-7 are the inspiration for these thoughts entitled "Do Not Disturb." In the former, Ahaz wickedly says that God has a Do Not Disturb policy. In the latter, we see that the Bethlehem Inn had no vacancy. This is part of a larger pattern of Christ's rejection by His people. People often declare to God "Do Not Disturb" there is "No Vacancy" through attempts to obstruct His plans, a failure to seek Him, and a failure to repent and lead others to repent. May God disturb us.

Click here to listen to the 7pm sermon.

Click here or the title to listen to the 11pm sermon.

Labels: Christmas, exodus, isaiah, luke, rejection of Christ, repentance, seeking God

Psalm 128 is one of the songs of ascents that would be sung as the people (including Jesus) went up to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus sang this psalm knowing that entering the blessing meant the curse of the cross first. In this psalm we see a parallel to justification by faith -- being pronounced blessed by faith. And then as a blessed people, we do good works from which more blessings flow. More than this, Jesus is the head of the household of God and he says, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Father." And so we follow His lead and believe -- receiving faith and repentance with empty hands and then using those hands to labor in His church.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: blessing, faith, Psalms, repentance, song of ascents

Psalm 128 is one of the songs of ascents that would be sung as the people (including Jesus) went up to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus sang this psalm knowing that entering the blessing meant the curse of the cross first. In this psalm we see a parallel to justification by faith -- being pronounced blessed by faith. And then as a blessed people, we do good works from which more blessings flow. More than this, Jesus is the head of the household of God and he says, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Father." And so we follow His lead and believe -- receiving faith and repentance with empty hands and then using those hands to labor in His church.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: blessing, faith, Psalms, repentance, song of ascents

Ezekiel 33 marks a turning point in the book of Ezekiel because of what happens at the center of the chapter -- the destruction of Jerusalem. Up until now, Ezekiel has stressed the bad news and now that the survivor comes and tells us that Jerusalem has been destroyed he shifts his emphasis to the good news. This good news is a message of repentance. After discussing how we like a good sermon but hearing a sermon and doing it are two different things, we looked at how your righteousness will not deliver you when you sin. The Christian lifestyle is one of repentance. You trust in Christ's righteousness and when you sin you turn to Him and away from the sin. This is all because He was the temple of God that was destroyed on the cross for your sins.

Did the portion demonstrating lying on my side &c for the children's message before this sermon, compared to Peter Creek below.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: death, ezekiel, jerusalem, repentance, sermons, sin

Ezekiel 33 marks a turning point in the book of Ezekiel because of what happens at the center of the chapter -- the destruction of Jerusalem. Up until now, Ezekiel has stressed the bad news and now that the survivor comes and tells us that Jerusalem has been destroyed he shifts his emphasis to the good news. This good news is a message of repentance. After discussing how we like a good sermon but hearing a sermon and doing it are two different things, we looked at how your righteousness will not deliver you when you sin. The Christian lifestyle is one of repentance. You trust in Christ's righteousness and when you sin you turn to Him and away from the sin. This is all because He was the temple of God that was destroyed on the cross for your sins.

The audio gets a little softer where I did crazy things like laying down on my side and such.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: death, ezekiel, jerusalem, repentance, sermons, sin