Jeremy Hoover

As we pause to make resolutions for the new year, let us consider seriously our worship of God. In Matthew 2:1-12, we have two examples, one negative and one positive. Negatively, King Herod teaches us to how to worship God insincerely by using people and even the Bible to further his own purposes. In contrast, the Magi teach us about sincere worship, as they remained focused on searching for Jesus and obediently following God as he led them. At the end of this sermon, I offer four specific ways we can resolve to offer God sincere worship.

Texts: Isaiah 7:10-14 and Matthew 1:22-23

Jesus is God's sign of deliverance for us, and he calls us to trust him and the sign that he sent.

Zechariah, after having his speech returned to him by the Lord when he gave John his name, prophesied a beautiful song about the coming of the Lord's Salvation in the Messiah. Although Zechariah sang about Jesus' coming, we can read this song in anticipation of Jesus' second coming (his return). John the Baptist's mission to prepare the way for the Lord becomes our mission--as we teach people about salvation and the forgiveness of sins ahead of Jesus' return.