We depend on light for so many things. It helps us see what we are doing, and the sun is important for our emotional health. Darkness, on the other hand, is often associated with evil. It is not surprising, then, that God uses the image of light shining in the darkness to talk about the coming incarnation of his Son, Jesus Christ.
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Recent sermons preached by Wise Church pastors and preachers.
Humbly Glorify the Lord
Shortly after receiving the news that she would be the bearer of the Son of God, the Virgin Mary goes to visit her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who had long been unable to have a child and was now pregnant, could easily have been jealous of Mary. Mary could have slipped into pride over the role she was to play. These are now, however, the paths that they choose. Instead they are each content and joyful, humbly glorifying the Lord.
View SermonJoy in God’s Presence
Sometimes it feels like there is a lot of pressure to be bright and merry this time of the year. Songs blare at us from stores, doctors offices, and car radios telling us to be happy and cheerful. Everywhere you look someone is talking about it being the most wonderful time of the year. For some it really is and for others, this is a time of mourning or sorrow. This attitude often feels as if it flows into our church life. As if we are supposed to will ourselves to be joyful. To pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and make ourselves happy, just choose joy. That is the beauty of our scripture passage today we do not have to make ourselves joyful but rather it is the presence of God that brings joy and freedom.
View SermonFreedom for the Captives
What is it like to be released from captivity? This was something that the people of God experienced on a number of occasions in the Old Testament. Psalm 126 reminds us of the ways God has brought freedom in the past, and it gives the encouragement that the God who has always acted in the past will continue to act in the future. Are you experiencing captivity, in some form, right now? This Psalm will bring you hope.
View SermonWatching, Waiting, and Preparing
Advent is a season of preparation. We prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas in a few short weeks, but we also prepare ourselves for the second coming of Christ at the end of the age. How should we be preparing as we wait with eager expectation? Listen to find out!
View SermonChrist The King Sunday
What does it mean for Jesus to be King of kings and Lord of lords? How do we allow Jesus to reign in our lives. In this sermon we will explore how Jesus uses his sovereignty in humility.
View SermonIndestructible Socks (A Thanksgiving Sermon)
Our God is the most excellent provider that you could hope for. Yet, how often do we stop to give thanks for the ways he has blessed us? When we don’t give thanks, we can deceive ourselves into thinking that we are the ones who have provided, but this is a pitfall that comes with some specific dangers.
View SermonStand Firm
The Prophet Daniel was the first person in the Bible to mention an “Abomination of Desolation,” but Jesus picks up on this theme and mentions it again, hundreds of years later. Many have seen the fulfillment of this prophecy in various events in history, but there is reason to believe that it also points towards a future event in addition to the ones which have already taken place. What does this prophecy mean for us today? How are we to endure in the face of persecution?
View SermonCanoeing the Mountains
When Lewis and Clark set out on their expedition, they traveled in canoes, looking for a water route for commerce as they explored the newly acquired territory from the Louisiana purchase. Everything about their expedition changed when they reached the Rocky Mountains! In our own day, the Church has been coasting along, doing business as usual, but the culture has changed around us. The new cultural climate is a very different context for our mission, and we may need to change some of our methods, just like Lewis and Clark changed their methods when their canoes were no longer useful. There are some things, however, which will never change. The Gospel and the Word of God remain a firm foundation, and we can trust that God will always be with us as we navigate this new, unfamiliar terrain.
View SermonFor All the Saints
In the scriptures, the word which we translate as “saint” means “holy one.” We tend to think about the saints as the heroes of our faith, people who have lived exceptional lives of holiness and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are! But the Bible also uses the word “saint” to describe every believer, all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. We may not be perfectly holy yet, but we are becoming holy day by day as we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
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