The Mothers of Jesus: Bathsheba

December 23, 2018 • Rev. Paul Kim

The Mothers of Jesus: Ruth

December 16, 2018 • Rev. Adam Feichtmann

"What's love got to do with it, got to do with it, who needs a heart when a heart can be broken." - Tina Turner When we are hurt from another person (friend, parent, child, or spouse) we often want to remove our hearts and give up on love all together. We want to be self-protective instead of self-sacrificial in how we relate to others. This third Sunday of Advent, we are going to continue preparing for Christmas by looking at the third mother mentioned in Jesus' genealogy, Ruth. Ruth is the main character of the Old Testament book of Ruth and is renown for her self-sacrificial love. A love that isn't felt at a candle-light dinner, but displayed in actions that give life to others. A love that risks being hurt, because another's needs are greater than someone's own. A love the ultimately points beyond itself to Jesus and his self-sacrifice for the sake of others. To prepare for our study of Ruth this Sunday. Spend some time reading through the book of Ruth and notice the picture of self-sacrificial love that Ruth displays, while also stopping to see how the other characters, Naomi and Boaz, likewise display this type of love. Then ask yourself how those pictures of self-sacrificial love point us to Jesus, the great celebration of Christmas, and how we also can live out a similar type of self-sacrificial love in our own lives. I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday! Pastor Adam

The Mothers of Jesus: Tamar

December 2, 2018 • Rev. Adam Feichtmann

Advent begins this Sunday! Get ready to sing Christmas songs, light the Advent candle, start a new sermon series, and make Advent wreaths after the service. It is my favorite season of the year and I am excited to celebrate it with you as we prepare together for the joy of Christmas. Our Advent sermon series is called "The Mothers of Jesus." In the Gospel of Matthew chapter one, prior to the birth story of Jesus, Matthew prepares the way by writing down Jesus' genealogy. In our more individualistic culture we tend to quickly scan over biblical genealogies, however, back in Jesus' culture a genealogy would be similar to a person's CV or resume. It would showcase who a person was and what they can do. There are several fascinating parts to Jesus' genealogy, but one of the most fascinating is that five women are listed: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah's Wife, and Mary. It was very rare for women to be listed in a genealogy, so that would have jumped off the page to the first century readers of the Gospel of Matthew. It is also very interesting why these five women, these five mothers of Jesus, are listed and not more popular and respected women from the Old Testament. For each of the four Sundays of Advent and on Christmas Eve we will be looking at each of these women's characters and stories and asking the question, what themes do we see in them that enable us to better anticipate the birth Jesus? To best prepare for this Sunday spend a few minutes reading, meditating, and praying through the Gospel of Matthew 1:1-17 and Genesis 38 (the whole chapter). Reflect on the character and story of Tamar, asking yourself why do you think Matthew thought it was important to add Tamar to Jesus' genealogy, and how does her character and story enable us to better prepare for the joy of Christmas? I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday! Pastor Adam