This is the third in a series of five sermons for Christmas 2023 which come under the general title: “What is a Happy Christmas?” This sermon links especially to Matthew 2:1-18 in the Bible. Photos by Sarah Evans and Giammarco
What God has joined
Travelling to Jerusalem, Jesus is pushed by enemies into a debate on divorce. The wrong answer could be disastrous for his campaign. But Jesus won’t be controlled by these hypocrites who claim to keep God’s laws but actually manipulate them
He’s not dead (HCTW 19)
He Changed The World – for an introduction to this series of talks, please click the title. Mark 6:14-29Using the player above you can listen to/download the talk, which also includes the Bible being read out. Once you’ve listened, take
Puny king
With the first mission of the 12, Jesus’ kingdom has become much more visible. Indeed, it draws the attention of a godless local ruler: ‘King’ Herod Antipas. Already, this immoral and weak man has tangled with God’s kingdom when he
Rotten royals
Many love a gossipy royal story, especially when it involves immorality, corruption, power and greed. Well, those were certainly part of the lives of the family of Herods who appear for the last time in Scripture here with King Agrippa
The sound of silence
Keeping silent can, at times, be more powerful than speaking. Jesus took that approach with King Herod (Lk 23:8,9) and other authorities (Mk 15:3-5). In the proud Roman colony of Philippi, Paul adopts the same technique with its leaders when
Hearing loss
The death of Herod Agrippa is the tragic tale of a king who will not listen. It takes place at a scary time in old Israel’s history, roughly 17 years after Jesus first appeared in public as the king whom
Peter is no angel
Though a solemn chapter about a murderous king and his downfall, there are also comic elements here which help to expose the foolish arrogance of Herod through mockery (Ps 2:4,5). However, the chapter has other themes too, including an emphasis
A battle of two kings
In Acts Luke has shown us the Lord Jesus taking old Israel and remaking her, through repentance, forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit. He has also shown Jesus expanding his reborn Israel to unite Gentiles with Jews in his