REFLECTION QUOTES

“God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.”

~Augustine (354-430), bishop in North Africa

“As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.”

~Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), theologian, physician and philosopher

“Jesus the King of Kings came first in submission to the Father which required submission that led to a Roman cross. His hands did not come grasping a crown but were stretched out to be pierced with nails by those He came to save. He did not defend Himself with a sword but received the spear of a Roman soldier in His side. He did not come to bring judgment upon guilty sinners but to bear it in their place. He calls those who would be His disciples to follow Him not upon the path of self-promotion and fulfillment but the path of submission and even suffering if necessary for the sake of others and the glory of God.”

~Source Unknown

“The American Jesus is more a pawn than a king, pushed around in a complex game of cultural (and counter-cultural) chess, sacrificed here for this cause and there for another.”

~Dr. Stephen Prothero, professor at Boston University

“I take it that the highest proof of Christ’s power is not that he offers salvation, not that he bids you take it if you will, but that when you reject it, when you hate it, when you despise it, he has a power whereby he can change your mind, make you think differently from your former thoughts, and turn you from the error of your ways.”

~ C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

SERMON PASSAGE

Matthew 1:18-25 (NASB)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Revelation 21:1-8 (NASB)

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”