MinistryHealth
Sermon Starters

Support and Resources For Pastors and
Christian Ministry Professionals

Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor


The Circumcision Of Our Lord
Series B

Option #1: "The Circumcision Certificate"
Romans 1:3-7
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, B.A., M.Div.

1) Descendant of David--v3; Matt 1:20; John 7:42

2) Son of God, resurrected from death--v4; 2 Cor 13:4

3) Includes the calling to "the obedience of faith"--v5; see the subjective genitive in Rom 16:26

4) Called to belong to Christ--v6

5) Called to Saints living under God’s grace and in His peace

"Beloved of God" is grammatically similar to "taught by God" in John 6:45. "From God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ" states the equality of the Father and the Son. See John 5:23.

Barnes Notes on the New Testament: Peace is the state of freedom from war. As war conveys the idea of discord and numberless calamities and dangers, so peace is the opposite, and conveys the idea of concord, safety, and prosperity. Thus, to wish one peace was the same as to wish him all safety and prosperity. This form of salutation was common among the Hebrews. Gen 43:23, "peace to you! fear not;" Judg 6:23; 19:20; Luke 24:36. But the word "peace" is also used in contrast with that state of agitation and conflict which a sinner has with his conscience and with God. The sinner is like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, Isa 57:20. The Christian is at peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1. By this word, denoting reconciliation with God, the blessings of the Christian religion are often described in the scriptures, Rom 8:6; 14:17; 15:13; Gal 5:22; Phil 4:7. A prayer for peace, therefore, in the epistles, is not a mere formal salutation, but has a special reference to those "spiritual" blessings which result from reconciliation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

+   +   +

THE MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN

Object: A plaque with a name and its meaning

Ever wonder why you were given the name you have? If you don’t know, ask your mom or dad sometime. Sometimes parents will look for a plaque with the name they have chosen for their child. This one is a Bible name. "Matthew" means "gift of God" in Hebrew.

You might have been named after a movie star or an athlete. Or maybe it was a relative you never met. Maybe it was just because your mom liked that name.

We don’t have to wonder why Jesus was given that name. Today’s Gospel tells us: "he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived." Well, yes, but the angel said a little more than that. Joseph was told by an angel in a dream: (Matt 1:21) ..."you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

It’s okay to be named after a star athlete, but Jesus came here to do something really useful. He came here to save us from our sins. Sin has to be punished or God’s promise to punish sin would be broken. Jesus could be our Savior because he was born without sin and then he died on the cross for our sins. He had no sin of his own.

The Good News of Christmas isn’t over. New Year’s Day isn’t just a big parade and a lot of football games. New Year’s Day is the day our Savior received His name, the name we will be praising forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

+   +   +
 
Option #2: "A New You"
Numbers 6:22-27
Rev. Mark Borchert, B.S., M.Div.
 

 

Notes:

 

1. Verses 24-26 are called The Aaronic Blessing, which only priests were allowed to give. This blessing incorporates the placing of the Name of Yahweh on His people.

 

2. Psalm 121 is a good description of benefits of bearing the Name of Yahweh.

 

3. Peace is not ultimately about the end of war and oppression but about reconciliation with God and the recognition of the benefits that result from that reconciliation.

 

4. Three-fold repetition of Yahweh for emphasis on the importance of the Name and what that Name brings.

 

5. In prayer we say, "Hallowed be Your Name."

 

6. One is baptized into the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

 

7. Bearing that Name means a new you.

 

8. We live as ones who bear the Name--Deuteronomy 28:9-10; Colossians 3:15-17.

 

Point: We have the Name of the Lord on us, so we are always blessed and protected.

Problem: We forget that the Name is on us. We hide the Name so others don’t see it.

Promise: The Name is on us and the Lord blesses us and keeps us, is gracious to us and gives us peace.

 

Ministry Health Sermon Starters
Copyright 2006 Ministry Health
All Rights Reserved
http://ministryhealth.net

Go to Main Page

Main Site:   http://ministryhealth.net/


Copyright © 1997-2005 Ministry Health, LLC  All Rights Reserved.

Microsoft FrontPage and Microsoft Internet Explorer are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
Adobe Acrobat and PDF are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated


Contact Support for any technical issues with this website!

This page was revised on: Monday, November 13, 2006 11:41:24 AM